Part of the holdup may be that the Rockets cannot aggregate the salaries of those Mav's from the Wood trade for 60 days from the date the trade was executed (draft night). They can be aggregated on or after August 23rd.
True, true. However the hold-up on EGo is twofold, IMO: 1 - EGo is de facto attached to the aftermath of Kyrie/Mitchell/KD/Russ, as either a back-up plan or part of a 3-way. Or 2 - RS has overplayed his hand on return for EGo and, indeed, a mentoring return til February ensues.
I think the hold up is the rockets wanting Gordon around the young guys and Gordon doesn’t mind being in Houston I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Gordon stays with us another year or two. I’ve heard multiple insiders say Gordon is actually very open to staying in Houston for the right price
perhaps, dunno facts. Conjecture suggests the gent’s value is regarded highly in Houston. Conjecture also suggests many other pieces need to fall before EGo’s turn.
I guess the bubble championship gets him a certain amount of job security, but it's hard to believe that Pelinka is so against using a 2027 pick to fix the Westbrook fiasco that he is responsible for. If he sits on Westbrook and wastes two of LeBron's final years, he should be long gone before the Lakers get to use that pick.
I think you may be on to something here, at least I hope this is the case so we can make an even better deal. Stone is in no rush so we got time.. I think he eventually will get moved before the season (i'm sure they are giving him a say-so in where he is going). It only makes sense. If not, I am cool with him staying around and helping the youngsters learn the NBA game and life.
I was thinking none of them could get moved at all until August 24th, but that might be correct about the aggregation. If they are planning to combine those salaries with Gordon, that means they are trying to make a move for someone in the $30M+ range, doesn’t it?
Could be, but maybe not all of those players in one big deal for a player. Unless there is a really good player under contract out there that could be moved that we really like. I think Stone is trying not to take back salary beyond next summer unless the player is young and will grow with our young core. However this goes, I think we are in a good spot going forward with our roster and flexibility. I think Stone has showed with the Wall situation, that he will not be forced into making a move he does not want to make and one that is not beneficial to the team. And it seems like Tillman is letting him run things to rebuild the team.
Gordon is the "vet" I like for this team. I would probably trade him for a decent 1st round pick sometime after 2023 BUT I don't care if we ride out the next 2 years and even extend him extend him if it's feasible and fair for both sides. For 2022-2023 I want us to start Eason at SF. I know we won't do that, and I realize some of the reasons why are legit. That being said, I prefer Gordon to Tate. The spacing inside of Sengun Smith Gordon Green KPJ is optimal for Sengun and Smith. Plus Gordon is fine defensively. Gordon/Smith/KPJ can focus on the better wing player matchup wise and Green can guard the quicker players. I liken starting Gordon to when some of these NFL teams end up upgrading their offensive personnel to truly get a read on their young quarterback. Starting Tate helps with rebounding and D But we will get the better read on our young guys starting Gordon.
The Westbrook situation is not on Pelinka, just like it was not on Morey. The Lakers are a very strange organization when it comes to Lebron. Their thought process is similar to the fans in that it seems like Lebron is not really fully accepted as a Laker, and they don't really care about his legacy or going out of their way to improve his legacy, it almost feels like they don't want him to surpass Kobe in rings, but are conflicted since they likely still want to win. Pelinka was Kobe's closest friend and seems to be annoyed by Lebron by his meddling in personnel issues, he blames him for the Westbrook trade and wanted Derozen who ended up having a career year immediately after they passed on him. Derozen was everything the Lakers needed, and Westbrook was everything they didn't, that is on Lebron and AD. Pelinka is not responsible for the Westbrook situation at all, he had much better ideas, and the Derozen deal was set, Demar was told he was coming to LA. Jeanie's relationship with Kobe is something that is borderline strange to me, its like she thinks of him as a son, but something greater, it is the weirdest dynamic I have seen for someone who is not married or dating someone. I think Lebron also has not made a good impression on her, and she likely would be content with not winning in the Lebron era again, so it makes sense they don't want to give up future picks to cater to him when they may not even see Lebron in their future. You are asking them to give up their future on Kyrie Irving essentially, which is crazy high risk. If Kyrie decides not to play, or is injured again, AD is often injured, you can't expect Lebron to carry the team at his age. Ultimately, I see there still being a good chance they give up the pick and make the trade, but I wouldn't be too quick to blame Rob on this one.
Beverly off the bench would be good for the Sixers but Bullock would be ideal. Perfect floor spacer for Embiid and Harden with Tucker and Maxey also terrific shooters. Melton is pretty much a better offensive version of Beverly
if Pelinca could have done, as reported, Russ + #1 for Kyrie and Curie and didn’t? That’s felonious on his part. IF it had truly been on the table.
who is the ultimate blame wearer? There’s the blame sharer. Pelinca? Jeanie? The Rambo’s’? LeBron? Screw all that, get things right and move forward. Not the Buss kinder way.
Call me crazy if you want, but I would make the 3 an open battle in camp between Gordon, Tate, and Martin. Maybe Martin wins and we can boost his trade value then replace him with Eason at the deadline. I like Gordon in the backcourt for stability in the second unit.
I think they have worry about California being a notch down from Toronto on their vax restrictions. Personally, I'd move Westbrook and the pick for 3-4 roll players for depth. Get some shooters and defenders... For example, the Jazz could do Bogdanovic, Beasley, Beverley, and Gay for Westbrook, THT, and that pick. I think that makes the Lakers far better than relying on min salary players...
I'm with you. I'm all for having a lot of talented players battling for playing time. Let the best players win it, then move the rest later on. Competition breeds better players.
