"It's finally starting to show some great progress, coming along". "I don't like a lot of things that went on that didn't have to go on".
LeBron James's inaugural season in Los Angeles just ended with mixed reviews both on and off the basketball court. Saunders reportedly will receive a three-year deal with a team option on the final season.
On ESPN's Get Up, former Cleveland Cavaliers player and coach Damon Jones weighed in and said he likes Orlando's chances in their first-round matchup with Toronto, even going so far as to pick the Magic to win in seven games.
Johnson's announcement surprised National Basketball Association circles, who expected Johnson to fire head coach Luke Walton following the 2018-19 season. The team was plagued with injuries all throughout the year, most notably to players like James, Rajon Rondo, and of course, Lonzo Ball. Unfortunately with no president and a head coach in limbo, the Lakers are not a stable franchise right now.
Sacramento finished the season with a 39-43 record. Their fans are going to be really behind them, and it's important to them to win the playoffs. Sources told ESPN that Paul also met Wednesday with Buss, Pelinka and Linda Rambis, who is the Lakers' manager of special projects. Not quite the outcome the Lakers expected when the season began. The Miami Heat closed out the season against the Brooklyn Nets. They looked like the season was over at the end of January.
Now, with Johnson out, Walton - who has one guaranteed year remaining on his contract and a team option for the 2020-21 season - will still likely be fired, but when that will happen is now anyone's guess. But VanVleet is as healthy as he has been all year and Powell has been playing well of late. Accordingly, they will either need to be re-signed or replaced.
The Los Angeles Clippers have a far different outlook. For the Raptors to be as dominant as they've been all season, Siakam will have to be his normal Most-Improved-Player-Candidate self and not falter in the bright lights of the NBA Playoffs.
James needs a championship-caliber roster where this summer could be L.A.'s to build that type of a team. If they fall short in their quest, it won't be for lack of effort.
The 2019 National Basketball Association playoffs get underway on Saturday.