How come working with players didnt work out with Nico? My guess is even if you or I were the GM Lakers would still end up with Lebron, AD and Luka. Pelinka deserves credit for giving up so little for Luka, but thats due to his own negotiation skills not because he worked with players. Pelinka having a law background prob helped a lot in getting team friendly deals for the Lakers players. IMO familiarity with contracts is more important than working with players since so many former players ended up horrible GMS like MJ, Billy King, Phil Jackson, Isiah Thomas etc
So to refresh our memory, the discussion was about striking at the moment (now) vs waiting until the summer? If I'm not mistaken. I stand by my assessment. [ Just a friendly discussion ] NBA viewership is down 53 percent. The NBA has clung to the super stars of LeBron. Durant, Steph Curry and has done a poor job of featuring the younger Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant. So you predict (or previously suggested) the Rockets should wait for a star this summer, while I say none of the stars will be available, or their asking price will be too huge, or they are too old. Perhaps a little bit of all? Let me start with the young ones; because of the new CBA, the teams with promising stars are going to keep their own, team drafted young talent. Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Banchero, etc. teams will trade or waive the rest of the team before letting them go. The old ones: Durant. LeBron, Butler, Paul George want too much money and often don't play. Higher risk for injury. Summary: because of new CBA and decreased NBA viewership, league has orchestrated a Doncic to LeBron tandem. Kyrie is hinting he will join them this summer. Butler to join Steph Curry to make the Warriors a powerhouse. I predict, Durant to Knicks this summer. Durant doesn't want to go to a team full of 23 year olds and under....but a team full of vets like Brunson, Mikal Bridges. Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson or Hukporti. Lakers: LeBron, Doncic, (Kyrie probably this summer) Warriors: Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Butler Clippers: Kawhi, Harden Suns: Booker, ?KAT ? Knicks: Brunson, ?Durant ? Giannis: not a good fit next to Sengun and Amen. None of them can shoot. Trade would need to be Sengun x Giannis. Wemby has blood clots similar to what ended Bosh career. Cooper Flagg has expressed desire to play next season at Duke again. Will get paid more with NIL than his first year of rookie contract. Yes the Jerami Grant, John Collins, Cameron Johnson trade opportunity will come again this summer; But I feel it's an opportunity wasted since we are so close or near the top. One player can make a big difference. I feel/felt that SF/PF would have been the play. Our pool of Whitmore, Tari, Bari. Dillion, Tate can play multiple positions but lack that extra couple of years experience or consistency. Jerami Grant. John Collins and Cameron Johnson have scored well in multiple play type stats in years past if not this season. More than 3 & D players like Ariza. Our best year was with Ariza and Luc M. We would've won it all Luc hadn't injured his shoulder and Ariza didn't burn out from guarding Harden and Beverley opponents all season. More Wings goes a long way, especially if they can shoot.
