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2018-2019 Around The NBA thread

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Embiid is better than Jimmy Butler. I wouldn't have said that before the season. Watching them play next to each other, it's not contest.
 
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...son-says-pelicans-act-good-faith?platform=amp

Lakers' Magic Johnson says Pelicans didn't act in good faith

ESPN

DAVE MCMENAMINESPN Staff Writer9:40 PM ET5 Minute Read

PHILADELPHIA -- Los Angeles Lakerspresident Magic Johnson said the New Orleans Pelicans operated in bad faith during negotiations with his team over a deal for superstar Anthony Davis. However, he said he isn't dwelling on the trade deadline failure and wants his players to shift their focus forward.


"We knew that basically at the end of the day, what happened happened," Johnson said before the Lakers' 140-123 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. "And we knew that when we first started, in terms of what happened. But hey, it is what it is."

Johnson was asked whether the New Orleans front office -- run by general manager Dell Demps and executive vice president Mickey Loomis -- acted in good faith from the time Davis' trade request became public until the deadline passed without a deal.

Johnson replied flatly, "No." But Johnson pushed back against the notion that the public nature of the negotiations was unfair to L.A.'s young core, as players heard their names mentioned as trade chips on an almost daily basis.

"Quit making this about thinking these guys are babies because that's what you're treating them like," Johnson said. "They're professionals. All of them. And this is how this league works. They know it, I know it -- that's how it goes. <Wonder LBJ is going to comment on this. Me thinks not>

"So we've got to move forward, and we are moving forward. They played outstanding against Boston. Give them credit. And we want to play well today and continue on. This is a part of the league. You've got a good side of the business that we get paid to be professional basketball players, and there's deals like this."

Johnson also rejected the characterization that the negotiations were different than the way the rest of the league conducts its business.

"All deals are ... a lot of them are made in public," he said. "We didn't make it in public, but that's part of it. That's what happens, man. We've got big boys here, and they bounce back. They're fine."

When asked whether the way things went with New Orleans could have a hangover effect on his franchise this offseason, Johnson remained steadfast in his vision for returning the Lakers to championship form.

"That's not going to change our plans this summer," Johnson said. "It's a great [free-agency] class, and we just want to get one of them."

L.A. settled for two relatively minor moves leading up to the deadline, sending rookie Svi Mykhailiuk to the Detroit Pistons for Reggie Bullock and trading Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Clippers for Mike Muscala.

"We were on the phones early on," Johnson said, admitting that the Lakers have wanted to add shooting to their lineup for quite some time. "Nobody was going to make a move until the last week. And we were locked into Reggie for a long time. Had some great talks with Detroit. And then finally it became a deal. Mike was really last-second when we didn't know that Philly was going to make that move [acquiring Tobias Harrisfrom the Clippers]. When they made that move and we looked up and said, 'Man, a stretch 4-5 could really help us out.' And we feel good about the trade."

Johnson joined the team in Philadelphia on Sunday after attending a reunion with the 1978-79 Michigan State championship team to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its title on Saturday in East Lansing, Michigan. Johnson used the trip to reconnect with his team and re-emphasize the directive for now until April: qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2013.

"I talked to guys individually," Johnson said. "Because that's important to have sidebars with them. Make sure that we're heading all in the same direction. And we are. And we got a goal ahead of us to try to make the playoffs. That's what it's all about."

There were mixed reactions to Johnson's message in the Lakers' postgame locker room.

"I think he runs the team, and he felt the pulse of the team either throughout the trade deadline or whatever the case may be," LeBron James said. "But just having him around whenever that may be is always good for the ball club."

"I don't know," Rajon Rondo said when asked about Johnson's address. "Everyone's different. Everyone receives information different. It didn't translate to a win. I don't know."

Kyle Kuzma said it was the first time he'd heard from Lakers management from the weeks leading up to the trade deadline or since it passed.

"We just hashed it out," Kuzma said. "I mean, any time Magic Johnson, one of the greatest players in the game, comes to talk to you, you're always going to be all eyes and ears. Optimistic. That's just what Magic is. He's a guy that when he walks into the room, [it] kind of electrifies. It's just who he is. You listen to what he says."

Lakers center JaVale McGee was asked how Johnson's presence made him feel.

"I felt good," McGee said. "How am I supposed to answer that? How did I feel? Tingly inside? I don't know."

The Sixers' trades for Harris, Boban Marjanovic, James Ennis III, Mike Scottand Jonathan Simmons were examples of how "stacked" the Eastern Conference has become, according to Johnson. While openly pondering how the East bracket could play out, Johnson said he is "excited" thinking about his team being part of the postseason.

