Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami HeatWed Mar 4, 8:00 PM EST – ESPN, TWSN, SUN Line: MIA -9.0, O/U: 202.0 AmericanAirlines Arena – Miami, FL Recent Matchups |
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My apologies for the very short preview today. Somewhat like I expect the Lakers to be tonight, I am running on fumes this particular day.
In any event, the Lakers play the Heat tonight and, as implied above, are sure to be tired after playing — and losing — last night in Charlotte. The Lakers have only won once in their 10 back to back games this season and I expect that trend to hold tonight.
It’s not that the Heat are some super-team (those days went the way of LeBron James to Cleveland), but that they are well coached and, even without Chris Bosh, do have more talent than the Lakers. These two things, in combination, should make all the difference in this game. On some nights a matchup here and a slight tweak in strategy there might be enough to put the Lakers over the top.
That’s really been the key in their wins this season, but, against the Heat, I just do not see enough. Not with Whiteside patrolling the paint and Dwyane Wade and the recently acquired Goran Dragic roaming the perimeter. Those three players are very likely to be the best three guys on the floor tonight and when that is the case, you can pretty much make winning a longshot.
Where you can watch: 5pm start time on ESPN. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.
Lil pau says
Wow: 3rd quarter, no comments?
For Warren?
Ko says
We are all having a party at Jack Nickelsons house. A ticket selling party”
Chibi says
I hate Wesley Johnson
Chibi says
Hassan chop
LKK says
I’ll give our current group credit for really playing hard and well recently. Put a decent young center with this bunch and I think the team makes a great improvement. It’d be awesome to obtain a Towns, Okafor or Cauley-.Stein. If the team loses it’s lottery pick, however, they should try to pry Joel Embiid from Philly somehow. It’s a shame that the current games are clouded by the Lakers’ potential draft position. The players are playing their hearts out. Tonight’s game was hard fought and entertaining.
Chearn says
Very good game. Can see some positive chemistry and willingness to compete from a few players.
Azzemoto says
The lack of traffic on this site says it all.
Baylor Fan says
The fourth quarter for the Lakers was amazing. They played Miami even although the Miami backcourt featured two all-stars and they have a very dominant center. I also liked Clarkson taking what would have been the tying 3. Lin continues to make a strong case for a job on a playoff contender next season.
karen says
i disagree clarkson at the end just jacking up bad shots
bleedpurplegold says
Whiteside is a monster… we should definately throw some money at him!
read an article on nba.com the other day….they were asking some guys who should get the next statue….one of them said Dr. Buss, and i agree 100%….any thoughts on that?!?
Renato Afonso says
Is this rock bottom yet? Please let me know when we get there…
Hale says
Won’t be rock bottom until they finish out of the lottery and throw 80/4 at a mediocre 30 year old
J C says
LKK, CHearn, and Baylorfan,
Agree: a very entertaining game and hard-fought by the Lakers to be sure.
I especially applaud the efforts of Hill and the recent revival of Lin. I like Ellington too.
Stu Lantz commented that Byron Scott deserves some credit for keeping the team focused and playing together despite their record. I agree. These games are competitive. We aren’t seeing a loss of focus and that’s coaching… unimaginative perhaps, but persistent.
To actually win (if that’s our goal) I’d play a little more Boozer and a little less Kelly.
I’m in the minority on Clarkson, despite his excellent athleticism. I realize he’s a rookie. Maybe FO has told Byron to play him. But he’s awfully raw and unpolished. He doesn’t exhibit a point guard mentality in my opinion. He’s a below average shooter and decision-maker. I’m just not that impressed. I’m more impressed with Whiteside (yes, I know, a different position but also young and raw).
Maybe Clarkson’s best upside is as a poor man’s Westbrook…who’s actually pretty good I guess, haha.
Anyone see his line last night?
49-16-10! Wow.
BleedPG…
A statue of Dr. Buss would be epic.
Oldtimer says
Azzemoto,
“The lack of traffic on this site says it all.”
The Lakers played great the last two games on the road, the problem very few fans are interested of the season. It is often referred as diminishing returns in economics, that’s why being a bad team is never advisable, same with tanking in order to earn the NBA gift. Being stupid for three seasons in a row is never accepted here. It may be a common attitude in other teams but not in Southland, where there are lots of alternatives to do other than watching a tanking season.
