Adrian Wojnarowski?Verified account @WojVerticalNBA 2m2 minutes ago
More
Sources: Charlotte is sending Miles Plumlee, Marco Belenelli and 41st pick to Atlanta for Dwight Howard and 31st pick.
Dwight howard dumped for salary relief. He is still a serviceable center but is no longer the difference maker he once was. Clear sign the hawks are rebuilding and wont be signing milsap or teague to deals.
KiwiMatt wrote:This confirms what we already know - Lakers will draft Lonzo at two.
Good trade for the Lakers, get the best player and a late 1st rounder, plus unload Mozgov's bad contract.
Nets must see potential in Russell. But giving away their 1st round pick isn't wise for a rebuilding team, especially when they've already traded away their picks this year and next.
Russell is worth way more than a 20 something pick. The Nets make out like bandits getting a young guy with great potential when they had virtually no chance of adding that kind of asset going into this offseason.
Total rip off job by the Nets! I love the Lakers are being forced to possibly surrender more assets by having to trade for George this year. But what a great trade for the Nets. Exactly the moves they should doing, taking on bad salaries to acquire young talent.
Gosh I don't see it that way. Russell is a slow footed player who is neither a prototypical point guard or shooting guard. I flat out don't like his game at all. The Lakers got rid of the Mozgov contract and that would seem to be the biggest factor in the deal. I'm celebrating if I'm a Laker fan. They needed room for Ball anyway. Now wait as they eventually add George, and possibly Lebron or Westbrook.
I see it as a win-win deal given the situation each team is in. The Nets benefit by getting a young lottery talent in Russell without having any lottery picks last year, this year or next. And Moscov can play even though he's not worth his massive contract. The Lakers benefit by clearing Moscov's contract from their books, freeing up cap space next year to pursue Paul George or LeBron James (maybe both). Oh, and the Lakers get one of the League's better centers as well as another low 2017 first round pick.
So what is the Lakers' next move? I think they'll go hard after Paul George. The Nets deal gives the Lakers additional leverage because the Pacers now know that the Lakers will definitely have the cap space to sign George as a FA next year. That means there is absolutely no doubt that, if not traded this summer, George will leave next year without the Pacers getting anything in return.
The three other teams reportedly pursuing Paul George are the Celtics, Cavs and Clippers. I just don't think the Clippers or Cavs have the assets the Pacers would want in return -- i.e., younger high upside players and/or 1st round picks to start a rebuild process. The Celtics can clearly offer the best package for George and can do it without giving up any of the key players who led them to a 53-win season. But I have to believe the Celtics would be reluctant to offer much given George's upcoming free agency and stated desire to play in LA. That leaves the Lakers. And it's probably fair to say that the Pacers would probably prefer to see George go to the West than to a competing East Conference team like the Celtics or Cavs. So the Pacers should be highly motivated to trade Paul George to the Lakers this summer. The Lakers can offer Randle, the #27 & 28 picks in this year's draft and a future 1st. That package is definitely not the equivalent of George's talent. But that's not how NBA trades work. It's above market value, which turns significantly on the circumstances of each team. Given the Pacers' situation, I think they'll take that deal and George will be a Laker this fall.
The Lakers' first plan for George has apparently failed:
David Aldridge?Verified account @daldridgetnt 16m16 minutes ago
More
Lakers, per sources, engaged Sacramento in talks that would have sent the 2nd pick to the Kings for Sac's two 1st-rounders (5 and 10) (1/2)
David Aldridge?Verified account @daldridgetnt 14m14 minutes ago
More
Lakers would have then packaged one of the Kings' picks w/27 & 28 along w/player in offer to Indy for Paul George. But Kings said no (2/2).
[Edit: this means the Lakers are willing to pass on Ball to get George... ]
lipoli390 wrote:I see it as a win-win deal given the situation each team is in. The Nets benefit by getting a young lottery talent in Russell without having any lottery picks last year, this year or next. And Moscov can play even though he's not worth his massive contract. The Lakers benefit by clearing Moscov's contract from their books, freeing up cap space next year to pursue Paul George or LeBron James (maybe both). Oh, and the Lakers get one of the League's better centers as well as another low 2017 first round pick.
So what is the Lakers' next move? I think they'll go hard after Paul George. The Nets deal gives the Lakers additional leverage because the Pacers now know that the Lakers will definitely have the cap space to sign George as a FA next year. That means there is absolutely no doubt that, if not traded this summer, George will leave next year without the Pacers getting anything in return.
The three other teams reportedly pursuing Paul George are the Celtics, Cavs and Clippers. I just don't think the Clippers or Cavs have the assets the Pacers would want in return -- i.e., younger high upside players and/or 1st round picks to start a rebuild process. The Celtics can clearly offer the best package for George and can do it without giving up any of the key players who led them to a 53-win season. But I have to believe the Celtics would be reluctant to offer much given George's upcoming free agency and stated desire to play in LA. That leaves the Lakers. And it's probably fair to say that the Pacers would probably prefer to see George go to the West than to a competing East Conference team like the Celtics or Cavs. So the Pacers should be highly motivated to trade Paul George to the Lakers this summer. The Lakers can offer Randle, the #27 & 28 picks in this year's draft and a future 1st. That package is definitely not the equivalent of George's talent. But that's not how NBA trades work. It's above market value, which turns significantly on the circumstances of each team. Given the Pacers' situation, I think they'll take that deal and George will be a Laker this fall.
David Aldridge tweeted that the Lakers tried to trade 2 to the kings for 5 and 10 and one of those picks would have been moved to the Pacers with 27 and 28 for PG but the Kings said no which I think is smart.
Atlanta does look to be going into rebuild. Their new GM really spoke highly of Dennis S the other day with Mannix. They have some young players how full will the rebuild be? Do they spend some money on a younger FA this summer?
