The Hornets got more draft capital for Mark Williams than the Mavs got for Luka lol.
That's what I was thinking. These seem like the left over assets they were prepared to trade for Luka.
But they had to get a big and supply was dwindling. I’m OK with it. Knecht was a very promising shooter but with Luka they have enough of those. Williams has to stay healthy, which seems to be hard for bigs. Embid, Davis etc. Dice the Lakers had to roll
I don't know that they had to roll it now. But Luka kinda said jump and Pelinka said how high. It's an overpay, seems like they at least could have made the 2031 protected in some way or not given them the swap (even if they think it won't get used because of the state of the teams when it hits). I guess maybe they paid extra to get rid of Redish's contract to give them a bit more room to hire a cast off here in the next few weeks.
I doubt Luka said jump.
I wouldn't be worried about protected picks in the next 7-ish years, none of them should be good enough to meet any protection.
It was a
soft request. They do need to keep this guy happy to lessen whatever probability there is he just walks as soon as his contract allows. So it doesn't surprise me Pelinka would semi-panic in response to Luka letting him know who he works best with. What's funny (or sad for us Laker fans) is the implication that Charlotte played Pelinka in a somewhat like manner to how Pelinka supposedly played Nico.
The thing is, I don’t know what’s really out there besides Williams with that skill set that they could match salaries with. Centers these days are a weird weird market.
FWIW I think the more pertinent point is the Lakers and Luka think he’s healthy and presumably in shape. You only do this trade if you think you’re competing for the title this year.
All true. Still I picture the conversation going something like:
Charlotte GM (don't know the name): "Hey Rob, how's it going, we note that you now have too many 3/4s and no real 5, we're interested in Knecht and could make Williams available. Wh...
Pelinka: You've answered my prayers! Knecht, our 2031 unprotected and Reddish
Charlotte GM: <pauses to see if Pelinka will just randomly throw in more stuff>
Pelinka: O.k., O.k., , I'll give you a 2032 1st round swap option too - IT'S ALL I'VE GOT!
Charlotte GM: <more pauses to see if Pelinka will just randomly throw in even more stuff>
Pelinka: Look, I'd give you Reaves, but he's got irrefutable proof that I am indeed a Rob Lowe cloning experiment gone horribly wrong, and that there's more things off than just the thinning hair. I can't let him out of the building.
Charlotte GM: I think we can live with that, so...
Pelinka: Great, no taksie backsies, I'm calling it in to the league, bye!