2022-23 Team Developments: News / Trades / Free Agents / Rumors

Brooklyn is definitely being ridiculous.
They are getting fair offers for their guys. Time to end all these games and make some trades so the rest of the league can move on.

 

Blame the TWolves for giving up all those picks for f***ing Gobert, now the Nets can sit back and say that many picks is a given, but we want X or Y player. That's not how a market works, I think they'll relent and end up sending Durant to Toronto eventually.

 

Reaves will do fine and may wind up the better all around player even with less athleticism though Austin isn't some slug and can get up when he wants to. But is a 2 handed dunker so far. Better offensively seems a given though, and will hold his own 3 years in the league defensively compared to same time in for AC. IMO. But yeah sucks we could have had them both. Max looks like a nice player as well maybe by the playoffs.

 

The best deal they can probably get IMO, is Wiggins and Wiseman and some picks from Golden State. The irony in that is that both KD and Kyrie, have to go back to the only guys that they had any championship success with...Lebron and Steph.

Another controversial take here...I saw the C Bags attack KD in that series with young fresh legs. They didn't show him any deference, and the refs didn't bail him out. It looked like he faded at times in that series to me. I think Lebron is still a superior player even today.

 

Can't happen unless Simmons moves too

 

I think abeer and I had a similar conversations in regards to Morey and the 76ers trading Ben Simmons. Eventually Morey stuck to his guns and got Harden.

If I was the GM, I wouldn’t make a trade just to finalise the situation and move on. I’d get the best package possible. All you need to do is wait. Kevin Durant has 4 years on his contract and has shown to still be a top 10 player. Multiple teams will eventually offer a little more than they have now.

 

Scratch the Warriors then

 

We're the only Kyrie destination. Just wait it out.

 

Who is your top 10 right now?

 

Pincus: San Antonio Spurs May Hold Keys to a Kyrie Irving-Russell Westbrook Trade

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...eys-to-a-kyrie-irving-russell-westbrook-trade

 

So many mental gymnastics to keep this thing alive

 

https://theathletic.com/3405014/2022/07/07/lakers-free-agency-nba?source=user-shared-article

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Lakers officially announced and introduced their free-agency signings of Lonnie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr., Damian Jones, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Thomas Bryant at the team’s training facility Wednesday morning.

Let’s bounce around with some of what we learned about each player. (The players are listed in the order they spoke with the media.)

Troy Brown Jr.
Back in 2018, Brown worked out for the Lakers during the pre-draft process. The Lakers, who had the 25th pick in the 2018 draft, liked Brown but weren’t able to draft him as he was out of their range. (He was the No. 15 selection.)

Four years later, they signed him. When Brown was presented with his gold No. 7 jersey, he fondly reflected on the full-circle moment.



“For it to end up coming full circle and I have a jersey like five years later, I think it was definitely hitting me at the moment,” Brown said. “It just kind of shows you everything works out eventually.”

Brown’s assessment of his role with the Lakers was simple: make 3s and defend multiple positions.

During Brown’s first two seasons in Washington, he posted decent assist percentages (14.2 percent), as well as a 17.4 usage percentage. Over his next two seasons, split between Washington and Chicago, Brown’s assist percentage was cut nearly in half (7.9 percent), and his usage percentage dipped considerably (12.9 percent). Meanwhile, his 3-point attempt rate skyrocketed, nearly doubling from 29.0 percent in 2018 through 2020 to 50.5 percent from 2020 to 2022.

Essentially, Brown shifted off the ball, becoming more of a catch-and-shoot option rather than an on-ball creator. That skill set isn’t gone, if the Lakers ever need to dust it off.

“I definitely still have the playmaking,” Brown said. “It’s just more so of what I’m asked to do. I think that’s the biggest thing is I’m definitely a team guy and I definitely want to win. So it’s one of those things where if I’m asked to be 3-and-D or if I’m asked to be a playmaker, I can definitely adjust. I think my versatility is the reason that I’m here in the NBA.”

As for the specifics of his defensive role, Brown said he prefers to defend smaller guards at the point of attack. That’s a valuable skill set that could propel Brown into the starting lineup, depending on the other two spots (LeBron James and Anthony Davis are starting locks, obviously).

“I feel like that way I can take up the space,” Brown said. “Like, if a smaller guard is getting to, like, step-backs or he’s getting like through contact and he’s trying to create space, I feel like I can close those gaps based off my length.”

Brown revealed that one of the biggest points of emphasis from new head coach Darvin Ham has been pace. The Lakers, who ranked seventh in pace under former head coach Frank Vogel last season, want to play even faster next season.

“Just talking about pace,” Brown said. “Being able to get out and play faster, even on the defensive end. Kind of speed up the offense for other teams and being able to put pressure on other guys where we can close out and get out and run in transition.”

Brown may be the least heralded of the free-agent signings, but his 3-and-D skill set could allow him to carve out the biggest role.