The Buss Family should not continue this state of impotence if they want to regain the trust of Laker fans.
Stuart says
Azzemoto: The lack of traffic on this site says it all.
__
I posted this at the end of the previous thread. At the end I point out my thoughts on why this team is hard to root for.
As mentioned, I trust Mitch and truly hope that he has every intention of building with youth. I’m not in favor of tanking the season from the get go (like the 76ers). However, this Lakers team is going nowhere and our options to get better are limited to how the winds blow in free agency. We were playing at a .250 win clip prior to the mini streak – I see no problem with ensuring we play to that pace the balance of the season.
I do not have confidence that Jim will make the right FA decisions. Last summer we went all in on Lebron and Melo. Lebron wouldn’t even meet with us and we barely escaped from being saddled with Melo’s four year max deal . He would have further handicapped the organization as opposed to helping it.
So, I agree — by keeping the pick we limit the damage that Jim can do to the franchise. My thought is that Clarkson, a healthy Randle and a top 5 pick give us a young enough core that the FO would then realize that an aging elite FA does little to help the team as the youngsters will need a few seasons to get their NBA legs anyway. So foolish spending on 30+ year old FAs would give way to obtaining younger talent with time horizons on par with our core.
I think fan interest and ratings will sky rocket even if we struggle for the next few years. As long as there is hope, in the form of a young talented nucleus, Lakers fans will get behind the team. We have trouble supporting a team that is comprised of players that even the FO does not expect to be here for more than one year — like the Lakers teams we have seen these past few years.
Trip says
bleedpurplegold: Whiteside is a monster… we should definately throw some money at him!
__
Be careful what you wish for. Whiteside doesn’t hit the market until the 2016/17 season. If we are in a position to throw money at him it means the team would have struck out on getting one of the elite bigs in this draft and a young big (Monroe) in FA. The logical conclusion is that we will be as awful next year as this year.
I am interested in Whiteside but not sold on him. He will play for a minimum salary again next season so we’ll see if he can sustain his performance through an 82 game schedule. My concern is that he will be 27 when he becomes a FA – is he playing for that big contract and will his stats revert back to those he demonstrated during his first go around in the NBA @ Sacramento?
If he kills it again next year he will have plenty of suitors. Plus, Miami and Pat Riley will be able to offer an additional year that the Lakers can’t match.
Trip says
Hale – Won’t be rock bottom until they finish out of the lottery and throw 80/4 at a mediocre 30 year old.
__
That is my nightmare scenario and I fear it may happen this summer — it will doom us for the balance of the decade.
Oldtimer says
Stuart,
The problem is a vicious cycle since Lakers lost to Mavs in ’11 and took adventurism with various coaches and players. People laid the blame on David Stern for vetoing CP3, FO tried to get back to Championship with wishy-washy Howard and oldie Nash. Yes, they want to be No 1 overnight with Melo and Lebron plus Kobe as if we have the luxury to pay them all and yet there is no insight in improving the team with mid-tier players who became available. Lakers should admit their error and blame themselves! One blogger in the previous post blamed Kaman for his stats and some were wondering why Pau left the Lakers for Bulls? This is a mismanaged franchise, no only unlucky but a horse trader’s lair in hitting big or bust to the top and the alternative of being busted is to get to the high draft pick players.
Analyze any company from their down years, you can’t go back immediately without going through the works in improving products, service, employee morale, systems and distribution as well as customer relationship. Look at the games where we lost by few points, if we had a true Center like Kaman, Pau and SF Ariza plus a PG like Thomas or Bledsoe, perhaps we could have won all those games and be in the playoffs this season. Unfortunately, those opportunities were gone, Jimbo and Mitch tied themselves too long on Melo, didn’t take care of the players we had when they had grievances; ignored the mid-tier players who were available because we were avoiding the repeater luxury tax. They have qualms in avoiding luxury taxes yet they can charge $ 4,500 for courtside seats, they paid Kobe max, willing to invest on injury laden, Howard, going for James and Melo too. Is Jimbo a tight wad owner or an irresponsible gambler? Compare the opportunity lost on revenues from “lost interest of fans” vs. the incremental luxury taxes had we grabbed those mid-tier stars?
