Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
And now you're getting into why I say 'get your stars'.
What if Kawhi stays? And then Durant/Kyrie go to the Nets? And LAC has nothing more to offer Russell than the Lakers do financially. Butler takes the sign and trade to Houston. Kemba looks Boston bound.
So....what now? Tobias Harris?
Because that's literally the last guy standing who you'd even consider a max level player and even that's a reach. So what, Harris and Boogie? YEAH!!!!
There is more money out there than talent right now. That's why I applaud LAL for what they did with Davis - man, quit spinning the wheel and take your chances. You actively went and acquired the best player that will switch teams this offseason, IMO. Good on ya. It cost more than it might have as a FA but the alternative is what's gonna happen to SOMEBODY in FA this offseason and probably a couple of somebodies. Woe be the New York Knicks, man. And a team or two just like 'em that is gonna have money but nobody that wants to take it so they'll just start showering riches on the Al Horford, Julius Randle class of player. I'm sorry, but I just don't see you winning a championship w/ 40% of your cap tied up in Brooke Lopez and Khris Middleton.
I totally get it and you are probably right. Reevaluating it maybe they should get the best max player they can get, load manage during the season and don't try to get the #1 seed, then go gang busters during the playoffs and pray everyone stays healthy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
I never said MJ took a bunch of scrubs to the championship.. Basketball is a team game. No one can do it by themselves. The point I was trying to make is that in the 90s there was way more loyalty and competitiveness than there is today.
It's also a joke that you mentioned Longley like he was a great or even average center.
Originally Posted by Jerm:
Longley was a beast. :-):-)
Yeah he was really good. Surprised he didn't make the HOF.
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Did Kobe demand a trade to go play with his buddies? No, no he did not. He was trying to engineer a deal to Chicago because he liked their role players. If my memory served it came apart when LAL insisted on Deng being in the deal and Bryant invoked his NTC if Deng came to LA because he liked him as a complementary player. So the Lakers told him to get over it and play basketball. It worked out okay...
Now I generally agree with you here as it relates to loyalty (though I think you're being a bit pedantic with your 'didn't get drafted by the Lakers' remark - he was drafted for the Lakers). Kobe wasn't loyal to the Lakers until the last 5-6 years and even then....was he really? Or did he just like that god-awful 'thank-you' contract they gave him?
No, Kobe was about competing. And when he felt that the Lakers were more interested in the pageantry than the competition, he wanted out.
But all he ever wanted was a shot to get on the court and go toe to toe with guys. I miss the hell out of that guy, even if I can acknowledge his flaws as a ballplayer. I loved his fire.
I love Kobe and his game. One of the best players of all-time. Doesn't get the respect he deserves because he played with Shaq and because of MJ but I'd take him over LeBron in a heartbeat. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
And now you're getting into why I say 'get your stars'.
What if Kawhi stays? And then Durant/Kyrie go to the Nets? And LAC has nothing more to offer Russell than the Lakers do financially. Butler takes the sign and trade to Houston. Kemba looks Boston bound.
So....what now? Tobias Harris?
Because that's literally the last guy standing who you'd even consider a max level player and even that's a reach. So what, Harris and Boogie? YEAH!!!!
There is more money out there than talent right now. That's why I applaud LAL for what they did with Davis - man, quit spinning the wheel and take your chances. You actively went and acquired the best player that will switch teams this offseason, IMO. Good on ya. It cost more than it might have as a FA but the alternative is what's gonna happen to SOMEBODY in FA this offseason and probably a couple of somebodies. Woe be the New York Knicks, man. And a team or two just like 'em that is gonna have money but nobody that wants to take it so they'll just start showering riches on the Al Horford, Julius Randle class of player. I'm sorry, but I just don't see you winning a championship w/ 40% of your cap tied up in Brooke Lopez and Khris Middleton.
It’s the same point I make about football. It’s a function of production per unit salary cap. Since stars contracts are capped, the highest production per unit salary cap is with stars. By a huge margin.
The difference in price between Davis and Brooke Lopez and Davis isn’t a ton but the production sure is.
Production. Per unit salary cap is the only way to look at a roster ina. Capped sport.
EDIT: At least a roster you’re assembling to try to win. [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
Yeah he was really good. Surprised he didn't make the HOF.
I love Kobe and his game. One of the best players of all-time. Doesn't get the respect he deserves because he played with Shaq and because of MJ but I'd take him over LeBron in a heartbeat.
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
Yeah he was really good. Surprised he didn't make the HOF.
I love Kobe and his game. One of the best players of all-time. Doesn't get the respect he deserves because he played with Shaq and because of MJ but I'd take him over LeBron in a heartbeat.
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
Yeah he was really good. Surprised he didn't make the HOF.
I love Kobe and his game. One of the best players of all-time. Doesn't get the respect he deserves because he played with Shaq and because of MJ but I'd take him over LeBron in a heartbeat.
I believe the last poll of current NBA players I saw 11 percent felt Lebron was the GOAT and 10 percent Kobe. They are right there together IMO as well. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
Go live in LA, get a max deal or stay in Canada?
If he wants to be in Cali that bad, i'd rather him go to the Clippers but i'd like to see him go to the Lakers just for the reactions. They'd be fun.
Kawhi going to the Lakers would be incredible. It would set up LeBron to rack up at least 2-3 more titles and the MJ/Warriors fans would implode in absolute ruins (the mere idea of it has already compromised several in this thread just today).
I do think all of the signs to this point have been that he's going to return to Toronto, though, which I'd be happy with for obvious reasons as well. [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
He's not a God. Kawhi is too boring of a player and basketball isn't that popular of a sport in Canada for that.
Yeah, I think that just changed two weeks ago. It was already inevitable that basketball would surpass hockey in Toronto eventually with the demographics in this city and I think that process was just accelerated. Kawhi would be a massive megastar in Toronto/Canada if he were to stay and he/his team likely realize that. Whether that will be enough to beat out going back home or playing for a legacy franchise with the greatest player to ever play the game is the question. [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
Doesn't get the respect he deserves because he played with Shaq and because of MJ but I'd take him over LeBron in a heartbeat.
Originally Posted by KC_Connection:
Yeah, I think that just changed two weeks ago. It was already inevitable that basketball would surpass hockey in Toronto eventually with the demographics in this city and I think that process was just accelerated. Kawhi would be a massive megastar in Toronto/Canada if he were to stay and he/his team likely realize that. Whether that will be enough to beat out going back home or playing for a legacy franchise with the greatest player to ever play the game is the question.
I agree with that. If he stays and wins another championship he can definitely become a huge superstar in Canada.
However to say he is a 'God' when he might leave for another team is taking it too far. He is hugely popular in Canads right now. Yeah. But he leaves for Clippers 5-years or 10-years from now I dont think Raptors fans will think of him as a 'God'. You want that epic status you gotta be with a team for longer than one-year.
Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy:
I believe the last poll of current NBA players I saw 11 percent felt Lebron was the GOAT and 10 percent Kobe. They are right there together IMO as well.
Oh my bad. Guess he is getting the respect he deserves then.
Originally Posted by Jerm:
I guess you can't detect sarcasm....ah well.
Just keep thinking super teams only exist in the modern NBA, whatever the hell makes you feel better.
Bulls dominated the 90s. Rockets won 2. I dont remember Bulls ever going 73-9 and then signing an MVP player who they just beat in a 7-game series. Or Malone leaving Jazz to play with Patrick Ewing. There was a lot more loyalty back then. Not anymore. [Reply]
