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

yeah, the idea that irving was like, "ok, we're good again" seems pretty far-fetched.

if you value the clear cap, wouldn't you rather take an expiring, get off some other salary, and get a 1st in the process?

the real problem is that bkn doesn't own their pick the next three years. so they'd probably rather swap irving for players that can help now instead of expiring contracts and picks. same with durant.

if they could get jaylen brown and, say, derrick white and grant williams for durant, is there a way we turn one of the utah/indy deals into irving coming here and turner/hield or conley/bogdanovic going there? this might be more palatable to bkn, for whom sucking is not useful in the near future.

 

So true, I was just thinking how I miss the Mikan era when the league was respectable and we had true professionals to root for! Those were the good days!

 

Mikan? Anybody alive actually saw him play? LOL.

 

I'm pretty sure the Mikan line was a joke.

 

I also don't necessarily lump LeBron in with Durant. LeBron has at least played through his contracts. Yes, he has pushed for trades and roster changes but I honestly don't have a problem with guys, especially stars, giving input and recommendations. The GM should vet those ideas and say no if they don't work for the team.

 

Mine too.

 

there's no way kyrie stays in brooklyn if KD is traded or sits out games

 

I just made it up

 

I almost wonder if KD drew the line in the sand of them or me because he knew Tsai would side with them and in theory it helps expedite his exit.

Nets are not going to come off a coach who the two player GMs stamped their approval on or a coach who's very close with Marks. They're not firing Marks who made some really good moves before the stars intervened AND apparently he is the stand in for Tsai in meetings if Tsai can't make it. There's only 5 or so GMs who have that much juice from the owner.

If KD is only making one of those requests, that's a different conversation. But he's no dummy, he knows asking for both to be canned is a no go for Tsai.

 

because i'm bored, i'll add to the (probably false) intrigue: based on marks's pedigree and every move he made prior to the durant/kyrie signing, i wonder if maybe tsai himself pushed hard for the durant/kyrie plan, and so marks won't be held accountable for its implosion. sort of like how rob wasn't fired for the westbrook deal, nor will he be fired for whatever happens directly in the aftermath (what happens 2 moves down is fair game, i think). because jeanie backed lebron/AD on the westbrook move.

it's august.

 

Lebron is a different animal than KD. He has won a chip for every team he's played on. His teams are in contention in every year he's been healthy. I don't mind a guy like that " meddling ". I also get where he's coming from at this stage of his career. He understands that he can't put on the cape, and carry the team on his back anymore. He's far from washed tho, even at 38, but this is a tough league. I can totally believe that he's pushing for a Kyrie trade behind the scenes, he's won with Kyrie, and he's won with AD. I can imagine that he sees that as the perfect way to go out. Two younger guys that can carry a chunk of the weight, allowing him to come in and close the show. I like that idea too, all the associated risks involved. Damn them picks!!!

 

But is he the same beast?

 

again, it's about protections. even if they're just both top-5 protected, i'm ok with it. as much as i'm not as bullish on either lebron or kyrie as you are. he's clearly the best talent available for what we have. not sure bkn agrees we have it, anyway, though.

 

comparable creature.

analogous vertebrate.

 

I agree with this. It's why I would ultimately be able to get behind a trade for Kyrie despite my reservations.

 

Lebron has always respected his contracts even when it was clear his team had no chance of winning the chip like in his last 2 years with the Cavs. He could have easily forced a trade to a contender like KD or Harden has done multiple times, but always remained professional, and actually elevated his game many times in the playoffs, when his supporting cast was just not nearly good enough.

It's a testament to his greatness that the Cavs went straight from being finalists to being the worst team in the NBA the year after Lebron left for LA.

There's a lot not to like about Lebron as a person, but lumping him with Durant is disrespectful and unfair.

 

Good read

 

sorry, it's just a bit rich to be hearing this. you're the leader, and you were lollygagging it right there along with everyone else all year long. it was embarrassing.

people jumped all over kobe for seemingly mailing in one playoff game, but lebron and russ did it for a full nba season.

i'll believe the accountability when i see it.