2022-23 Around the NBA Thread

[95pro]

Nah. This is the exact opposite of what happened this year. Last year, the Lakers wanted him to bulk up because they thought he’d need to in order to man the middle. That was obviously a disaster for them so this year, he came into camp 20 pounds lighter this year after putting on too much weight last year.

Ain’t making a difference. That body has been creaming since he stepped onto an NBA court. His first 4 years, he missed an average of 17 games a year and this was wayyyyyyy before any notion of player conditioning loading and being held out of games.

He had a couple solid seasons after that, logging back to back 75 games seasons, but his body has always given him nagging injuries and as big guys get older those issues all get worse.

Reality is if the Lakers didn’t have a two month break during the pandemic, I bet he probably doesn’t stay healthy that year either.

We all know he’s injury prone, that’s not the point.
I thought he just lost what he gained while being out on the mcl. Reports were he gained and managed to lose what he gained, and he didn’t feel like he needed to change anything up.

 

[Raindog]

The Lakers don't have control over their own pick until 2026.

If not for the dumb luck of some star forcing their way to the Lakers every 5 years or so, there is not a franchise in worse shape in the league than the Lakers, but that dumb luck probably isn't in the cards for a while... they're just too pathetic for anyone to force their way there.

They can't tank, they're old as hell, they've got zero young talent to build around, they have no tradeable assets outside of picks in 2027 and 2029... and the main reason those have value is that the rest of the league expects the Lakers to be in the toilet at the time.

If the Lakers actually pulled off a trade of Westbrook and 2 firsts for Hield and Turner... they're probably a playoff team for the next year or 2, but not a contender for the title.

It really is staggering how bad they messed that team up. No matter how much one might hate LeBron, you surround him with some good shooters and you're at least a contender, that has been an NBA rule for 15 years. The Lakers followed the formula in 2019/2020 and won a title... then they broke that team up for no reason, then they let LeBron force the Westbrook trade and now... they're a joke.

My favorite joke.

Don't underestimate that the NBA will do everything in its power to keep the Lakers relevant. As long as I have been following the league (about 45 years now), the Lakers have only been totally irrelevant for maybe a grand total of five years or so. Every time they have had bad management or the odd bad break that produces a "down" season or two, something miraculous happens to get them immediately back into contention.

I swear, no other "storied" or premier market franchise in any other American sports league has come up with a golden ticket as routinely as the Lakers. The only comparison I can find is the elite football clubs in Europe and that's only because the system over there is specifically set up to only benefit the wealthiest clubs.

 

[Russ Smith]

Hope to be wrong but I have a weird feeling the Warriors are going to end up trading Kuminga. He hasn't played a second tonight, they're playing Ty Jerome because DiVincenzo is out again but not playing Kuminga tells me Kerr doesn't trust him. Hope I am wrong I still think he's going to be a really good player

 

[Hoop Head]

Hope to be wrong but I have a weird feeling the Warriors are going to end up trading Kuminga. He hasn't played a second tonight, they're playing Ty Jerome because DiVincenzo is out again but not playing Kuminga tells me Kerr doesn't trust him. Hope I am wrong I still think he's going to be a really good player

Kind of related, what happened with Paschall in Golden State? He wasnt as hyped as Kuminga entering the league but looked amazing right out the gate for the Warriors and then they dealt him for cash considerations. That made little sense but given the Warriors tax bill, it was semi-reasonable. He's flamed out since a hot start but I was curious if you have insight into why he flamed out in GS.

 

[Russ Smith]

Kind of related, what happened with Paschall in Golden State? He wasnt as hyped as Kuminga entering the league but looked amazing right out the gate for the Warriors and then they dealt him for cash considerations. That made little sense but given the Warriors tax bill, it was semi-reasonable. He's flamed out since a hot start but I was curious if you have insight into why he flamed out in GS.

