2019 NBA Season

[scratchswinger]

Just make up your damn mind Kawhi

[cdnglf]

He’s going to the CBA. $100M to play every third game for the Beijing Royal Fighters.

 

[MtlJeff]

If he doesn't go to the Lakers he really kind of screwed them. The Raptors somewhat too but just not as bad since they can kind of pivot and rebuild. But the Lakers have 35M dollars to spend, they could've gone after Patrick Beverly, Bojan Bogdanovic, Kevon Looney....guys like that. Now those guys are all gone. There's really no one left.

 

If Kawhi leave maybe they can take Andrew Wiggins salary from the Wolves. If Wiggins won't try in Toronto than he's hopeless.

 

If he stays , than i am not sure how the Lakers fill out their roster

[scratchswinger]

> @MtlJeff said:

> If he doesn't go to the Lakers he really kind of screwed them. The Raptors somewhat too but just not as bad since they can kind of pivot and rebuild. But the Lakers have 35M dollars to spend, they could've gone after Patrick Beverly, Bojan Bogdanovic, Kevon Looney....guys like that. Now those guys are all gone. There's really no one left.

>

> If Kawhi leave maybe they can take Andrew Wiggins salary from the Wolves. If Wiggins won't try in Toronto than he's hopeless.

>

> If he stays , than i am not sure how the Lakers fill out their roster

 

True but we’re the Lakers ever going to offer those guys multi year deals?

[MtlJeff]

> @scratchswinger said:

> > @MtlJeff said:

> > If he doesn't go to the Lakers he really kind of screwed them. The Raptors somewhat too but just not as bad since they can kind of pivot and rebuild. But the Lakers have 35M dollars to spend, they could've gone after Patrick Beverly, Bojan Bogdanovic, Kevon Looney....guys like that. Now those guys are all gone. There's really no one left.

> >

> > If Kawhi leave maybe they can take Andrew Wiggins salary from the Wolves. If Wiggins won't try in Toronto than he's hopeless.

> >

> > If he stays , than i am not sure how the Lakers fill out their roster

>

> True but we’re the Lakers ever going to offer those guys multi year deals?

 

I don't know, if Kawhi resigned at the beginning of free agency what would you rather as a fan? Lock in a solid supporting cast or do 1yr deals again and try to get a 3rd star next year?

 

I actually feel like lebron, AD, bogdanovic, Beverley, and Kevin looney would be the favorite for the title.

[HoosierHacker89]

Do you guys think Kawhi is actually talking his time deciding what to do, so is this a whole smoke and mirrors act to get attention, manipulate the narrative and stroke an ego for a week? I am leaning towards a combination of the two. I think he is a methodical guy that is quirky and neurotic, but I also think he loves the attention. I have a hard time believing he didn’t have a good idea of his decision prior to this week. I’d assume it was already made prior to Sunday, but it’s impossible to say.

[MtlJeff]

Most of the comments from the top analysts (the real analysts, not talking head idiots) is that no one really knows what he wants or thinks. He's a total mystery

 

I don't think the Lakers or Raptors know what he will do, or why he is motivated to do either

[scratchswinger]

> @MtlJeff said:

> > @scratchswinger said:

> > > @MtlJeff said:

> > > If he doesn't go to the Lakers he really kind of screwed them. The Raptors somewhat too but just not as bad since they can kind of pivot and rebuild. But the Lakers have 35M dollars to spend, they could've gone after Patrick Beverly, Bojan Bogdanovic, Kevon Looney....guys like that. Now those guys are all gone. There's really no one left.

> > >

> > > If Kawhi leave maybe they can take Andrew Wiggins salary from the Wolves. If Wiggins won't try in Toronto than he's hopeless.

> > >

> > > If he stays , than i am not sure how the Lakers fill out their roster

> >

> > True but we’re the Lakers ever going to offer those guys multi year deals?

>

> I don't know, if Kawhi resigned at the beginning of free agency what would you rather as a fan? Lock in a solid supporting cast or do 1yr deals again and try to get a 3rd star next year?

>

> I actually feel like lebron, AD, bogdanovic, Beverley, and Kevin looney would be the favorite for the title.

 

I think that whomever they get to fill out the roster with Kuz, AD and LeBron will be strong contenders. Honestly I would probably take the better players to fill the roster on two year deals as next years FA class is pretty weak. But all those guys you mention signed 3+ years.

 

But yeah if the Lakers don't get Kawhi at this point they would have been better off going after Kemba, Butler, or D'Angello. Huge roll of the dice by the Lakers but it's worth it in my opinion. Kawhi in his prime paired with AD in his prime and LeBron as arguably your third best player is just an amazing squad, best three players ever on one team if it happens.

