aka please lord Jesus let us keep this pick.

they are pretty disfunctional right about now (front office and on court) and GENUINELY need SOME kind of presence to stabilize things

i don't see any available rookie coming in to change that, nor any big free agent wanting to come here (like...for what?)

but who knows? stranger things have happened, and I don't think the league wants the Lakers to *not* be competitive for too long

this year will certainly be better than last year.

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probably not durant but we can land DeMar DeRozan...

***
I'm tryna be better off, not better than...

<--- Big Baller World Order

I'm good with top 2, Simmons or Ingram.

Afterwards, comes the free agency decisions. Do we purse Whiteside? Don't see Durant as a realistic option so who are the next options?

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

If we don't, and perhaps even if we do - I dont see him leaving a team that just got the 3rd seed in the East/the Miami lifestyle.

I do have questions as to when he gets his money will he fall off, but you take your chances on a dude who has that elite talent.

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17x NBA Champions

I'm ready to embrace what happens here. The pick....well, it is what it is. A coinflip to keep it, basically. If it goes to Philly - that sucks, but at LEAST at that point it's done (outside of...you know, the '18 pick going to the Magic, ugh). But there's nothing to truly worry about - it is what it is.

On the coaching front I'm a little torn. I've taken my L on Byron's handling of the rookies - he did very well there. But I'm not sure he's the guy. If we do fire him, then I want a new name...not a retread like Scotty Brooks or Tibs or anyone. Get an assistant, and let everyone grow together.

Durant isn't coming. Neither is any FA worth a damn, even if we keep the pick. So let's move past that and worry about cap friendly deals with players who will help us win games next year and grow as a group.

Get rid of Swaggy P, Lou Wilz if possible, and let Hibbert walk.

Keep Huertas, Bass, and the kids...and let's see what happens.

------------------------------

17x NBA Champions

if they do....then we got another piece to build with as far as a young player..

if they don't...Free agency becomes more important..

as far as coach...we should move on from Byron. Obviously you'd consider Walton...but a super young coach with a super young team is something you have to think about.

then also if Jim Buss is let go....and if we bring Phil back....that's going to impact who we get as a coach.

then you have to decide whether you keep all our young guys...or you use one of them to get a more established player..or a guy who is a better fit for what we're going to do moving forward...

I have my preferences for what I want us to do...but until the ping pong balls play out.... I'll wait till then to speak on it.

I'm not thrilled with our options this year. I say max out Whiteside to make sure we get someone. We all know he's a risk/reward proposition and will most likely be another Bynum. It is what it is.

Here's the other factor: if he produces reasonably well in the early going, he could prove to be solid trade bait for Cousins after December, provided we don't give him a no trade clause. I highly doubt that the situation in Sacto improves and he could make it possible for us to trade for Cuz without giving up DLo or BI.

I know, I know, not gonna happen, why would Sacto want Whiteside, blah blah blah. I'm just looking at a possible benefit of signing him.

After Whiteside I say overpay some quality mid-range guys for one/two year deals. We need stability and quality veterans but what we don't need is to be locked into long term contracts with guys who won't elevate us into title contention.

Potential dark horse scenario: Are there players we could trade for while giving up minimal assets and simply absorb their contract? Guys who are either on the outs, bad fits for the current direction of their squad or what have you?

The obvious obstacle there is that most guys who would be available under a scenario like that likely wouldn't be someone we should try to acquire anyways but it's something worth exploring IMO.

The Lakers don't have a strong yet patient veteran player to mentor Boogie or a team culture that could absorb his impulsiveness and harness his potential.

If Luke had a reputation, as a head coach, of getting his players to maximize their abilities and also playing cohesively, with good chemistry, then there's a greater chance of DeMarcus succeeding here.

But as the team is structured, I don't see Cousins being much different than he would be in Sacramento.

That being said, I think you're trying to get across that the Lakers need a young player with talent that they could build around.

Outside of Jimmy Butler, I wouldn't know who that player would be. If it were easy to find young players with potential to grow, yet be emotionally mature, then the Lakers would have already found him.

<--- Me when my head hits the pillow

i feel sorry for whatever team gets suckered into giving him max $


>The Lakers don't have a strong yet patient veteran player to
>mentor Boogie or a team culture that could absorb his
>impulsiveness and harness his potential.
>
>If Luke had a reputation, as a head coach, of getting his
>players to maximize their abilities and also playing
>cohesively, with good chemistry, then there's a greater chance
>of DeMarcus succeeding here.
>
>But as the team is structured, I don't see Cousins being much
>different than he would be in Sacramento.
>
>That being said, I think you're trying to get across that the
>Lakers need a young player with talent that they could build
>around.
>
>Outside of Jimmy Butler, I wouldn't know who that player would
>be. If it were easy to find young players with potential to
>grow, yet be emotionally mature, then the Lakers would have
>already found him.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

Doubt D'Angelo's trade value is up there. Then again, it's the Kings so who knows what they'd do. But I would think that they'd want Ingram, which I'd guess is a no go for the Lake Show.

