2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Just like how if you take more shots you avg more points, the more you have the ball the more your in position to be foul. it even works on negative stats. the more you handle the ball the higher your turn over rate. This is why stats can be misleading at times.

 

Here are some facts. With Luka Doncic Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler the Lakers should have 50 wins.

we are embracing the OKC blueprint. Team. Don’t believe me I’ve seen it on our season ticket AD poster.

Luka Kessler Reaves Sexton Carr and Mamu and Grimes made it.

before the season ticket was Either just LeBron

or it was Luka when he got here.

 

thanks; hadn't figured that out.

have you figured out that luka is the best scorer in the nba and is unstoppable and thus gets fouled a lot?

 

This depends on how its break down

 

Not to sure they can sustain the way they did last season if injury pops up. I do feel when healthy better than last.

 

Hey I have something that for maybe the first time you will agree with me and not argue the point even if it hurts like kicking your toe in middle of the night against a chair that was out of place. I've never understood how a stronger offensive player with his defender in perfect position between him and the basket, with his back to that defender is allowed to keep dribbling and bumping him straight backward as long as he wants before trying to shoot with NO foul called. You feel the same way about that?

 

I'd beat you in a one-on-one game and probably most of this site. My pull-up going left you couldn't stop. I'll blow by you, post you, or shoot over you; which way do you want it?

 

I think something have give. Post moves. The defender gets plants and try to hold his position. If you're stronger you get to back him down without it being a foul. I think that's ok if not being overly aggressive. The counter is always getting a stronger defender. Ex Luka can get in a mismatch and over power a smaller player but a bigger stronger taller player then the move becomes less effective.

 

Then a lot of your other angst doesn't hold water. Guy like Austin against a bigger player jumps into him a bit in the air going for a layup at the rim rather than letting the defender bump him off balance. All good rim attackers do it. Flopping is different than drawing and ones on legit scoring attempts.

 

Finding the mismatch has always been a thing. It why Some players get hunt. If that's to run a post moves. A blow by etc. it's easier to blow by the slower player and easier to post the smaller player. Problem with posting up in today's game is you have to be quick with it and have to have shooters. If not you're going to get swarmed.

 

Flopping is tricking the ref. Falling down and pulling the player with you is tricking the ref, going for a shot a flair after contact is also trying to get the ref to blow a whistle, it turns a minimal contact into a big hit. if you go to the lane without the intention of shooting but to draw a foul it's also intentional to go to the line. These are not natural shooting motions but being tricky tactics. It's all part of the game. The issue is when it's done to an excessive levels like every single play. It becomes an eye sore. Fouling is part of the game but how many people you think want to go to a game only to see free throws on every trip Down the floor? X player get foul normal play another act like he got whacked with a bat. Same exact contact different reaction. I don't put all the blame on players. The nba is all over the place with how they call games on a nightly basis. So if you get the call last night you're expecting it today.

 

Man, remember when it felt like we were getting any and all NBA updates like DAILY......and now it's crickets!?

This is the boring time now.

 

2 plus more months to go

 

One other thing about Luka foul baiting that goes unnoticed. In addition to not getting back on defense at times he turns the ball over when the defender doesn't take the bait.

 

NBA officiating is the undisputed champion of bad.That’s what happens when directives from the league instead of the rule book determines fouls

 

I like the other potential power forward options that have been mentioned.

(1) Jarace Walker - 6'7 235 - Good shooter, solid rebounder, athletic, good passer. Fits that catch dribble shoot that Redick likes. Doesn't particularly need touches. Stretches the floor. He's a connector. Only 23 years old. Makes around 8 million and will be an RFA after the season.

(2) Obi Toppin - at 28 years old is sort of like an older version of Thiero. Elite lob catcher. There may be a decline in his athleticism after foot surgery, but he's also become a good 3 point shooter. Also a solid rebounder. Contract is 15 mill this year, 16 next year, so his age, contract, and skilset duplication line up well as sort of a placeholder for Thiero.

(3) Jerami Grant - Fairly expensive but only 2 yrs left at this point. Could consolidate some spare parts like Vando, Hardy, Knecht- something like that. He can't be traded for aggregated players until around Augest 28 though, because he was recently traded to Memphis. He could shoot, rebound, still a decent defender.

I like these 3 options. Walker is the best option imo, but he also might cost more. Toppin might be the happy medium, he would likely cost less to obtain, and his age and contract make sense as a bridge player. He's 6-9 and could space the floor and catch lobs.

 

Should there be concern about Jokic's future in Denver?

We are not ready to sound the alarm in Denver, especially after Jokic signaled his commitment to re-signing next summer.


"My idea and desire is to stay in Denver. I'll probably sign next year," Jokic told reporters in Serbian after a FIBA World Cup qualifying game last week.

Jokic is under contract for two seasons (2027-28 is a player option) and has been eligible to negotiate a four-year, $278 million max extension since June 14. By waiting until next summer, Jokic will be eligible to sign a five-year, $359.5 million contract as a free agent. That contract would be the largest in NBA history and would propel his career on-court earnings to $724 million. (This is the second consecutive offseason in which Jokic was eligible to sign an extension. He was eligible in the 2025 offseason to sign a three-year $200 million extension.)

The Nuggets' finances played into their relatively quiet offseason. Denver signed veterans Tyus Jones and Marvin Bagley III to the veteran minimum and matched the two-year, $12 million offer sheet Spencer Jones signed with the Thunder.

Denver is the only team in the second apron with luxury tax payments that will likely exceed $100 million if restricted free agent Peyton Watson signs his $6.5 million qualifying offer.
nsion. He was eligible in the 2025 offseason to sign a three-year $200 million extension.)

The Nuggets' finances played into their relatively quiet offseason. Denver signed veterans Tyus Jones and Marvin Bagley III to the veteran minimum and matched the two-year, $12 million offer sheet Spencer Jones signed with the Thunder.

Denver is the only team in the second apron with luxury tax payments that will likely exceed $100 million if restricted free agent Peyton Watson signs his $6.5 million qualifying offer.