David Pivnick

So I think that's going to be an interesting dynamic, seeing how they share the ball, how they complement each other, whether it ends up helping with forced spacing because they can both shoot decently, although LeBron is not as elite a shooter as you might hope in that kind of combo situation. But I think the Lakers have some real foundational issues. They don't have much in the front court.

Without being overly critical of guys like Jackson Hayes, their front court is probably the worst in the NBA as it stands right now. And if not the worst, it's certainly bottom five. So I'm sure they'll make some additions to improve it. But they've now got a core that's got two absolute superstars who on offense both ideally would have the ball in their hands

Without being overly critical of guys like Jackson Hayes, their front court is probably the worst in the NBA as it stands right now. And if not the worst, it's certainly bottom five. So I'm sure they'll make some additions to improve it. But they've now got a core that's got two absolute superstars who on offense both ideally would have the ball in their hands

and no front court to speak of, and defensively, there's not a lot there. I mean, Luke has never been a great defender, and LeBron used to be, but at this point, his effort sort of wanes on defense, and he's an imperfect defender at best. So I think the Lakers' build is pretty flawed this year, and I think it's interesting when people, including Vegas,

and no front court to speak of, and defensively, there's not a lot there. I mean, Luke has never been a great defender, and LeBron used to be, but at this point, his effort sort of wanes on defense, and he's an imperfect defender at best. So I think the Lakers' build is pretty flawed this year, and I think it's interesting when people, including Vegas,

have been treating them as an enhanced title contender because I think they made a great move for the long-term future of the franchise. I don't know that it helped them today.

have been treating them as an enhanced title contender because I think they made a great move for the long-term future of the franchise. I don't know that it helped them today.

Yeah, fair question on both, and I think they're situated very differently. From Zach Levine's standpoint, I think it's more than anything else, it's a talent and ball possession situation. He's not a great defender. He's pretty mediocre on that end.

Yeah, fair question on both, and I think they're situated very differently. From Zach Levine's standpoint, I think it's more than anything else, it's a talent and ball possession situation. He's not a great defender. He's pretty mediocre on that end.

And he's a guy who's a streaky shooter, doesn't quite get to the hole as well as he used to, although he could still do it, and ultimately takes the ball out of the hands on the bulls of guys like Kobe White and Io DeSumo, who are talented players in their own right and who can really fill that gap and, frankly, are a little bit more diligent. on the defensive end, particularly Io.

And he's a guy who's a streaky shooter, doesn't quite get to the hole as well as he used to, although he could still do it, and ultimately takes the ball out of the hands on the bulls of guys like Kobe White and Io DeSumo, who are talented players in their own right and who can really fill that gap and, frankly, are a little bit more diligent. on the defensive end, particularly Io.

And so I think there's a little bit of a Ewing theory, you know, the old belief that the Knicks were better when Ewing was out. There's a little bit of that dynamic going on with Levine where they have guys behind him who are capable of stepping in play and

And so I think there's a little bit of a Ewing theory, you know, the old belief that the Knicks were better when Ewing was out. There's a little bit of that dynamic going on with Levine where they have guys behind him who are capable of stepping in play and

And it's a little bit more of a cohesive unit when he's not there, not because of any fault of his own, but just because he has so much ball gravity where the ball just keeps coming to him. And defensively, the effort is not great.

And it's a little bit more of a cohesive unit when he's not there, not because of any fault of his own, but just because he has so much ball gravity where the ball just keeps coming to him. And defensively, the effort is not great.

I don't think anyone's upset to see him go. I think the criticism that I've seen, which I think is reasonable, is that the Bulls got very little for him. They got three guys that I think it's generous to even describe all three as role players. I think only Jones is likely to play meaningful minutes for the Bulls.

I don't think anyone's upset to see him go. I think the criticism that I've seen, which I think is reasonable, is that the Bulls got very little for him. They got three guys that I think it's generous to even describe all three as role players. I think only Jones is likely to play meaningful minutes for the Bulls.

and they got their own first-round pick back, which is great, but it's already heavily protected, so they weren't likely to lose that pick in the next couple of seasons either way, and they got no other picks beyond it.

and they got their own first-round pick back, which is great, but it's already heavily protected, so they weren't likely to lose that pick in the next couple of seasons either way, and they got no other picks beyond it.

So I think the frustration is it's a very light return, and ultimately the Bulls have gone through, you know, the Lonzo Ball era because of injury was completely worthless, and they've basically given up DeRozan, Levine, and Alex Caruso for effectively a bag of beans. And so... That's unfortunate because the Bulls should be in a full rebuild, and they don't have a lot to show for it.