At the onset, there are already applicants appeared on Laker Nation for July free agency, one of them is Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, Greg Monroe. I believe Dragic too will apply and possibly Marc Gasol since he was formerly a Laker who has a family home in Manhattan Beach. I’m not saying that you have to max them all and empty the bank but three good F/A’s are enough to help this team compete. Lin and Davis are getting good chemistry though we can’t afford each if they cost more than 3M. I’m sure Wellington will ask a raise and also Boozer, Davis If we re-sign them. Lakers cannot afford Hill at 9M if they all enter into that dynamics. See there are lots of priorities possible but Lakers “should and must” improve its state next season not retrogress nor tank again for 2016 1st rd d/p if they are not the lowest three. It is really bad to waste our time watching a team competing for lowest draft picks which started with Randle, carried over this season and going forward forever more. I have been a fan for the last 40 years and I cannot accept a Laker team that won’t compete because of the unwritten rules. We have to beat that vicious cycle. If Jim Buss is truly inept, well Jeanie, her other brothers and sister and Mitch are not too incompetent to follow their leader as well.
Calvin Chang says
If he can be had for cheap, Lakers should get Javale McGee. Maybe he can be the Hassan Whiteside / Rudy Gobert for the Lakers after Kobe yells at him all summer. Athletic 7-ft rim protectors with long reach are not easy to find.
Aaron says
Calvin Chang,
McGee is no longer that athletic. He got hurt and gained weight. That’s why he is no longer productive and being passed around the league like a bad wedding gift.
Old timer,
Thank goodness the FO wants to win championships and not 8th seeds or we would have seen a team like the one you pine for.
bryan S. says
Yo Calvin: McGee has signed with the Celtics for the rest of the season. Given his history and still unrealized potential, someone is going to overpay. Don’t think it will be the lakes.
Chearn says
LKK- Prior to the draft, Joel Embiid went on record proclaiming his love for the Lakers, the weather, and the city. So it might not be that difficult to get him considering he hasn’t played for Philadelphia thus the fan base is not vested in him as a 76er. My only concern with Joel is his health and whether or not he is interested in playing. It is taking him a long time to return to training.
bryan S. says
McGee to Celtics is dead. Javale wanted a player option for next season (guaranteed 12 m), Celtics wanted it to be a team option. Celtics wisely passed. Let the buyer beware.
Calvin Chang says
Chearn – if Lakers ended up with the #4 pick and Sam Hinkie / Sixers offer to trade Embiid for the pick, would you do it?
Bryan S: McGee did not sign with the Celtics. The deal fell through. I think McGee is ok for 5m per season
tankyou says
Oldtimer,
The only free agents you listed that seriously may want to come here next year are Rondo and Monroe. Gasol likes it in Memphis and they will pay him and their team is really good. Dragic is pumping up Miami big time and he has stated it was his number one choice of places to be traded to. They are treating him really really good down there and will pay him (and his brother gets a contract) and they have the talent to win and make the playoffs next year with no roster changes.
Monroe doesn’t publicly say much, although the Pistons certainly have a shot at retaining him now, given they seem to be winning and before injuries they were really rolling in the East anyway.
Rondo is probably the most likely candidate b/c the Lakers might be the only team crazy enough to offer him a 4yr/20mill max deal. Seriously I would take Lin or Clarkson all day long over Rondo. Mavs lost a bunch just to see that his defense is crap, he still has an attitude, and he is a lousy shooter. So Rondo is basically just a great passer who rebounds well, but can’t slow down other PG’s anymore. Plus you can play way off him and let him shoot all day long b/c he only shoots well on the rare occasion. He’s the worst free throw shooting PG I’ve ever seen, which is the worst position to have a guy who would be lucky to sniff 60% again. I really don’t understand why anyone would want the Boston Celtic big time declining guy to ruin the team for 4 years. What for some last hurrah with Kobe Bryant, that’s just straight up delusional at this point. This isn’t 2008!
Baylor Fan says
The Lakers cannot trade their pick if they keep it since next year’s #1 would be conditionally owed to Philadelphia. McGee wants 12 mill to play next year, so there is no chance he would become a Laker.
Chearn says
Calvin Chang- If Lakers ended up with the #4 pick and Sam Hinkie / Sixers offer to trade Embiid for the pick, would you do it?
No, I would not make that trade. I’d rather go with a player whose health is not an issue. The Lakers are replete with players with questionable healthy histories. That’s my only knock against Embiid.
T. Rogers says
“I think fan interest and ratings will sky rocket even if we struggle for the next few years. As long as there is hope, in the form of a young talented nucleus, Lakers fans will get behind the team.”