 

[MtlJeff]

If they get Kawhi than everything is worth it yeah, because those 3 with any other 4 NBA caliber guys (even if the non Kuzma players are borderline G league) should win the title

[pinhigh27]

Wow kawhii to lac what the heck

[MtlJeff]

Sam presti is a warlock

 

[scratchswinger]

Clippers? Lol

[HoosierHacker89]

The dream pairing I've fanaticized about for the last 8 seasons is finally happening. Too bad its in red/white/blue instead of blue and gold like it should have been all those years ago.

[MtlJeff]

Sam Presti is a savage. He got a bigger return for George than the Pels got for Davis.

 

Apparently he had both the Raptors and clippers bidding on George

[scratchswinger]

When do the Lakers remove Magic’s statue?

 

I agree with Jeff - hell of a haul for PG

[HoosierHacker89]

Insane trade, but I love it! East and west are both wide open now. I think 76ers are the team to beat in the east (pending a healthy Embiid) and I have no clue in the west.

[MtlJeff]

I'm more excited for the NBA than I have been in 5-6 years

 

Both LA teams will be good, Utah, Denver, Portland all are good and can still do things (mark gasol, Kyle Lowry will be available, Kevin love should be too) Golden State will still be good when klay is back.

 

The east has philly and Milwaukee.

 

Lot of teams can win it. Plus we have Zion doing Zion stuff. Luka Doncic doing Luka stuff.

 

Should be great

[MtlJeff]

I know it won't happen but I'd love to see Toronto take a flier on Andrew Wiggins. They'll have cap space and if he can get it together anywhere and play hard....maybe it's in Canada

[scratchswinger]

I guess we know what Kawhi was waiting on. Funny that none of the experts said he was trying to work a deal.

[Chief Illiniwek]

I'm sure Lakers fans are bummed but thank goodness Kawhi went to LAC. It makes the NBA much more watchable this coming season and should make for some good rivalry games!

[pinhigh27]

Ya If I'm okc I'm pumped at what happened. So many picks.

[cdnglf]

Westbrook now allegedly looking to be traded. I wonder if anyone would take that contract. Knicks, maybe? Seems like a Knickish thing to do.

[pinhigh27]

Fun time in the nba, seems like there has never been this much significant player movement

[pinhigh27]

Not sure about this supposed previous potential trade of Westbrook and George to raptors for siakam and picks. Were the raptors going to send a decade of picks? Sounds nuts.

[MtlJeff]

> @cdnglf said:

> Westbrook now allegedly looking to be traded. I wonder if anyone would take that contract. Knicks, maybe? Seems like a Knickish thing to do.

 

Heat are probably front runners

[jdvela55]

It's still the Clippers! They couldnt do anything with LOB city. (and yes I'm a die hard lakers fan!) However, the West is wide open. Lakers still OWN LA (even if they have sucked for all these years)

[MtlJeff]

Boogie and Danny green to Lakers was fairly predictable

[Chief Illiniwek]

Please DO NOT turn this question political!!!

 

One thing I never hear about is whether state income taxes effect player decisions on the teams they sign with. Is there some kind of exemption? Or do they vary "actual" salary to even it out? I would think signing in Boston, NY, LA, etc would cost players millions vs signing in Miami or SA or Houston?

[bubbagump]

> @"Chief Illiniwek" said:

> Please DO NOT turn this question political!!!

>

> One thing I never hear about is whether state income taxes effect player decisions on the teams they sign with. Is there some kind of exemption? Or do they vary "actual" salary to even it out? I would think signing in Boston, NY, LA, etc would cost players millions vs signing in Miami or SA or Houston?

 

You probably dont hear about it because its not even a question lol, of course it does. Ultimately a guy is still going to go where he wants and the away games you are at the mercy of your schedule, but cant escape taxes. There are ways they can defer or move money into bonus forms which sometimes arent as heavily taxed, or they try and align with a team where there is little to no income tax, so that at least their home games arent taxed as heavy.

 

Ex: MLB, Bryce Harper and his free agency. The high Cali taxes came into play and were a big reason why he turned down the Giants and Dodgers even though their per year amounts were higher.

[MtlJeff]

You don't hear about it as much in basketball for whatever reason, but in other sports it comes up a lot. Hockey it's a big discussion point as there are more Canadian cities with teams, and sometimes the tax rates between 2 teams is very different...like Montreal vs a no state tax area like Florida.

 

I believe athletes taxes are super tough to do as well because they have to pay various state tax percentages as they "work" in them (away games). I might be wrong In that. I know it is true for golf