We have known for some time the Lakers’ final cut would come down to Metta World Peace or Jabari Brown. I discussed who I thought the final cut would be, but that was only speculation. Today is the deadline to make the actual move and, per Shams Charania, the decision has been made.
The Los Angeles Lakers are waiving guard Jabari Brown, allowing Metta World Peace to make 15-man roster, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 26, 2015
As I wrote, this was what I expected to happen. From my post:
While I think Brown has talent, I do not think his scoring is so valuable within the context of this roster that it outweighs the intangibles Metta brings to the team. Of course, the argument could be made that Brown’s (scoring) redundancy with Clarkson, Williams, and Young is matched by Metta’s (leadership) redundancy with Kobe, Hibbert, and Bass. That’s totally fair, but I think if pitted against each other, what Metta brings has slightly more value to this specific roster at this specific time.
Ultimately, I think this is what matters the most here. Brown likely deserves to be on some team’s roster as his game will likely only show more growth and maturity in the coming seasons. But what the Lakers really need is for the young players they have true investments in (Randle, Russell, Clarkson, Nance, and Anthony Brown) to take the type of strides forward which make Jabari an afterthought. If Metta can help accelerate that development — especially for Randle, but for Brown and Nance too — that’s probably worth a roster spot this season.
The fact this came down to the final day tells me this decision was not easy for the Lakers’ front office. I think they truly value Brown’s talent and believe, with continued development, he has a chance to be a reserve scorer who can have a positive impact on the team.
However, what this ultimately comes down to is, if neither of the players kept are going to play much, what do you value more? In this specific case, the argument tilts towards Metta and the intangibles he provides in terms of leadership, mentoring, and how he can aid the team in practice outweighs what Brown brings in those same areas.
There’s also an argument to be made that, unless he’s getting real minutes, developing Brown gets harder. A young player like him needs reps. The only way he gets those with the Lakers is if he’s playing ahead of guys who are better than him or if he’s sent down to the D-League. Clearly, the Lakers did not want to keep a player on their final roster whose major contributions would come on the D-Fenders.
Hopefully Brown catches on with another NBA team, gets a good offer in Europe, or, if he ends up in the D-League, gets a call up early in the year. As I noted above, he has talent and plays with a demeanor I really like. It just so happens he’s the odd man out with this Lakers’ team.
ron says
Why did the Lakers cut Metta in the first place if he was so valuable to them?
Clay Bertrand says
Hopefully, Brown catches on with another team, makes that team better than it was, and comes back to kick our butts. Can we get an “ALL GIVEN AWAY FOR NOTHING ALLSTAR TEAM” together with Steve Blake (or Kent Bazemore–who is starting for Atlanta), Jodie Meeks, Ed Davis, Jabari Brown and Pau??? That team would give the Lakers a real run for their money!!!
At least we’ve got a young player or some draft picks to show for losing these guys right Jim?
RIGHT Mitch???? Mitch??? (crickets)
That’s all on the FO. SMH.
Clay Bertrand says
Robert: Your comment regarding your position on Byron Scott is EXACTLY how I feel. I don’t advocate firing him now. It has to play out as you intimated and just don’t renew his deal after 2017. I agree with your position 100%. Its gonna be awhile though…..
J C says
Darius,
I concur completely.
MWP’s intangibles would seem to me at least to far outweigh the few minutes J Brown would be giving us.
It’s better for Jabari in fact. He’ll get more minutes in the D league or another team will scoop him up and he will get a real contract.
Metta’s biggest contribution on the other hand will be off the court. Locker room, practices, the team bus etc.
Not to mention that as a fan, I’m always tuning in to see what Metta will do next.
Jabari? Not so much.
So strictly from a marketing standpoint this was an easy call to make.
BigCitySid says
– Pre-season is finally over. No more excuses about “the score doesn’t matter”. It’s time to take a peek at the regular season schedule. I could be wrong, but it definitely looks like someone in the NBA scheduling dept has a soft spot for the Lakers, giving them a GOOD shot of NOT repeating their horrible start of last season (0-5/1-9).
