Good post except it makes some sense for lma in la. Kobe will retire and it will leave the team to him. The lakers arent gonna rebuild they will contend as soon as they can get stars. Plus he will get commercials and exposure something that seemed to be one of the most important reasons he left portland. But this all requires la can find a center. Because no way in hell he signs to play center.
If LA cannot find a center, they have no shot at LMA. I just don't get why LA is a option. LMA is almost 30, at that age he would be better team up with other stars. That is why the Rockets makes sense.
Like that other dude said, the era of stars forcing their way to LA is over, because of the changes in the CBA. Their road to rebuilding is long and I don't think anybody stars want to get in on the ground floor of that.
I agree with this completely and that's why both dal and la are in the mix. I don't think La is the Lakers type player. If it were love or melo I would completely believe La in first position but LMA is low keyed. My only concerns with SA over HOU is 1. SA is actually really good well run and a great fit 2. SA could also sign and trade say Danny green or splitter to Portland too, so we have to give up some real value here.
Lets not overvalue our players now. I have stated that I do not believe that Portland would want Ariza because of his age and contract. I do believe they would want DMO. I would take LMA over DMO any day of the week.
So we never got the true meaning for this? Does it mean Aldridge is likely to go to LA? Or does it mean Aldridge to LA is just a fantasy (lala land)? Cyber?
Yes, Kobe will retire soon -- but how soon is anyone's guess. It's hard to see LMA sticking it out with an aging Kobe and untested youngsters. He's already 30 and wants to contend now. Maybe LMA will be more inclined if Kupchack (and Kobe) can give him personal guarantees that (a) Kobe is retiring after this season, AND (b) the Lakers have deals in place to create enough cap space next summer to bring in Westbrook or Durant, etc. This is entirely plausible but risky given the mess their FO has become. Who's coming in to turn things around? Thibs? Mark Jackson? Lots of question marks. Not so many in Houston, which leads me to believe there's something to OMR's post.
Why do you think exposure and Hollywood is important to LMA? ive always heard that it's about winning for him, even back when he was very frustrated before Lillard broke out.
I thought he meant David West is going to NY (lala land) and he just didn't use any punctuation to show he was talking about something else.
LA defies all logic. Aldridge has always been a quiet man. He is not going to get any big deals moving to LA than Bosh got for playing with the big three. The extra money does not compensate for the losses he take just paying out extra tax. And he already effing proved he is not about the money. Next year he is a 10 year player which means he jumps to 35%. If he wants money just sign a 1 year deal with portland and then next year sign a 5 year deal with the blazers. They are the only team that can do that and he doesn't care. That is 6 years at near 200 mil as opposed to a 4 year deal at 85 mil to the Lakers. He'll never get all of that money back. I think he can do the math. Do you really think he is signing with LA so he can make an extra few million doing some stupid commercials. Plus why leave Portland to be the man in a year in LA. Makes no sense. LA with Russell and LMA are not doing anything for years and a year with Kobe is just 1 less year wasted in his career. That's all that is. LA is not finding a center if they sign LMA. What center are they going to get for the minimum. He is there center and Randle there forward. With Russell runing the point it's not a bad team to build around but does he really want to rebuild at this time in his career. Because that LA team is probably another lottery team next year in the west. Yeah Portland will drop out but OKC has already got that spot taken. Do you really think LA has enough to bypass the Mavs, Jazz and Suns. All 3 of those teams could be better next year. NOpe LMA is not stupid. If he wants to go deep in the Playoffs and stay in Texas his best bet is Houston. If he wants to represent LA at the lottery next year pick the Lakers.
I'm not overvaluing them. I agree with your views about HOU and SA being his top targets. My only long is I'm sure SA will also be willing to sign and trade so we'll have to offer something real. DMO might need to be sacrificed since LMA plays the same position. I want to avoid sending Ariza even though DMO is more valuable, bc in a year he's going to be commanding in excess of $12mm/yr barring injuries.
Pop has said, believe him or nay, that he will stay on for the transition (of Duncan/Manu). He might promise LMA something similar. Pop's replacement will be from the Pop-tree. No doubt.
Ainge is looking for the next Harden deal. They don't grow on trees. Making the playoffs was great for them/terrible for them. Failing to do so just might have gotten them #4? At this time the C's are caught in NBA purgatory-hell; not every team gets going in the way DM the GM has rebuilt the Rox.
Rockets' PG issues will be resolved prior to November. Smart is very unlikely to suit up at TheToyShop IMO.
