Steady as she goes... If anything, the Mavs flushing their future down the toilet means the West just got tougher in the short term. Now, and down the road, the Lakers will be very competitive, LBJ or no.... The League will continue to assist them. Obviously, that 2029 Mavs pick looks sweet now...
No reason to panic. We are at least a year away from being championship contenders. We should keep our powder dry for a serious move. Hell we might end up with another great young player with the Phoenix pick. After the playoffs their might be a lot of teams ready to deal with 2nd Apron concerns. Of course if you could get Irving for 1 Rocket pick or this year's Phoenix pick and FVV and Cam or something like that, then do it. Irving or Durant would make us contenders for the championship this year and next.
I'm wondering, was this trade a precursor to Lebron being moved this week (possibly to the Warriors)? Lakers knew they weren't going to get a superstar back from Golden State and wanted a "face of the league" type player as AD was not going to be it.
Agreed, this season will end in the first or second round of the playoffs as they are now. Their goal is simply to see what kind of team they have and to make adjustments in the off season.
These next 7 games are still going to be tough, but the schedule after the ASB is not difficult (I believe 6th easiest in the NBA, not bad). I think it's about 35 games or something. If we win those at the same % as the previous games, we should win 22 to 23 games. That gives us 54-55 wins. That's the dream scenario. Need some better health and some rest. They're young enough to bounce back quicker than other teams. Hopefully if this slightly easier schedule does nothing else, it make scoring a little easier. I know our defense will be fine as soon as Jabari is back.
Might not be too bad but honestly it's good for his profile. He's young and only 5th in minutes played this season total. It might be ok for him to just take the opportunity that day to raise his profile and have fun - that kind of rewarding activity can be very stimulating for our biology. He has been carrying a lot but that kind of guy I think 3-4 straight days would be plenty of rest as long as he's not injured.
I can't see us going deep this season with this young core as our main guys. The only way to push for a championship right now, IMO, would be to acquire a star player who has been there before multiple times--ideally without giving up Brooks and FVV (who are our only starters with playoff experience). I.E. the 2019 Toronto Raptors model. As for whether we should do that, depends on the star in question and the price to acquire him. Probably not, but after last night's Luka debacle, who the f*ck knows anymore?
I hope you are right, but my eyeballs see a tired young man. He expends more energy on the basketball court than anyone I have ever seen and is not used to all these 40 min games. I agree it's got to be fun and rewarding to him.
Agreed. Jalen + expiring contracts for KD. Do it NOW! That makes THIS team a contender THIS year. Plus I think Cam Whitmore will have the better career than Jalen, if given the right circumstances.
We just need to add shooting to the rotation. That could be a big move or I think it could also be done on the margins. Olynyk for Landale and a second rounder is a decent start. Kelly O can play as a power forward as well from time to time next to Adams or Sengun. Olynyk for Landale and 2nd Cam Johnson for 2025 suns pick+Holiday+Jeff Green+Tate+lotto protected first. Sengun/Adams/Kelly O Amen/Smith Brooks/Eason Green/Cam Johnson FVV this essentially becomes the 10 man grouping that you are relying on in the playoffs.