-This season, only one team in the Lakers 1st nine games appears to be a shoe in to make the post-season:
#1: vs. T-Wolves
#2: @ Kings
#3: vs Mavs
#4: vs Nuggets
#5: @ Nets
#6: @ Knicks
#7: @ Heat
#8: @ Magic
#9: @ Mavs
– Sure, only three homes games vs six on the road (including one back to back), but those are all games the Lakers can walk away from with a “W”.
– I believe these guys have a shot of being over .500 in their 1st nine games.
– Let’s go Lakers
J C says
Clay
You forgot someone
Dwight!
rr says
This is unsourced; a friend sent me the quote as a text:
“We’re a better team with Metta,” Randle said Wednesday. “It’s not our decision if he’s on the team or not. But Metta’s knowledge and wisdom that he brings to this team is amazing.”
lakerade says
For better or worse, this is another sign of the dual end-goal for this season’s Lakers: develop the youth and also see what might happen with a healthy Kobe. Many things have to go right, but if they do then I’d rather have Metta on the roster come the playoffs. If they don’t go right, Brown wasn’t a rotation player anyhow, and those wing minutes that he’d otherwise get will be eaten up by Young and Williams as they are dangled as trade bait.
Go Lakers!
mud says
wow!
some actual angst over J Brown!
A Horse With No Name says
Mud, So right. I’ve seen nothing to suggest that an under-sized two guard who has a weak handle and terrible passing / court vision belongs on an NBA roster. Jabari is going to have to work very hard on skill development to realize his dream.
J C says
Does this mean Tarik Black’s contract is affirmed?
I don’t recall hearing his contract had been ratified.
Joel says
Yawn. I’m more concerned with roster spots 1 – 9 as they are the ones who will make or break the Lakers season.
I’m of the mindset that the Lakers, with three kids and an average veteran cast will struggle. I’m OK with that as long as the kids get better. Losses are the price of laying a strong foundation for the future.
The challenge will be with Byron and the FO – when push comes to shove what is their agenda? Byron wants to coach next year, Jim wants a third year and Jeanie wants measureable results to show fans, sponsors and TWC. I think there is more pressure to win than is being let on.
Bottom line, I don’t think the kids will get as much playing time as they should — plus I think the team still falls way short of the playoffs.
matt says
To comment on above posts
Dwight wanted to leave you can’t blame that on management, also I’m sure pau left because he was tired of playing here, as for ed davis that was a blunder but he was just good on the worst lakers team ever, i will take l.williams over meeks, hibbert and bass over j.hill and ed davis has to be an improvement,, i said this before kobe is an intimidating teammate, side note pau was coached poorly he’s not a center, but i do gotta say that management blew it on the steve nash deal and the our last coach.
Mid-Wilshire says
JC,
I don’t think that Tarik Black’s contract has been affirmed just yet. But that should be imminent.
In fact, I expect Tarik to make a strong case for getting some substantial playing time this year as a back up, small-ball center. Byron’s experiment of playing Bass at the 5 during the preseason just didn’t seem to work. It left the Lakers too vulnerable to drives to the basket.
Tarik offers more resistance. He’s not a rim protector. But he’s a decent defender. And, on steals, he runs the court very well.
I think he’ll play a role on this team.
matt says
management’s worst mistake is waiting around for big free agents instead of getting quality role players last years free agency was really bad, waiting on melo pissed me off so much, this year also did they really think alderidge was gonna sign
Shaun says
I think Metta staying is actually great for the team
we are super thin at the SF spot with Metta really being the only true SF on the roster with Kobe, young,and brown all being small for the SF spot and kelly … as tall as he is … still to weak to cover larger 3s
I wouldn’t be surprised to see metta playing the majority of minutes at the 3 when we are competing in a game …. with russel sitting on the bench in crunch time because he is still too raw and a big liability on defense.
don ford says
Not one but TWO big Artest signings….