They played him as a small ball 5 he was very effective offensively but not very good on defense I think they just ultimately decided he didn't have the game to build around. I always liked him but his lack of success since then seems to indicate they were right. He was also a bit like Zion in that he's so "thick" he was constantly injured.

 

[Russ Smith]

Guys on Warriors World think Kuminga is in the doghouse for practice habits. No idea if true but would make sense. They played 10 guys last night the only 3 healthy DNP's were him, Baldwin and Rollins the 2 rookies.

I hope Iggy is able to get to him they're going to need him this year IMO

 

[sdscard4]

KD shoving Luka to the ground was best part of the night...get him to PHX now

 

[Mainstreet]

Steve Nash didn't leave happy.

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[Mainstreet]

Here is the play where Durant shoves Luka in Mavericks win over the Nets.

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[Dback Jon]

KD shoving Luka to the ground was best part of the night...get him to PHX now

I was torn on that game

On one hand it benefits Phoenix to have the Mavericks lose when it comes to conference standings.

On the other hand Anets collapse could have Durant forces way out for a bargain basement price

 

[Chaplin]

Here is the play where Durant shoves Luka in Mavericks win over the Nets.

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Didn't look that strong of a shove to me. Luka's a big dude, if he went down that easy, a lot of that is play acting. He'll get that call against almost any other player... but Durant? Naaaah...

 

[Mainstreet]

Durant clearly shoves Luka in the back after the play was over. He is one of the few players who might get away with it.

 

[Mainstreet]

Eric Bledsoe arrested?

Previously I read he was going to sign with the Shanghai Sharks.

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[Proximo]

Here is the play where Durant shoves Luka in Mavericks win over the Nets.

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Ha Ha. That's great. I love the look on Luka's face.

 

[Proximo]

I was torn on that game

On one hand it benefits Phoenix to have the Mavericks lose when it comes to conference standings.

On the other hand Anets collapse could have Durant forces way out for a bargain basement price

I don't know. The more time goes by, the more I am thinking the Durant deal is not a good idea. He doesn't seem to want to play defense anymore and he is not getting any younger.

 

[Mainstreet]

The NBA is proposing an upper salary limit, a hard cap that teams cannot exceed. Good luck with that.

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Sources: NBA pursuing new spending limit

The NBA is pursuing the implementation of an upper spending limit in its negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Basketball Players Association, a systemic change that has been met with significant union resistance.

www.espn.com

 

[Chaplin]

The NBA is proposing an upper salary limit, a hard cap that teams cannot exceed. Good luck with that.

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Sources: NBA pursuing new spending limit

The NBA is pursuing the implementation of an upper spending limit in its negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Basketball Players Association, a systemic change that has been met with significant union resistance.

www.espn.com

No way the Union goes for this. The NBA would have to make a pretty major concession in order for them to even consider it.

 

[Mainstreet]

The NBA is probably floating the spending limit as a trial balloon perhaps as a negotiating wedge to get something else approved.

I can't see the NBPA approving it.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Steve Nash didn't leave happy.

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I have never seen Nash like that.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Here is the play where Durant shoves Luka in Mavericks win over the Nets.

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Not really much of a shove. Typical physicality in positioning for rebounds. Luka flopped.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Not really much of a shove. Typical physicality in positioning for rebounds. Luka flopped.

Yeah, that looked like an all-time
flop to me.

 

[Mainstreet]

Not really much of a shove. Typical physicality in positioning for rebounds. Luka flopped.

The ball was already in the cylinder if you play it back when Durant shoved him.

Luka exaggerated the two-handed shove by Durant but it should have been called a foul and I have no sympathy for Luka.

 

[Mainstreet]

I have never seen Nash like that.

It sort of reminds me a bit of the Jeff Hornacek situation before he was fired as the Suns head coach.

What a messy player personnel situation with the Nets. The frustration may be boiling over.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I have never seen Nash like that.

Poor Nash. He’s stuck in such a crappy situation.

 

[bankybruce]

Wow!

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