(07-18-2023, 11:56 PM)F Gump Wrote: They need more consistency in developing players. Their player development pipeline is way too sporadic and infrequent.

DFS 2016
Maxi 2017
Brunson 2018
2019 - none
2020- none [they did draft a 1st rounder here, Green]
2021 - none
Hardy 2022
2023 - none [they did draft two 1st rounders here, Lively and Prosper]

You can see the deep development area in 2019-2021 was not very aggressive or effective. So nothing was really added, And if you don't find and develop some projects every year to create an ongoing pipeline, where you can have some ready to replace those who will inevitably leave, in time you run dry. The most cap-friendly replacements are internal, and rarely other teams' free agents or players made available in trade.

(07-19-2023, 08:48 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Some Christian Wood talk/speculation

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/newsletter/2023-07-19/lakers-newsletter-lakers

(07-19-2023, 08:48 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Some Christian Wood talk/speculation

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/newsletter/2023-07-19/lakers-newsletter-lakers

(07-19-2023, 09:06 AM)mvossman Wrote: For all the folks wondering why we are not bringing Wood back, this is a really good outside perspective.

(07-19-2023, 08:58 AM)omahen Wrote: Doesn't look like Lakers are considering SnT at all

(07-18-2023, 07:53 PM)RGP1981 Wrote: Jaden Hardy for Max Christie swap... Who says no?

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2023/7/18/23798106/nba-summer-league-lakers-max-christie-second-team-stats-analysis

After having watched some of the summer league games, I would like to make this move. The Lakers probably say no but it doesn't hurt to ask. Christie is the sort of two-way player that I think is needed alongside Luka, while the Lakers might feel they want a scorer like Hardy.

(07-19-2023, 01:04 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Your question about the overlap involved with Luka and Kyrie is an interesting one. There are times when I wonder if Luka will even be a PG for his entire NBA career. He’ll always be great with the ball in his hands, both scoring and passing, but he has been wearing down a bit at the end of seasons, recently, especially last year. He also seems incapable of doing anything but walking the ball up the court every time. The way he uses pace in his 1-on-1 play is second to none, but he doesn’t seem to get how advantageous it would be for the pace of the TEAM’s play to be unpredictable. Or, he has to conserve so much energy that he CAN’T play any other way.

Now, we’re hearing that he’s trying to get back in bubble shape. That’s encouraging, I think, if he’s going to be the main PG. But, if weight continues to be a problem as he ages (relatively, it’s not like he’s Zion) I wonder if it doesn’t ultimately make sense to have another guy be the PG who brings the ball up, assesses the scene, looking for a way to press or a mismatch somewhere before setting Luka up to go to work. In other words, make him a forward on BOTH ends, albeit an exceptionally great playmaking forward.

Also, the Mavs have slowly but surely been turning into the Harden Rockets, a team on which 4-6 players are asked to play defense and then make shots when Luka creates them. Great on paper, but that’s a difficult rhythm for players to thrive in, and the best teams always seem to understand that when everyone touches the ball, good things happen.

Kyrie understands all of that. I don’t know how well they’ll fit, but one training camp will be enough. We should know by Christmas if it’s a promising fit, I think. What I’ll be looking for is something more synergetic than “my turn, your turn” where both of them are engaged when they’re off-ball, rather than resting. It’s obviously Luka’s team, but if I’m being honest I have a little more faith in Kyrie’s understanding of how to do that off-ball thing right now.

(07-19-2023, 08:58 AM)omahen Wrote: Doesn't look like Lakers are considering SnT at all

(07-19-2023, 08:48 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Some Christian Wood talk/speculation

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/newsletter/2023-07-19/lakers-newsletter-lakers

(07-18-2023, 11:56 PM)F Gump Wrote: They need more consistency in developing players. Their player development pipeline is way too sporadic and infrequent.

DFS 2016
Maxi 2017
Brunson 2018
2019 - none
2020- none [they did draft a 1st rounder here, Green]
2021 - none
Hardy 2022
2023 - none [they did draft two 1st rounders here, Lively and Prosper]

You can see the deep development area in 2019-2021 was not very aggressive or effective. So nothing was really added, And if you don't find and develop some projects every year to create an ongoing pipeline, where you can have some ready to replace those who will inevitably leave, in time you run dry. The most cap-friendly replacements are internal, and rarely other teams' free agents or players made available in trade.

