I think that Lakers team is reliant on classic old-man strength. For short periods, they can play at really high levels. Then their age starts hitting them, and they regress.They're smoking Phoenix.
Denver is needing 20 point comebacks at home and buzzer beaters to beat a mediocre Lakers team.
Bookmark this when that Denver-LA series is 2-2.
The absolute funniest part about that whole situation is that it likely all works out extremely well for them if Ishbia just doesn’t get an itchy trigger finger when he takes over the team, or if he didn’t gain control until after the deadline.
Look at what Dame was actually traded for: Ayton, Camara, Holiday, Bucks ‘29 1st, two Bucks pick swaps
So, sans Durant trade, all the Suns would’ve had to do to beat that offer was Ayton, CP3, 2 1sts, and a swap for Lillard and Nurkic (plus any filler). Blazers/Celtics still could’ve made the exact same trade they did for Jrue.
So, they keep all those other picks and pieces they gave up or had to cut to make Beal and Durant work and instead have:
Dame
Booker
Bridges
Johnson
Nurkic
Shamet
Crowder
Plus all their depth and flexibility to sign guys moving forward. Nice work Ishbia.
I think that Lakers team is reliant on classic old-man strength. For short periods, they can play at really high levels. Then their age starts hitting them, and they regress.
They're most dangerous earliest in the playoffs, and earlier in each series.
Zero chance the Cavs trade with the SunsWe should trade Garland and picks/filler for KD
Dan came into the game determined to make a big splash - deals all the time, fighting with SAS, etc. A poster once said he always liked to make a “big dick swinging move” and that was perfect.
Over the years he’s learned a lot and is very involved with bolstering the team with upgrading the facility, building the new practice facility in addition to writing the checks. Being an NBA owner is a humbling experience (real humbling, not “LeBron humbling”). Had to suck for him to kiss LeBron’s ass but that’s life as an NBA owner - players have all the leverage.
Ishbia strikes me as a guy who wants to prove he has a bigger dick than Gilbert and is out there swinging it around. What he needs to learn is there is a big difference between having the biggest dick and acting like the biggest dick.
I don’t care how rich or smart you are, when you’re a rookie you have a lot to learn. Making a lot of big moves when you haven’t learned shit is idiotic. Really smart people and really stupid people can both make really stupid mistakes - the first from arrogance, the second because, well, they’re stupid.
Ishbia needs to put his dick back in his pants until he learns how to use that thang. Or he can keep waving it around and have everybody laugh at him.
The damage is kind of done for Ishbia. It's going to be difficult for them to recover given their tax situation, draft capital, and Beal's no-trade clause without just blowing it up and trading everyone.
I can kind of understand the Gilbert situation more, though. The Cavs had terrible FO personnel. When Gilbert took over the team, the Cavs had been bad for years prior to landing LeBron. Even then, LeBron was only in his second season when it was announced Dan was buying the team, and Boozer had just ducked out the back door the prior offseason. Dan had significant pressure to make moves to make the Cavs more competitive and build around LeBron and keep him in Cleveland.
Sarver was a shit owner, but Jones and the Suns FO had the team in a great position overall despite all of that. They needed to make moves, but they were generally a young team that made it to the Finals, had all their assets, and had a proven guy leading the front office. Afterall, Jones was executive of the year in 2021. They weren't dealing with a Ferry or Paxson situation.
Ishbia blew it all up in six months. If the Cavs were to can Koby for whatever reason, if I'm Dan Gilbert the first call I'd be making would be James Jones.
Last night I thought of a fun three team trade, especially if LeBron comes back to the Cavs:We should trade Garland and picks/filler for KD
I know lots of people in the Mortgage industry, been doing it for 20+ years. Both Gilbert and Ishbia have major little man's disease for sure, biggest dick is dead on.Dan came into the game determined to make a big splash - deals all the time, fighting with SAS, etc. A poster once said he always liked to make a “big dick swinging move” and that was perfect.
Over the years he’s learned a lot and is very involved with bolstering the team with upgrading the facility, building the new practice facility in addition to writing the checks. Being an NBA owner is a humbling experience (real humbling, not “LeBron humbling”). Had to suck for him to kiss LeBron’s ass but that’s life as an NBA owner - players have all the leverage.
Ishbia strikes me as a guy who wants to prove he has a bigger dick than Gilbert and is out there swinging it around. What he needs to learn is there is a big difference between having the biggest dick and acting like the biggest dick.
I don’t care how rich or smart you are, when you’re a rookie you have a lot to learn. Making a lot of big moves when you haven’t learned shit is idiotic. Really smart people and really stupid people can both make really stupid mistakes - the first from arrogance, the second because, well, they’re stupid.
Ishbia needs to put his dick back in his pants until he learns how to use that thang. Or he can keep waving it around and have everybody laugh at him.
No way Dan wants Irving back and he doesnt solve anything, horrible defense and small guard. If we trade Garland its for a bigger SG...which we really have in both Okoro (must keep) and Strus, so really its for a SF which Durant is, i just dont see the 2 clubs trading.Last night I thought of a fun three team trade, especially if LeBron comes back to the Cavs:
Garland to PHX
Durant to DAL
Irving to CLE
I agree Ishbia wrecked it but in the NBA you can come back - if you are patient and learn from your mistakes. Cavaliers recovered from Stepien albeit with bonus first round picks. Smart move would be to blow it up, trade everybody and start over because he’s got assets that will lose value rapidly if he doesn’t.
I'm going to post this and walk away. I assume the Cavs will try to get LeBron this off-season and he will still want to be paid. Which as mentioned means garland as the only option to trade(probably plus lavert). Assuming okoro resigns(they need him to). That gives you Mitchell, Straus, okoro, LeBron, mobley, allen as your primary 6. What the Cavs would be missing is a playable 3 point specialist. The rost of the roster looks.... Pretty damn goodNo way Dan wants Irving back and he doesnt solve anything, horrible defense and small guard. If we trade Garland its for a bigger SG...which we really have in both Okoro (must keep) and Strus, so really its for a SF which Durant is, i just dont see the 2 clubs trading.
Not sure I am willing to give up Garland for a 40 year old Lebron. He will fall off a cliff one of these years very, very soon.I'm going to post this and walk away. I assume the Cavs will try to get LeBron this off-season and he will still want to be paid. Which as mentioned means garland as the only option to trade(probably plus lavert). Assuming okoro resigns(they need him to). That gives you Mitchell, Straus, okoro, LeBron, mobley, allen as your primary 6. What the Cavs would be missing is a playable 3 point specialist. The rost of the roster looks.... Pretty damn good
Eat my ass: obviously you have some options in g-wagon and Merrill. But if this is the shot and LeBron is coming back for a retirement tour. I'm finding a way to find someone proven.
Damn it Lee, I didn't want to make this a thing.....Not sure I am willing to give up Garland for a 40 year old Lebron. He will fall off a cliff one of these years very, very soon.