Where do the Lakers go from here...?

[Shaqdaddy11]

@WiggyRuss

Your application has been denied

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I have actually heard that Ball is out if Lebron James is in. I heard a Ball swap for Lebron could happen. Now I dont understand that bc they could sign Lebron with a trade. That would be great for Cleveland just doesn’t make sense lol

Where?!?

 

[MikeMed]

We're pretty close. I said the Lakers would need to get those contracts down to under 61 million (and as those two sign, two cap holds for empty roster spots go away to clear another 1.6M) to be able to keep Randle in the picture.

Yeah its very important to keep Randle..........We have not had a guy who can move bodies in the paint like Randle does in a very long time here in Milwaukee.

 

[Retroram52]

That is funny.

Because it was clearly written by a Laker homer. The "realistic" proposal should be the best case, and the worst case should look something like this:

Ball, Ingram, Hart and a 1st (no Deng)

If you don't like any of the proposals listed, then you don't want the Lakers to be a contender any time soon. They can get there, but it will take bold moves.

Agreed tlance. I would warm-up to the first scenario if the author would have removed the 2019 First round pick from the deal. After the Dwightmare debacle, I am tired of giving our future away to trades that were/are completely insane to begin with and this Leonard deal is beginning to have the same flavor of crap for the Lakers.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Agreed tlance. I would warm-up to the first scenario if the author would have removed the 2019 First round pick from the deal. After the Dwightmare debacle, I am tired of giving our future away to trades that were/are completely insane to begin with and this Leonard deal is beginning to have the same flavor of crap for the Lakers.

I'm not so sure the Lakers can actually trade their own 1st round pick next year

 

[trojanfan12]

@WiggyRuss

Your application has been denied

@gordontrue application, on the other hand, has already been accepted and his membership card is ready to be mailed.

 

[wildturkey]

Agreed tlance. I would warm-up to the first scenario if the author would have removed the 2019 First round pick from the deal. After the Dwightmare debacle, I am tired of giving our future away to trades that were/are completely insane to begin with and this Leonard deal is beginning to have the same flavor of crap for the Lakers.

That's what protections are for. Put a Top 5 protection on it and you're pretty safe if things go bad. Plus, its not even like the draft picks are the reason the Lakers have stunk. Despite having only top 3 protections on a lot of them, LA's picks conveyed most years (some by sheer luck, some by coordinated tanking efforts*). What you're thinking of as the Dwightmare debacle, has more to do with the front office's inability to sign top free agents, poor salary cap management (overpaying a busted up Kobe, Mozgov, Deng, etc), and god awful coaching hires (Mike Brown, Byron Scott) than it has to do with giving up picks. That's what's put them in a hole more than anything else.

 

[wildturkey]

So, I'm assuming most Lakers fans here are rating Randle below Ingram, Ball, and Kuzma? Simply for his defensive ability, I'm putting him over at least Kuzma.

I've got him below all of them because I've never thought his ceiling was all that high and that he's basically hit it. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but I don't see all star games in his future either. Those other 3 are still young enough to where we don't know and prospects usually have more value in cases like this. I also don't think its a coincidence he had his best year when his contract came due, especially the 2nd half of the season. I'm getting whiffs of "I'm getting paid, I'm gonna coast" that we see from plenty of guys in contract years. So instead of getting the Randle that looks like a key piece that could make some all star games, you're gonna get Markieff Morris (productive starter, just not what you paid for)

 

[shopson67]

I've got him below all of them because I've never thought his ceiling was all that high and that he's basically hit it. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but I don't see all star games in his future either. Those other 3 are still young enough to where we don't know and prospects usually have more value in cases like this. I also don't think its a coincidence he had his best year when his contract came due, especially the 2nd half of the season. I'm getting whiffs of "I'm getting paid, I'm gonna coast" that we see from plenty of guys in contract years. So instead of getting the Randle that looks like a key piece that could make some all star games, you're gonna get Markieff Morris (productive starter, just not what you paid for)

But he can defend multiple positions, which is key. Kuzma has not shown much of anything on defense, and really his only advantage over Randle is the 3. Kuzma is also only 1 year younger. Of all the young Lakers, Randle is the only one that really imposes his will offensively. The other guys can be overly passive.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Where?!?

He is the piece that is most likely out of LA. Heard it from multiple sources. Gotta get Lebron first

 

[Raw_Bee808]

NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Have 'Concerns' About Severity Of Kawhi Leonard's Injury

 

[OutlawImmortal]

NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Have 'Concerns' About Severity Of Kawhi Leonard's Injury

Translation: Spurs refuse to call us so we might as well try to drive the price down.

 

[wildturkey]

But he can defend multiple positions, which is key. Kuzma has not shown much of anything on defense, and really his only advantage over Randle is the 3. Kuzma is also only 1 year younger. Of all the young Lakers, Randle is the only one that really imposes his will offensively. The other guys can be overly passive.

