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

i don't love that rob couldn't move russ, but it's clear that teams were just trying to decimate us in all trade talks. sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make.

like if we'd have not traded for beverley or russ, for example!

unlike others, i'm encouraged by the fact that we're not going the john wall route. that, for me, would have been the "fire rob" trigger. because if you truly felt he was that bad, then you needed to trade him. the FO isn't that far down on him and wants to give him a chance at redemption, which i think is fair.

russ is coming in with a lot less power than he had last year and basically zero good will from the fans or the media. consequently, in a struggle with the coach, he's going to lose. and maybe he does end up getting sent home.

i wish we had hield/turner or conley/bogdanovic, but both teams wanted 2 unprotected 1sts several years after the lebron/AD era to make it happen. nope. one more pick than that, a couple swaps, and a couple mediocre youngsters nabbed donovan mitchell last week. jump up your own a**, ainge and pritchard.

 

Here is what he "really' did last season:

*Averaged 18.5 ppg- his lowest output since his 2009-10 season
*Averaged 7.4rpg- his lowest output since his 2014-15 season
*Averaged 1.4orpg- his lowest output since his 2013-14 season
*Shot 29.8% from distance, the fourth time in the last 5 and 8th of the last 10 where he shot UNDER 30%
*Had only 75 steals- lowest output of his career
*Missed 1/3 of his free throws for the 3rd time in 4 seasons (.667)

*Had a 114 defensive rating- not only by far the worse of his career- but the absolute worse of ALL GUARDS in the NBA and the worse among all NBA players who played at least 2000 minutes last season

*Had a 102 offensive rating- his worse rating since his rookie season and only 3 guards in the entire NBA had a worse rating last season (among those with 2000+ minutes)

*Had a (0.2) value over replacement score- the absolute worst season of his career and LAST among all starting guards who played over 2000 minutes last season

*His Box/Plus Minus score was (-1.6) which was the worst of his career and again DEAD LAST among all starting guards who played over 2000 minutes last season

*His Offensive Win Shares was (-0.6) was worst of his career and also NEXT TO LAST among all starting guards who played over 2000 minutes last season

*His Total Win Shares was (1.7) and win shares per 48 (.030) were worst numbers of his career and DEAD LAST among all starting guards who played over 2000 minutes last season

By comparison, Lonnie Walker V (despite only 1600 minutes played last season) had 0.1 offensive win share and a 0.37 per48 win share, as well as a 103 offensive rating....

The dude sucks, especially in this offense...

P.S. These stats can also be found at your go to place of Basketball Reference lol

 

Thank the Lord we got rid of that terrible coach that misused and abused him. Now he can succeed!

 

Contenders with 'huge guards" and wings (just in the Western Conference) and PG's over 6'1:

PG Luka Doncic 6'7 (Dallas)
SG Spencer Dinwiddie 6'5
SG Josh Green 6'5
SF Reggie Bullock 6'6
SF Dorian Finney-Smith 6'7
SF Tim Hardaway Jr 6'5
PG Jamaal Murray 6'3 (Denver)
SG Bruce Brown 6'4
SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 6'5
SF Jeff Green 6'8
PG Stephen Curry 6'2 (Golden State)
PG Jordan Poole 6'4
SG Klay Thompson 6'6
SF Andrew Wiggins 6'7
SF Jonathan Kuminga 6'8
PF Draymond Green 6'6
PG John Wall 6'3 (LAClippers)
PG Reggie Jackson 6'3
SG Terrence Mann 6'5
SG Luke Kenard 6'5
SF Kawhi Leonard 6'7
SF Paul George 6'8
SF Robert Covington 6'7
PF Nicolas Batum 6'9
PF Marcus Morris Sr 6'8
PG Ja Morant 6'3 (Memphis)
SG Danny Green 6'6
SF Dillon Brooks 6'7
SF Ziaire Williams 6'8
PG D'Angelo Russell 6'4 (Minnesota)
PG Austin Rivers 6'4
SG Anthony Edwards 6'5
SG Jaylen Nowell 6'4
SF Kyle Anderson 6'9
SF Taurean Prince 6'7
SG C.J. McCollum 6'3 (New Orleans)
SG Garrett Temple 6'5
SF Brandon Ingram 6'7
SF Trey Murphy 6'8
SF Herbert Jones 6'6
SG Devon Booker 6'5 (Phoenix)
SG Landry Shamet 6'4
SG Damion Lee 6'5
SG Josh Okogie 6'4
SF Mikal Bridges 6'6
SF Torrey Craig 6'7
PF Cameron Johnson 6'9

Just to name a few....

Gabriel has about ZERO chance of making our rotation by the way....

