Possible No. 1 pick LaMelo Ball confirmed this week in an appearance on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby (video link) that the Warriors are one of the teams he has met with so far.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic notes (via Twitter) that the Warriors’ interview with Ball actually happened over four months ago, well before the team secured the No. 2 pick. Still, Golden State is one of just two clubs known to have spoken to Ball, along with New York.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Addressing the possibility of the Timberwolves trading the No. 1 pick, Brian Witt of NBC Bay Area observes that such a move would have a major impact on the Warriors. Besides holding the No. 2 pick this year, Golden State controls Minnesota’s top-three protected pick for 2021, so a win-now move by the Wolves would affect where that pick lands.
- The Suns had a second Zoom interview this week with former Alabama point guard Kira Lewis, reports Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link). Lewis is ranked No. 25 on ESPN’s big board, but it’s worth noting that GM James Jones hasn’t been shy about “reaching” for prospects — last year, he selected Cameron Johnson, a projected late first-rounder, at No. 11.
- Some executives around the league believe that the Lakers make sense as a trade partner for the Thunder in a Chris Paul deal, writes Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. While LeBron James and Paul likely wouldn’t mind teaming up, it would be tricky for the Lakers to pull off a deal — they’d have to package at least six players in order to match Paul’s salary, and there would be other roadblocks to consider, as Dan Feldman of NBC Sports writes.
Who says no?
Chris Paul for Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, Quinn Cook, Avery Bradley and JaVale McGee and 28th pick.
Lakers aren’t dumb. I think the more likely option is okc reaches buy out with Chris Paul and he resigns at a lower value to the lakers. Lakers in turn draft kuzma and 1st to okc for a salary filler. This way lakers won’t have to face that ridiculous salary and still have a chance to add additional free agents.
Why would OKC buy out Chris Paul?
Why would they buy out Chris Paul when he clearly has trade value?
They owe Paul 80m. he aint being bought out
Mindless is a troll. He don’t care just wants a reaction. Better cheer harder for LA. I don’t think dodgers hear you lol.
Paul’s greatest value will be at trade deadline. But I think for sure he is getting moved next yr.
I don’t think you understand how buyouts work
Why would you buy out the guy that just led you to the playoffs? I get that people think he is overpaid, but the guy can still play at a very high level. He’s not getting ready to check into a retirement home. I sometimes wish they could start keeping player salaries a secret so that players can be judged by what they do on the court instead of what they do at the negotiating table.
I think the NBA says no, because all those guys add up to $30 million in salary next season, and Paul is earning $41 million. Adding Paul to the Lakers makes them a taxpayer (assuming vet min cap holds for all their roster spots), so salaries have to be within 125%. You’re about $4.5 million away.
Go fish.
Lakers ask McGee to opt out and pay him more. You can also wait until the 28th pick is born (cut a check for 28th pick)
Do not forget there is $5.7M cash consideration.
The Thunder say no and in a heartbeat. Even if the money worked, they would have to clear 4 roster spots to take on all of those players. I don’t think they would want to release some of their young players in order to roster these throwaway vets from the Lakers.
Another great reason this trade won’t happen.
Not sure why Lakers would gut a championship team to take a risk (albeit small risk) on an aging Chris Paul. Even if Paul plays like he did this year, losing that amount of depth, especially after winning it this year, just doesn’t seem to make much sense.
Yep. There’s no way CP3 ends up on the Lakers unless its for the vets minimum with OKC paying his salary.
Makes no sense for OKC to buy out Paul. He still can produce and get fans in the stands. OKC could trade him for another bad contract with draft picks.
Paul’s contract has $85 million left. Even if he was willing to leave $25million of that (BTW nobody is leaving $25 mill on the table) so he can get bought out that’s still $60 million on OKCs salary cap for this season!! Can’t be done
Not a championship team. It was a bubble asterisked team. Not worth anything next year and they know it.
What? Lol they were the #1 seed all year. Everyone was in the bubble, no home court advantage
No they don’t know it because it’s wrong, and does not reflect how hard it was to win both the RS and the bubble. Nobody has made an effort like the Lakers did in any year.
Maddening how Dodgethis says the stupidest things and tries to cover by saying everyone knows. He can’t stand by his own convictions, they belong to someone deluded.
The most interesting question to me is that
If Rondo, Howard and Morris all want $5.72 Million MLE, who should the Lakers keep?
Other teams could offer 2-years $12 million for each player.
Lakers currently team salary $153 million (cap hold included)
Lakers Current Team Salary without cap hold $80M for 8 players
Davis projected $30M
KCP projected $15M
10 players total = 125M
One month ago, I have two trade ideas
1. Clippers offer 2-year MLE deal to Rondo.
2. Warriors offer 2-year MLE deal to Howard.
The purpose is to make Lakers worse.
I am a bad guy!
