**Official NBA Offseason... Big Names switch teams, Kawhi/P13 to LAC...wtf Westbrook and CP3 traded
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I think it’s a bold move cuz I’m curious who they are expecting to D up western guards w/ LBJ running pure point w/ that starting lineup...I’m used to seeing him play point forward but w/ a true guard on the court as well to handle those defensive assignments...it’s asking a lot of him...gutsy move tho
Still not as good as the Clippers.
What NBA insiders are buzzing about at Las Vegas Summer League
The NBA universe is still in the first week of free agency, and the league was back in business to start summer league in Las Vegas after the holiday and the warm-up exhibitions in Utah and California.
Well, the league was up and running before Friday's earthquake halted events.
What have scouts, coaches and executives said about the most important player-movement news and young player flashes? Here are the latest intelligence and buzz-worthy items from the MGM Resorts Summer League.
More: Summer league scores/schedules | Free agency news | Trades
Russell Westbrook: The summer's last big domino to fall?
In the wake of the trade that sent Paul George to the LA Clippers -- pairing him with Kawhi Leonard -- the biggest question buzzing around both gymnasiums in Las Vegas was an obvious one: What's going to happen to Russell Westbrook?
The thought from any and all people in attendance Sunday was that this story has one ending: Westbrook, the standard-bearer for the franchise throughout its 11 seasons in Oklahoma City, will be traded at some point. The follow-up questions -- when such a deal would happen and where it would send him -- led to more nuanced discussions.
Westbrook has a massive contract, with four years and $170 million remaining. He also has a game built upon athleticism and will turn 31 in November. That combination, along with a strong personality, is why the prevailing opinion among insiders is that the Miami Heat are the most likely landing spot.
The mechanics of a trade with Miami will be difficult because the Heat are hard-capped. But the Heat signed another star this summer who is entering his 30s in Jimmy Butler, and they have a franchise ethos of trying to be as competitive as possible. They also have pieces, including Goran Dragic's $19 million expiring contract and forward Justise Winslow, that seem like reasonable building blocks in such a deal.
As recently as 48 hours ago, the idea of Westbrook being traded anywhere wasn't on anyone's mind. Today, though, it is a top question around the league.
-- Tim Bontemps
The Clippers' polarizing pursuit of Leonard and George
Kawhi Leonard's decision to join the LA Clippers and bring Paul George with him has his team as the favorite to win it all by some oddsmakers. Others believe the Los Angeles Lakers -- who lost out on Leonard -- are still better positioned to make noise next season.
"After all the mismanagement and drama they've been through, they still have LeBron James and Anthony Davis," one general manager told ESPN. "Even as an 8-seed, get them in the playoffs, and that's a scary team."
Leonard's choice might have been surprising, considering he became the first Finals MVP to leave the team he just won the Larry O'Brien Trophy with and he picked L.A.'s other NBA franchise, but many saw it coming.
"The Clippers tracked him like a dog all year long," one Eastern Conference front-office member said.
To get George, one exec said that the Clippers gave up a ton of assets but thought it was worth it. "You have Kawhi on one wing and PG on the other. That defensive prowess is off the charts," he added.
There was a difference in opinion about Oklahoma City's role in the deal, however. Some thought Thunder GM Sam Presti had to do the trade, underscoring the overwhelming amount of assets the Clippers were forking over to break up a team that was over the cap and won a single playoff game this spring. But others thought the Thunder could have put their foot down to enforce the league's often-overlooked tampering standards.
With the Clippers so invested in Leonard, was it just a player trying to persuade another player to come play with him -- which is allowed -- or was the force of a franchise behind it?
"If it wasn't such a big haul," one Western Conference GM said, "then OKC would have made an issue of it." With yet another superstar demanding a trade before his contract was through, the GM suggested that such demands could lead to owners pursuing non-guaranteed contracts for players.
-- Dave McMenamin
That's not quite all, folks
Anthony Davis spent a solid 20 minutes in the middle of a hotel lobby on Friday afternoon talking to New Orleans Pelicans coaches and staffers in an unexpected meeting before his former team's first summer league game. As he started to walk away, Davis realized that his former head coach, Alvin Gentry, had made his way to the group to come over and say hello. Davis took a few steps in the other direction while his former colleagues chuckled. After a few more steps, Davis turned around with a smile on his face and gave his old coach a big hug. It was another intriguing moment in an afternoon full of them for Davis and the Pelicans, as the former face of the franchise met the new face of New Orleans basketball when Zion Williamson made his way off the elevator and into the lobby a few minutes later.