"I don't want them focused on this other stuff," he said. "What happened, whose name was mentioned, all that -- that's over with. That was Thursday. This is now. Everybody got to buckle up, and we've got to move forward."

With the high-stakes nature of playing in the NBA, let alone playing for the Lakers, an organization that holds itself to a championship standard, Johnson said trade talks will only continue to surround his team.

"Listen, we get paid to do a job," he said. "And we're all professionals. I've been in this league for 40 years. A lot of players got traded on Thursday and Wednesday. Guess what's going to happen next year? A lot of players are going to get traded. A lot of players will stay home. And I talked to our guys, they're in a good place. That's all that matters. We're heading toward, hopefully, getting into the playoffs. And so, that's a part of it -- a part of NFL, a part of NHL, a part of Major League Baseball, a part of the NBA."

Johnson was also asked about Sixers second-year star Ben Simmons, who as a 6-foot-10 point guard has drawn comparisons to the 6-foot-9 Johnson, who won five rings playing point guard for the Lakers.

"[Simmons] reached out to me, not to me directly, to the Lakers to find out if we can get together this summer," Johnson said. "I said, 'Hey, you got to clear it with the league,' and if everybody -- the Sixers sign off, we sign off, the league sign off -- fine, I will do that. But if everybody doesn't sign off, then we can't get together.

"But I love his game. I love his vision. I love also, too, he's very, in terms of basketball IQ, very high basketball IQ."

After the win over the Lakers, Simmons said he isn't focused on speaking to Johnson "right now," but he touched on why that conversation could be beneficial.

"He's been in multiple situations where he's had to play the 5, and he won a championship that way, and just a Hall of Famer, one of those guys who is in the position I'm in ... I think he can help," Simmons said.

When asked about Johnson's comments on Simmons, a team spokesman for the Sixers declined comment to ESPN.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this story.


TL:DR- Johnson, who operates in bad faith by tampering, thinks the Pelicans operated in bad faith themselves. Thus guaranteeing the Pelicans duck you to the Lakers extends into the off-season. Magic then ends the interview by tampering with Ben Simmons while pretending he isn't. You can't make this shit up.
 
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...son-says-pelicans-act-good-faith?platform=amp

Lakers' Magic Johnson says Pelicans didn't act in good faith

ESPN

DAVE MCMENAMINESPN Staff Writer9:40 PM ET5 Minute Read

PHILADELPHIA -- Los Angeles Lakerspresident Magic Johnson said the New Orleans Pelicans operated in bad faith during negotiations with his team over a deal for superstar Anthony Davis. However, he said he isn't dwelling on the trade deadline failure and wants his players to shift their focus forward.


"We knew that basically at the end of the day, what happened happened," Johnson said before the Lakers' 140-123 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. "And we knew that when we first started, in terms of what happened. But hey, it is what it is."

Johnson was asked whether the New Orleans front office -- run by general manager Dell Demps and executive vice president Mickey Loomis -- acted in good faith from the time Davis' trade request became public until the deadline passed without a deal.

Johnson replied flatly, "No." But Johnson pushed back against the notion that the public nature of the negotiations was unfair to L.A.'s young core, as players heard their names mentioned as trade chips on an almost daily basis.

"Quit making this about thinking these guys are babies because that's what you're treating them like," Johnson said. "They're professionals. All of them. And this is how this league works. They know it, I know it -- that's how it goes. <Wonder LBJ is going to comment on this. Me thinks not>

"So we've got to move forward, and we are moving forward. They played outstanding against Boston. Give them credit. And we want to play well today and continue on. This is a part of the league. You've got a good side of the business that we get paid to be professional basketball players, and there's deals like this."

Johnson also rejected the characterization that the negotiations were different than the way the rest of the league conducts its business.

"All deals are ... a lot of them are made in public," he said. "We didn't make it in public, but that's part of it. That's what happens, man. We've got big boys here, and they bounce back. They're fine."

When asked whether the way things went with New Orleans could have a hangover effect on his franchise this offseason, Johnson remained steadfast in his vision for returning the Lakers to championship form.

"That's not going to change our plans this summer," Johnson said. "It's a great [free-agency] class, and we just want to get one of them."

L.A. settled for two relatively minor moves leading up to the deadline, sending rookie Svi Mykhailiuk to the Detroit Pistons for Reggie Bullock and trading Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Clippers for Mike Muscala.

"We were on the phones early on," Johnson said, admitting that the Lakers have wanted to add shooting to their lineup for quite some time. "Nobody was going to make a move until the last week. And we were locked into Reggie for a long time. Had some great talks with Detroit. And then finally it became a deal. Mike was really last-second when we didn't know that Philly was going to make that move [acquiring Tobias Harrisfrom the Clippers]. When they made that move and we looked up and said, 'Man, a stretch 4-5 could really help us out.' And we feel good about the trade."

