Shams says 31 year old Kyrie has plantar fascitis.
Luka says he doesn't feel the same joy on the court lately. He mentioned there's "a lot going on" beyond basketball.
I think it´s time for the "nuclear" option.
Go 0-8. Finish 9th. You can´t get to 9th, you live with the fire at #10. You literally lose nothing. Better to have a chance at #10.
Kyrie is broken down, Luka is mentally (and probably physically) in a very bad place. If we are lucky that´s just due to Kidd´s 2nd year effect and throwing the whole team under the bus regularly.
STEP 1:
We stay positive and say they manage to keep the pick at #9. Taylor Hendricks looks like everything we need. He looks to have great footwork. Can shoot off the dribble and catch&shoot. Can also finish inside.
https://youtu.be/DQvoe-zs0i8
No way that kid is a bust.
STEP 2: Sign & Trade Kyrie Irving. He´s a 31 years old. He´s a proven headcase. He reportedly has plantar fascitis. He blocks the development of Hardy.
There is almost no upside to this 200/4 extension, but there will be suitors that you can probably at least get out even.
Interestingly I did not know that Lakers/Pelicans 2023 was a swap deal (according to real gm) and now that it looks like the Pelicans will finish with a worse record the Lakers actually keep their pick. So here is the Kyrie trade....
Leonard Miller (Lakers, 2023 pick) + Bamba + Beasley + Russell (one year 35 million) for Irving + McGee
https://youtu.be/nTDDVRsLJ98
Step 3: Offer Paul Reed the full MLE. Playing behind the league MVP, top 20 in rebounds and top 10 in blocks per 36. This kid needs an opening.
Step 4: FIRE Kidd. Hire Sweeney as a young progressive head coach.
Doncic/Russell/Ntilikina
Green/Hardy/Beasley
Bullock/THJ
Hendricks/Miller/Bertans
Reed/Bamba/Kleber
Step 5: Next disgruntled superstar becomes available you have
1. Russell as a huge salary match
2. Beasley + Bamba + Bullock as expiring mid-range salaries
3. Young assets in Hardy, Green, Hendricks, Miller and Reed
4. Your future pick(s)
It´s over. Pull the band aid.
Just try Luka with two or three ball handlers (Russell is actually similar in terms of game style to Brunson) and hope the youth and athletism in the middle can hold up defensively to some extend.
If we are going to win 40 games next year, can we at least make it enjoyable.
If they extend Kyrie and keep Kidd it´s going to be a disaster. It´s so obvious. Kyrie´s probably having some serious underlying health issues and wants that last payday. Nets refused to give it to him, so he forced a trade to the biggest sucker in the league for walking spare parts. Now he´s behaving mentally, can´t even pretend to stay healthy physically for a month, while looking for that big payday. Luckily with the Lakers and Suns there might be an out, but only this summer.
Luka says he doesn't feel the same joy on the court lately. He mentioned there's "a lot going on" beyond basketball.
I think it´s time for the "nuclear" option.
Go 0-8. Finish 9th. You can´t get to 9th, you live with the fire at #10. You literally lose nothing. Better to have a chance at #10.
Kyrie is broken down, Luka is mentally (and probably physically) in a very bad place. If we are lucky that´s just due to Kidd´s 2nd year effect and throwing the whole team under the bus regularly.
STEP 1:
We stay positive and say they manage to keep the pick at #9. Taylor Hendricks looks like everything we need. He looks to have great footwork. Can shoot off the dribble and catch&shoot. Can also finish inside.
https://youtu.be/DQvoe-zs0i8
No way that kid is a bust.
STEP 2: Sign & Trade Kyrie Irving. He´s a 31 years old. He´s a proven headcase. He reportedly has plantar fascitis. He blocks the development of Hardy.
There is almost no upside to this 200/4 extension, but there will be suitors that you can probably at least get out even.
Interestingly I did not know that Lakers/Pelicans 2023 was a swap deal (according to real gm) and now that it looks like the Pelicans will finish with a worse record the Lakers actually keep their pick. So here is the Kyrie trade....
Leonard Miller (Lakers, 2023 pick) + Bamba + Beasley + Russell (one year 35 million) for Irving + McGee
https://youtu.be/nTDDVRsLJ98
Step 3: Offer Paul Reed the full MLE. Playing behind the league MVP, top 20 in rebounds and top 10 in blocks per 36. This kid needs an opening.
Step 4: FIRE Kidd. Hire Sweeney as a young progressive head coach.
Doncic/Russell/Ntilikina
Green/Hardy/Beasley
Bullock/THJ
Hendricks/Miller/Bertans
Reed/Bamba/Kleber
Step 5: Next disgruntled superstar becomes available you have
1. Russell as a huge salary match
2. Beasley + Bamba + Bullock as expiring mid-range salaries
3. Young assets in Hardy, Green, Hendricks, Miller and Reed
4. Your future pick(s)
It´s over. Pull the band aid.
Just try Luka with two or three ball handlers (Russell is actually similar in terms of game style to Brunson) and hope the youth and athletism in the middle can hold up defensively to some extend.
If we are going to win 40 games next year, can we at least make it enjoyable.
If they extend Kyrie and keep Kidd it´s going to be a disaster. It´s so obvious. Kyrie´s probably having some serious underlying health issues and wants that last payday. Nets refused to give it to him, so he forced a trade to the biggest sucker in the league for walking spare parts. Now he´s behaving mentally, can´t even pretend to stay healthy physically for a month, while looking for that big payday. Luckily with the Lakers and Suns there might be an out, but only this summer.
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