₦airaland Forum

birdman:
Im not sure Rich Paul is that tactless. I think anything that involves LA or NYC will have a media buzz so strong it will overwhelm any shred of truth. We dont really know how AD presented his case. Or what Lebron said exactly. But the Pelicans front office will be the biggest losers in all this. I would have expected this to temper their reaction.

There are many things that Lebron does that he gets flak for rightfully. On this one, Im with LBJ. To the extent you can use your status to better yourself, do so. This is an Ali moment...a decade from now, folks will realize it

Lol Ali loun loun. That's a huge stretch bro! There's nothing Aliesque about what he is doing.

The Pelicans would only lose if AD gets hurt. If he's healthy the offer would still stand either from the Lakers or other teams willing to take that punt. Remember AD has no say on where he gets traded to regardless, he can only opt to not extend with them.

Taking shorter term deals is the only way to circumvent these scenarios which KD and LeNomad showed in his second stint with the Cavs but how many players can afford to take that gamble? Remember the teams also bear the cost if the player ends up a dud. Luol Deng, Chandler Parsons, Otto Porter, Evan Turner, Hayward, Jabari, Lavine, Barnes, Carroll, Kanter. the league is flush with terrible deals and unlike the NFL these monies are fully guaranteed so the narrative that the players are victims or being held under duress or painting it like a hostage situation is a bit misplaced IMO

birdman:
Like I said. Raps are for real. I know this is an older marc gasol. But boy oh boy...

I feel like Pelicans goofed just like AD. Now you reactivate him, but the damage is done. From jump, they should have wooed him. You dont like the play Lebron made? Make your own play! Instead of getting mad at the game.

I'm not sure they care. They made their moves purely out of spite and pettiness, I actually put the blame squarely on Rich Paul who was not so 'Clutch' with his laughable lack of tact and diplomacy and failed attempt at trying to strongarm his client out of NOLA. Even LeNomad did not pull this stunt with 18 months left to run on his deal

What made him think he and Anthony Davis held the aces I will never know

Internet Self Defense Guru is what killed me

Kawhi

More

For laughs

Orubebe mode activated



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me26zrF-T7c

Caris LeVert is back. Issa miracle! Considering his injury looked just as bad as Heyward's

BlueRayDick:
I don't really know if the screenshot below fits into what you defined up there

So even on the chance creation hill people want to die on top Hidden Shakushaku is not even top 5 . Tears inna mi eyes

donlittle25:
Makelele faultz has been traded to the orlando magic.

Weird that they traded him for a guy who can't even get into the Orlando Magic team. They must have completely written off Markelle Fultz. What a pity

Lol Giannis would make a terrible GM is all I have to say

And LeBron taking KD first. Lmaooooo so predictable

Lol it's probably a sign it's not your year when Rajon Rondo is making buzzer beaters on you

Gasol to the Raptors. This makes them probably the strongest defensive frontcourt in the league. I hate to say it guys but the Eastern Conference would be where the action is. Especially after the first round

Roland17:
Can LeWhine just shut his self-preserving, hypocritic, and sanctimonious mouth already? The rules of the game are not written to exclude you Bron!!! You are the same person who openly tampered with AD on several occasions. You want to talk about Barnes being traded in the middle of the game but you are orchestrating the worst behind the scenes with the Lakers. The Lakers are clearing out the entire roster of young players and vets just to please you, yet you are speaking about Barnes and the Mavs!!!!

Fact: Barnes knew he was on the trading block. The Mavs informed him before the game that a trade was being discussed and Barnes chose to play rather than sit. So can these NBA cry babies just stop already with this nonsense?

At some point the owners are going to fight back, I keep saying it. They choose to stay quiet while the players have continued to blackmail them on social media and other avenues. The next collective bargaining meeting is going to be a difficult one I can assure you guys. This has gone too far.

