2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Do it , Rob

 

FWIW..The Pacers said that talks with the Lakers, never progressed to the point of discussing draft picks period. Even though it was widely reported about two picks for Hield and Turner.

 

I like it but it needs a PG maybe Anthony?
AR wears down and Lebron has become too untrustworthy not to have a PG.

Any know if Fultz is back from injury? He's an NBA caliber rotation player at least even if he was a bust for #1 pick

 

I'd be happy with Vuc and maybe Gabe and 2nds for Dennis again to correct the huge mistake we made letting him walk (if we preferred Gabe)

then maybe we can package Vando with Wood for someone else, if Vando doesn't recover.

I personally wouldn't waste any first-round picks with Lebron starting to look his age out there. If there is no path to a ring, best to save them for the rebuild.

 

oh sorry; brain freeze. yes, russ and two firsts was a theory. if it was possible, maybe that's worth it. would have been one more first than we gave up in the other russ deal. still not convinced pritchard would have dealt turner to us without taking everything that wasn't nailed down.

i read the other day that fultz is apparently injured, and that's why nobody's signed him. i still think if you're going vet min diving, dennis smith is a nice flier. kris dunn is starting and playing a role for the clips. sometimes, these guys need time and the right situation.

 

We'd have open roster spots, we could elevate the kid on the two way, or pickup a guard on the buyout market. I'm not really worried about Lebron. Lavine can attack the paint off the dribble at a high level, Vucevic can board and he sets good hard screens. Those things can help James conserve some energy. His major issue is stamina IMO.

We shouldn't have to rely on a 40 year old James, to still be our best rim attacker, and 2nd best rebounder on the team. This would be the most potent offensive team, Lebron has ever had IMO. He can go out like a remixed version of Magic.

That's a good enough team to stay in the mix after Bron retires.

 

yeah, i'd like to get a look at olivari. i imagine that if we make a 2 for 1 (particularly involving gabe or dlo) he'll have a chance to audition for a regular contract.

 

Forgot about Olivari. Wish he'd get a look. If hes playable really changes what you're looking for. More Bulls less Nets direction

 

Ahh, 8th place. All is right in the world.

 

at the 20-game mark, you usually know where things stand. we're right about where i'd expect if we're 12-8 and in the play-in.

 

https://intheno.substack.com/p/brandon-ingram-leaves-excel-sports

he's rumored to be going klutch...

he's going to have some control over where he lands, and NO isn't going to get much. i'd actually like to be in on the bidding here.

still feel like atlanta is the natural fit for him, and don't know why NO didn't make the murray trade a swap of those two instead of draft picks and daniels. they knew they were going to have to deal with contract year ingram. guessing whatever move griffin makes here, he's out.

 

I have never been a fan of BI.

• Around 28-30% usage since he went to New Orleans, so not a good fit with Lebron. However, I always thought he would be a decent replacement for Lebron, sort of how I feel about Reaves.
• Low-volume three-point shooter. Only 1.4/3.8 threes per game for his career. That is similar to Rui. Perimeter players need to be launching 7-8 threes per game in today's NBA.
• Shoots too many mid-range shots. 17% of his career attempts are 16 feet to the three-point line. He only makes 40% of those. 23% of his shots are from 10-16 feet and he only makes 46% of those. Does not shoot enough threes for today's NBA, especially for what Reddick is trying to run here.
• Only 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. This is also similar to Rui. Very low when you consider he is 6-8 with a 7-3 wing span.
• Other defensive metrics show he is a below average defender. For example, he has a career -0.7 DBPM, though he is better than Rui, who is -1.3 for his career.

His game is similar to Rui's, only he handles and passes much better. Would be a decent acquisition if Lebron and Reavees were not on the team. His skillset requires specific offensive players around him. I don't think his playmaking chops are worth doing all of that for. I could see why the Pelicans don't really like him (for the money he is asking for).

 

i've said similar things, but i actually think ingram could play a different role than the one he plays for NO. and i also think the writing is clearly on the wall that lebron needs to be a lower usage player, and maybe reaves, too. the only thing i really don't like about ingram is that like one of our other former lotto guys (randle), he doesn't seem to be a high hoop iq player.

that said, if the cost is rui/dlo/jhs and a heavily protected pick in 2029 that converts to 2nds if it's not conveyed...i'm open to it.

i'd probably prefer lavine, fit wise, though.

anyway, ingram's definitely good enough to be a third star level player, imo, which makes him the kind of consolidation trade i can dig. some folks wanted to give a similar package for jerami grant this summer. and i think ingram is substantially better and might be cheaper.

 

I still wouldn't go for it. Remember, we would have to pay him too. Ingram would not be a good fit with Lebron and Reaves on the team. Similar to the WB problem.

 

The third option needs to be an elite shooter. We seem to play well when Dalton gets a lot of shots.

 

Ingram just refused to sign extension in Utah.Is he comes back to Lakers?

 

he's a much better shooter than westbrook; teams won't leave him. and his length would be useful on defense.

basically, i'd view ingram as a bigger dlo who doesn't shrink as easily. less of a playmaker, for sure, but still able to make plays off the dribble.

i agree that paying him is an issue, as is his FA status if he's seeking really big money.

elite shooters who can defend don't grow on trees. and as you said, we already have one in knecht.

in all, i just feel like when 27-year old players who are of near all star caliber become available, you should look into it. i don't view it like westbrook at all, actually. that was a past-his-prime player in addition to being a terrible fit.

 

Sure, he shoots better than WB. But he would be a significant drop off from Dlo in terms of three-point shooting if you want to do that comparison. Dlo is a career 2.5/6.9 threes per game, and has had seasons where he gets almost 10 three-point attempts per game. If Dlo is gone, we need to supplement with other high volume three-point shooters, cant just have Knecht for that. I mean, we are talking a lot more gravity with Dlo than Ingram. Yes, we have Knecht and he is looking like he should be the third option right now. Knecht needs a lot of shots, I don't care if he is on a rookie contract, he is a difference maker. No need to slot in another high usage mid-range shooter, who wants third option attempts, when those shots should go to long-range shooters like Knecht. BI would exasperate spacing issues with this group. I don't think Pelinka and LeGM are that stupid to just look at his 36% three-point percentage as indication that he is a good three-point shooter. Trading for BI would be a huge mistake by the Lakers imo.