NBA Free Agency and Trades[/paste:font]
Find everything you need to know about the latest free-agency and trade news.
"He just can't stay away," one Pelicans staffer said of Davis, with a hint of sarcasm.
The reality, as Gentry pointed out after spending a couple of minutes with Davis, is that the 26-year-old center is still well-liked by many throughout the organization. Davis clearly has a soft spot for the people he used to work with, as he took pictures with a few, including Pelicans summer league coach and former Maryland star Greivis Vasquez. Davis gave Williamson a handshake and a hug on his way to the team bus for his first professional game -- a game that, as Gentry noted earlier, had fans paying upward of $500 outside the Thomas & Mack Center for good seats to see Williamson's debut.
The NBA universe is still in the first week of free agency, and the league was back in business to start summer league in Las Vegas after the holiday and the warm-up exhibitions in Utah and California.
Well, the league was up and running before Friday's earthquake halted events.
What have scouts, coaches and executives said about the most important player-movement news and young player flashes? Here are the latest intelligence and buzz-worthy items from the MGM Resorts Summer League.
More: Summer league scores/schedules | Free agency news | Trades
Russell Westbrook: The summer's last big domino to fall?
In the wake of the trade that sent Paul George to the LA Clippers -- pairing him with Kawhi Leonard -- the biggest question buzzing around both gymnasiums in Las Vegas was an obvious one: What's going to happen to Russell Westbrook?
The thought from any and all people in attendance Sunday was that this story has one ending: Westbrook, the standard-bearer for the franchise throughout its 11 seasons in Oklahoma City, will be traded at some point. The follow-up questions -- when such a deal would happen and where it would send him -- led to more nuanced discussions.
Westbrook has a massive contract, with four years and $170 million remaining. He also has a game built upon athleticism and will turn 31 in November. That combination, along with a strong personality, is why the prevailing opinion among insiders is that the Miami Heat are the most likely landing spot.
The mechanics of a trade with Miami will be difficult because the Heat are hard-capped. But the Heat signed another star this summer who is entering his 30s in Jimmy Butler, and they have a franchise ethos of trying to be as competitive as possible. They also have pieces, including Goran Dragic's $19 million expiring contract and forward Justise Winslow, that seem like reasonable building blocks in such a deal.
As recently as 48 hours ago, the idea of Westbrook being traded anywhere wasn't on anyone's mind. Today, though, it is a top question around the league.
-- Tim Bontemps
The Clippers' polarizing pursuit of Leonard and George
Kawhi Leonard's decision to join the LA Clippers and bring Paul George with him has his team as the favorite to win it all by some oddsmakers. Others believe the Los Angeles Lakers -- who lost out on Leonard -- are still better positioned to make noise next season.
"After all the mismanagement and drama they've been through, they still have LeBron James and Anthony Davis," one general manager told ESPN. "Even as an 8-seed, get them in the playoffs, and that's a scary team."
Leonard's choice might have been surprising, considering he became the first Finals MVP to leave the team he just won the Larry O'Brien Trophy with and he picked L.A.'s other NBA franchise, but many saw it coming.
"The Clippers tracked him like a dog all year long," one Eastern Conference front-office member said.
To get George, one exec said that the Clippers gave up a ton of assets but thought it was worth it. "You have Kawhi on one wing and PG on the other. That defensive prowess is off the charts," he added.
There was a difference in opinion about Oklahoma City's role in the deal, however. Some thought Thunder GM Sam Presti had to do the trade, underscoring the overwhelming amount of assets the Clippers were forking over to break up a team that was over the cap and won a single playoff game this spring. But others thought the Thunder could have put their foot down to enforce the league's often-overlooked tampering standards.
With the Clippers so invested in Leonard, was it just a player trying to persuade another player to come play with him -- which is allowed -- or was the force of a franchise behind it?
"If it wasn't such a big haul," one Western Conference GM said, "then OKC would have made an issue of it." With yet another superstar demanding a trade before his contract was through, the GM suggested that such demands could lead to owners pursuing non-guaranteed contracts for players.