Johnson joined the team in Philadelphia on Sunday after attending a reunion with the 1978-79 Michigan State championship team to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its title on Saturday in East Lansing, Michigan. Johnson used the trip to reconnect with his team and re-emphasize the directive for now until April: qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2013.

"I talked to guys individually," Johnson said. "Because that's important to have sidebars with them. Make sure that we're heading all in the same direction. And we are. And we got a goal ahead of us to try to make the playoffs. That's what it's all about."

There were mixed reactions to Johnson's message in the Lakers' postgame locker room.

"I think he runs the team, and he felt the pulse of the team either throughout the trade deadline or whatever the case may be," LeBron James said. "But just having him around whenever that may be is always good for the ball club."

"I don't know," Rajon Rondo said when asked about Johnson's address. "Everyone's different. Everyone receives information different. It didn't translate to a win. I don't know."

Kyle Kuzma said it was the first time he'd heard from Lakers management from the weeks leading up to the trade deadline or since it passed.

"We just hashed it out," Kuzma said. "I mean, any time Magic Johnson, one of the greatest players in the game, comes to talk to you, you're always going to be all eyes and ears. Optimistic. That's just what Magic is. He's a guy that when he walks into the room, [it] kind of electrifies. It's just who he is. You listen to what he says."

Lakers center JaVale McGee was asked how Johnson's presence made him feel.

"I felt good," McGee said. "How am I supposed to answer that? How did I feel? Tingly inside? I don't know."

The Sixers' trades for Harris, Boban Marjanovic, James Ennis III, Mike Scottand Jonathan Simmons were examples of how "stacked" the Eastern Conference has become, according to Johnson. While openly pondering how the East bracket could play out, Johnson said he is "excited" thinking about his team being part of the postseason.

"I don't want them focused on this other stuff," he said. "What happened, whose name was mentioned, all that -- that's over with. That was Thursday. This is now. Everybody got to buckle up, and we've got to move forward."

With the high-stakes nature of playing in the NBA, let alone playing for the Lakers, an organization that holds itself to a championship standard, Johnson said trade talks will only continue to surround his team.

"Listen, we get paid to do a job," he said. "And we're all professionals. I've been in this league for 40 years. A lot of players got traded on Thursday and Wednesday. Guess what's going to happen next year? A lot of players are going to get traded. A lot of players will stay home. And I talked to our guys, they're in a good place. That's all that matters. We're heading toward, hopefully, getting into the playoffs. And so, that's a part of it -- a part of NFL, a part of NHL, a part of Major League Baseball, a part of the NBA."

Johnson was also asked about Sixers second-year star Ben Simmons, who as a 6-foot-10 point guard has drawn comparisons to the 6-foot-9 Johnson, who won five rings playing point guard for the Lakers.

"[Simmons] reached out to me, not to me directly, to the Lakers to find out if we can get together this summer," Johnson said. "I said, 'Hey, you got to clear it with the league,' and if everybody -- the Sixers sign off, we sign off, the league sign off -- fine, I will do that. But if everybody doesn't sign off, then we can't get together.

"But I love his game. I love his vision. I love also, too, he's very, in terms of basketball IQ, very high basketball IQ."

After the win over the Lakers, Simmons said he isn't focused on speaking to Johnson "right now," but he touched on why that conversation could be beneficial.

"He's been in multiple situations where he's had to play the 5, and he won a championship that way, and just a Hall of Famer, one of those guys who is in the position I'm in ... I think he can help," Simmons said.

When asked about Johnson's comments on Simmons, a team spokesman for the Sixers declined comment to ESPN.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this story.


TL:DR- Johnson, who operates in bad faith by tampering, thinks the Pelicans operated in bad faith themselves. Thus guaranteeing the Pelicans duck you to the Lakers extends into the off-season. Magic then ends the interview by tampering with Ben Simmons while pretending he isn't. You can't make this shit up.
Simmons reached out to Magic, not the other way around. Idk how you can call that tampering on Magic's end..
 
Simmons reached out to Magic, not the other way around. Idk how you can call that tampering on Magic's end..
He could, and should, have no commented. Or said ' that player reached out to the organisation and it ended there'. Not say 'if everyone signs off it would be ok.' There is zero reason, none whatsoever, for the president of the LA Lakers to be involved in that mentoring of a star player on the 76ers. Or to even be involved in any facet. If he wants to better a player on another teams roster- then trade or sign them. Magic knows exactly what he is doing, he is no fool or a baby- just like he said of the players.
 
