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It's def. a gamble, for sure, and it's a gamble on the Buss Kidz continuing to flail. Dragic seems like he's going to stay in MIA. It's hard to say what Love will do, but the Lakers mgmt. is such a Dumpster fire that at this point they might scare off more FA's than they'll attract. I mean is playing with Kobe really a draw anymore?
I've seen a lot of Okafor in bits and pieces and he looked dominant but I hadn't really watched a full game until UNC-Duke on Wednesday. After watching him play against other competent big men who can match his size (ie what he'll see every night on the next level) his stocked dropped a bit for me. Post moves are VERY impressive, but a big man with limited range who does a poor job of protecting the rim is a tough fit in today's NBA. Guessing he gets the same Z-Bo comp that every big man with iffy range and rim protection gets. But how many of the countless Z-Bo comps over the last few years have panned out?
All we can do is speculate at this point. I'm sure the Lakers are high on Love's list. If the Lakers land Okafor + Love + another mid/upper tier PG and/or SF alongside Kobe & Randle (alongside the post I quoted), I believe they'll be a playoff team next year.
I don't watch college ball till the tourney so I won't comment on Okafor.
This makes the Dragic trade look even worse. Is their pick they sent them protected at all? They were already going to be 1 and done in the playoffs unless they pulled off a miracle and upset the Raptors, but they weren't going past the second round no matter who they played. Without Bosh and we know Wade is going to get hurt/rest again I can see Detroit, Indiana, or Brooklyn passing them for the 8th seed and making that pick the sent to Phoenix being 10 times more valuable.
Yeah agree it'll be tough for them to get in the playoffs + it's a lot of "what ifs" for the Lakers (IF Kobe can ever get healthy/accept lesser role, IF they get #1 and take Okafor, IF land Love + free agent, etc..)
It's fun to poo-poo the Lakers right now, but the idea that they aren't a destination franchise is silly. Was anyone surprised that LA was one of 3 places he demanded?
Miami picks to Phoenix:
Good to know, that could be bad to especially if Dragic goes else where and Wade is older and Whiteside could be gone. Miami is really trying to stay mediocre for the next 3 or 4 years.
As a Sixers fan who watches every game, Michael certainly has shown some flashes, but I think you will be disappointed if you think he will be better than Knight. He is not a great defender, I know his metrics are better this year, but a lot of that comes from Noel's ability to blow up pick and rolls. He is an AWFUL shooter...he shoots 27% outside the paint and shoots in the mid 60s from the line, which is god awful for a PG. I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he missed all off-season with shoulder surgery. He also hasn't proven to be that tough, missing multiple stretches this year with what were considered minor injuries (although some of that may have been "cautious" team management.
A 2015-16 lineup of rookie/rookie equivalent (Randle)/Love/Kobe/Dragic would have the potential to be the worst five man defensive unit in the history of the NBA. Dragic, who is merely passable, would be the only defender of the 5 that's not horrifying (almost every rookie sucks at D, and that would especially be the case with Okafor or Russell). There's no rim protection and nobody to guard wing scorers on the perimeter. The Warriors would crack 200 against them.
. The management is still all messed up from losing Lebron.
Their team is terrible and their ownership is terrible.
With Bosh out for the season (reportedly) and Wade almost game to game, the book on Dragic will get much bigger.
Player/coach revival?
@ESPNSteinLine · 4m4 minutes ago
RT @APkrawczynski: AP Source: Timberwolves are not bringing KG back for just this year. They want to do a two-year extension with him
PHX went from a 29-win team in 2004 to a 62-win team in 2005. That's the record. D'Antoni's first full season as coach, signed Nash after having Stephon Marbury as the starting PG for part of the previous season, bunch of young talent gelled in D'Antoni's offense with Nash behind the wheel. Probably would have won the title if Joe Johnson hadn't broken his face during the playoffs.
As awesome as player/coach KG would be - the single season record for technical fouls would get shattered - salary cap rules prevent player/coaches from happening.Player/coach revival?
@ESPNSteinLine · 4m4 minutes ago
RT @APkrawczynski: AP Source: Timberwolves are not bringing KG back for just this year. They want to do a two-year extension with him
Pretty much assumed here in town.As awesome as player/coach KG would be - the single season record for technical fouls would get shattered - salary cap rules prevent player/coaches from happening.Player/coach revival?
@ESPNSteinLine · 4m4 minutes ago
RT @APkrawczynski: AP Source: Timberwolves are not bringing KG back for just this year. They want to do a two-year extension with him
No inside info here, but KG coming back to Minnesota only makes sense if he's looking to take on a larger role with the team when he's done as a player. Gut reaction is he will buy part of the team, possibly escalating into KG being the face of a group taking the team off Glen Taylor's hands.
I really hope the Mavs drop all the way to 8. They're the easiest out of all the playoff teams.
Yeah wouldn't mind that either. There are no good options, really. Durant's foot is not right either, so it's not a given that they're just going to go on the tear to end this season.
Think Durant's foot is going to be a bigger story going forward. Surgery and it's still not right. Would be worried.