Lonnie Walker IV
As Walker noticed the Spurs’ offseason unfolding, headlined by the organization trading 25-year-old All-Star Dejounte Murray to Atlanta to kickstart a full rebuild, he knew his time in San Antonio was probably up.

Walker, a restricted free agent who asked the Spurs to rescind his qualifying offer to let him become an unrestricted free agent, prepared to find a new home this summer.

The Lakers reached out, according to Walker, and the two sides agreed on a one-year deal that’ll provide him the opportunity to play for a bigger and longer contract next summer — in Los Angeles or elsewhere.

”I’m here to do whatever I need to do to help the team win,” Walker said. “For the most part, I’m coming here to play defense. Play the best that I can, play the hardest that I can and let the game speak for itself. Offensively, I know I can provide for a lot.”

Walker is the spiritual successor to Malik Monk — a former first-round pick who struggled to find his footing as a shoot-first combo guard with his original team and was given a second chance by the Lakers. But for Walker to follow in Monk’s footsteps and break out next season, he’ll need to improve as a shooter.

Last season, Walker shot just 31.4 percent on 3s, including 33.2 percent on catch-and-shoot attempts (and 32.4 percent on open or wide-open attempts, per NBA.com). Any way you slice it, Walker was a below-average shooter last season. (In his defense, he shot much better in 2018-19 and 2019-20, though his shooting trajectory has been trending down.)

Walker dismissed his struggles from the 2021-22 season, sharing that he’s been waking up at 6 a.m. to get three workouts in — two on the court, one in the weight room — as he looks to sharpen his shot.

“I mean, last year, you can look at the percentages,” Walker said, “but I kid you not, leave me open, we’re going to see what’s happening. All right? … So, I’m ready to show everyone what I’m about.”

Walker’s defensive metrics are also concerning — by most measures, he’s one of the worst perimeter defenders in the league. But he said he’s bulked up to 215 pounds this offseason and is ready to defend threes and even fours, if necessary.

“I’ve gained a little bit more weight,” Walker said. “If I maybe have to guard the four, so be it. I’m ready for the physicality and I’ve been preparing myself to just guard those positions and be mentality ready for that, for that task.”

Despite being the marquee free-agent addition from a financial perspective (the Lakers used their taxpayer midlevel exception — worth approximately $6.4 million — on Walker), he doesn’t have expectations on either starting or if he’ll start or come off the bench. He started 56 of his 208 games in San Antonio.

“I’m adaptable,” Walker said. “Like a chameleon, I can change to my environment. If it’s coming off the bench and that’s seen as the best fit, so be it. If it’s as a starter, then so be it as well. I would love to be a starter, but that’s not up to me. I’m just here to play ball, to win, and I’m here to get that chip.”


Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today
Damian Jones
Jones’ answers to the media were like his game: efficient.

The fan-favorite didn’t say much. He admitted he was surprised that he wasn’t retained by the franchise after his eight-game stint during the 2020-21 season, adding that his goal was to leave a good impression for a potential opportunity down the road. Sixteen or so months later, he’s back.

“For me to be able to come back here is great,” Jones said. “I’m glad to be here.”

Jones ended the 2021-22 season on a high note, averaging 16.6 points (on 71.6 percent shooting), 7.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 1.5 blocks over the final 10 games with Sacramento. He scored in double figures in each game, starting nine of them.

“I worked on my game a lot, so I always knew it was there,” Jones said. “And to be able to go out there and do it, it felt good.”

Jones made five of his 10 3-point attempts over that span, flashing a shooting stroke that could be valuable on a team that desperately needs floor-spacers.

Considering Ham’s work with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis in Milwaukee, it seems reasonable to envision Jones eventually incorporating 3s into his repertoire.

”I got a lot of reps up with it, and I feel pretty confident about it,” Jones said. “As to whether I’m actually gonna do it or not is up in the air, but it’s there if needed.”

Juan Toscano-Anderson
Toscano-Anderson had hesitations about wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey to the California Classic in San Francisco last weekend. He consulted his girlfriend and decided that “it felt right” to give a nod to his favorite player and new team.

When he walked to his courtside seat, wearing a white No. 8 Bryant jersey and white-and-purple Nike Dunk lows, he earned a standing ovation from the Chase Center crowd, who were appreciative of the East Oakland native’s contributions to the 2021-22 Warriors championship team.



“It was incredible,” Toscano-Anderson said of the moment. “… I’m a Kobe fan — that was my favorite player ever. So ultimately it felt right. So then seeing the fans giving me such an ovation and cheering for me, it was an incredible feeling and something I’ll never forget. It just reminded me of all the love I had there and still have there, so that was pretty cool.”

Toscano-Anderson, who referred to himself as a “gritty” and “grimy” player, is confident that his versatile, two-way skill set — he’s a multi-positional defender and a solid playmaker — and his optimistic, hard-working attitude will help the Lakers next season.

