quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

NBA on TNT
@NBAonTNT
· 2h
The Nets and Celtics entered trade discussions for Kevin Durant, per @ShamsCharania

Boston reportedly offered Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft pick for Durant, but the Nets also wanted Marcus Smart, more draft picks and potentially one more rotation player

The Minnesota/Utah trade has changed everything.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

NBA on TNT
@NBAonTNT
· 2h
The Nets and Celtics entered trade discussions for Kevin Durant, per @ShamsCharania

Boston reportedly offered Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft pick for Durant, but the Nets also wanted Marcus Smart, more draft picks and potentially one more rotation player

The Minnesota/Utah trade has changed everything.

People say that, but it's lazy reporting.

Every other recent trade for a star has involved plenty of picks, but also much more talent than we sent out. We sent out a bunch of guys who top out as bench players on good teams. There was no SGA, Ingram, Simmons or even Lonzo Ball level player that we gave up.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

NBA on TNT
@NBAonTNT
· 2h
The Nets and Celtics entered trade discussions for Kevin Durant, per @ShamsCharania

Boston reportedly offered Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft pick for Durant, but the Nets also wanted Marcus Smart, more draft picks and potentially one more rotation player

The Minnesota/Utah trade has changed everything.

People say that, but it's lazy reporting.

Every other recent trade for a star has involved plenty of picks, but also much more talent than we sent out. We sent out a bunch of guys who top out as bench players on good teams. There was no SGA, Ingram, Simmons or even Lonzo Ball level player that we gave up.

The bench may be stronger w/o the players we sent out....amazing to be able to send out 30 million in salary in Beverly and Beasley....replaced by Forbes and Rivers for 3-4 million.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Beverley was the heart of the defense last year. His defense and his overall intensity will be greatly missed.
Worst part of the trade for me.

To get, you have to give. You really can't replace what he brought to the team.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

NBA on TNT
@NBAonTNT
· 2h
The Nets and Celtics entered trade discussions for Kevin Durant, per @ShamsCharania

Boston reportedly offered Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft pick for Durant, but the Nets also wanted Marcus Smart, more draft picks and potentially one more rotation player

The Minnesota/Utah trade has changed everything.

People say that, but it's lazy reporting.

Every other recent trade for a star has involved plenty of picks, but also much more talent than we sent out. We sent out a bunch of guys who top out as bench players on good teams. There was no SGA, Ingram, Simmons or even Lonzo Ball level player that we gave up.

The bench may be stronger w/o the players we sent out....amazing to be able to send out 30 million in salary in Beverly and Beasley....replaced by Forbes and Rivers for 3-4 million.

No...

We did a good job filling out the bench, but Beverley is much better than Rivers (who might not even last the year as a lot of his contract doesn't even guarantee until mid January).

And Forbes is a very good shooter, but he's never shown if he can carry the load when needed on big volume. And as poor as Beasley is on defense, Forbes might be the worst guard defender in the game.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pauldiercks1

I can't see anyway our bench is better than last year. We had a pretty solid bench in my opinion and we gave up a lot of that in the trade.
Tough to replace Beverly, Beasley, and Vando right away. If things work out we should have an outstanding starting 5 with enough bench to give them the rest needed.
Edwards gets many headlines but I'm every bit excited to see how McDaniels game evolves this year.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elliot

“'Lakers head coach Darvin Ham will have more power to bench Westbrook down the stretch of games, according to league sources,' Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported. '(Former head coach Frank Vogel did so a few times last season). That could eventually extend to removing Westbrook from the starting lineup as well.'”

I don't know what to make of this. I know it's the dog days of summer and decent NBA content is scarce. But is this really a story? I don't have a subscription to The Athletic, but I'd be curious to know the context in how the subject came up. In any event, I can't imagine Westbrook is happy with this.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz

Their current roster will have some big changes before the season starts.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elliot

“'Lakers head coach Darvin Ham will have more power to bench Westbrook down the stretch of games, according to league sources,' Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported. '(Former head coach Frank Vogel did so a few times last season). That could eventually extend to removing Westbrook from the starting lineup as well.'”