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...son-says-pelicans-act-good-faith?platform=amp

Lakers' Magic Johnson says Pelicans didn't act in good faith

ESPN

DAVE MCMENAMINESPN Staff Writer9:40 PM ET5 Minute Read

PHILADELPHIA -- Los Angeles Lakerspresident Magic Johnson said the New Orleans Pelicans operated in bad faith during negotiations with his team over a deal for superstar Anthony Davis. However, he said he isn't dwelling on the trade deadline failure and wants his players to shift their focus forward.


"We knew that basically at the end of the day, what happened happened," Johnson said before the Lakers' 140-123 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. "And we knew that when we first started, in terms of what happened. But hey, it is what it is."

Johnson was asked whether the New Orleans front office -- run by general manager Dell Demps and executive vice president Mickey Loomis -- acted in good faith from the time Davis' trade request became public until the deadline passed without a deal.

Johnson replied flatly, "No." But Johnson pushed back against the notion that the public nature of the negotiations was unfair to L.A.'s young core, as players heard their names mentioned as trade chips on an almost daily basis.

"Quit making this about thinking these guys are babies because that's what you're treating them like," Johnson said. "They're professionals. All of them. And this is how this league works. They know it, I know it -- that's how it goes. <Wonder LBJ is going to comment on this. Me thinks not>

"So we've got to move forward, and we are moving forward. They played outstanding against Boston. Give them credit. And we want to play well today and continue on. This is a part of the league. You've got a good side of the business that we get paid to be professional basketball players, and there's deals like this."

Johnson also rejected the characterization that the negotiations were different than the way the rest of the league conducts its business.

"All deals are ... a lot of them are made in public," he said. "We didn't make it in public, but that's part of it. That's what happens, man. We've got big boys here, and they bounce back. They're fine."

When asked whether the way things went with New Orleans could have a hangover effect on his franchise this offseason, Johnson remained steadfast in his vision for returning the Lakers to championship form.

"That's not going to change our plans this summer," Johnson said. "It's a great [free-agency] class, and we just want to get one of them."

L.A. settled for two relatively minor moves leading up to the deadline, sending rookie Svi Mykhailiuk to the Detroit Pistons for Reggie Bullock and trading Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Clippers for Mike Muscala.

"We were on the phones early on," Johnson said, admitting that the Lakers have wanted to add shooting to their lineup for quite some time. "Nobody was going to make a move until the last week. And we were locked into Reggie for a long time. Had some great talks with Detroit. And then finally it became a deal. Mike was really last-second when we didn't know that Philly was going to make that move [acquiring Tobias Harrisfrom the Clippers]. When they made that move and we looked up and said, 'Man, a stretch 4-5 could really help us out.' And we feel good about the trade."

Johnson joined the team in Philadelphia on Sunday after attending a reunion with the 1978-79 Michigan State championship team to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its title on Saturday in East Lansing, Michigan. Johnson used the trip to reconnect with his team and re-emphasize the directive for now until April: qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2013.

"I talked to guys individually," Johnson said. "Because that's important to have sidebars with them. Make sure that we're heading all in the same direction. And we are. And we got a goal ahead of us to try to make the playoffs. That's what it's all about."

There were mixed reactions to Johnson's message in the Lakers' postgame locker room.

"I think he runs the team, and he felt the pulse of the team either throughout the trade deadline or whatever the case may be," LeBron James said. "But just having him around whenever that may be is always good for the ball club."

"I don't know," Rajon Rondo said when asked about Johnson's address. "Everyone's different. Everyone receives information different. It didn't translate to a win. I don't know."

Kyle Kuzma said it was the first time he'd heard from Lakers management from the weeks leading up to the trade deadline or since it passed.

"We just hashed it out," Kuzma said. "I mean, any time Magic Johnson, one of the greatest players in the game, comes to talk to you, you're always going to be all eyes and ears. Optimistic. That's just what Magic is. He's a guy that when he walks into the room, [it] kind of electrifies. It's just who he is. You listen to what he says."

Lakers center JaVale McGee was asked how Johnson's presence made him feel.

"I felt good," McGee said. "How am I supposed to answer that? How did I feel? Tingly inside? I don't know."

The Sixers' trades for Harris, Boban Marjanovic, James Ennis III, Mike Scottand Jonathan Simmons were examples of how "stacked" the Eastern Conference has become, according to Johnson. While openly pondering how the East bracket could play out, Johnson said he is "excited" thinking about his team being part of the postseason.

