Series Thread: 2) Phoenix Suns vs 7) LA Lakers

[trojanfan12]

THT is almost assuredly gone from the Lakers it looks like.

Honestly, I think I'd rather see them keep THT and move Kuzma. I like Kuzma, but at this point, he is what he is...a solid role player. THT has more upside.

 

[DJ]

lol

So the Beal to the Lakers chatter is starting up again.

This time it's s&t Schroder and sending along Kuzma or someone for him. That one came from Jason McIntyre.

It would be great for the Lakers if it could be done. Don't think it can though.

That would be awesome but it's unlikely.

 

[trojanfan12]

i dont know why Lakers fans/reporters think anyone wants Kuzma. At 13M he just doesnt have much value. Finding a power forward who is meh on defense and can score a little bit is probably the easiest thing to find in the NBA.

He's actually improved quite a bit on defense. His offense has become wildly inconsistent though. He just doesn't seem to do well when his role has to change. He needs to go somewhere that his role can pretty much stay the same all the time.

 

[WiggyRuss]

And Wiggins and Poole

offering to build another team a pool would give you more value than Poole.

and Wiggins might have rehabilitated his value some this year- but that contract certainly does not give him a ton of value. I mean he is good but he is certainly not some coveted asset

now the pick is by far the Warriors most coveted asset.

I am not that high on Wiseman but teams that are young or rebuilding would want him I think. Again- I dont think he has astronomical value- but he has value.

the pick is by far the most coveted asset

 

[WiggyRuss]

Honestly, I think I'd rather see them keep THT and move Kuzma. I like Kuzma, but at this point, he is what he is...a solid role player. THT has more upside.

because THT is an Arenas rule free agent it is going to be very difficult to keep you- you can get poison-pilled on that contract a-la Tyler Johnson.

its rare- but it happens when a guy is undrafted.

 

[msgkings322]

offering to build another a pool would give you more value than Poole.

and Wiggins might have rehabilitated his value some this year- but that contract certainly does not give him a ton of value. I mean he is good but he is certainly not some coveted asset

now the pick is by far the Warriors most coveted asset.

I am not that high on Wiseman but teams that are young or rebuilding would want him I think. Again- I dont think he has astronomical value- but he has value.

the pick is by far the most coveted asset

You would need to throw in a lot of stuff to get a stud like PG. The pick, Wiggins (to make the salaries match), Wiseman, they all have value. Poole is a legit second unit guard.

 

[tlance]

i dont know why Lakers fans/reporters think anyone wants Kuzma. At 13M he just doesnt have much value. Finding a power forward who is meh on defense and can score a little bit is probably the easiest thing to find in the NBA.

He is a role player who is pretty easily replaceable.

Some are still acting like he is overachieving as a rookie on a nothing contract.

 

[WiggyRuss]

You would need to throw in a lot of stuff to get a stud like PG. The pick, Wiggins (to make the salaries match), Wiseman, they all have value. Poole is a legit second unit guard.

Wiseman, the pick, and Wiggins is a very legit offer for a star.

I mean- think of how far above and beyond that is than anything the Lakers can offer in a Beal or PG or Jimmy Butler type deal.

Wiseman alone has more value. Wiggins alone has more value. The pick alone has ASTRONOMICALLY more value.

 

[WiggyRuss]

He is a role player who is pretty easily replaceable.

Some are still acting like he is overachieving as a rookie on a nothing contract.

right- there is no easier position to replace then an average power forward.

 

[msgkings322]

Wiseman, the pick, and Wiggins is a very legit offer for a star.

I mean- think of how far above and beyond that is than anything the Lakers can offer in a Beal or PG or Jimmy Butler type deal.

Wiseman alone has more value. Wiggins alone has more value. The pick alone has ASTRONOMICALLY more value.

Don't want Beal. Butler isn't available. I'm hoping the Mavs spank the Clippers tonight and either PG or Kawhi (sign and trade) becomes available

 

[trojanfan12]

He is a role player who is pretty easily replaceable.

Some are still acting like he is overachieving as a rookie on a nothing contract.

