Kawhi - Paul George to Clippers

[slimWins]

WOW....

Kiwi signs with LAC

Clippers also trade for Paul George. Give up Shai-Gil, Gallinari and 100 draft picks.

WOW again.

[slimWins]

The picks OKC gets in return.

4 unprotected 1st rounders
1 protected 1st rounder
2 pick swaps.

[jonnyblaze]

Pretty good trade for OKC.

[wayne1218]

Wow holy shit ... just wow.

Why would OKC trade George

[kbsooner21]

Wow wow wow wow wow

[wayne1218]

Guess he wanted to be in LA after all ... and play with Kawhi.

Everybody knew he wasn't going back to Toronto but the George part, wow!

[slimWins]

Originally Posted by wayne1218

Wow holy shit ... just wow.

Why would OKC trade George

Not sure what/if anything specific happened in OKC. I think he wanted to play at home in LA and play with the best player in the game.

[wayne1218]

Originally Posted by slimWins

Not sure what/if anything specific happened in OKC. I think he wanted to play at home in LA and play with the best player in the game.

Yes, story said Leonard wanted to play with him in LA and George requested a trade. I think OKC did okay actually. Unlike the Pelican/Laker trade, i like what OKC received. I think GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER is a really nice player and i think Gallinari fits a need they had. Same way i thought they could have used Horford, i think Gallinari fits. I realize George the best player in the deal but at least they didn't get dogshit players in return like the Pelicans did.

[kane]

If OKC was smart they would move Westbrook, they'll never win anything with him, so trade him for a nice package, with the haul they could get for him, combined with what they got for PG, the Thunder would be set up very nicely for a rebuild

[kane]

Personally I think Kawhi knew all along he wasn't going to the Lakers, but by delaying his decision a week he knew all the bigger free agents would be gone, he knew by waiting he could hurt the Lakers, a team that he knew would be a rival

[slimWins]

Originally Posted by kane

If OKC was smart they would move Westbrook, they'll never win anything with him, so trade him for a nice package, with the haul they could get for him, combined with what they got for PG, the Thunder would be set up very nicely for a rebuild

I agree with this. Have to do it before his play starts to decline, and it will

[kane]

Woj is reporting Sam Presti tried trading both PG and Westbrook to Toronto, but couldn't get anything done

[wayne1218]

I bet the Knicks would take russ

[kane]

Originally Posted by slimWins

I agree with this. Have to do it before his play starts to decline, and it will

Westbrook is reliant on his athleticism, he's not a good shooter, some players age well because they've got a good outside shot and don't have to rely on getting to the rim as they lose their athleticism, but Westbrook isn't one of those type of players. I think he still has several good years left, but once he's not a great athlete, he'll no longer be a good player

[kane]

I heard a rumor the Heat might be interested in Westbrook to pair with Butler, I hope to God this is nothing more than a rumor

[wayne1218]

Russ is an LA guy. Played at UCLA. Imagine if the Lakers made the trade for him, using the Kawhi money

[kane]

Originally Posted by wayne1218

Russ is an LA guy. Played at UCLA. Imagine if the Lakers made the trade for him, using the Kawhi money

After everything they gave up to get AD, I don't think they had enough assets to get anything done. Also, I don't know if he would have been a good fit with the Lakers since he's a ball dominant guard and LeBron handles the ball so much, a PG on LeBron's team has to be a good shooter since LeBron handles the ball so much, Westbrook is a guy who needs the ball in his hands to be effective

[kane]

Originally Posted by wayne1218

Yes, story said Leonard wanted to play with him in LA and George requested a trade. I think OKC did okay actually. Unlike the Pelican/Laker trade, i like what OKC received. I think GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER is a really nice player and i think Gallinari fits a need they had. Same way i thought they could have used Horford, i think Gallinari fits. I realize George the best player in the deal but at least they didn't get dogshit players in return like the Pelicans did.

I really like Gilgeous-Alexander, and Gallinari is a good player, but he seemingly can never stay healthy

[wayne1218]

That all depends on how badly OKC wants him gone. It could start and end with Kuzma, and a couple other things thrown in. You may hate Westbrook but it doesn't mean everybody else does.

[kane]

Originally Posted by wayne1218

That all depends on how badly OKC wants him gone. It could start and end with Kuzma, and a couple other things thrown in. You may hate Westbrook but it doesn't mean everybody else does.

My feelings about Westbrook have nothing to do with my thinking that he wouldn't be a good fit for the Lakers, Kyrie was able to play alongside LeBron because he's a good shooter, Westbrook isn't, he's a ball dominant guard who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. Also, If I'm Presti and I'm looking to move him, I want more than Kuzma and a couple other things. I also don't know if the Lakers would want to tie up a ton of money in him, here's a breakdown of his contract. He has 4 seasons remaining, in 2019-20 he makes 38.5 Million, in 2020-21 he makes 41.4 Million, in 2021-22 he makes 44.2 Million, and in 2022-23 he'll make 47.1 Million, that's a lot of money for guy who might not even be a good fit

[wayne1218]

Originally Posted by kane

My feelings about Westbrook have nothing to do with my thinking that he wouldn't be a good fit for the Lakers,

They kind of do. I don't think i have seen one post of yours about westbrook where you don't say how awful a player he is. I have also never seen you say he would be a good fit anywhere, because again you hate his game. You have made that more than clear many times now.

[kane]

Originally Posted by wayne1218

They kind of do. I don't think i have seen one post of yours about westbrook where you don't say how awful a player he is. I have also never seen you say he would be a good fit anywhere, because again you hate his game. You have made that more than clear many times now.

You're wrong, I don't think he's an awful player at all, I think he's a good player, but I don't think he's great and feel he's overrated. I'm sure there are plenty of teams where he would fit in well, but the Lakers aren't one of them since LeBron handles the ball so much. I'll say it again, a PG on LeBron's team needs to be a good outside shooter to be effective, Westbrook isn't a good outside shooter, when LeBron penetrates the lane and kicks it out to an open teammate, that guy needs to be able to knock down the open shot, that isn't Westbrook's strength, his strength is having the ball in his hands and either making a play for himself or a teammate, imo he wouldn't be a good for the Lakers, if you disagree that's fine

[kane]

Kyrie was a good fit playing alongside LeBron and there were rumors about Kemba possibly going there as well, Kemba would have been a good fit since he can knock down an open jumper, he could have played off LeBron, Westbrook can't hit an open jumper consistently enough to fit with LeBron's game

[wayne1218]

Where would he be a great fit. And i'm not wrong. You have said NOTHING but awful things about him and his game ... every time. That's just the truth. For someone you say is a good player, you have never said a good thing about him that i've seen.

[kane]

Originally Posted by wayne1218

Where would he be a great fit. And i'm not wrong. You have said NOTHING but awful things about him and his game ... every time. That's just the truth. For someone you say is a good player, you have never said a good thing about him that i've seen.

I'm not going to sift through every team to try and find a team that would be a good fit for him, there are many teams in the league where he would fit well, I just don't think the Lakers are one of them. Here's what's good about his game, his athleticism is off the charts, he's one of the best athletes to ever play, he's a great rebounder for his size, he's great at getting to the rim, he can take his man off the dribble whenever he wants and either finish at the rim or create for a teammate, I just wish he would play that way more often, but too many times he settles for an outside shot or shoot a three pointer, which isn't his strength