-- Dave McMenamin
That's not quite all, folks
Anthony Davis spent a solid 20 minutes in the middle of a hotel lobby on Friday afternoon talking to New Orleans Pelicans coaches and staffers in an unexpected meeting before his former team's first summer league game. As he started to walk away, Davis realized that his former head coach, Alvin Gentry, had made his way to the group to come over and say hello. Davis took a few steps in the other direction while his former colleagues chuckled. After a few more steps, Davis turned around with a smile on his face and gave his old coach a big hug. It was another intriguing moment in an afternoon full of them for Davis and the Pelicans, as the former face of the franchise met the new face of New Orleans basketball when Zion Williamson made his way off the elevator and into the lobby a few minutes later.
NBA Free Agency and Trades[/paste:font]
Find everything you need to know about the latest free-agency and trade news.
"He just can't stay away," one Pelicans staffer said of Davis, with a hint of sarcasm.
The reality, as Gentry pointed out after spending a couple of minutes with Davis, is that the 26-year-old center is still well-liked by many throughout the organization. Davis clearly has a soft spot for the people he used to work with, as he took pictures with a few, including Pelicans summer league coach and former Maryland star Greivis Vasquez. Davis gave Williamson a handshake and a hug on his way to the team bus for his first professional game -- a game that, as Gentry noted earlier, had fans paying upward of $500 outside the Thomas & Mack Center for good seats to see Williamson's debut.
So never. Just as i thought.
Boogie. Gotta get rid of the loser if you wanna win something. ask @Day_Carver , i tried to tell him.
yep you did....Miami or Charlotte
Victor was traded for George though; he didnt decide to leave Russ like the others; but I feel youll points; I just dont like shit coming out now about him; mofos could have said that shit while he was there...
again the offense isn’t my concern...but how is that starting lineup going to fare against guard-heavy teams in the west?
yep...absolutely unnecessary
https://www.forbes.com/sites/curtis...he-scenes-to-get-out-of-toronto/#7ca422f2291d
How Kawhi Leonard Worked Behind The Scenes To Get Out of Toronto
Below is a clip from last year's news conference when Raptors president Masai Ujiri introduced Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to the media. Watch around the 10-minute mark when Leonard was asked about whether he saw playing in Toronto as a long-term commitment or as a one-and-done. "I look at it as a day-to-day process," Leonard said. "My focus is on this year. If you look in the future, you're going to trip over the present."
It seems, looking back, that we had Kawhi Leonard figured wrong all this time. Far from being the quiet, detached superstar, Leonard showed us he could be quite the talker and ruthless recruiter by talking George into asking for a trade from OKC so the two could play together with the Clippers.
His behind-the-scenes maneuvering perhaps doesn't reflect well on his former teammates with Toronto. Leonard wanted another star to play with, and that suggests he didn't think the roster that Toronto presented was good enough, even though it was basically intact from the NBA championship team of a few weeks earlier.
And it appears from insider reports that, around the time that Leonard was meeting with the Raptors this week, he was texting with George, trying to convince him to find a way out of Oklahoma and join the Clippers.
In the middle of the week, George went to Thunder general manager Sam Presti and asked for a trade to the Clippers.
At this time, Leonard's camp was trying to buy time to see if the George trade would go through. That's why it was taking so long for Leonard to make a decision.
We also know that Clippers coach Doc Rivers was fined $50,000 in May for tampering after he said this about Leonard on ESPN: "Kawhi is the most like (Michael) Jordan we've seen."
Does this decision by Leonard add further proof that the players are in control of the league? For an interesting opinion that argues against that premise, have a read of Michael McCann in SI here.
From the outside, Raptors president Masai Ujiri and coach Nick Nurse have said all the right things about wishing Leonard well. There is no whiff of public outrage over the way Leonard handled negotiations or public discontent by the Raptors if they felt they were used as pawns.
Here's what we know from various reports from NBA insiders. Later we will talk about what we don't know.
WHAT WE KNOW
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
How Kawhi Leonard Worked Behind The Scenes To Get Out of Toronto
Below is a clip from last year's news conference when Raptors president Masai Ujiri introduced Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to the media. Watch around the 10-minute mark when Leonard was asked about whether he saw playing in Toronto as a long-term commitment or as a one-and-done. "I look at it as a day-to-day process," Leonard said. "My focus is on this year. If you look in the future, you're going to trip over the present."
It seems, looking back, that we had Kawhi Leonard figured wrong all this time. Far from being the quiet, detached superstar, Leonard showed us he could be quite the talker and ruthless recruiter by talking George into asking for a trade from OKC so the two could play together with the Clippers.
His behind-the-scenes maneuvering perhaps doesn't reflect well on his former teammates with Toronto. Leonard wanted another star to play with, and that suggests he didn't think the roster that Toronto presented was good enough, even though it was basically intact from the NBA championship team of a few weeks earlier.
