(05-03-2021, 03:17 PM)MaxiThreeba Wrote: He already is special and crazy fun to watch.  He is a basketball savant in a lot of the ways Luka is as well.  Just another one of the insanely bright young talents that the NBA will be able to build their brand on for the next two decades.

A big difference in their game is one LaMelo will never be able to close the gap on though.  LaMelo is 180 pounds...Luka is 230.  

What Luka can do in the post and in the mid range makes him the type of gravitational three level offensive talent that you don't see very often.

In 5 years a lot of Luka and LaMelo's games may be equal...but Luka will always have that size and strength that LaMelo never will.

(05-03-2021, 03:16 PM)omahen Wrote: You mean like Barea and Mejri, who were also friends with Luka? Letting 19 year olds (LaMelo) and 22 year olds manage your team is not really a smartest move, if you want to win. Does someone want to be buddy-buddy or win it all?

(05-03-2021, 02:12 PM)dynamicalVoid Wrote: Im not saying Bridges would take a pay cut to play with Melo...but I bet Bridges wouldnt want to play for any other PG in the league.   Melo putting alley-oop dimes on a platter for that guy.

Bridges always so pumped after those dimes too.

I dont know who is considered a better player or who has more potential between PJ and Bridges?  Is Bridges the clear cut most sensible guy to let go if Charlotte had to choose between Bridges and PJ?

(05-03-2021, 02:53 PM)dynamicalVoid Wrote: If I was Bridges and I could choose I would stay put.  Already got a good thing going why mess with it

(05-03-2021, 03:04 PM)MaxiThreeba Wrote: Saying LaMelo is "not quite as good as Luka" is underselling it by quite a bit.

Does look like that team in Charlotte is having a lot of fun like you said though...probably a big reason why they wouldn't want KP...can't remember the last time he looked like he had fun doing anything basketball related.

(05-03-2021, 03:23 PM)cow Wrote: Melo's got his own athletic gifts though that Luka will not have because of his size.  I'm not arguing for Melo over Luka, but Melo has a lot of the traits that make Luak fun to watch (3 moves ahead and an infectious joy while playing).

(05-03-2021, 03:05 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: One thing that's not mentioned about the idea of trading for Rozier is that he also is a very good expiring contract to trade next year.  If you traded for Rozier/Bridges/Pick you would then have 18M in expirings to pair with the CHA pick and I believe we'd be able to trade a first of our own again (but I believe it would still be the 2027 pick).

(05-03-2021, 03:52 PM)BasketballJones41 Wrote: I’m only interested in bridges if we can be sure Rick doesn’t view him as a 4. Otherwise I’d prefer to explore other options to trade KP.

(05-03-2021, 03:52 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: KP has fun when he dunks hard. That's fun. I think he will do more in the playoffs.

(05-03-2021, 03:56 PM)MaxiThreeba Wrote: That's true.  Those drives through the lane that end with the one handed power flush are fun to watch and he definitely enjoys them.

Hopefully we will see more of those in the playoffs...and more of him hammering down Luka oops because he rolls hard to the rim on any one of the 798 PnR's they run a game.

(05-03-2021, 03:52 PM)MaxiThreeba Wrote: I don't think LaMelo has any athletic gifts that allow him to do things that Luka can't do. 

(05-03-2021, 04:00 PM)cow Wrote: Agree to disagree.  I'm not saying Melo is going to be better than Luka but he athletic traits that Luka doesn't have.

(05-03-2021, 04:00 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: I am 99.9% we will provided KP is healthy (obv we don't know yet). If you have watched carefully KP gets more aggressive in big matchups (as do the rest of the Mavs). I think these matchups are a preview of what we will see come playoff time. KP has been saving his body for the playoffs.

(05-03-2021, 04:01 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: Not sure why we are arguing ab this bc its immaterial to any kind of KP/Charlotte related trade idea.

(05-03-2021, 03:50 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: Ya'll realize Bridges doesn't have a say in the matter. He is under contract. If Hornets are like sure we'll take KP for Bridges and Rozier then that's that.

The issue would be if Hornets management doesn't want to break up that connection which would be understandable.

(05-03-2021, 04:01 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: Not sure why we are arguing ab this bc its immaterial to any kind of KP/Charlotte related trade idea.

(05-03-2021, 04:00 PM)cow Wrote: Agree to disagree.  I'm not saying Melo is going to be better than Luka but he athletic traits that Luka doesn't have.

(05-03-2021, 04:14 PM)MaxiThreeba Wrote: I tend to agree with you on that...I just don't think they allow him to do anything that Luka can't...though the one intrigue there for me would be if LaMelo works himself into a top notch perimeter defender (not talking about steals but on ball defense).  I don't think Luka will ever clamp PGs, though his defense when he engages is highly underrated.

LaMelo could bring that to the table.

The 25 and under talent in the league is absolutely bonkers!

(05-03-2021, 04:13 PM)dynamicalVoid Wrote: I dont think anyone is suggesting that Bridges or Melo have the actual power to push the button/veto a trade...

I just dont see why Charlotte would do it.

Do they have a Center issue.  Yes.  Do they want a 30+M Unicorn Center with injury concerns while also breaking up what seems to be good chemistry amongst two of their young stars on cheap contracts?  

If Im Charlotte...PJ and Miles are off limits.  Rozier and some other guys not named Miles and PJ.   Not because I am over inflating their talent...but because who else do they have in the front court if KP gets hurt....and because of the chemistry.

Maybe Im wrong...but trading both PJ and Miles for KP would disrupt that team quite a bit right(they talk about their chemistry)?  They would then have to make another move to bring in other front court players that they would hope work out next to KP(when KP plays).  

I get that they arent contenders and you have to make moves to come up...but two cheap starters for an expensive injury prone Unicorn while also disturbing team chemistry?  Seems risky

(05-03-2021, 04:16 PM)cow Wrote: That's where I'd skew.  He'd speed and quickness give him some potential on defense, but right now that's all it is, potential.  There are also some beneficial elements to that speed and quickness on the offensive end.  Luka plays at his own pace masterfully because that's what his athleticism allows him to do.  Melo just has another gear or two.