Lool his hypocrisy is mind blowing. I don't know any elite and self confident player that would want to play with him cos it's always going to be about him every single time

etidy:
Maybe Anthony Davis is worth it? 25/26 I believe , he's the perfect building block that will prolong lebron's prime and will attract fellow free agent stars to come to L.A. this dude has the second highest career PER. He's no Jordan , but imagine Jordan was available in the primez which team will not gur their roster for him . The only problem was the Lakers shouldn't have been in such a dire position to Starr with. From draft blunders, letting food players go and then landing lebron but filling up the roster with misfits . That's the problem!
Regardless, I low-key don't want the warriors to play the lakers in the first round. Make no mistake a fit Lakers squad with lebron is not an 8 seed team, they legit can give the warriors a serious scare.

It's not about AD not being worth it or not, it's about making contingency plans if he doesn't come and letting your opponent know hey we want Anthony Davis but we have other alternatives. Rich Paul clearly overestimated his hand and failed to realize that with 18months on AD's deal the Pelicans and not his client holds leverage.

What you guys also need to understand is that a lot of stars are not exactly crazy about the idea of playing with LeBron, well Anthony Davis is the exception but if you offload all the complementary players right now you would be left with just Bron and AD. No bench, no shooting and mostly buyout filler till the end of the season. They can wait till the summer and still get AD and perhaps not giveaway as many pieces

Lol a locked in playoff mode Warriors would wipe the floor with LeBron and the Lakers. Don't get it confused my bro. Their best shot at making any type of noise is finishing 7th or higher

airmark:
But weren't you hailing the coach before for benching Hummels? For Hummels to be this poor, Boathand might be poorer, but i want him against Liverpool. Boathand must play.

Ohh so you agree Hummels was benched?

airmark:
What's still keeping alagolo on the bench?

Does that coach look like someone that knows what he is doing for your eye? Shame no catch you after that calamitous display from Hummels talk true

SmooshCHN:
Talks around the league is that the Pelicans catfished the Lakers. They had no intention to trade AD and did all that just to mess up Lakers when LeBron allegedly was tampering hanging out with AD. Now the chemistry is all bleeped up. The Pelicans are petty and foolish if this is true. They would have won the trade easily �
��

This was a team that was 4th before LeBron got hurt. I don't get why they were so desperate to clean out their roster to get Anthony Davis at that cost. And what's worse from all intents and purposes they had no backup plan. The Pels know this and are playing them like suckas. Unfortunately it seems the Pels themselves don't know how to get out while they are ahead

aliondo:
Bro, on paper, this line-up is sick...too much sauce........

It will boil down to chemistry in the end but on paper this is the best starting 5 in the league. There's shooting, there's defense, interior presence, rebounding, shoot creation, floor spacing

See as them just spin Hummels like washing machine. Chai! Even I didn't see this regression coming

Lmaooooo. Can't blame the Mavs for offloading that awful contract but damn what a way to keep it classy. That was savage

Lmaooo Hummels tried all his best to get us knocked out but Oluwa said Nahi Nahi

raumdeuter:
Hidden Hazard said he has made a decision on his future looks like he is tired of waiting for Madrid to make a bid,

He spent 4yrs begging Madrid no single bid for am, he sent his family and the entire village, Nothing happen so he wants to just take a flight to Madrid and gatecrash their training pitch

Like babe wey dey wait for you to propose and pay brideprice after many years she just kukuma move into your house

Eden Hazard to tell Chelsea he wants Real Madrid move having 'made decision' on his future

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/02/05/eden-hazard-tell-chelsea-wants-real-madrid-move-having-made/

Madrid suppose file for restraining order. Eleyi ti koja be careful

nihilistjnr:
Did trump talk about the British hood emissary - Duke Savage, 21st earl of Camberwell?

Hahahaha I'd absolutely lose my mind if 21Savage is British. Just when you thought you have seen it all

etidy:
This is a wicked team if brett brown can get them (Butler and Embiid in particular) to buy in and play team basketball. Its over in the east. Embiid is the deal breaker, there is no counter for him in the east and now you can't double team him .This increases the pressure on the celtics to secure AD and kyrie in the Summer unfailing to bring balance in the east or all their years of wheeling and dealing is in vain.

