I am not 100% on board with Griffin becoming a Laker but consider the following... The Clippers are cooked. They've been cooked for some time now. Their chemistry is non existent and there is a lot of evidence showing CP3 and Griffin each playing at a level higher when they are not on the floor together. Griffin has had a injury history before this, so I don't understand the violent reactions when he gets this latest one. If you hate the Clippers, fair enough. I do too. While I'm not ready to call this "big toe injury" a fluke, I am fairly suspicious about it. If I'm the Clippers (thank god I'm not), it seems like a convenient time to shut Blake down while putting all my chips into CP3 as a last ditch effort for these playoffs. Let's not forget that there were already rumors of Blake walking before the playoffs even started. If Griffin has any interest in staying in LA, I personally think Magic and Rob will take a hard swing trying to sign him. He might be the biggest target in this free agency, it's not hard to imagine Magic and Rob going for this signing. I for one am intrigued in seeing Blake play without CP3 and become a facilitator. As for the cost, and the likelihood that he gets injured again? Yeah, for those reasons I'd probably stay away too. It would be a huge risk if the Lakers signed him. But 2 years ago, the Clips ran their offense through him and took out the defending champs. He was very, very good in that series. Do I want Griffin? Not entirely. But I would not be surprised at all if: A) he wants to stay in LA, B) Magic and Rob push hard for him and C) he puts together a comeback year after getting healthy & shedding CP3. But make no mistake, this will be Paul George's team.
I wouldn't complain if Lakers got Blake. At the end of the day he's still a top 15-20 player. We as fans can't be too picky...this team needs to start winning again and making the playoffs. You're not going to the Finals next year so enjoy the process! Getting Blake and PG13 would be a big step in the right direction.
This plus his reeking Clippers stench and his no balls flopping. F*** him. Look at the roster they had and never got out of the 2nd round.
We need to see who steps their game up by start of next season. Unless a deal for George that doesn't include Ingram, Zu or maybe Russell.
We need an All-Star this off-season, IMO. Giving up assets isn't my first choice; especially when their on rookie scaled contracts. However, some of them are due for extensions, and we will be forced to make a decision to pay them an exorbitant contract. Either way, here are my reasons for adding an All-Star this off-season: - We become an immediate contention for Free Agent(s) in 2018. - We become competitive. *Provided the appropriate moves are made to surround that All-Star with quality vets under what we have left in our cap space. - Takes pressure off our Youth (The youth that is here that didn't get dealt for an All-Star talent). - Appeases Season Ticket-Holders, Cable Contract, Fans, Etc. We're going to need Pelinka's CBA brilliance to put this together, though. Of course the pick is huge; aside from this things, though, I think we have enough in the cupboard to add an impact piece.
We will. I mean, they have to. This is Magic and Pelinka's moment to show why they were hired. Standing pat is not in their DNA. Not at this time.
I honestly don't understand why people think we are getting PG-13 for so little or that we have Indy over a barrel. I know we think he's not signing an extension anywhere but in LA, but if Boston ends up with a higher pick, they offer that and, let's say, Smart and Crowder, that beats anything we should realistically give up to get him. And I think Boston would take that risk since that team now can contend with the Cavs. I just think people need to be realistic here that we may not be able to pull off a deal without giving up two of our three prime assets (high pick/Ingram/Russell). Bird doesn't HAVE to do anything. PG-13 is under contract and Bird still can throw a max deal on the table at the end of next season that is significantly larger than our best contract offer.
We're living in a world where the big names get more money off the court than on the court. If Paul misses the All-NBA teams, Indy can't offer the supermax and that puts LA in a decidedly stronger stance financially. Boston has many more options. They can sign Hayward outright without giving up any assets. There have been rumors of Carmelo Anthony. There have been rumors of Jimmy Butler. Meanwhile there's been clear evidence that a) Paul George is unhappy in Indiana and b) that he wants to come back here. It's been widely reported and corroborated by multiple sources across the country. I don't think we have Indiana over a barrel by any means, but if Paul George remains adamant that he's signing only in Indiana or LA and he'll only pick Indiana if they're contending, then we're in great position. We shouldn't give up too much to get him. I wouldn't include the pick if they didn't take back Deng for instance. I don't want to overplay our hand, but let's see what the summer brings in the rumor mill. Paul George has a chance to seriously put an end to the noise or to double down and get out of Indy.
I'm not at all sure that Smart (no O), Crowder (league average player), and a pick is better than JC (league average player), Randle (no D), and a pick. Bird doesn't HAVE to do anything, but if we've made good strides, why would George stay in Indy, where he's obviously unhappy?
The pick is the only enticing thing about that Boston offer. Crowder and Smart I mean really? How does two average role players help a team in rebuilding mode? If the Lakers got a higher pick their offer would easily be superior by including Clarkson and Randle.
Completely agree. And though I like our young guys, no one should be untouchable on this team. We've got enough assets to make some moves and finally put a competitive team out there.
Drinking out of the toilet is different than water going through a reclaimed process. However, in communities where it's used, they say in the back of their minds they know it's sewer water, and often say they can still smell the raw sewage. (Phantom smells) But hey, if drinking poo water is yo thang, Blake Griffin is your man!
I'll say it again. ... from a fan's perspective who's aware of their 4 HOF home grown players, you know how special they are watching them grow into their primes. BI has all the tools and the mindset and natural understanding of the game to be our next home grown star. He's going to be special. They love him. He's the one guy that has to be unavailabe.
Jc/randle/moz/ top 3 pick for pg13 Dlo/dung/hou 1st for butler find way to entice cp360...i dont like him but cant deny is skills set to make people around him better, pg/butler take ingram under their wing Cp3/ennis/buy a 2nd rd pick Butler/ingram Pg13/ingram/brewer Bogdonovic/Nance/trob Zu/trob -yes this is fantasy trades lol
We've traded for plenty of great players from Wilt to Shaq and Kobe. I'm just not that attached to Ingram or any of the kids at this point. Certainly not enough to pass on guys like George or even Butler. Definitely not ready to say Ingram will be a HOFer
