It'll be an uphill battle for sure. If KD is still out and Thompson is out or hobbled then maybe they can steal one but if they leave Oakland down 3-1 you can close the book on this series.
NBA: ***Official 2019 NBA Playoffs Thread***
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It'll be an uphill battle for sure. If KD is still out and Thompson is out or hobbled then maybe they can steal one but if they leave Oakland down 3-1 you can close the book on this series.
No KD. Klay missed major minutes. Iggy is hurt, Steph is "sick" and Boogie is just coming back from injury. And they still won. Raptors won't win either in Oakland. Then they'll win at home but the Warriors will finish it out in six in Oakland.
There are some baaad contracts in the NBA (John Wall is the worst possible) but the Raptors have a pretty bad one with Kyle Lowry. At least he's active but averaging 10 points a game through the last ten games yet is getting paid $31M this year and $33.3M next year.
The best thing going to the Lakers headed into free agency in their sales pitch to Kawhi is you need two superstars to win a title. The Clippers will be good but they don't have two superstars. Staying in Toronto with Lowry? Won't happen with him as your 2nd option. Team up with LeBron and take down the Warriors together.
It feels like the basketball gods are bored with Golden St and trying to find ways to keep things interesting, see how you do without KD, ok - that's working how about with a hobbled Igudoala, now try to throw Cousins back in, still worked - how about with a banged up Klay?
Toronto can just pitch Siakam's development, he's your second best guy on that team. Just put up 17/7/3 on 55/39/79 shooting at 24 and can pretty much guard any position on the court.
They're such a mess right now I'll be mildly surprised if they can even get a meeting with Kawhi.
From a basketball only standpoint, it's hard to beat what Toronto can sell him. The Lakers have to try to sell them that they can go from not even making the playoffs to contending to a title with him. Toronto has to sell him that they can win maybe two more games next year with him, they've already shown how close they are.
Yeah the Lowery contract might be a little pricey but he's still a borderline all-star caliber player and it's only one more year. Plus you have Siakam who's went from role player to all-star within the last year and is only 24. With guys like him, OG Anunoby, Danny Green possibly McCaw, you have a lot of guys who are excellent defenders who can save him work on that end of the court. They've shown they are willing to let him take plenty of time off during the regular season. They are basically going to run it back next year with the same team, a full year of Gasol, and then come 2020 it's pretty much a blank state of a roster for a very good front office that has proven they can develop players, nail late round draft picks and aren't afraid to make bold moves. The Lakers are selling a front office that has shown they were able to convince a guy who wanted to live in LA to sign with them.
But if Kawhi is dead set in living in California, then there's nothing the Raptors can do.
And if he's dead set on living in southern California then the Clips make much more sense than the Lakers in their current state. More stability in the front office and on the coaching staff and more flexibility to improve their roster.
They'll get a meeting. Kawhi and his uncle want to be in LA. The Lakers better have LeBron in the room too. If he isn't and the Lakers continue to try to build around LeBron without his input they'll fail this summer.
If Rob Lowe...er...I mean...Rob Pelinka falls flat on his face in July, which is highly likely, he better be fired like ASAP. But Jeannie Buss won't do that. She's too busy doing absolutely nothing.
Yeah Clippers have room to sign two big free agents after moving Tobias Harris to the sixers. Guys like Harrell, Beverly, and Lou Williams look like perfect role players to team up with and Doc Rivers has already won a championship. If the Clipper can land Kawhi and a strong no. 2 I think they can make a legit run at the finals next year.
The Lakers have flexibility to improve their roster. It's young trade assets, the #4 pick and a ton of cap space. All those odd signings last year were one year deals.
Now, if they go and hand KCP another $10M+ just to appease Klutch Sports then there is no hope for the Lakers until someone who knows what they're doing takes over.
If the Lakers can trade for Bradley Beal and sign someone like Kyrie they'll be a top 3 team in the West. But it looks like Kyrie is headed to the Nets.
I like their rookies a lot, too. Shamet and SGA were pretty good finds for them.
If I was an NBA GM, I would hate trading with Jerry West. Anyone he asked for would make me second guess if I'm really willing to include him a deal. I would always feel like he knew something I didn't.
And then there's the Lakers, just offering to throw Zubac into a trade with Jerry West for no real reason.
GS did everything they could do to give that one away, Toronto couldn't hit a shot for their life. It's not over but their offensive struggles last night will haunt them all summer.
The Pelicans made this bed. They failed to build around AD for 5+ years. Compare AD in NO to LeBron in Cleveland. Before LeBron, Cleveland was trash. After LeBron, Cleveland was trash. Twice! And he walked both times and they are empty handed. Now NO can lose AD, which will happen regardless but at least get some pieces back.
Media thinks it is between the Knicks and Lakers for AD. The NO coach likes the Lakers assets more but the NO owner does not want to do business with the Lakers. Will be an interesting trade battle.