 

Well, I can't pretend I'm not disappointed with our offseason. We were unable to move Russ and I don't think we improved our supporting cast enough.

Ultimately, we'll need AD to get back to his bubble levels of play to really make noise. I do think he's capable of silencing doubters and getting back in the conversation of top guys in the league.

LeBron will be able to put up numbers so its really going to come down to his health and commitment on defense.

I like Ham and think he'll be able to keep the team motivated. I'm also optimistic about JTA, Brown and Reaves taking the next steps. Not a fan of signing Walker, but certainly hoping he eases my doubts.

Russ even somewhat living up to his contract would help so much but I can't see it. If he can help us then it would solve several problems. But i think we've again built a roster that doesn't help with that.

I don't like Patrick Beverley but he is likely our third best guy so again, gotta hope for the best.

So yeah, lots of question marks. We will see.

 

That Guy again (actually strengthens post) …. when did BI shrink to 6’7”?

 

Basketball Reference is excellent IMO. So..


This isn't a Vogel's offense so you have no idea if he would suck in it. Nobody has played in yet

Avg 18 pts a game is right where he should be, and that is around where I'd like to see him this season. As AD said, we weren't looking for the Westbrook from OKC or Houston. 18pts is still the highest scoring avg of any player besides James and Davis, since we made that trade.

He also avg his lowest shot attempts per game since his second year in the NBA. I have absolutely no problem with that either. A non shooter that decreased his shot attempts, but upped his FG%..Why is that supposed to be some kind of problem?

Westbrook has shot around 30% from 3 for 6 out of the last 8 seasons. He is a career 30% shooter from 3. That isn't some shocking stat. He still had the lowest attempts from 3 in his last 10 seasons. I have zero problems with that. A guy that shoots 30% career from 3, probably shouldn't be running around jacking up a bunch of them you think?

The man avg 11.7 assists in Washington, double digits 5 out of the last 7 seasons now he is playing with Lebron James, another high level facilitator. It would be a safe assumption that his assists numbers would go down wouldn't it? He also avg 7 assists in Houston, playing next to James Harden..hmmm I wonder why.

Russ is a 6'3 PG and he's the 11th ranked career rebounder of all active players. The next guard on the list is CP3 at 36th. He plays with Lebron, the 2nd leading rebounder of all active players. That isn't some knock on Westbrook either.

Now FT..absolutely that is unacceptable for any PG. I've pointed that out since December.

Defensive rating 114 is poor no doubt, but his career defensive rating is 106. He was around 103 in OKC. 109 in Houston and Washington. I imagine playing on 3 different teams,in 3 seasons running different schemes ,might play into it. We'll see..Ham's idea of Russ getting back to his former D isn't outrageous.

Advanced metrics..A lot of variables go into that, they can vary widely from one year to the next. If he simply upped his FT% his offensive rating would go up.
On one hand Westbrook can't adjust, but at the same time he's measured by what he's always done in the past, as if he's the 1st or 2nd option here? That doesn't make any sense. I'll take the same 18 7 and 7 with a FT closer to 80% and I'm absolutely good with Russell Westbrook. I'm expecting him to ball out this season under Ham, with a healthy AD and Lebron. I look forward to beating you over the head with the Westbrook sucks take too. October 14th is coming soon. I'll be around to continue this discussion.

 

Ha..exactly what Darvin is saying..lol..Russ is going to ball out.

 

I thought you had me on ignore? Well first off we operate from a different viewpoint. You think we can't win with Westbrook. I disagree, so the idea that we are just better by getting rid of him, doesn't jive with me at all. I've been stumping for Myles Turner for years, ever since we got AD. I'm fully aware of his potential with Anthony, I've been talking about it every season AD'S been here. I still wouldn't give up 2 FRP to aquire Turner and Hield. I mentioned Bogdonavic as a preference along with Clarkson over Conley. I know he can shoot, but I wouldn't give 2 FRP in a trade with Utah either. So I'm cool with what we have at the moment.

Nobody needs to be right all the time. Or agree all the time either. It's called a difference of opinion. You take it as some kind of ...I know something you don’t jazz. I don't care at all about that, nobody is getting paid for voicing their opinion on a message board. I don't need you to "moderate", by telling me how I should respond to posts. Do your job..that ain't it.
I didn't disrespect anyone, I posted a different take on a post directed towards me. Yet once again you jump in with your hot take on what you think I'm getting at. Get over yourself dude. I don't pay you any attention anyway, and rarely comment on anything you post. Put me back on ignore, that's perfectly fine with me. Moderator

 

Huh?

