This time of year brings a lot of "reports" on a lot of things. Rarely do they work out as originally reported. My guess is that there is a leverage play in this report. LMA leaving Portland through FA is somewhat surprising for the reasons he's stated because most teams with cap room for him are in worse shape than Portland. SA is the one that could make a "3 amigo" type play for him. It would test his statement about wanting to win because that would most likely mean he takes less than max to make it happen. SA seems to have a way of making players take less to play for them however so I wouldn't discount it out of hand. I'd value him as the top FA out there. Maybe we can lay out a road map for him that he likes. Even our best scenario offseason wouldn't put us in true contention so it would have to be a process.
My hopes having been raised, yet still being realistic, if the Spurs are at the top of his list and we are 2nd, we'd still have a hell of a pitch to make. Going to play in his home state, for the best coach in the league, with Duncan for a season, and Parker and Leonard beyond that, learning to win in the playoffs vs trying to make the playoffs. Selling LA over SA won't be easy.
1. Either trade up or have Justin Anderson fall to #27 and take him. If he's not available, trade down. Take Powell and Dakari Johnson in the 2nd round. 2. Use that 4.6 million on Rondo (I think you and I are the only ones that will like this idea, but I'm saying it anyway!) 3. Use the 2.8 million on Ellington. Rondo/Clarkson Kobe/Ellington/Brown Randle/Young/Anderson Aldridge/Kelly Okafor/Black/Sacre or Rondo/Clarkson/Powell Kobe/Ellington/Brown Randle/Young Aldridge/Black/Kelly Okafor/Sacre/D. Johnson That's fairly conservative I think! (Watch me get blasted on Rondo lol)
It was said elsewhere but the pitches are certainly different... SA- playing "at home", winning now, good culture, great coach, great veteran leadership, quiet vibe. LA- playing where he owns a home, winning a little later, great culture, great business opportunities, endorsement deals, trying to build a dynasty.
You can post 100 great posts in a row, and then you have to go and mention Rondo and make me hate you with one post.
I'm riding or dying with Rondo as well. The only PG I'm going after with that money that would overtake him is Mo.
I like Rondo because of his grit. I lost a little on him from how he handled the Dallas thing but the guy inside is a guy I want to go into the playoffs with for sure. He isn't breaking under pressure and he isn't trying to be the "man" , like Howard, without being able to step up. What I am not doing is on board for paying him some psychotic amount he screwed that up with the Dallas thing. Now he wants to play here he need to cut some hometeam discount. Im a big fan of Aldridge too much higher on him than on Cousins.
I read that 76ers and Portland were kicking around the 23 pick for 2 Sixers picks in the 30s. Both Sixers picks were lower than ours. I'd swoop in and offer the 27 and 34 for 23 in a HEARTBEAT. 23 is in the range of Anderson for sure. The question is whether or not Portland is doind that to get out of the guaranteed contract the 23 entails? It was on Alex Kennedy's feed. It's in a Grantland article.
I think they want the nonguranteed deals to make a run at Love... still I'd definitely make that offer.
It was pretty clear they already knew he was out when they dumped Batum for Vonleh & Henderson. My potential LMA + Cousins roster from the other thread: Clarkson/Rondo Kobe/Brown Anderson/McDaniels LMA/Black Cousins/Upshaw
The 27th pick is only 963,000. Is that 463k going to put them over the top? But then why move at all, right? 23 is $1,112,900. Their salary situation is really clean right now. They could conceivably go after a couple max guys. They have about 21 million right now after the Batum trade. Love + Wade? Love + DeAndre Jordan? Lillard + Deandre + Love could be frightening. DeAndre/Kaman Love/Vonleh ?/? /Henderson Lillard/Blake They got some spaces to fill, but that team's young and could develop.