These aren’t trades.. so bad might not be the right word here
Only way Chris Paul trade goes down is if someone takes a pay cut. Paul might be willing (he seems like the kind of guy that might do that), but I’m not sure LA wants to bet it all on him being great next year (and being healthy).
IMHO, LA should bring back one or two vets for good money, and then see who’s available at next year’s trade deadline. You never know who might blow it up next season…
The Players Association does not allow pay cuts.
Bad for business and the future of the sport and players welfare. Do players sign for less money when their current contract is over? Yes. Do teams negotiate buyouts with players 4 less than their current contract? Yes as agreed upon between the NBA and the Players Association.
You are correct.
I was thinking Paul might agree to waive his last year and sign an extension (which would allow him to lower his salary quite a bit per year), but that doesn’t help make the trade logistics in the 2021 season any easier, which is the point. So I misspoke.
I was also thinking the Lakers could create some breathing space under the tax line by getting someone to agree to the same thing (like Bradley or AD or whomever). A few million in “savings” would get them under the 125% requirement. But that’s probably not going to happen.
I would like Kuzma on the Knicks. Kuzma for #27 in draft
I would like Kuzma anywhere but the Lakers. The Knicks would be perfect for an overrated player like him.
Bradley Beal is who they need to trade for not no Chris paul if they have to trade kuzma then it need to be for beal or a third team trade
Kuzma isn’t good and isn’t bringing much back in a trade. The Lakers don’t have the assets to get Beal. These are delusions.
Lakers used up all their trade assets to get Davis. Kuzma is probably the only trade asset they have left and he is a 6th man off the bench value.
He has no value.
Chris paul won’t give up money in a buyout.. he’s pro players getting all their money..he’s not taking less and okc isn’t paying full freight so paul isn’t coming to lakers
Lakers just won they don’t need to make any huge moves. However I think they might make a couple minor moves.
How about Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, a first round pick and a second round pick for Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen.
Don’t think Bron is the biggest Green fan after all his open misses and Kuzma also stunk it up. Dinwiddie would love to chance to be a full time starter and play as the third star with two of the league best. Plus Jarrett Allen is a great young 5 that would suit Bron and AD.
Nets would be getting Green as an double insurance policy. Firstly Spencer is probably going to want out after continually preforming great and being given the bench role, and secondly because LeVert is an injury concern. Danny Green with his experience would be a great back up SG/SF with that 3 and D style. Then Kuzma who is very hot and cold would be a good signing for Durant. It would mean Durant has less minutes having to play the 4.
Or Alternatively Danny Green for Gary Harris.
Green would add a huge amount of experience to a young Nuggets team and he would be a great defender and shooter for them. Gary Harris for the Lakers would add a little youth being 7 years younger than Green. He has injury concerns but when fit would suit LeBrons style perfectly as he has a high IQ, can shoot the ball, can play make a little and defend well.
This move would suit Bron but also plan for life after James and getting AD some help on his timeline
They love Harris in Denver and would want more.
I like Dinwiddie in LA though. I wanted him for CLE when LJ was there. Allen protects them if Howard leaves when Rondo gets the MLE. A first & second may not be enough sweetener but I’m biased.
Minny is not trading the pick. They are just making sure they are getting most value. Somebody could overpay. Edwards at SG is just too gd a fit. To pass up. Not a wise move to pass on him.
Minnesota making a “win now” move will definitely not impact the value of next year’s pick for the Warriors. In the West, regardless of what the Wolves do, that pick is going to be in the middle of the first round (or better, depending upon any unforeseen injuries).
You misunderstood. The Warriors own Minnesota’s pick next year along with their own. The value of that Minnesota pick will definitely be impacted by whether they choose to compete or rebuild. It could very easily be a top 10 pick or maybe even a top 5.
I still don’t get this LaMelo Ball thing. So you say a guy that has played some 10 games in the Australian league, averaging average numbers and then missing the rest of the season because of injury, will be the number 1 pick in the NBA draft? Then this is truly a weak draft class
I agree completely. This time last year, Ball was being look at as a mid 1st round pick. Then he competes in a league that is the equivalent of a strong mid-major conference. Now he is the best talent in the draft? Although in fairness, they are saying the same thing about Wiseman and he played maybe 5 college games.
The NBA draft is all about keeping yourself mysterious. Because the more you are seen, the more flaws people can find.
Due to the limited college season and no tourny, ball is the only player with name value.
Most posters would claim they could tell which prospect will make it just by watching him play. But somehow the ones here have no trust in professional scouts doing the same thing.
MIN will be in the playoffs next year, or very close, people are very down on them but when you have a generational talent like KAT, you don’t need much more, next year with him healthy & D’lo & another star guy, or LaMelo or Wiseman they will be very good, only way will mess this up is if they pick Edwards, bad fit, bad player & bad attitude.
Don’t sleep on the T’Wolves, they are coming!!!