 

Ban him

 

How are all these SF guards? You even have PF listed here.I'm confused. I specifically said..Who has all these huge guards?

How many PG listed are bigger than Westbrook? Russell and Luka..two.

If you want to just throw out heights than once again we have 7 players on the roster 6'9 or better. 4 6'5 or better and one of the biggest PG in the NBA. Beverley and Nunn are both 6'2. I don't get the point of what you assume to be accomplishing here. All you did was list a bunch of guys of similar heights to the players we already have.

Stanley Johnson was in the G league when we picked him up. You don't know who is going to play and who won't. That's your opinion, I have mine, we shall shortly find out if Gabriel won't make any rotation.

 

I don't recall AD or Lebron being absent from the Lakers bench even when injured? Unless it was because they were getting treatment

 

I don't know about that, but I was talking about availability for games.

 

He sucked in vogels offense

 

He very likely will.

 

I can respect the concerns, but I have to say that it isn't all gloom and doom either.

Lebron and AD have played 108 games together as a duo. They are 75-33 that's a .694 winning pct. That is simply outstanding, 57 wins a season. If you look at it when they have played at least 15-20 straight games together it goes up to 74%.

Those guys playing in 30 games or less, has killed this team over the last two seasons . If we get a full or close to a full season from them, everything elevates around them. They make the supporting cast look good, it's not the other way around.
I remain optimistic on the injury front because, besides maybe a Kyrie trade, I just don’t see any moves that would mitigate another 30 games or less performance.
Boatload of questions in other areas, I agree with that.
Nunn avg 15pt a game career wise..will he get back to that.
What's going to be Beverly's true role here
There is a hell of a lot of playing time to be had on this team. It looks like we are rolling the dice on a bunch of young guys. Which ones are going to step up to the plate.
Can Russ bounce back after actually playing a full season with Lebron and AD, under a new scheme
Is Darvin and this staff ready
Will Rob snag anything useful from the cut/waived market

I guess we'll find out some answers by a month onto the season. I can only speak for myself but I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. Almost excited..but it's only September .

 

You would be confused. They are called wing players and can play AND DEFEND multiple positions as well as spread the floor. And no, you didn't specifically just ask who has all these huge guards. You followed with most PG in the NBA are "smaller than Westbrook" and followed with "same size as Nunn or Beverley" <who are 6'1>.

There were NINE point guards on that list that are taller than 6'1.

You also were responding to someone who was indicating how we were terribly undersized in general, not just with guards but with wing players. You know this because in the same comment you were talking about a whole list of players on our roster which is what made you add your balls licking on Westbrook to include that of Wenyen Gabriel, who I repeat has little to no chance of making the rotation and will be hard pressed to even be on the roster throughout the season.

And did your insane and warped reality on him just make you type we have "one of the biggest PG's in the NBA"??????

Josh Giddey (Thunder) 6'8
LaMelo Ball (Hornets) 6'7
Luka Doncic (Mavericks) 6'7
Lonzo Ball (Bulls) 6'6
Malcom Brogdon (C Bags) 6'5
Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) 6'5
Cade Cunningham (Pistons) 6'5
Killian Hayes (Pistons) 6'5
Tre Mann (Thunder) 6'5
Romeo Langford (Spurs) 6'5
Deion Wright (Wizards) 6'5
Jalen Suggs (Magic) 6'4
D'Angelo Russell (T-Wolves) 6'4
Jordan Poole (Warriors) 6'4
Coby White (Bulls) 6'4
Jaden Ivery (Pistons) 6'4
DeJounte Murray (Hawks) 6'4
Kevin Porter Jr (Rockets) 6'4
Marcus Smart (C Bags) 6'4
Jamal Murray (Nuggets) 6'3
Reggie Jackson (Clippers) 6'3
John Wall (Clippers) 6'3
Ja Morant (Grizzlies) 6'3
Jrue Holiday (Bucks) 6'3
Cole Anthony (Magic) 6'3
De'Aron Fox (Kings) 6'3


Now please explain to us, when there are 30 teams in the NBA and half of them and as many as 20 will have guards starting or sharing the PG spot are as tall as Westbrook or taller (as many as a 14 are taller) and yet we have "one of the biggest PG's in the NBA"????

 

Exactly....

Russ "balling" is more likely to hurt this team than help it. As a matter of fact, "if" Reaves can really step up his shooting and the Lakers can find a couple of surprises from the JTA/Brown/Walker mix, I am still convinced this team would be better the LESSER minutes Russell Westbrook has- and I mean 20-24 minutes a night to sitting at home all together.

I appreciate Ham's positivity and saying all the right things, but I repeat even he can't force a square peg into a round hole..