I don't know what to make of this. I know it's the dog days of summer and decent NBA content is scarce. But is this really a story? I don't have a subscription to The Athletic, but I'd be curious to know the context in how the subject came up. In any event, I can't imagine Westbrook is happy with this.

It was part of a mailbag Q&A from the Lakers writer at the Athletic:

What do you think the closing lineup will look like this season?

Based on the current roster, I project the closing lineup to look something like this: Davis, Toscano-Anderson, James, Brown and Reaves. I think Westbrook will often be in there, too, but it will depend on how he’s shooting, his decision-making and his defense.

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham will have more power to bench Westbrook down the stretch of games, according to league sources. (Former head coach Frank Vogel did so a few times last season). That could eventually extend to removing Westbrook from the starting lineup as well.

The Lakers are light on shot creation with my proposed closing group, as Toscano-Anderson and Brown are more play-finishers, and Reaves, while capable of creating his own shot as he showed down the stretch last season, is more of a facilitator and secondary ballhandler.

James and Davis are locks, but Reaves is probably the closest thing to a third lock because of his versatile skill set. He can function as a secondary ballhandler –at least moreso than any Laker other than James, Westbrook and Nunn – and also defend either backcourt spot and smaller wings. His versatility isn’t found much elsewhere on the roster.

Toscano-Anderson has the projected edge over Stanley Johnson, but that could change in training camp, according to league sources.

With the fifth spot, Westbrook may have the advantage considering his status, but he may end up rotating with Brown, Nunn or Walker, depending on how they’re shooting that night.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elliot

Thanks for the paste, DL. I guess my broader question is this: To state that Ham, a new coach, has more power to bench Westbrook would seem to imply that the ability to bench Westbrook isn't a binary issue. Like, it's measurable. Sure, Vogel had some power to bench Westbrook. But Ham has more power to bench Westbrook.

And really, at the Staples Center, we really value our coaches based upon their overall capacity to bench Westbrook.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elliot

Thanks for the paste, DL. I guess my broader question is this: To state that Ham, a new coach, has more power to bench Westbrook would seem to imply that the ability to bench Westbrook isn't a binary issue. Like, it's measurable. Sure, Vogel had some power to bench Westbrook. But Ham has more power to bench Westbrook.

And really, at the Staples Center, we really value our coaches based upon their overall capacity to bench Westbrook.

I'm guessing that said coaching power is based on how much LeBron likes you.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

Durrant sounds like a nut case.

He wants Nets GM fired because he doesn't like the direction the team is taking. Meaning the Nets have decided to quit letting the inmates run the asylum. He also wants his hand picked coach Steve Nash gone.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elliot

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

Durrant sounds like a nut case.

He wants Nets GM fired because he doesn't like the direction the team is taking. Meaning the Nets have decided to quit letting the inmates run the asylum. He also wants his hand picked coach Steve Nash gone.

Since the 76ers are at the top of KD's trade list, can we pray for the Nets to trade KD for Embiid? Having a reunion in Brooklyn with Ben Simmons is too delicious.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elliot

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

Durrant sounds like a nut case.

He wants Nets GM fired because he doesn't like the direction the team is taking. Meaning the Nets have decided to quit letting the inmates run the asylum. He also wants his hand picked coach Steve Nash gone.

Since the 76ers are at the top of KD's trade list, can we pray for the Nets to trade KD for Embiid? Having a reunion in Brooklyn with Ben Simmons is too delicious.

Like to see the Nets stand their ground and say we're not trading you. Durrant is coming off looking like a spoiled child this offseason. The Nets have a good team as currently assembled if they can get this collective group of spoiled brats to buy in.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elliot

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

Durrant sounds like a nut case.

He wants Nets GM fired because he doesn't like the direction the team is taking. Meaning the Nets have decided to quit letting the inmates run the asylum. He also wants his hand picked coach Steve Nash gone.

Since the 76ers are at the top of KD's trade list, can we pray for the Nets to trade KD for Embiid? Having a reunion in Brooklyn with Ben Simmons is too delicious.