----
NBA MOCK DRAFT #1 - https://thecourierclass.com/whole-shebang/2017/5/18/2017-nba-mock-draft-1-just-lotto-and-lotta-trades

i wish people would stop posting players who will never be a Laker. Boogie is about as likely as Durant. Whiteside and Biyombo are long shots, so why people would think Boogie is ridiculous. At least Ezeli is possible.

************************************************************

>i wish people would stop posting players who will never be a
>Laker.

I wish people would stop sucking all the fun out of speculative posts.

>Boogie is about as likely as Durant.

The overall circumstances say otherwise. That situation will not improve and he will be on the block at some point. Still, it was a hypothetical and there's a reason I posted that here and not as an "article" on an seo clickbait site.

>Whiteside and
>Biyombo are long shots

Yes, maybe. Maybe not. Depends on how many top tier teams are willing to max out a guy who just made a mil and has a chance to get 22. I'm sure the Mavs will but I'm not sure GS or SA will. I think we have a shot.

>so why people would think Boogie is
>ridiculous.

Welp, nobody thinks we are getting him so getting bent out of shape over something nobody is saying is ridiculous.

If you don't like his name brought

>At least Ezeli is possible.

He's restricted so that changes things. I think he's a worse prospect than Barnes for the money it could take to get him. Sure he's possible but I don't want him and there's absolutely no fun in discussing The possibility of acquiring him.

i simple responded, and you are obviously going through something outside of this board. enjoy your stress.

************************************************************

It's telling that I addressed everything you said while you're trying to turn it into something else entirely.

My life is pretty damn good by the way. Ain't my fault you took a baseless position and couldn't defend it and needed to take a weak ass tact instead.

he's just a body.

<--- Big Baller World Order

The bulk of the Lakers recent issues stem from three situations:

-CP3 deal
-The Howard/Nash experiment
-Kobe's injury

Mitch is still a good GM. We've struck out on free agents the last two years and most people blew that way out of proportion. The first year, damn near everyone of any significance stayed where they were. Not only did they not come to the Lakers, they passed on everyone else as well. Brawn went home and that speaks for itself.

Last year was a mess with Kobe still playing the Alpha despite being clearly past the expiration date along with an inability to sell players on the actual on court product. The truth is we'd be in a worse position overall right now had we landed Aldridge.

We'll strike out this year not because we're a terrible organization with no leadership and inept management, but because we're clearly in flux. We're still The Lakers and giving him a taste of what that means *could*- not "would", people, but "could"- earn his trust enough to settle in enough to make things work.

>The Lakers don't have a strong yet patient veteran player to
>mentor Boogie or a team culture that could absorb his
>impulsiveness and harness his potential.

Not yet. We do have Bryan Shaw though, who I think would do just fine as an unofficial handler. Luke and Shaw also played with Kobe and Kobe and Shaq together in addition to playing under Phil. I'd say they have some tools to deal with difficult personalities.

>But as the team is structured, I don't see Cousins being much
>different than he would be in Sacramento.

Well, my hypothetical thought (just to be clear for everyone who will be super duper eager to point out how we don't have the assets to land him, it was JUST a hypothetical thought) required considerable other hypothetical dominoes to fall into place, chief among them being Whiteside producing while the situation in Sacto continues to deteriorate.

In that fairly specific scenario, a guy like Whiteside could prove to be good trade bait. To that end there's no telling who we'd have by that point in time, who else would be thrown in to get him, etc.

>That being said, I think you're trying to get across that the
>Lakers need a young player with talent that they could build
>around.

More to the point, an established young talent who can do the heavy lifting while the kids are growing up. The biggest reason I brought up Cuz is because situations like his usually result in the player getting traded and the fact that Whiteside ***if he produces***could*** be a significant trade piece if it came to that. I'm just trying to think of potentially available players down the road.

>Outside of Jimmy Butler, I wouldn't know who that player would
>be. If it were easy to find young players with potential to
>grow, yet be emotionally mature, then the Lakers would have
>already found him.

Well, I certainly didn't say or imply that it was easy to find that guy.... but I completely disagree with the notion that they would already have any quality players. Players aren't available until they're available and they're not obtainable until they're obtainable, and the fact that nobody like that is on our doorstep right this second doesn't mean that they won't be available a year or even six months from now.

.

As much as we look up to the Warriors and Thunder as teams who rebuilt through the draft within a few years, there's way more teams who had too much young undeveloped talent and not enough experience to guide them.

Between the four main ones, I am extremely reluctant to trade any of them, but I wonder which ones will stand out the most, and who will not live up to the potential. I do think they all fit well within Luke's system, so I definitely want to give them a good year to see how they mesh together.