(07-19-2023, 08:48 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Some Christian Wood talk/speculation

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/newsletter/2023-07-19/lakers-newsletter-lakers

(07-19-2023, 01:04 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I think multiple playmaker/all star types is probably a necessary thing if they want to contend. Even Dirk always had someone else, despite the Mavs taking grief for how little talent they put around him. First, there was Nash and Finley (how dumb were they to break that group up) and the truth is that Terry ran the pick and roll with Dirk amazingly. They made art together - probably one of the 5 best pick and roll duos in the history of the league. 

We might not think so much of Jamal Murray, but this past year he was probably more effective than a lot of names that ring out more. This exercise could go on and on. In a general sense, I’m sure we’re all on the same page about needing multiple creators of offense.

Your question about the overlap involved with Luka and Kyrie is an interesting one. There are times when I wonder if Luka will even be a PG for his entire NBA career. He’ll always be great with the ball in his hands, both scoring and passing, but he has been wearing down a bit at the end of seasons, recently, especially last year. He also seems incapable of doing anything but walking the ball up the court every time. The way he uses pace in his 1-on-1 play is second to none, but he doesn’t seem to get how advantageous it would be for the pace of the TEAM’s play to be unpredictable. Or, he has to conserve so much energy that he CAN’T play any other way.

Now, we’re hearing that he’s trying to get back in bubble shape. That’s encouraging, I think, if he’s going to be the main PG. But, if weight continues to be a problem as he ages (relatively, it’s not like he’s Zion) I wonder if it doesn’t ultimately make sense to have another guy be the PG who brings the ball up, assesses the scene, looking for a way to press or a mismatch somewhere before setting Luka up to go to work. In other words, make him a forward on BOTH ends, albeit an exceptionally great playmaking forward.

Also, the Mavs have slowly but surely been turning into the Harden Rockets, a team on which 4-6 players are asked to play defense and then make shots when Luka creates them. Great on paper, but that’s a difficult rhythm for players to thrive in, and the best teams always seem to understand that when everyone touches the ball, good things happen.

Kyrie understands all of that. I don’t know how well they’ll fit, but one training camp will be enough. We should know by Christmas if it’s a promising fit, I think. What I’ll be looking for is something more synergetic than “my turn, your turn” where both of them are engaged when they’re off-ball, rather than resting. It’s obviously Luka’s team, but if I’m being honest I have a little more faith in Kyrie’s understanding of how to do that off-ball thing right now.

(07-19-2023, 08:58 AM)omahen Wrote: Doesn't look like Lakers are considering SnT at all

(07-19-2023, 12:14 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: https://twitter.com/thenbacentral/status/1681709168292397080?s=46&t=Fmdr94oXagcEyy75KJqaFg

NBACentral (@TheNBACentral)
The Bulls and Heat are potential suitors for Christian Wood, per @DanWoikeSports

(07-19-2023, 11:12 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: https://twitter.com/keithsmithnba/status/1681675480854851584?s=12&t=40R2DnShDlW6MCVGNB2h

@KeithSmithNBA
I talked to two different teams this morning and both independently mentioned that they are monitoring the Thunder and what happens with the roster.

One exec told me "Some good players are going to get cut from OKC and we all need to be ready to jump when that happens."

(07-19-2023, 11:16 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: Well since Chicago appears to be interested with their disabled player exception at 10.1 mil, perhaps that might motivate the Lakers to commit to a SnT to try and match the money. It all depends on how bad the Lakers want/need Wood. 

If I remember the rules correct, the SnT just has to be a contract length of 3 years minimum, but the money doesn't have to be guaranteed after the 1st year. So the Lakers could structure it where Wood gets 11 mil the first year (beating out CHI's offer) and then add in some non guarantee's to keep their risks low.

(07-19-2023, 01:02 PM)F Gump Wrote: The fact that the Bulls have a 10M DPE, and might have some interest in Wood, doesn't mean they'd be willing to pay him a number anywhere like that. It was just a statement that they could outbid LA if they want to.

And I read LAs interest as being in "Wood the minimum salary possibility" since they plan to fill their last spot at that price. The idea they'd get into a bidding war, and try to trade for him, doesn't fit at all. If he wants more, he needs to find a different buyer.