It's fine, they haven't!

Really didn't think the Lakers rumours would happen, but to be fair they've had to give up a fair amount of Phoenix to facilitate a S+T! Gonna be interesting to see how they blend together now.

I'm also desperately hoping the Nets don't give up everything to go for Howard. I like Lopez (if fit), and I like Humphries. I reckon they'd have a better shot if they signed Illyasova. 3 good bigs there to match with the best guard pairing in the NBA. Hope it works for them, cos otherwise that JJ contract is a huge drain.

What are the odds on Phoenix now putting together a daft package to get Howard I wonder...

Can't see it. The only team I can see coming from nowhere and making a big play for Howard (that might stick) is the Clippers. Pairing him up with a better PG than Williams is the only way you have a chance of getting an extension out of him. I'd add in Chicago, but I think he wants the LA/NY kinda treatment.

I must add though, I hope they don't. He's more hated than LeBron now

Better than Harden and Westbrook? I don't think Joe Johnson is that great a player to be honest. He's smooth and highly skilled, but I don't think he's a superstar, he just doesn't have the character or the will.

I think DWill is twice the player Westbrook is though. At least twice the point guard.

Having Williams alongside him will push Johnson up to 20+ ppg without breaking a sweat.

and also, LOL at the Raptors for giving that amount of money to Landry Fields. I realise it was to try and block their move for Nash, but that's just backfired horribly imo.

Williams has been forgotten, there's no doubt about that, but part of the reason for that is because of players like Westbrook and Rose. Williams is clearly a better distributor, but Westbrook is a better defender, better athlete and probably a more capable scorer across the board. Harden is already better than Johnson IMO.

I just can't get my head around the Johnson trade. Yes, he's a good player and Brooklyn desperately want them, but he just doesn't strike me as a champion, or even a potential champion. He's smooth, stylish and certainly capable, but he seems a few notches below the superstars of the world. IMO, those two players will clearly improve them, but there are still many questions to be asked and answered.

Nets asked him who he wanted to play with, Joe Johnson was one of the names on his list. They went and got him, he re-signed.

So from what I can gather...

Magic get Brook Lopez, Luke Walton, 2 1dp from Nets, 1dp from Clippers.

Nets get Dwight + Scrap.

Cleveland get Humphries in a S+T

Clippers get MarShon Brooks.


Aside from the obvious Nets/Magic, Cleveland and Clippers are both getting great deals outa this. Cleveland get to wave goodbye to Walton and his rank contract and get a very decent player in his place. Clippers get a promising SG for what is effectively going to be a pretty late 1st dp.

Brooks could be a solid player for the Clippers. Nice skills, good playmaker and his offense will continue to develop playing next to Paul. The Clippers need a centre though as well as re-signing Kenyon Martin.

I wouldn't have Kenyon Martin as a priority anymore though, Odom would takeover his role off the bench imo.

Definately need a backup centre though, Clips have that much depth I could easily see them flipping Brooks along with Bledsoe and Butler for a big name like Iguodala.