“To be honest, without sounding arrogant, I think my skill set translates to any team,” Toscano-Anderson said. “I think what I do is so versatile. … I think I can guard one through five. I’ll do whatever it takes to win, and when I say whatever, I mean it. I’ll dive over scorer’s tables. I’ll rebound. I’ll do whatever it takes. … My energy. The way I approach my craft, I think it’s infectious. …

“I think I’m a very cerebral player. You only have to teach me things one time. I can remember plays from every position. … So to have the opportunity to play with a guy like LeBron who is an extremely smart player, a very talented player, I think I can complement him in a lot of ways.”

Toscano-Anderson, who’s only on a one-year deal, was clear that he wants to leave his mark with the Lakers, implying that he views this as a long-term partnership.

“I don’t want to be a guy who just passed through,” Toscano-Anderson said. “I want people to remember me as a part of this organization in the years that I was here. I want fans to remember JTA. ‘I remember when he played for the Lakers. He gave it his all. He competed. They won a championship.’ Whatever the story will be, I just want people to remember me for being me and being a hard worker and competitor.”

To accomplish that goal, Toscano-Anderson said he’ll be an “everyday guy,” meaning, in his words, that he’ll be a dependable figure who consistently performs the same way on a daily basis.

He noted that the Warriors made their dramatic jump from a Play-In team to a championship team due to the supporting cast wholeheartedly buying into their roles and doing everything they could to bolster the stars.

“The unicorns are gonna be the unicorns,” Toscano-Anderson said. “The guys who are the guys are gonna be the guys. LeBron is gonna be who LeBron is gonna be. AD is gonna be AD. I think it’s up to the rest of us to support them. Have their back every day. Eighty-two games, it’s a long season. We can’t just count on those guys to go out and win games for us every day. Now, can we count on them to put us in position to win games? Of course. Can we lean on them? Of course. But at some point, they have to be able to lean on us.”

Thomas Bryant
As Bryant walked around the Lakers’ practice facility for the first time since 2018, he felt a tinge of déjà vu.

“I’m not going to lie, it is kind of weird walking back through these halls,” Bryant said. “It’s like super surreal.”

The Lakers acquired Bryant on draft day in 2017. He spent his rookie season in Los Angeles, playing only 72 minutes in 15 games behind centers Brook Lopez, Ivica Zubac and Andrew Bogut. The Lakers waived Bryant late in the summer of 2018, and he was claimed by the Washington Wizards two days later.

The humbling experience was his first welcome-to-the-NBA moment.

“It just gave you another obstacle that you try to overcome,” Bryant said. “It gave me a lot of mental toughness that I had to get through and it gets you stronger throughout time. When stuff happens, you can either dwell on it or you can look at the bright side and fix it. That’s what I tried to do, was look at the bright side and, ‘Come on, let’s go out there and fix it.’”

Bryant certainly fixed things in Washington, quickly earning the starting job (108 of 155 games) and averaging double-digit points in three straight seasons. He improved as a shooter, rebounder and rim-protector, and signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Wizards in the 2019 offseason.

But Bryant partially tore his left ACL in January 2021, causing him to miss over 100 games across two seasons — and dramatically lowering his market interest this summer. Eighteen months later, and following a disappointing 2021-22 campaign by his standards, Bryant said he’s back to 100 percent.

“I feel 100 percent great,” Bryant said. “Not good, great. Like, I have no hiccups. I have no setbacks or anything. To be honest, my left leg feels even stronger if not stronger than the right. So I feel like it’s really, really back. And I’m ready to go.”

Bryant was the Lakers’ latest addition, agreeing to terms with the organization on Tuesday night. He said he felt a “certain need and want” from the team in comparison with other suitors. That includes the pitch from Ham, who sold Bryant on him replicating the stretch-five role that was so valuable in Milwaukee.

“I really do think that I will help him with his offense, just having a floor spacer at the five that can really shoot the ball really well,” Bryant said. “And also just the talk and communication that I can bring on the defensive end.”

If the Lakers retain Russell Westbrook — and even if they don’t — Bryant makes sense as the starting center, stretching the floor around James and Davis.

(Top photo: Jeff Hanisch / USA Today)

 

Maybe something like this but haven’t really thought about it:

Jokic
Giannis
Luka
Embiid

Lebron
Curry
Durant

AD
Kawhi

———

Not sure on the order of these next people

Harden
Butler
Paul
PG
Lillard
Tatum
Booker
Trae
Morant
Antman

 

We will never get Turner and Hield for Russ

 

If I remember correctly Pincus is well connected with us, has broken things for us before others. But its hard to imagine the Spurs helping us.

 

seriously, just wake me when it's over lol

 

It's all up to POP for us to get Kyrie, where is the whisky bottle at?

 

I think JA is top 10. Plays like a top 6 player often. Unlike AD lately.

 

I'd go with Butler as 10th. AD and Kawhi both have to defend their positions on a top 10 list this season IMO.