—
I’ve been thinking the same thing. I think the Lakers brass sometimes underestimate the fans. Imagine if Kentucky and Duke play for the national title. Then the Lakers finish high enough to draft Towns or Okafor. There would be a lot of buzz around the team. A young, exciting team one the way up is exactly what would re-energize the fanbase. They don’t need big name, highly paid, but past their peak players.
I think most Laker fans can appreciate the process as long as it seems to be leading somewhere. The problem with the last two seasons is the team is going nowhere. And there is no discernible direction based on the moves we see being made.
bryan S. says
Calvin: Yep, I noted it @ 1:53. In mod . . .
LKK says
@Chearn… I wasn’t aware that Embiid had made such positive statements about the Lakers. As you said, his health is a bit concerning. If I had my druthers, I’d love to see the Lakers get a good young center and build around him. I think Kanter, currently with OKC is another young big who would look good in a Lakers uniform.
Jerke says
Javale won’t be cheap – he wants a 2 yr deal and to contribute on a team making a playoff run and wants a player option on the second year of a contract so he can opt out etc.. boston almost had him signed but wouldn’t committ to the yr 2 player option. Raps good chance to grab him as Masai signed him to his big current deal when he was gm in Den and still likes him –
as for whiteside –
Jason Lieser: Hassan Whiteside: “I worked out for the Lakers. I thought they could use me. I guess not.” Twitter @PBPjasonlieser
Rumors tagsLos Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Hassan Whiteside
– See more at: http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#sthash.E3c6AIv3.dpuf
Craig W. says
McGee is now a seasoned vet and still too much of a free spirit – playing wise – to deserve a 2-yr contract. This is what it would take for the Lakers to sign him for the remainder of the year.
The chemistry on a losing team is too fragile to add someone like McGee. Physical talent doesn’t trump basketball intelligence. We are still trying to figure out who we want to keep for next year.
J C says
Oldtimer, great, great post.
I think I would be happy with Love and Rondo.
I think Rondo will be available.
I think the Cavs make a deep run in the playoffs this year and I think that will cement Love’s relationship w Lebron – and he’ll have to re-up with Cleveland.
I’d love to see M Gasol in a Laker uniform, but I highly doubt he’ll come after what happened to Pau here.
***
I always liked McGee but I think he is already under contract for next year at 12 mil,
so I don’t see the Lakers paying that much for him.
As a comparison, Whiteside already looks better than McGee.
I still think we are gonna pick up a nice draft pick and at lest one good FA.
Embiid may be worth a gamble.
Chearn says
One just has to shake their fool head at Westbrook’s gaudy numbers. I mean, people complained about him shooting too much when he first entered the league.
I love the way he plays the game!
Todd says
Love will stay in Clv. w/ Lebron.
Rondo will be 30, is injury prone and is a handful in the locker room – plus he moves Clarkson off the point. Signing Rondo would be a huge mistake.
Gasol likely won’t take our phone call plus he’s also 30. He’d be 33 before we sniff the playoffs.
The only FA that makes sense is Monroe. He’s a stud and only 24 plus he unrestricted. I’d draft towns as my center, sign Monroe as my big forward and play Randle as a reserve or a three. I’d also pursue Lance Stephenson as my two – he’s only 24. I don’t believe Kobe can stay healthy and Lance has top 25 player talent – he’d blossom under his guidance. Clarkson runs the point.
That is a team with all five starters 24 or younger. Given time that is a championship core.
Todd says
Forgot to comment on McGee. He was always, in my mind, an energy big off the bench. So, he’s best as a reserve on a good team. We don’t have a good team yet and Davis is a better energy big in my mind.
Oldtimer says
I don’t know Todd whether 24 or younger as starter could be a championship caliber. Try to analyze the last five teams that went for Championship whether they all have 24 or younger starters namely: Spurs, Heat, Mavs, Lakers and Celtics.
All of them have at least three veteran marquee players, strong role players and young athletic core. Clippers have always been a young team, could hardly reach the playoffs until they got CP3, same with Blazers always young core but disappear during playoffs. Let’s see GS if they can be a Champ without an experience marquee player or without Bogut? There has to be good chemistry of experience and athleticism plus a good defensive Coach. That has been my observation on Championship teams in the last 40 years. Of course, I’m not a coach nor rely on per, just my observation.
