The Lakers do not own the New Orleans pick. New Orleans has the right to swap picks with the Lakers - unprotected. Currently that swap would not happen as New Orleans is in the 12 spot and Lakers 14th.
Paul George has a bad knee and will be out for two to three weeks, the Clippers are going to drop like a rock in the standing. Kawhi cannot win games by himself he needs George. The next nine games for the Clippers are going to be tough to win and I think they can only win 3 or 4 games max….we should get the 15th pick…nice!
Whatever the clipper’s pick (or the OKC’s pick for that matter) ends up being, sure beats the Bucks pick, which seems to be a lock for the 30th. I’d consider the EG trade a big win for us.
The EG part of the trade should be viewed as a big win. One can quibble about the other parts leading up to the EG deal, but that last part was a big win. A decent move up without taking on salary in a year that has some good players available.
If the pick somehow ends up at 15ish it will be huge for the rockets. It gives you a few options. You can package it with a few players for one better player. You could use it and a few players to move up to the 8-12 range and get someone like Cason Wallace to maybe back up whoever they bring in to play PG. A pick in the mid to high 20’s is essentially useless in the above scenarios.
Thu, Mar 23 vsOklahoma City 9:30 PM NBA TV Sat, Mar 25 vsNew Orleans 9:30 PM Mon, Mar 27 vsChicago 9:30 PM Wed, Mar 29 @Memphis 7:00 PM Fri, Mar 31 @Memphis 7:00 PM Sat, Apr 1 @New Orleans 7:30 PM Wed, Apr 5 vsLos Angeles 9:00 PM Sat, Apr 8 vsPortland 3:00 PM Sun, Apr 9 @Phoenix 2:30 PM
The Thunder. They will cool off I am betting because of the run they have been on. I think Westbrook having a subpar game will top it off on the clippers as well.
He would all right if he fell that far I guess. Would rather have a guy like Cason Wallace or Jalen Hood-Schifino (unless we pick Scoot or Amen), or just whatever top 10 prospect falls that far if any of them do. Better yet, trade the pick up, or use it to trade up and get Scoot if possible.
Considering we got Alperen Sengun and Tari Eason at that range I'd rsther keep the pick. More picks, more chances of winning.
My worst nightmare is for OKC to somehow get Taylor Hendricks. So my best case (and unlikely) scenario for the clippers pick is to trade up to draft Hendricks.
Its been kinda the rule of thumb that the teams with the top players get favored in the playoffs. Certainly, teams with top players are at least expected to make the playoffs. This year, most of the top player lead teams in the west are crippled by injury. How on earth could Sacramento make the playoffs, let alone be a top 2 seed in the west any other way? Add to it, as you point out, the demises of the Suns and perhaps the Mav's also doing what playoff bound teams do most every year. Make a trade at the deadline to get better. Man, did that NOT work. Its the Wacky Wild West for sure this year.
What do you see in Hendricks that has you so hyped about him? He's a nice prospect if you can get him in the middle of the first round, sure, but he seems like as pure of a 3-and-D roleplayer as they come to me; high floor, low ceiling.