He can defend multiples, but I don't think he's special defensively. He can switch across different spots, but he's still just an average defender. It doesn't bother me that Kuzma is only 1 year younger either. Randle has been in the league longer and has had more time and experience to learn what to do and what not to do. Granted for the first couple of years he had an absolute shit coach that didn't do a damn thing for anyone, so maybe he's just a late bloomer because of that and you're just beginning to see what he can. I just don't think he's that far ahead of where Ball and Kuzma are right now. As they get the experience that Randle has, they could hit that level and pass it. That potential, combined with the fact that they are cheaper, makes them more valuable.

 

[Retroram52]

This is the reason LaVar Ball is going to, if not already has, destroy/destroyed Lonzo Ball's career. SA is not interested in any trade that has Lonzo Ball in it because of the circus his father has created with his piehole. Can you say Todd Marinovich?

NBA Trade Rumors: Spurs Have 'Zero Interest' In Lonzo Ball For Potential Kawhi Leonard Trade With Lakers

 

[Retroram52]

I see a future trade for Kawhi beginning to fall apart because of Leonard's long-term health issues. The Lakers are potentially coughing-up a lot for this guy and we have already been through this with the Dwightmare and Steve Nash debacles both of whom were hurt when they arrived for a stint with the Lakers.

I have stated this all along. This business of going after the max contract guys just because they are available and the Lakers have the means (even though Magic has stated he would not do this) is overrated and it would be in the Lakers long-term best interests (who are just now getting out from underneath the effects of the aforementioned trades) to stick with their young core and continue to build.

 

[wildturkey]

I see a future trade for Kawhi beginning to fall apart because of Leonard's long-term health issues. The Lakers are potentially coughing-up a lot for this guy and we have already been through this with the Dwightmare and Steve Nash debacles both of whom were hurt when they arrived for a stint with the Lakers.

I have stated this all along. This business of going after the max contract guys just because they are available and the Lakers have the means (even though Magic has stated he would not do this) is overrated and it would be in the Lakers long-term best interests (who are just now getting out from underneath the effects of the aforementioned trades) to stick with their young core and continue to build.

That's not exactly true. Magic was brought in for this very reason, to lure in big stars. It's definitely not for his basketball acumen. Listening to him talk Xs and Os for 5 seconds will tell you that. He's there to sell the Lakers as THE LAKERS. You might not like that strategy, but that's why Jeannie gave him the job.

 

[flyerhawk]

That is funny.

Because it was clearly written by a Laker homer. The "realistic" proposal should be the best case, and the worst case should look something like this:

Ball, Ingram, Hart and a 1st (no Deng)

If you don't like any of the proposals listed, then you don't want the Lakers to be a contender any time soon. They can get there, but it will take bold moves.

All of these trade proposals for the Lakers to get Kawhi that assume that the Spurs would take Deng's contract are smoking crack.

If the Lakers want to include Deng it is going require them to give even more.

 

[Retroram52]

Seems to me, a lot of people not connected to any of the suggested teams on any level other than one of spectator want this triumvirate of George/James/Leonard for the Lakers to happen. However, none of the receiving teams other than maybe Phoenix want to deal with Lozo Ball's dog and pony show or the Deng contract. Apparently LeBron James doesn't want anything to do with Lonzo Ball either or perhaps his lunatic father. At any rate, this is a set of interesting musings from people with apparently too much time on their hands.

The pros and cons of Lonzo Ball with the Phoenix Suns

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I have actually heard that Ball is out if Lebron James is in. I heard a Ball swap for Lebron could happen. Now I dont understand that bc they could sign Lebron with a trade. That would be great for Cleveland just doesn’t make sense lol

It would be win win for the Lakers - So far, I think Lonzo Ball has been a huge disappointment and unworthy of the attention received. The Lakers would be giving up a great potential, but have huge shot at the finals and regain the reputation they had for signing big names - But actually - If LeBron agrees to come in principle, then the Lakers could trade Lonzo Ball to dump Luol Deng(that's the only way they would get rid of that shitty contract. Now they would have 18 million more and 7 to 8 million more then if they waived and stretched the deng contract. Or IF the Lakers were to offer Lonzo Ball for Kawhi Leonard - trade Ingram and Kuzma to dump the Deng Contract and sign Paul George - the Lakers would be in the running

 

[True Lakers Fan]

All of these trade proposals for the Lakers to get Kawhi that assume that the Spurs would take Deng's contract are smoking crack.

If the Lakers want to include Deng it is going require them to give even more.

1. Popovich will never agree to a Kawhi to the Lakers trade for anything - no matter how beneficial it would be for the Spurs. That's not happening

2. The Lakers would have to give up Ingram or Lonzo Ball - to dump Luol Deng - but they did give up Mozgov for less - so who knows. I'm not holding my breath

Third option is to wait one more year and then Deng only has one year which is really makes the dude an expiring contract