Randle has not played a single NBA season and coming from injury, you are not sure what kind of player he is after the injury? I like Clarkson but is he experienced enough to carry a team for 82 games? The draft pick we will get in June is not a guarantee starter in 2016? Look at the high draft picks in 2014, Parker, Wiggins, Exum, Gordon, Smart. are they helping their teams to get into playoff berths? Do you think if you have Rondo and Gasol who may be 30’s cannot add firepower to the current roster? or Dragic and Monroe? I leave that to Mitch know-how in evaluating players, he is an expert in this field as long as he given a free hand.
TeamN says
Absolutely no to McGee. Saw him here in DC — not worth the trouble.
Robert says
Oldtimer: I certainly share your doubts about the FO and your opinions with regard to the “superstar” factor (as you say – experienced marquee). That said – the question is how to build towards a championship. If you want to win soon, your plan is different than if you have a 3-4 year horizon. I think – unfortunately, we must have the later, and therefore that is what leads to stockpiling young players and picks, until you can really land the whopper superstar.
Whiteside; Any team in the league had multiple opportunities to get this guy. So not getting him is not a mistake by our FO (even if they did work him out), but rather a big win for Riley. We need wins like that.
Stuart: “we limit the damage that Jim can do to the franchise. ” Trip: ” Desperate to make a splash Jim signs Rondo for four years at the max. ” Not that I disagree, but you guys are hoping that circumstances prevent our main decision maker, from making decisions. Interesting.
Todd says
@ Oldtimer: I didn’t say that my hypothetical team would win a championship in year one. But that core could develop into one over two or three years. And of course you would supplement that core with veterans along the way.
Some thoughts on your comments:
1. While age in itself is not an issue, the fact that the players you mention, Rondo, Gasol and Dragic are older FAs and will require max contract for four years is. You end up getting moderate value for years 1 and 2 but then you get the short end of the stick for years 3 and 4 when mileage and injuries begin to show.
2. When the Lakers have so many holes why would you spend so much of your cap on a 30 year old anyway? You wouldn’t have the other pieces in place needed to compete and they likely make you slightly better than you should be and you end up winning meaningless games that negatively impact your draft position. If the Lakers keep their pick this year they would be paying Towns (again hypothetically) the same salary that they pay Nick Young or 25% of what you want to pay Rondo.
3. Regarding Rondo. I am vehemently against signing him. Before he came to the Mavs, they had one of the most efficient team offenses in the league. They are now among the worst. He is not the same player that led the Celtics to the Championship in 2007/08. His injury history alone should make signing him a non-starter.
From an ESPN article on Rondo: “As a scorer, he’s a liability as a poor perimeter shooter, and his historically bad free throw shooting (at 31 percent, he’s officially the worst free throw shooter in the NBA not named Joey Dorsey) has made him a tentative driver to the basket, as he has become wary of drawing fouls and getting to the line (career low FTA rate of 0.091).”
Plus if you get Rondo you push the one bright spot, Clarkson to the bench or to SG. As a Two Clarkson will be less effective and his height and quickness advantages are negated by the abundance of strong athletic Twos across the league. Signing Rondo is my nightmare scenario. I honestly believe it would cement the Lakers in mediocrity for the balance of the decade. I think it It is wrong on so many levels, which is why I’m sure this is the one deal Jim Buss pursues this summer.
4. Gasol is close with his brother. He knows how the Lakers FO and coaching staff jerked Pau around. Pau took less money to get away from our mess. Marc wouldn’t leave a good thing in Memphis.
5. Dragic to me is fools gold. In my mind a four year deal looks OK for the front end and is a night,mare on the back end. He eats up cap space at a position of strength – as you push Clarkson off the One.
6. Monroe makes sense to me because he can play the Five or Four. If we draft a center he can provide elite performance while our pick gets his NBA legs. As you mentioned we don’t know if Randle is Zach Randolph or a brittle bust so Monroe can give you elite production from the Four as well
On the current team Hill does give you some of what Monroe delivers except that Monroe is 3 years young and is much bigger. Plus Hill makes $9 Million and his performance doesn’t hold up with starters minutes – his PER is markedly down this year (28 minutes a game) versus the last two years when he played 16 and 20 minutes per game. Davis is younger and rebounds extremely well, however his offensive game is limited to 5 feet. Both are nice players but not elite. Monroe is elite. If it were me, I’d go with a Monroe/Davis combination versus a Hill/Davis duo.