And it appears from insider reports that, around the time that Leonard was meeting with the Raptors this week, he was texting with George, trying to convince him to find a way out of Oklahoma and join the Clippers.
In the middle of the week, George went to Thunder general manager Sam Presti and asked for a trade to the Clippers.
At this time, Leonard's camp was trying to buy time to see if the George trade would go through. That's why it was taking so long for Leonard to make a decision.
We also know that Clippers coach Doc Rivers was fined $50,000 in May for tampering after he said this about Leonard on ESPN: "Kawhi is the most like (Michael) Jordan we've seen."
Does this decision by Leonard add further proof that the players are in control of the league? For an interesting opinion that argues against that premise, have a read of Michael McCann in SI here.
From the outside, Raptors president Masai Ujiri and coach Nick Nurse have said all the right things about wishing Leonard well. There is no whiff of public outrage over the way Leonard handled negotiations or public discontent by the Raptors if they felt they were used as pawns.
Here's what we know from various reports from NBA insiders. Later we will talk about what we don't know.
WHAT WE KNOW
- We know that, while there is deep disappointment throughout the city and the country, the dominant feeling is that people are grateful to Leonard for bringing a championship to Toronto and they don't begrudge him wanting to play closer to home.
- We know that the Leonard camp, the Raptors, the Clippers and the Lakers did a very good job of containing any leaks. But this information vacuum created a lot of false leads and careless speculation.
- There are reporters who can be trusted and many more who cannot be trusted with what they report on Twitter. Adrian Wojnarowski was strangely silent through much of the week, which was a credit to him. The best insider in the NBA wasn't going to report something he didn't know.
- After free agency opened on June 30, Kawhi Leonard put in a recruiting call to Kevin Durant to see if he was interested in teaming up with him on the Clippers. Durant, however, decided to follow through with plans to move to the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent, along with good friends Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan.
- On Monday night, Leonard met with the Clippers at the Malibu home of coach Doc Rivers and made his feelings known about wanting to team up with an all-star, and the Clippers went to work.
- On Tuesday afternoon, as reported by ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Leonard met with the Lakers at a hotel in Westlake Village, which is a city about 40 miles west of Los Angeles. Only team president Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka were there, at Leonard's request. It appears that Leonard met with Paul George nearby the same day. Previously, the meeting with the Lakers had been scheduled for El Segundo, but was changed within 24 hours at Leonard's request.
- Sources told Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star that the Leonard camp asked the Raptors about the possibility of acquiring George or Washington's Bradley Beal. Team president Masai Ujiri considered the request.
- As Arthur points out, the Raptors began to feel that Leonard seemed to be focused on Los Angeles.
- Leonard was in Toronto from Wednesday to Friday and he was on the company plane as it flew back to San Diego on Friday. Was the plane picking up Leonard's family to fly them back to Toronto for a big announcement of him re-signing in Toronto? As it turned out, no.
- The Raptors engaged with Oklahoma City on trade talks, but the ask was too much: Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and four unprotected first-round picks. The Raptors felt they were being used as leverage and that Leonard was not seriously interested in returning to Toronto, the Star's Bruce Arthur reported.
- The Lakers were not Leonard's first choice. He was not interested in being part of a super team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
- Leonard indicated at his first public news conference in Toronto last year that he was not looking more than one year ahead, so he never misled Toronto that way. And Raptors president Masai Ujiri urged reporters to stop the narrative about players not wanting to come to Toronto. "We should move past that," he said with Danny Green on his other flank. "Believe in this city. Believe in yourselves. We want to win. It's our jobs here to try to sell it to the players." But that old narrative, unfortunately, seems like it will continue.
- We also know that Leonard turned down around $50 million. The Raptors could have offered a five-year deal at $190 million. Instead, he accepted the best offer outside Toronto, which was four years at $142 million.
- We know that hours after it was learned that Leonard was not coming back, the Raptors signed free-agent Stanley Johnson to a two-year, $7.5 million contract. A former Detroit Piston and New Orleans Pelican, Johnson is not an offensive weapon, but he has a strong, defensive game. The Raptors later signed Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who had spent four seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, to a one-year deal. He had been the No. 23 pick in the 2015 NBA draft.