” …. on the shoulders of 6 foot 7 inch forward Ron Artest III. Son of current Los Angeles Laker forward Metta World Peace, junior Artest III transferred to Beverly [High] this year from Palisades Charter High School. Artest III seems to have acclimated well to his new setting in Beverly Hills.
“For the first week, [Beverly High] has been cool so far,” Artest III said.
However, for Artest III, the end goal for BevBall is clear.
“Winning. I want to get as many wins as possible,” Artest III said.
http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/10/15/artest-iii-a-welcomed-face-to-beverly-basketball/
KO says
I like Metta signing. This way he can spell Kobe st SF, beat up the other teams guy and make it easier for KB.
Clay Bertrand says
If the “LONG TERM PLAN” is to phase Metta into a role as an assistant coach, I hope “Long Term” means by NEXT YEAR!!!! Everyone including Byron is admitting that his mentorship and experience are his greatest attributes at this point. One year as a uniformed, on the roster Mentor and “Guy Who Has Been There” should be enough. I would have kept Brown, but Metta is a good guy for the mentor role and would be a good development coach next year.
My biggest concern is DeAngelo. I don’t think Russell has earned anywhere near the Starting PG gig. However, the alternative is basically that he won’t be playing PG much at all if he doesn’t start. With Huertas running the second unit along with the Chucker Brothers Nick and Lou, Russell’s role will be non existent (assuming that’s where he plays). He’d be the 3rd shooter and 2nd ball handler???
He is supposed to be an energy guy and a playmaker. That is his stated role. Instead he will DISAPPEAR. He will be standing in the corner on the weak side half open waving his arms frantically as Nick/Lou monopolize the possession. Huertas will be Russell’s only hope to touch the ball (as he will be playing off the ball with Huertas at the point). Not to mention the second unit line up would essentially be, Huertas at the 1, Lou Will at the 2, Young at the 3, Bass/Black/Sacre at the 5. So What will be Russell’s position be?? An undersized non defensive, non rebounding, sweet passing 4 who stands outside the 3 pt line??? Who does he match up with??? It just doesn’t look like a good fit.
I understand that Russell is 19 and really not at all ready yet to take the reins. It’s just that his development as a PG will be stymied for sure by not really playing the position very much. He may not be able to get a lotta minutes anyway the way Byron doesn’t like to play young guys.
Needless to say, to see the #2 pick in the D-League would certainly raise more than a few eyebrows so I am concerned TO SAY THE LEAST about the plan for DeAngelo’s development.
Fern says
I see no reason to be concerned about Rusell in the PRESEASON, he had ups and downs but the potential is there, I don’t think he is starter material right now, i rather give Huertas the nod and let Rusell run the second unit, that way he gets some pressure off him and can relax and play his game, he looks too wind up to me, he is going to get better and Scott has sucess developing young PGs in the past, he has the potential to be one hell of a floor general and he hit some clutch shots against Portland last week, he is not afraid and he can score, he needs to get it togheter, this season is for him to develop, not being Magic 2.0 like some people expect him to be, i believe later in the year he be all right…
Austin Kaa says
MWP is a great laker and the great hope of the future, Julius Randle loves him. To me this is a no brainer. What was Jabari Brown’s ceiling? Maybe down the road with playing time and luck Jabri would could turn into a Nick Young or Louis Williams type scorer off the bench. Well “aw shucks” dude we got both those guys on reasonable contacts off the bench already. This is the same exact non-sense as Upshaw. Just because a guy is young doesn’t mean he’s better than a guy who is proven. The proven guy could be bad but the young guy could actually be worse, who knows he’s unproven. But, I am pretty sure if he was going to be Kobe or Magic good, he wouldn’t have gone undrafted.
matt says
Why is lou williams not a starter
Williams, clarkson, kobe, randle, hibbert