This is so stupid. Presumably this has been discussed elsewhere on Deadspin, but why would something subjective (a referee’s awarding of yellow cards) determine who should go through?

This was such a bummer. Senegal, Japan, and Colombia all played fun football and it was always going to suck to see one of them go home. 

That was the penalty during the 2006 World Cup

Japan winning on fair play is frustrating.

What leverage does SA have? They have a disgruntled star that can leave in 2019 as a FA, they have a ton of money wrapped up in Gasol, Mills, Aldridge and now Green has opted-in making it nearly impossible to clear the cap space to sign a max free agent out right. How does that add up to a strong bargaining position?

Lakers have a fire sale on young talent to get all three megastars, only retaining Ball, who never develops a passable jump shot. Kawhi’s injury problems turn out to be legitimate and he plays 30-ish games next season. LeBron’s mileage finally catches up with him the moment he puts on the purple and gold. George plays…

17 championships. You must be young.

Players and teams MOST DEFINITELY talk before it’s allowed. It’s widely known that one of the reasons the Lakers missed out on even getting a serious meeting last time with anyone but Timofey Mosgov was because Mitch Kupchak was to stringent on following the tampering rules.

If this is true and LeBron goes to LA if Leonard does, then SA has a lot of incentive to make sure that Leonard does not go to LA. Even if they get a good haul, making the west even more difficult is not in their best interest. 

Fortunately for the Knicks, Enes Kanter opting in will act as a nice chastity belt this year.

You do realize the Kings are still in the NBA right? If anyone can screw something up I would put Ranadive and Divac’s “talent” right up there alongside Mills and Dolan.

Yes, because the Lakers have a long history of screwing up.

I think the general rationale is this:

Ha! Can you force teams to sign bad contracts out of spite? Man, that’d be awesome. “Sign Lonzo to the max or you get nothing, losers.”

I disagree. Paul George is a 3&D wing player. A really, really good one. I don’t honestly believe he’s a Top-5 player that some people were talking him up as in Indiana, but he’s definitely in the top-15.

Am I a bad person if I want this to happen by the Lakers trading Lonzo Ball for Kawhi just to troll LaVar?

Since when is Paul George not capable of filling a massive 3 and D role next to LeBron?

Yeah, but also, Paul George is a good shooter and excellent defender. So he would fit the 3/D role and he’s also Paul George, which is way better than, like, Trevor Ariza.

I think, regardless, there is alcohol involved later.

fragile masculinity is threatened by wiping “like a chick”.