Yeah, it seems like they could get someone a little better for roughly the same money. He got a fair chance to show he could be the guy he wants to be and that the Lakers wanted him to be. Just looks like he can't get there.

 

[DJ]

He's actually improved quite a bit on defense. His offense has become wildly inconsistent though. He just doesn't seem to do well when his role has to change. He needs to go somewhere that his role can pretty much stay the same all the time.

Yeah, he has improved a lot defensively.

 

[DJ]

because THT is an Arenas rule free agent it is going to be very difficult to keep you- you can get poison-pilled on that contract a-la Tyler Johnson.

its rare- but it happens when a guy is undrafted.

THT isn't going anywhere.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yeah, he has improved a lot defensively.

I wouldn't mind keeping him if the Lakers had a "come to Jesus" meeting with him and said..."You're a defensive specialist who can score a little bit and that's how we're going to use you" and he was good with that. Otherwise, I think they should move him. He had a perfect opportunity to step up with AD out and he didn't.

 

[DJ]

I wouldn't mind keeping him if the Lakers had a "come to Jesus" meeting with him and said..."You're a defensive specialist who can score a little bit and that's how we're going to use you" and he was good with that. Otherwise, I think they should move him. He had a perfect opportunity to step up with AD out and he didn't.

I agree. And I'd prefer keeping TNT to Kuz.

 

[dtgold88]

Media can just blame Gilbert for the Laker loss, right?

I kid......sort of.

 

[dtgold88]

An embarrassing offense, looks like a bottom 5 here

wonder if Gilbert and/or Altman is ripped because the Lakers wouldn't play Drummond?

 

[dtgold88]

i agreed with you- and said the same thing- 5 out, let LeBron collapse and kick out to the shooters. Its like Vogel never watched LeBron in a playoff series before.

One of the issues was though that Gasol sucked and you would have needed him to hit from outside. Gasol is fine as a bench vet- but he looked like he lost a lot steam this year.

I dont know what the Lakers do with Schroeder. I would have to look at it in more detail- but I am pretty sure you cannot sign and trade if you are over the cap. There is some kind of restrictive rule about that but I forget the details.

Pelinka is going to have to get very creative since he really does not have much ammo to make a move. No one is giving up anything of value for Kyle Kuzma.

was having an argument (I know, shocking) with Cavs' fans with the usual angst over Sexton and all said he cannot be a starter on a playoff team. I mean, the Lakers wouldn't take him over KCP and/or Schroeder? They actually said no way.

That's when you need to bow out. That's just the pinnacle of irrational.

as to the Lakers, no doubt their work is cut out for them next year.......I agree with those who said maybe Lebron has finally lost a step but he can still be a superstar. No doubt need a healthy AD come playoff time and some more shooters.

 

[dtgold88]

Please write off the Lakers.....

We'll be back next season.

Thinking they bring back Drummond and pay him after deeming he cannot be used in a must win game?

 

[dtgold88]

Who's Zubica, lol?

I would prefer Thomas Bryant back over Zubac, due to his perimeter range. Both would be useful for different matchups. They couldn't have Russell and Lebron though, as they traded Russell to create cap space to sign Lebron. Add in Hart, Caruso, and Kuzma coming off the bench? They would still have that draft pick traded to the Cavs, so Garland would be the starting PG with Ball still in the mix.

PG - Garland, Ball, Caruso
SG - Ingram, Hart
SF - Lebron, Kuzma
PF - Randle
C - Bryant, Zubac

Problem is, how well do these guys match up with Lebron? Still not a lot of reliable 3 pt shooters in that mix.

Interesting......but the pick went to NO, not the Cavs. And NO traded the pick and moved down. They also could have had Garland. I'd say Garland a reliable 3 point shooter, especially with someone like Lebron spreading the floor for him. Ingram, too, maybe?

In the end, though, I liken it to the cavs dealing wiggins and more for Love.....win a title and the deal was worth it, and the Lakers won a title. Difference, of course, is Cavs were not bringing in other FAs to that team and the Lakers could have stayed pat and added a FA perhaps?