re: Non-Pels Free Agency News and Rumors

I’m looking at the trade terms and the Clippers gave up less than the Lakers IMHO.

The Lakers have up three picks and two swaps IIRC but one of those was the 4th overall pick in 2019. And that includes protections / deferrals tying up their picks for 7 years. Less in actual picks, more serious in their downside ability to recover if shite goes sideways.

The Clippers sent three unprotected picks of their owns, an unprotected Heat pick, and a protected Heat pick, plus pick swaps. Only so much of their own assets going out.


The pick swaps are where things get interesting.

The Pels, as of today, have a pretty good group which is young and under salary control. Properly managed, they can win and acquire more talent.

The Thunder? They have a bigger star in Westbrook than anyone the Pels have but the team supporting him is overpaid crap which has them in the repeater tax. I see them ending up in the tank sooner or later trying to rebuild post-Westbrook, especially since Westbrook and Presti are talking about a landing spot.


In short, I see a possibility of the Pels using their swaps. I don’t see the Thunder using theirs because they are about to crater hard.