If we can be like #10-11 in the West, I'll be satisfied with that.

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The guys who call in to radio shows and demand we cut bait on Randle and Russel after one season and demand we cut all our youth to become the Knicks.

I'm more worried about the Masons of the sports world who thinks Phil is suddenly a genius for landing an old and broken Derek Rose because I don't want anyone in management or Time Warner to panic over the panic of impatient fans and do something impetuous.

>The guys who call in to radio shows and demand we cut bait on
>Randle and Russel after one season and demand we cut all our
>youth to become the Knicks.
>
>I'm more worried about the Masons of the sports world who
>thinks Phil is suddenly a genius for landing an old and broken
>Derek Rose because I don't want anyone in management or Time
>Warner to panic over the panic of impatient fans and do
>something impetuous.

Exactly! Two to three years is when this current core will really be able to put us into the conversation. Of course some adept free agency moves will be needed. This is when the skill in Mitch has to rear its head. everything should be done to build around these guys at each level they reach during their maturation as individual players and as a group.

we just need to be better. the year after next is where we start judging them.

randle is the first one that will be moved once it's time to shit or get off the pot. i maintain he is not a long term option.

<--- Big Baller World Order

>randle is the first one that will be moved once it's time to
>shit or get off the pot. i maintain he is not a long term
>option.

A guy who put up double double as a rookie isn't a long term option at the 4 spot? One year was enough to make that determination?

<--- Big Baller World Order

>we just need to be better. the year after next is where we
>start judging them.
>
>randle is the first one that will be moved once it's time to
>shit or get off the pot. i maintain he is not a long term
>option.

Disagree. Randle already averaged a double double, and he's just scratching the surface of what he could potentially do on offense. If he improves at finishing with his right, and gets a consistent 17 footer, he could be 18-20 ppg on a solid FG %. When he faces up, he can go by most PF's without much problem.

I think he's got the potential to eventually start making more plays for others too. He got tunnel vision a lot this year, but I think that's more being inexperienced and too pressed to make a play on a garbage team, rather than lack of court vision....because there's times where he makes passes that require a good level of court vision to make.

Not sure what else you expected.

My movies: http://russellhainline.com
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years, but we're the Lakers...I'm scared of becoming the Timberwolves, OR the Hawks, OR the Clippers. But at the same time, that might be our reality for a while, depending on how the youngsters develop, and even moreso based on the free agency moves.

------------------------------

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except maybe Harrison Barnes, lol.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

>except maybe Harrison Barnes, lol.

My movies: http://russellhainline.com
My movie reviews: https://letterboxd.com/RussellHFilm/
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Ingram will take time as his body catches up but I expect DTective to start going off this year.

<--- Big Baller World Order

..to help stabilize this talented young group.

while the rest of the basketball world will continue to speculate on where durant decides to play moving forward, i'm not that concerned with his decision.

even if he decides to leave okc, i think he's smart enough to leverage his current position into an even better one for 2017. as such, i highly doubt he'll sign a max contract with anyone this summer. so even if the lakers were successful in convincing him to come to LA, it would likely be a 2 yr contract (with the 2nd year as a player option).

the lakers need help everywhere (depth, experience), and the remaining free agent class of 2016 is a toss up.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

will be interesting to see who the Lakers bring in to help lead the youngsters. Do Andre Miller and David West have anything left in the tank?

"Dressed up like an evil villain dressed up like a soccer dad"

He'd definitely be worth overpaying on a short term deal but I imagine he'll have some nice offers from contenders with a few extra years tacked on.

I doubt we have much of a shot at West but I'd absolutely love him for this locker room.

*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

My guess is any meeting we got with Al would be a courtesy.

His price tag is also incredibly high considering his age and the fact that he’s not a true max player. If he does a 1 + 1 deal that’s one thing. Anything more than that for his price tag is a no-go IMO.

perfect for this team. He's that unselfish player that does a lot of things at a high level, and plays smart. I'd love to have a guy like that to play with these young guys.

But like you said...I doubt he'd want to sign up for that unless the money is crazy, which might not be a good idea for us at this point.

..like every other FA for '16, i'm sure he recognizes the benefit of a 2 yr (2nd year, player option) contract right now.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

My guess is he'd rather spend these years on a contender.

I can almost see how it would make sense. even tho I've never liked his game, I don't think this past year was indicative of his play going forward. I think he could get more touches and provide some rim presence.

with that said, I would still rather have have whiteside or biyombo. boogie would be great from a talent standpoint, but I don' think its worth the potential headaches he'll mos def bring.

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

Dwight is headache personified.

My movies: http://russellhainline.com
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I'm not saying I'd want him as a laker, but I can see how it might make sense for him since there's no ball dominate superstar.

I think his talent would fit, but not his personality.

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

<--- Big Baller World Order