- We know the Raptors have good parts left. Pascal Siakam will likely be given an extension and that OG Anunoby will be given a chance to blossom as a starter. Danny Green is gone to the Lakers, which will mean more playing time for Fred VanVleet. Beyond that, there is much we don't know.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
- We don't know how much Leonard was moved by the love shown to him around the city and around the country during and after the run-up to the NBA championship. In the end, we know that his desire to return to Los Angeles was bigger than any love he was receiving in Canada or the chance to run it back with the Raptors.
- We don't know exactly why he was making several public appearances around Toronto after the championship. At the Blue Jays game he attended, he appeared to want to be noticed for the short time he was there. He went through a main gate at the Rogers Centre and had a seat in the front row. He could have gone through a more private entrance. The city was interpreting all this as an indication that Leonard was assessing the city as a possible future home.
- We don't know why it is that, so many hours after Leonard chose to leave, he still had not reached out to the Raptors fans and the country to express his feelings about his season here and the great reception he got. We do know he is not active on social media, but there are other means to convey his personal sentiments to Toronto and to Canada. Danny Green sent a message to Toronto's fans after he decided to leave and so did Patrick Marleau of the Maple Leafs after the club traded him to Carolina.
- We don't know what direction the Raptors will go in. Will Kyle Lowry, with his $35 million cap hit, be traded since he is on an expiring contract? Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka could also be gone. They too are in the last year of their contracts and carry the next two biggest contracts. Gasol has a cap hit of $25.6 million and Ibaka has a cap hit of $23 million.
The key gonna be Lebron effort...
Danny is capable
Kuz should be working to become a two way players as we speak....
So my answer is, I don’t know....but I we chat entirely to much for me not to say something
I think they’ll do ok, now like the lil clippers will do, but overall they have the ability to be good as a team....
Actually I think the can do what the Cavs did in 2015-16 playoffs against the dubs....played sound defense but didn’t trip they just play highly efficient on offense.
The key gonna be Lebron effort...
Danny is capable
Kuz should be working to become a two way players as we speak....
So my answer is, I don’t know....but I we chat entirely to much for me not to say something
I think they’ll do ok, now like the lil clippers will do, but overall they have the ability to be good as a team....
Actually I think the can do what the Cavs did in 2015-16 playoffs against the dubs....played sound defense but didn’t trip they just play highly efficient on offense.
a better starting lineup that I saw that makes sense as far as this plan goes is—
bron
bradley
green
AD
cousins
but if you take bradley out move green down and have kuz start that lineup is a defensive liability imo
just need to get westbrook to miami to complete what has been one of the wildest offseasons I've seen...league has been completely shaken up
I’m thinking they going with that same thinking, who’s gonna be able to matchup with our size cross the board...
I think they going with a size approach, with inside, shooting, ball handling and some defense
I think this team will be good for Kuz, the previous laker team had him surrounded by a whole bunch young kids, I think him surrounded by mostly veterans and a group of guys that been to the top and know what It takes to get there may bode well for him.
Westbrick to Miami?
reports are russ likes the idea and miami is interested as well...I’m really hesitant to listen to reports now but that’d be an interesting trade
Ok. I didn’t know that. But still shouldn’t be looking that outta shape. Especially with pelicans trying staff reputation
I want to see Russ in NY. I think it would be must see and if you think he dresses weird now, wait till he's on Broadway.
I want to see Russ in NY. I think it would be must see and if you think he dresses weird now, wait till he's on Broadway.
especially with Durant in Brooklyn
Yea. NY needs to get this done.I want to see Russ in NY. I think it would be must see and if you think he dresses weird now, wait till he's on Broadway.
I hope they go the traditional route, they would kill with that size
McGee and AD would feast with point and rolls,
I have something like
Bron
Green
Kuz
AD
McGee
First a guard comes in for AD
Bron
Bradley, Daniels
Green
Kuz
McGee
Next sub
Rondo, Boogie, KCP and AD sub for Lebron, Kuz, Mcgee, Green
Rondo
Bradley/Daniels
KCP
AD
Boogie
(If y’all remember during the second half of the season, two years ago, Nola killed with this lineup....Bradley/Daniels ain’t Jrue but this would be against second units, they should fucking feast)
Monta or Stat in purp and gold
The numbers with Rondo on the court last year were abysmal.
Even the numbers with Lebron on the court were minus with Rondo
Rondo was one of the worst players in the league
I want to see Russ in NY. I think it would be must see and if you think he dresses weird now, wait till he's on Broadway.
Can't until December when the contracts signed this off season become tradable. That's why the Knicks giving all those guys two year (really one with the team option on the second season) so stupid
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