Kuzma, Ingram and Ball should be the untouchables, in that order. Everybody else is pretty much a bargaining trade chips. I'm actually beginning to appreciate Randle and his game, even Nance's. So you have KCP, Clarkson and the rest to choose from if I call the shots. Actually, that's pretty much it. OKC can have KCP & Clarkson since they're in need of scoring SGs and Deng for their void of bigs. They're basically just calling back Sabonis and Oladipo with an added bonus. Match made in heaven. Sign the deal now. Wait a minute. 18+18+12 is 48. Doesn't add up and we don't have any SG left. Yeah Hart but we don't have any SG left. We need a 3rd party that would want either KCP or Randle and Deng. Somebody work the magic math here and possible trade porpsects and all. --- Nance, Randle and PG will anchor our spreadout defense. 1-4 can easily switch in PnR. Kuzma, Ingram and PG will lead the scoring. Ball and PG will man the facilitating. Yeah PG, you better be worth the wait. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
I just don't see OKC trading PG. I think that's a pipe dream. Right now they are in the 8th spot in the West and I see them figuring things out and correcting some of their issues. I don't think they'll be able to climb up to the 4 spot. I hope they land 6 through 8 and get clobbered in the first round. But they might work their way up to the 5 and make it to the second round. At any rate, I see OKC holding on to PG as long as they possibly can in order to try and get him stay. I don't think they give up on him in December- February. Sorry. My guess is we will have to wait for everything to unfold this summer.
Probably, but let's see where they are in February. It's entirely possible they're still slumming in the bottom seeds or if someone gets hurt, they may even be out of the playoffs at that point. There's a lot of season to go. I don't think it's a "pipe dream", I think it's a fluid situation. The key being I'm not sure OKC is the kind of team to wait and see. If it looks like Paul George isn't going to commit in February, they may decide to take the upside play and Julius makes a ton of sense for them in that regard.
4th is just two weeks away of good OKC bball. Never said a thing about it but OKC is the King of Struggles this season and it doesn't help the media are having a heyday magnifying it under a microscope and yet despite being a laughing stock, they're actually just there hanging around, a ticking bomb. PG is having his worst shooting season since elevating his game. Melo, worst in many aspects of the game as well. And as inconsistent as WB is from perimeter, he's just a plain eyeore to watch taking those shots this season. It's more than just the chemistry. All three altogether just decided to start this season, a third of the season with a shooting slump. Then no clear system. Nothing good really about the team but theyre still there hanging around. Well, their defense is their saving grace. But once the shooting gets just a little better for them three which I hope would never happen, it will break every defense of every other team wide open. One testament that this team is a ticking bomb? Regardless of whether it's GSW CLE or HOU, DAL PHX or CHI, no one can, with certainty really tell how the game is gonna go if it's against OKC. It's up to how OKC show up. Not one will be shocked really if they beat or lose to all of those teams. But we'll see. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
Yeah WTF we can get that out of Randle when he flashes back to his pre-mature optimism and inability to change direction with half a head of steam.
Have you seen the OKC offense? Westbrook off the ball is useless. Once the ball is out of his hands, he literally takes himself out of the play. Melo and George are pretty similar, but not as bad.
That was an incredible 3 OT game between OKC and Philly. PG had a good game, but the one thing that I can see that may push him away from that franchise is Westbrrok’s ball hogging. Good god. Lonzo would feed him all he could handle.
again, i'd trade if it meant getting george and keeping a max salary slot in the process. that's the advantage to trading talent for him--it means you don't have to mess with dumping deng (which will take adding talent, too).
I'm definitely not opposed to trading for PG, I just don't think Presti will do it between now and the deadline. I think they will try everything to keep him there. However, as realdeal said, we don't know what will happen so there is always a possibility. I think that anything less than Randle and Clarkson probably won't move the needle. But who knows?
PG's no needle. Just Randle and Clarkson? At this point, I find that to be an overpay. If after a couple of weeks, OKC remains somewhere near 0.500 or worse, they'll gonna take that in a heartbeat knowing PG is as good gone. Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson, just them would be the fair trade value of Paul George in June... ...of this year with all the home-bound expectations. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
I get that PGinLA. I'm just trying to look at the other perspective here instead of the Lakers colored glasses. They are at .500 ball, in the playoffs if started today at 8 (basically tied at 7th), and I believe they will be moving up the ladder from now on. There's almost no way IMO that they will give up on PG between now and February given all that and the fact that they are trying desperately to keep him. I don't see PG giving up on OKC during that time either. As he's already mentioned he's going to see how this plays out (meaning post season ball) before he makes a decision. So really there's not much or any incentive for OKC to deal. If they look like they are out of the playoff hunt in February that's a different scenario. But I wouldn't bet on that. That's why the cost will be high if we try to trade and I don't think it's going to happen at all on the other end.
Exactly. If you're OKC what are you trading George for? You're only doing it if it really makes sense. They're not going to trade George for Deng, they'll need value. The situation for George to be moved to LA is specific.
Fine. Case 1: From here on out, they get better. They climb up the ladder and maybe even reach #4 before the trade deadline. With Westbrook's ballhogging and midrange bricking, I take the chance of this happening is 50-50 or worse. Case 2: They remain where they are. 7th, 8th or 9th til the deadline which is likely to happen with Westbrook's ballhogging and midrange bricking. PG will then be considered as a damaged goods for any sales pitch unless you're the Cavaliers. My point is, another superstar walking away the 2nd time in 3 years without leaving anything behind but a failed season is the last thing OKC would wanna write in their record books. Think that's worthy of at least considering some slowly sliding plausible options. I'm not saying a trade should happen now for OKC, the next couple of weeks should greatly impact how they're gonna act. I'm saying unless things get better, trade moves by OKC will likely to happen closer from today than it is from the deadline or none at all. But what do I know. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
KCP/Clarkson/Zubac for PG/Abrines works - All 3 players for the Lakers are going to be gone next year to make “the plan” work. - If OKC keeps losing and doesn’t feel like they can compete, it’s the type of deal they would make to flip those parts again for something else. - Agreed No one is going to take Deng. Has anyone seen Deng in months?
