Lakers. Easy. I lived there for 9 years, then lived in other western areas where more lakers fans were inevitable, and their fans are the most delusional and entitled I’ve come across, super annoying. After we swept them and won game 4 by 30 points some of their fans still vehemently insisted they were the better team lol.

WCJ is kind of big time, and really important for their young wing and guard heavy team. No way they trade him for any of our worse guards and wings and one 1st.

Stein heard him say he’s “fine” after the game and that he was walking under his own power. No further updates that I’m aware of

He’s pretty good but can’t shoot. I’d rather trade one FRP for Wemby (can play 4 next to Lively), and another FRP for Jayson Tatum (solves our size, defense, and 3rd scoring option issues)

In a vacuum, yes we need to get better. But every other team in the west has problems too, real ones. Even the Nuggets are a very different team with Murray hurt. We have LuKai, we have a real shot at making the WCF

Literally WALKING to the rim. I love it. Luka can get a wide open mid range out of the PnR any time he wants too

Even with Lillard, we should beat them if we are as good as I think we are. Bucks have worse problems than us on D. Swapping out Jrue, Grayson Allen, Jevon Carter for Lillard, Malik Beasley, and Cam Payne has been catastrophic for their perimeter defense. Luka, Kyrie, THJ, and Hardy should feast.

If he can hit 60% after an all-night team bender on Bourbon Street then we’re in a for a fantastic year

They certainly are playing like it right now. Would Ant at 22 be the youngest true #1 on a team to win a title…ever? That kind of history does make me pause on really believing in them just yet. Young champs like Kobe, Magic, and Duncan had Kareem, Shaq, and Robinson. Ant has…KAT? Dunno about that.

Yeah you’re right. Especially because we were in that group last year with a pretty similar roster. Vibes are always good when you’re winning, but how will our vibes be after playing a long stretch of the leagues better teams? I really think guys like Grant, Lively, & Seth are great additions to our locker room vibes, and losing guys like Christian Wood and Javale McGee make me encouraged that our improved chemistry is for real.

I also don’t hate our chances against the Lakers or Suns, even if they’re fully healthy (big if).

We don’t have many good defenders, and the good ones have some limitations. I don’t think there’s a more accurate way to explain why we aren’t good at defense other than just looking at our personnel and how they collectively are an average at best defensive group.

Grant, Josh, DJJ are pretty good but at a size/length disadvantage in a lot of matchups.Lively is a rookie and will take time to become a consistently good defender who can avoid fouls enough to play 30 mpg.
LuKai are doing well but can be taken advantage of in certain matchups.
Hardaway/Hardy/Powell are weaknesses.
Exum is good but doesn’t play much, Maxi has regressed.

Our best hopes of improvement within our current roster are Lively developing enough to play consistent D for 30mg, playing Exum more, and Maxi getting healthy.

…defense?

Could he? Yes he could. But Curry, LeBron, MJ, Kareem, Durant all played and scored at high levels deeep into their career and some of them are still going. No telling how long Luka will play, and longevity is a huge part of this discussion. Plus Jokic is right here with him right now, his game should age like wine, and he already has 2 MVPs and a title.

Added Kyrie and Grant. Luka improved. Reggie’s early season slump is out of town. Beautiful to see.

Plus he’s married with young kids and a he also mentioned he’s had some health problems, so the more regular work hours will be especially impactful for him.

Josh Green is younger, bigger, and much better at offense. GPII may be the more consistent and impactful player right now, but he can’t shoot so we may not be able to play him much, and Josh will become a better player at some point over the next two years.

I was excited about Luka because a lot of analysts had him as the best prospect. I tempered my expectations because his shooting percentages weren’t great, but was thrilled we got him and saw it as the best possible outcome. I also like JJJ and WCJ, and felt Trae would be fun, and thought it was laughable that Ayton was being taken #1.

I really like OMax. If he doesn’t earn time on the court this year that will be a real bummer, and there are worrisome trends about rookies who never break the rotation in their first year. Hope to see him soon because you’re right that he fits the exact profile of the type of guy I think we need to add.

Yup. That’s really it. Hard to find and acquire the right guys but we know what we need. Starting caliber two way long athlete at SF, and backup big body center. Will need to give up assets to fill the SF spot, but might be able to find a cheap backup big. Will see if Nico can get that done by next season. Until then we still have a solid squad that will be fun to watch.

Yup. 85 defensive minded SF is the last piece for this team then we’ll be a true contender. OG Anunoby or as close as we can get to that.