Oldtimer says
Well Robert et al, stockpiling young draft picks is not a guarantee that they will stay with the Lakers until this is hatch as a championship team. They could leave the Lakers in three years’ time like what Meeks, Bazemore, Farmar, Pau and Kaman did because they see this team would not make the playoffs. It could happen to Clarkson and Randle, they opt out at the end of their contract year. Stockpiling of high draft picks means to tank every season and be the in draft derby every end of June. We did that last year, doing it this year, shall we do it again in 2016, 2017 and assume that we are a Championship team in 2018?
Stuart says
Robert: Not that I disagree, but you guys are hoping that circumstances prevent our main decision maker, from making decisions. Interesting.
__
You can add all of the asterisks and caveats you want to the Lakers recent story, the reality is the Jim Buss led FO has produced the two worst records in the history of the franchise (in back to back seasons no less). At some point effort and good intentions have to give way to the bottom line of wins and losses.
Me and many others will not have confidence in Jim until he starts to make decisions that actually work. For one, I’d like to start with a team that can actually move forward versus the last two years where the intent was not to win or lose. Many here talk about the Lakers owning some moral high ground and being all about winning. Well the fact is our FO has designed a team to simply tread water for two years running.
I for one hope that Jim/FO does not go for the home run FA signing this summer. The Western Conference is brutal – it’s best to take a longer view that builds a championship team over time. That way our ascension will coincide with the decline of many current conference leaders.
We want a team that has a young talented core that can grow into a winner. We don’t want to see a roster exclusively on 1 year deals – year after year. We don’t want to see the future of the team mortgaged on the hope that a 30 year old max FA can beat Father Time and be productive in years 3 and 4 of their deal.
We want a FO that doesn’t cry about the CBA being too restrictive. Here’s a novel idea why don’t we use the CBA to our advantage. Let’s cultivate a culture of flexibility and use draft picks, trades and cap space to make the team better. That way when the team is close to winning it all and is one player away we have the ability to go get that player – even if it’s a 30 year old elite.
Aaron says
Jim and Mitch have already made all the right decisions so far. Instead of trying to get an eighth seed and locking up cap space on above average players the FO have instead tanked in the attempt to get cost controlled young talent to attract free agents in the summers of 2016 and 2017. So far so good. Will they mess up and go after vets this offseason? Mitch has said they will not risk future championships for meaningless wins next season.
rr says
If the Lakers stay in the Top 4, they will presumably get one of these four guys:
Towns
Okafor
Russell
Mudiay
If it is one of the former two, I would probably make a play for Tobias Harris, who is a RFA and will be entering his age-23 season, leaving the plan as:
1-Clarkson
2-Kobe
3-Harris
4-Randle
5-Towns/Okafor
IOW, basically Kobe and four very young guys. I would try to keep Davis and set him up as first big off the bench and mostly use a three-big rotation, letting Hill walk and using Kelly and Sacre as the 4th and 5th bigs, and then I would try to get a cheap floor spacer who could play the wing and a competent, veteran backup 1 who won’t kill you playing 15-20 MPG.
If it is one of the latter two I would try:
1-Russell/Mudiay
2-Kobe
3-Cheap FA who can shoot the 3 a little–not sure if there is a guy like that out there.
4-Randle
5-Kanter (RFA) or Monroe (UFA)
With Clarkson and Davis as the 6th/7th men. Kanter and Monroe both have real defensive issues, which is a problem, but Monroe will be entering his age-25 season and Kanter his age-23 season and they both have plusses to their games as well as pretty good health records.
There is no point in guys like Rondo, Gasol and Dragic right now, although I really like Marc Gasol. I have no idea where Rondo will go, but I think the market for him will be very soft. Dragic will probably stay in Miami. I think Gasol will do one of three things:
-Stay in Memphis
-Go to San Antonio if Duncan and/or Ginobili retire
-Go to the Knicks if they get Russell or Mudiay. Pau has supposedly already said that he has suggested to Marc that he consider the Knicks, due to the Triangle/Phil/Fisher/getting out of the West factors.
Stuart says
Robert: My comment above was not in rebuttal to yours. As you mentioned you are somewhat in alignment. I was just explaining my position – primarily for those that aren’t thinking along the sames lines.
rr says
Jim and Mitch have already made all the right decisions so far.