"I don't want them focused on this other stuff," he said. "What happened, whose name was mentioned, all that -- that's over with. That was Thursday. This is now. Everybody got to buckle up, and we've got to move forward."

With the high-stakes nature of playing in the NBA, let alone playing for the Lakers, an organization that holds itself to a championship standard, Johnson said trade talks will only continue to surround his team.

"Listen, we get paid to do a job," he said. "And we're all professionals. I've been in this league for 40 years. A lot of players got traded on Thursday and Wednesday. Guess what's going to happen next year? A lot of players are going to get traded. A lot of players will stay home. And I talked to our guys, they're in a good place. That's all that matters. We're heading toward, hopefully, getting into the playoffs. And so, that's a part of it -- a part of NFL, a part of NHL, a part of Major League Baseball, a part of the NBA."

Johnson was also asked about Sixers second-year star Ben Simmons, who as a 6-foot-10 point guard has drawn comparisons to the 6-foot-9 Johnson, who won five rings playing point guard for the Lakers.

"[Simmons] reached out to me, not to me directly, to the Lakers to find out if we can get together this summer," Johnson said. "I said, 'Hey, you got to clear it with the league,' and if everybody -- the Sixers sign off, we sign off, the league sign off -- fine, I will do that. But if everybody doesn't sign off, then we can't get together.

"But I love his game. I love his vision. I love also, too, he's very, in terms of basketball IQ, very high basketball IQ."

After the win over the Lakers, Simmons said he isn't focused on speaking to Johnson "right now," but he touched on why that conversation could be beneficial.

"He's been in multiple situations where he's had to play the 5, and he won a championship that way, and just a Hall of Famer, one of those guys who is in the position I'm in ... I think he can help," Simmons said.

When asked about Johnson's comments on Simmons, a team spokesman for the Sixers declined comment to ESPN.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this story.


TL:DR- Johnson, who operates in bad faith by tampering, thinks the Pelicans operated in bad faith themselves. Thus guaranteeing the Pelicans duck you to the Lakers extends into the off-season. Magic then ends the interview by tampering with Ben Simmons while pretending he isn't. You can't make this shit up.

Man Rich Paul is doing a real bad job of being an agent right now. LBJ wasted a year. JR is sitting at home and might be done in the NBA. AD now has to wait out the season on a team committed to tank. Now this Simmons and Magic stuff.
 
Simmons will almost certainly sign a 5 year extension in the next year. He'll be an UFA in July 2025, when LeBron is 40.

Kuzma had a crazy first quarter shooting the ball and the Lakers still got blown out by 23.
 
If Lebron was leaving here he should have gone to the Sixers. No fucking circus, no endless tampering to try to get another free agent. Just go to a squad where the young guns and role players are actually good and are on the edge of breaking through, get yourself a couple of more championships, and go off into the sunset. Still not as honorable as staying in Cleveland but at least it makes real sense from a basketball perspective.

This is just...embarassing.
 
Man Rich Paul is doing a real bad job of being an agent right now. LBJ wasted a year. JR is sitting at home and might be done in the NBA. AD now has to wait out the season on a team committed to tank. Now this Simmons and Magic stuff.
Whats the ole saying...biting off more than you can chew?
 
Whats the ole saying...biting off more than you can chew?

Oh I forgot about Nerlens Noel had an offer of 4 years 70 million from the Mavs from his old agent then he switch to Rich Paul. Rich Paul pushed for the max then told Noel to take the QO. Now Noel is on a 2 year 4 million dollar contract.
 
Hey, at least there's hope in the East now. 4 really good teams. Philly suddenly looks like a dragon slayer after the trades.

I would love nothing more than to see Golden Piss lose to Milwaukee, Philly, or Toronto. Especially Philly. That would be twice that city slayed an abominable sports oligarch.

And at least this time, Golden Piss will have to figure out who they want to pay.

Also, stolen from Twitter: it's hilarious watching Cavs legends flounder on two middling franchises.
 
Oh I forgot about Nerlens Noel had an offer of 4 years 70 million from the Mavs from his old agent then he switch to Rich Paul. Rich Paul pushed for the max then told Noel to take the QO. Now Noel is on a 2 year 4 million dollar contract.

Yeah that was terrible terrible
 
Zubac with - 35 +/- in less than 15 minutes...
 
Real glad we traded Joe Harris and a 2017 second rounder to the Magic for...

*checks notes*

a 2020 second round draft pick.
 
Real glad we traded Joe Harris and a 2017 second rounder to the Magic for...

*checks notes*

a 2020 second round draft pick.
Checks notes...2020 second was top 55 protected and has since been traded. Not even getting anything for Captain Joe.
 
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