On the flip side this must make KD think again abt leaving his moat "warriors" to go to the Knicks with only Kyrie without Zion or Davis. The Sixer's have 4 legit all stars .Damn!

If I'm KD why oh why would I want to leave the Warriors to join the Knicks. Here's the thing the haters would not care regardless even if he wins a title there. It's a circus. And even if they get Kyrie I don't like their chances against the Sixers moving forward. Now if they get AD that's a different argument entirely and all bets are off. The league is full of surprises sha so let's be observing

etidy:
Dray is a goner with or with KD. Even if KD left, the warriors will be crazy to give him a max contract. Dray is likely to take a pay cut and when Iggy's and Livingston's contract expires the warriors will go hunting for talent again.

Lol the Warriors would be big mad to give Draymond any type of Max. He's plateaued or regressed in pretty much every form

etidy:
I think its unfair to blame lebron
Once you sign a player of his caliber with just 2-3 years left, you do so based on agreement that you will give him the tools to win NOW not tomorrow.
It was magic who dropped the ball with Paul George to a certain extent with Kawhi. If you know you're not in a win now mode, don't pursue lebron develop your guys first then fill the main deficit in free agency like the warriors did.

In this league you're not always going to get what you want at the exact time you want it. It however goes beyond just players but even the coaches who now pretty much have their asses on the line. This is exactly what KD was talking about. People wonder why teams suck so bad whenever LeBron leaves? Its because these teams essentially mortgage their future to deliver him what he wants and by the time he leaves they are so hamstrung they sometimes wind up becoming much worse than they were before he came

Kawhi is not that guy that has the personality of a star Laker. This is not like AD who has all but said trade me to LA. Neither Kawhi nor his 'camp' said zilch about their preferred destination for him

etidy:
As for kawhi, I doubt he resigns with the raptors unless they win the east and the reason is simple: There is/are going to be super teams In the east soon. The sixers are there already, the Celtics and Knicks may join that list next year. At the end of the day for a player who has tasted winning he will wanna be where he can play with another superstar. Kyle Lowry ain't one and he's aging , who will be his robin?

Well word on the street is Masai is trying to do a Gasol-Conley swap for Lowry and Valanciunas so there is that

Hopefully we avoid Dortmund's fate today. I don comot mind for league and this might be our only hope for a trophy this season

Khanben:
WOW The 76ers just made a big statement, T Harris is a heck of a shot creator and mire than a decent shooter.
If Coach Brown can just get them to move the ball and play unselfish basketball. Boban gives them another big to spot Joel and amuke Scott shoots well from deep.
This trade could be the gamechanger in the East.
PS: Really hopes it works out on the court

Simmons-Redick-Butler-Harris-Embiid

On paper this is quite the starting 5. Redick and Harris can shoot the 3 and spread the floor. And is a massive upgrade on Chandler. It would be interesting to see if they can hold on to Butler and Harris or perhaps Harris is insurance in case Butler does not stay. Personally I think the Sixers would be really dumb to give Butler the max

Roland17:
Over! Over!! Over!!!

If AD and his camp have any sense they would see that feeble hearted Magic is building a team for Bron and not a future for AD or the Lakers. If these assets are gone and Bron is finally breaks down next season, who will AD play with? Someone needs to call Magic to his senses if he has any left. This picture depicts who Bron really is, selfish and disruptive. That locker room is divided and dead and don’t get it twisted, the young players may have also lost a ton of respect for Bron because of this situation. It would definitely leave a sour taste in their mouth about the supposed leader of the league.