—
Kobe’s deal having two years on it, Young’s deal, adding Boozer, and giving Hill 9M. Yeah, I know–it was all part of the plan because the Lakers need Kobe to sell tickets, Boozer can’t play D, and Hill was there to “match salaries.” I don’t buy it, but it doesn’t really matter.
Durant is already breaking down some, Westbrook is killing himself keeping OKC in the 8th spot right now and does not hit FA for another two years after this one. And, there has already been buzz to the effect that Durant is either headed home to DC or staying in OKC. You may not believe that, but your argument against it is basically the same one you used about LeBron James, and you were 100% wrong that time, plus James told his team to get rid of the cost-controlled Wiggins to bring in max-salaried Kevin Love.
So…you are probably pretty much talking about using Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell and maybe one other young guy (and remember: the Lakers still owe a pick to Orlando) and the Lakers brand to get Anthony Davis here in three years, who will in turn in bring someone else with him, right?
So WADR for your scouting acumen, which far exceeds my own, let’s call this what it is instead of acting like you are talking about a trip to Oz, Middle-Earth, or Xanadu.
Darius Soriano says
RR,
To add to your post above, a guy I really like is Khris Middleton of the Bucks. He’s also an RFA this summer, but is a do it all kind of wing in the Rick Fox mold. He’s not as good as Harris, but is the type of guy with few holes in his game and doesn’t make many mistakes. I was at the Warriors/Bucks game on Wednesday and got a good look at him. A solid all around pro. As an aside, he is shooting 41% from 3 this year and nearly 50% from 2 point range.
As for a wing UFA who will likely get paid and/or stay with his current team but is worth looking at: Danny Green. He’s not really a SF, but he could easily play next to Kobe and Clarkson as a natural SG while Kobe slides up.
Kevin says
rr: Just curious in your thinking about Kanter. I have never been high on him as he once flirted with signing with UCLA and ended up rebuffing them (yes, I’m a UCLA fan – and yes between them and the Lakers its been rough). Plus, he was known as a selfish player in Utah. You obviously see him differently I’m just curious as to why.
He’s always had a good outside shot and he is sized more like a Four than a Five; do you think he could be a power forward in the league?
Additionally, I have noticed that he is playing better in OKC – his shooting percentage and rebounding are all up significantly. So it may have been a question of getting out of Utah.
rr says
Kevin,
I am a UCLA grad, so I feel your pain. As to Kanter, I have seen him a lot on League Pass. He is slow and floor-bound, and that is a real problem. But he has a great base and a nice touch around the basket. He is only 22 (turns 23 in May), like I said, and he went to a prep school in Simi Valley, so he might be a guy who would like to come here and be a piece in a rebuild. Also, OKC has Durant’s FA coming up, so they might be reluctant to match on Kanter. With Favors and Gobert there, Utah was not a good fit, obviously. I think Kanter would fit better in a rotation with Randle, Davis, and Kelly. That group would not put the West on high alert, of course, but it is young with some diverse skills.
If the Lakers had a bunch of picks piled up, I would be looking a little more at keeping all the powder dry and staying patient through a couple of more tank years. But they don’t, so I think the FO needs to look to add a couple of long-term pieces in free agency, even if they have to overpay a bit.
Darius,
Good calls on Middleton and Green.
bryan S. says
rr @ 10:45
Very good post. I’ve been coveting Tobias Harris as a “gettable” RFA. Young and improving, he has already shown the requisite work ethic to become a very good starter. Also, as I’ve noted before, he reputedly has a shoe contract that pays him more to be in a top four market. He isn’t the best defender, but his overall acumen, competitive drive, offensive skills, and ability to space the floor would make him a big get in potential WARP numbers. With Harris and Randle as starting forwards, you have guys with interchangeable skills (ball-handling, passing) but without a real rim protector behind them, they’d be vulnerable defensively.
If we are extremely lucky to have a chance at either Towns or Okafor, it’s a no-brainer to take Towns because of his rim protecting and greater upside. ( I don’t see that happening though. In fact, I am having a hard time seeing the lakers hanging on to the 4th spot, with Orlando playing horribly and the lakers playing frighteningly well.)
