Rui like AR hasn't peaked yet. Rui like AR will give a hometown discount .... he loves the Lakers. The Lakers make a LOT of money in Japan on Rui. I would imagine.
yeah, much like jerami grant last year, i'm not even convinced wiggins is better than rui. he *might* be, but i'm not sure. and he's older and has had a pretty troubling history of wildly inconsistent effort. whereas rui has just slowly and steadily improved. i do share others' concerns that rui is extension eligible and nothing's happened there. i totally get why, but it does create a problem in the short term. and that said, i don't know that moving him for an older player with a player option for 30+ million next summer is an improvement on that. add in that that they're demanding all sorts of stuff on top of it, and i'm sort of laughing at the idea.
It should be noted that he had a few family tragedies that got him away from the game. I’m wondering if he’ll bounce back because he is still at a good age to be solid for the next 3 years or so.
keep coming back to miami having zero interest in investigating this possibility. they know something.
They know that they're nowhere near contention and need to find their next superstar very soon. Whether they have Wiggins or some combination if our expiring contracts, I don't think it really matters to them as either Wiggins' salary or the space created by our expirings is just going to be a vessel to acquire their next star.
if they think cap space next summer is better than wiggins this year and next, why wouldn't we? if they think that space is going to somehow facilitate a better acquisition, why don't we also think this? i get that you're implying wiggins gets us closer to contention now, but i'm not sure i agree if rui is outgoing. marginal upgrade at that point--at best.
I see it somewhat similarly to OKC trading Giddey for Caruso. In terms of talent they're pretty close, but we need what Wiggins can do at his best more than what we know we can get from Rui. Wiggins is still one of just a few wings that has the size/strength to hold up against just about any wing and the footspeed to hold up against scoring guards. He's a less reliable shooter, but better attacking closeouts and running in transition (the latter of which I think JJ is going to emphasize). Whereas with Rui, he's lights out on corner threes and those cuts, but his best role defensively is the same as Luka and LeBron's best roles, and I think they're both better at it than he is. I think there's also a distinction in that Miami needs a superstar, whereas we'd like one, but already have one, and really just need another Top 30ish guy to replace LeBron. I think the only avenue for Miami to get a superstar is through the threat of him signing into their space, which Wiggins complicates. In contrast, I think our targets will ultimately be younger guys making a lot of money on bad teams because they were miscast as the #1 and their teams are actively trying to get off of (Zion, Scottie Barnes, maybe even Franz if Franz/Paolo proves to be too clunky offensively). I can see Wiggins going out in those kinds of deals.
Depends too on JJ's input who has been laying real low this summer scheming, and every time he has commented on Rui he's done nothing but praise him and say he's doing everything they're asking of him. Not to say @sk2408 doesn't have good points above.
I love Rui, he's worked hard and turned himself into a rock-solid role player. These are just the kinds of tough calls you need to make when you're close to contention, which I think we are. I should clarify in every Wiggins-related post that this isn't my first option. I'd much rather try and do something with Gabe/Kleber/Dalton/FRP to fill the two-way 2/3 role that I think needs to be filled. It's just hard to find those guys.
yeah, i'd rather have moved gabe/kleber for kcp if i was going to cut into flexibility next year in an attempt to add a speedier wing defender.
I think LaRavia and at some point Thiero are going to help ooodles, not to mention the Vandalorian ..... with his first off season in what .... 3 years, healthy, to work on not sucking as a total ZERO on offense to where he becomes unplayable in the post season. Not like our cupboard is bare in that regard, plus it's fair to assume at least some further improvement on D from Rui. Gabe let's not forget is in a real prove it year to try and keep his non tax payer mid level status, we have added Smart and Bronny in the wings.
From a defense standpoint most people who follow Marcus Smart feel the Lakers got a good 2/3 defender with him. The real issues as @abeer3 is pointing in the defense right now is that we are missing what Gabe was supposed to do - a good PG defender who can be a threat on offense. Smart hasn't been able to do chase quicker guys for a few years. This is the opposite of what a Wiggins move do. LaRavia from the film also looks like a decent 3 type of defender On the whole I like a Wiggins move only if it's a salary dump by Miami and this one of those reasons. Really frustrating that the difference between a title contender vs not because Gabe Vincent pulled a Houdini on the Lakers with his Finals run with Miami. That dude is exactly what this team needs. (and yes these roleplayers can make that big of a different Indiana is a good example of this)
i continue to hold out hope until keon ellis is re-signed or traded somewhere else, lol. rather than moving rui, i'd like to trade dalton and all available picks for ellis. basically a step up from the mark williams offer. i don't think the kings are interested, but until it's dead, my hope lives!! ellis/smart/gabe reaves/laravia luka/vando lebron/rui ayton/hayes/kleber that's a legit contender. if lebron retires or walks, ellis's and reaves's holds are small enough to work the margins and retain them as the ideal backcourt mates for the future with luka as the centerpiece. anyway, i digress... it's the rui thread. i like him and am sad he's not a great fit at this exact moment. i won't cry if he's moved, but i don't want it to be for wiggins, particularly if other assets are lost in the process.
I’m not in love with trading Wiggins for Rui. When will we ever learn our lesson about picking up Heat players?
Yeah, if KCP looks pretty good but Memphis isn't very competitive and Gabe looks meh I would definitely check on that one during the season.
It Has to be a TAM consideration for merchandising and advertising for having stars and popular Japanese and/or other Asian players in the US on your high visibility, wildly successful Professional sports franchise. Just look at what Walters has with the Dodgers. That can’t be lost on both Jeanie and Mark that they have a “rare” NBA gem in Rui. Who by the way can play!
Which brings up a thought related to …. but far different in legality I’d think …. the Clippers / Leonard situation. What would be the legality of say the Lakers doing an advertising blitz on TV, Instagram, Tic Tok or whatever platform with geographically targeted and slickly entertaining adds with your star and popular players in those markets and countries you want to expand. Like any other company you pay those players for their appearances and likenesses (and brand ) for going market rates and the number of times run? Or would that all be covered by their regular contract? Not every player does it and it’s time on set and extra work?
pretty sure any direct payment from us to rui is out of bounds. but investing in some japanese company who then (over)pays rui to promote them is apparently totally ok.
