We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
Who says no: Lakers trade Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and 2019 1st round pick to Spurs for Kawhi Leonard? — VJ Cruz, via Twitter
If the Spurs make the decision to trade Leonard, that would be an exceptional return, even though L.A. would likely become a playoff team and next year’s pick won’t be very high. Several things have to happen to get to that point. First, Leonard has to turn down a supermax offer and the Spurs need to be convinced he will opt out and become a free agent next summer. Next, the Lakers have to strike on Plan A, which is to get LeBron James with either Paul George or DeMarcus Cousins in free agency. The Lakers like Ingram an awful lot, and Kuzma has shown he has a bright future. If L.A. is willing to make this offer for Leonard, it may be the best one the Spurs get.
Does anyone want to talk about the East vs West disparity in talent? Does anyone think the Sixers would sweep the Pels? The East seems overmatched in talent. — CH O, via Twitter
The West has enjoyed better talent for a few years, but young teams in the East are cutting into that disparity. The Rockets and Warriors would probably be favored against any Eastern team in the Finals, but the rest of the seeds are much more even: Trail Blazers vs. Sixers, Thunder vs. Cavaliers, Jazz vs. Pacers, Pelicans vs. Heat, Spurs vs. Bucks and Timberwolves vs. Wizards. These things go in cycles, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Celtics, Sixers or Bucks become the NBA’s next dominant team.
The Clippers signed C.J. Williams, but why LAC didn’t sign Tyrone Wallace? Wallace was 10 times better than Williams. — Richard Garcia
Both were two-way players who saw significant playing time during their 45-day NBA limits, and statistically Wallace was quite a bit better. Williams played 38 games, started 17, and averaged 5.5 points and 1.1 assists per night. Wallace saw action in 30 games, starting 19, and averaged 9.7 points and 2.4 assists. Williams also turned 28 in February, while Wallace is still 23, so he seems like the better long-term investment. Ultimately, it came down to money. Williams was willing to accept a contract with no guarantees for the next two seasons, while Wallace’s representatives were seeking a better deal. They may both be back with the Clippers next season, but Wallace can take a shot at free agency first.
Windhorst says Lebron is in contact with Kawhi. I’m having a sinking feeling about the trade where the Cavs took salary off the Lakers’ hands. They still have Randle, Hart & Ball in that trade scenario.
It’s odd to hope the Spurs will only trade Kawhi to the East. Supposedly the Sixers can pay both Lebron & Kawhi but that is not the script the Sixers have been writing.
That is a dumb deal for the Lakers. #youarehigh
Re the first letter, this trade could not take place until after the draft unless the Lakers would also acquire another 2019 draft pick. Otherwise, it would violate the Ted Stepien rule.
The Lakers have the Cavs’ 2018 first-rounder, so they’re free to trade their 2019 pick if they want.
“Does anyone want to talk about the East vs West disparity in talent? Does anyone think the Sixers would sweep the Pels? The East seems overmatched in talent.”
I can’t say I get this point. The Pelicans swept the #3 seed in the West. I rarely think anybody is going to sweep anybody else. But if you want to compare the Sixers to Portland–the other #3 seed–both went .500 against the Western Conference playoff teams. So my guess is the Sixers would have stood at least as good a chance in the West as Portland did. (It’s not a great comparison, because the Sixers got much better as the season went along. In my opinion, the three best teams for the playoffs in the West are Houston, Golden State and OKC. I’d have put the Sixers at #4 if they were in the West.