Realistic best case: we pick fourth and Mudiay is there. Awesome guard, franchise changer upside. He and Clarkson play a two guard front with Kobe playing the three in very limited minutes. We get Harris. We surprise everyone and sign UFA Omer Asik for a reasonable deal with the promise of solid minutes. Resign Ed Davis (as noted). BPA with the Houson pick; but look for a big or three with length and defensive potential.
LKK says
Agree with the opinions given above concerning Khris Middleton. He’s just an old school, solid player. I certainly hope that the Lakers don’t go for the home run free agent signing. There is nobody available who is a franchise changer. The Lakers need to build piece by piece. Go after a Monroe or Kanter. Find out what Philly wants to do with Embiid. Do the due diligence on Middleton and Tobias Harris. Look for younger players who are good and looking for playing time and a chance to blossom. The approach of looking to sign that one knight in shining armor to ride in and save the team is way too sketchy and is too prone to failure. A lot of folks are wont to say that being mired in mediocrity, meaning that a team is not championship calibre but too good for the lottery, is the worst place to be. And they have an arguable point. But a different sort of purgatory is being a fan of a team and being ambiguous as to their efforts on the court. When as a fan you can’t take pleasure in a hard fought victory by some good young players on your favorite team for fear that it may derail your team’s chance at securing a high lottery pick, it leaves an awful taste in your mouth. Such is the lot of many Lakers’ fans these days. To me, that is also a special form of hell. Rooting for a team on the way up has got to be better than secretly hoping for hard fought losses to seize more ping pong balls.
bryan S. says
Kris Middleton 2014-15 stats:
ppg 12.1 apg 2.1 rpg 4.5 PER 16.13
6’7″ 6’11” wingspan 225 lbs. Age 22
Tobias Harris 2014-15 stats:
ppg 16.8 apg 2.0 rpg 6.4 PER 16.52
6’9″ 6’11” wingspan 235 lbs. Age 22
Very similar production. Middleton is the better athlete, Harris better all-around skills. Either one in my estimation, can be had by over paying somewhat, as both the Bucks and Magic are budget operations. The Bucks, for example, just traded Brandon Knight away rather than have him hit free agency.
Chearn says
@Todd-” I think it It is wrong on so many levels, which is why I’m sure this is the one deal Jim Buss pursues this summer.”
This raised a huge chuckle out of me.
Aaron says
rr,
Let’s put it this way. Agree to disagree. I would have done everythong the FO did except for the length of youngs deal. I would have made it come off the books when Kobe’s and Hills do.
Also on the espn NBA podcast a former NBA FO executive said the rumblings amoungst NBA FO’s is DC has no shot at Durant. It’s between LA and OKC. Having said that I don’t care what anyone says.
Btw… I’ve only watched Okafor for a few minutes but he is gonna be a bust. The guy has average NBA PF written all over him. He won’t be able to score in the post in the NBA. He can be a Paul Milsap if he develops an outside shot (which I think he will).
Robert says
rr: Your projected line up above looks quite a bit like “Kobe and the Youngsters”. I realize this name I coined a couple of threads back is not very catchy, but as you pointed out in your e-mail, it does make a lot more sense at this point than “Kobe and the Vagabonds” : )
Stuart: We are good – and very much in alignment. Which is why I have a one track mind when it comes to the Lakers right now. If you feel the way we do, how else can the problem be fixed?
Aaron: “I would have done everything the FO did except for the length of youngs deal” Could you please put a timeframe on this along with some other parameters? Otherwise the list you are agreeing to is quite amazing.
Stuart says
Aaron: Where he is leaning to go is only part of the KD equation. The other part is that he is now showing signs of wear and tear. Maybe this is a non-issue if he finishes up this year strong and has a healthy campaign next season. However, it would give me pause if he continues to have foot related problems heading into FA.
We’ve seen first hand how tying up a large portion of your cap space with one player who is constantly injured impacts your season. Can you imagine dealing with that over a four year max deal? After Kobe (and Randle) the Lakers may need to avoid FAs with injury red flags. It doesn’t matter if your a Hall of Famer you can’t help the team if you are injured.
Joe says
Aaron: Jim and Mitch have already made all the right decisions so far. Instead of trying to get an eighth seed and locking up cap space on above average players the FO have instead tanked in the attempt to get cost controlled young talent to attract free agents in the summers of 2016 and 2017.
__
No they haven’t. Last yerar and this year they thought they had enough to compete. Where the team actually ended up is a commentary at how out of touch they are with what is going on in the real world.