Now, I really want this deal to go through

I'm sure the Pelicans are just doing shakara. They would be dumb to not rob the Lakers of all their young players and a couple of first rounders. I don't blame Magic who has always been about stars and the ability to bring big names. My only issue is he seems to be bowing to LeBron and his wants instead of leveraging his status as a legend and letting him know that this is the Lakers and no player is bigger than the Lakers. Maybe a few years in the doldrums have humbled them and I understand that LeBron does not have a lot of years left in the league so there is increased urgency to get someone

Tobias Harris to the Sixers. Hahahaha! Ol boy. Clippers just knocked themselves out of the playoffs race. Maybe the Lakers can still sneak in after all

etidy:
There is a difference between rejecting a deal out of spite and anger and rejecting a deal because it ain't good enough. Unless the pelicans have a great deal already agreed with the Celtics rejecting the Lakers deal is risky for several reasons.
DAVIS AND RICH PAUL F**KED UP! BUT BUSINESS IS BUSINESS! YOU THROW AWAY FEELINGS AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION

You're absolutely right. Their luck is at the edge of a cliff and they are just trying to push it. If they get Lonzo, Kuzma and Ingram, don't forget they still have Randle and they get to play outside the pressure and scrutiny of LA. They would be a playoff team in two seasons. Quote me

Both parties are being emotional here and the Pelicans have the most to gain by not being emotional and taking this deal. Anthony Davis is a permacrock and you have a shot at getting not one but potentially 4 guys on affordable deals. They would be really dumb to not take this deal eventually. If they are waiting to see what the master swindler and Ponzi scheme merchant Danny Ainge has to offer then I am really sorry for them

etidy:
1) Davis or any potential trade asset can get injured in the second half of the season greatly affecting the valuation of the players
2) If kyrie walks or the Lakers land a free agent in the summer, the market for Davis will get depressed.

Exactly. Unless the Pels decide to shutdown Davis for the rest of the season there's always risk of injury that would ensure their leverage is nil

etidy:
3) The spurs are a great example to learn from, it pays to strike while its hot! getting derozan and a pick which turned out to be useless for kawhi and green was a L.
Derozan has peaked and can't take the spurs anywhere, Kuzma is arguably at his level already and will be better. They could have had kuzma, Ingram and hart to build on now.

Hard to blame the Spurs for not wanting to strengthen their rival Lakers. I also doubt Kawhi wanted to play with LeBron or deal with the media noise anyway. Kawhi seems like a small-market guy to me or at least someone who wouldn't want the soap opera Lakers environment. I wouldn't be surprised if he winds up staying at Toronto like PG stayed at OKC despite being an LA/SoCal boy

I do however agree with you on DeRozan. If there is a singular trait I hate the most in a player, it's an unwillingness to improve on their obvious weaknesses. The Spurs have the resurgence of LMA to thank that brought them out of their early season slump. His refusal to even take 3 pointers is borderline embarrassing now and tells me he is still showing that mental weakness that made that Raptors team always struggle with LeBron

etidy:
4)Picks are always attractive until you draft them who remembers the famous nets pick that cavs got from Boston via the kyrie trade. Everyone was so hyped that it was valuable and it will be a top 3 pick because the nets were bad. Look how it turned out? Colin sexton Gilbert could have flipped that pick for demarcus cousins and gave lebron a better shot at the warriors convincing him to stay .

Picks are the ultimate crap shoot. Sometimes they pan out and sometimes they don't

The Russell trade also yielded Kuzma. It just depends

etidy:
5)Kuzma+Lonzo+Ingram+Hart+Zubac are not scrubs. There is an all-star right there and worse case they all will make solid NBA starters coupled with the fact that they are all in their early 20s. Throw in two first round picks, an opportunity to trade mirotic and jrue holiday for more assets. You have a team set for the future.

I really like the potential of Zubac. If they move Mirotic, Hill and add more veteran depth then even better. Don't know too many teams that would be open to taking Holiday's contract but if they do find a team then it's all good. Left for me though I'd say they should hold on to Holiday, he plays great defense, create his own shots and is a solid and durable vet

rotimi9:
this ain't my teammates

When KD said what he said most people especially Bronsexuals thought he was crazy. I am pretty sure Ingram agrees with KD now