When you’re 38 wins over two seasons bad, you need a lot of things. You need better players (or, maybe just for the ones you have to realize their potential soon). You need better decision making from those who run the organization. And you need better coaching.
The Lakers have, hopefully, addressed that last part and are working on the players and decision making part. Free agency success, internal growth, and a front office who seems to have an idea of where they want to go post Kobe Bryant would all be nice.
Of those things mentioned, however, the only one actually in place as of now is the coach. Thus, Luke Walton is being looked at as a lot of things. Maybe he can be the guy to help turnaround the team’s horrid offense. Maybe he can instill defensive discipline. Maybe he will bring an unselfishness, an acumen to passing and sharing the ball, and all kinds of other things the Lakers need to be successful in the upcoming season and beyond.
While these X’s and O’s, tactics, and on-the-court personification of Walton’s coaching sensibilities will matter a great deal, one thing I am hoping for most from the new head coach is for him to be a uniting force which bridges the gaps within the organization and allows this franchise to finally move forward together.
One of the hardest parts of the last few seasons for me, as someone who wants the team to do well, were all the competing priorities and how the various faces of the franchise never seemed to be fully in lockstep on what was trying to be accomplished. From the Kobe extension and farewell tour, to the mixing of young players and “win now” role players, to how Byron Scott managed it all with the on-court play of the team, it just seemed as though this franchise was consistently at odds with itself.
I do not want to bury Scott here, but it was many of his actions in his 2nd (and final) season as coach which hammered this feeling home for me. Scott’s public (and often negative) comments too often struck the wrong chord for a team which needed to nurture and grow its young prospects. Contrasted by how his veterans were spoken about publicly — especially Kobe (which was understandable, but still starkly different than what others received) — and a double standard was pretty firmly established.
Add this to his early tenure comments about analytics, the value of the three point shot, and his general decision making process and the result was a disconnect between his approach and what could be considered forward thinking ideas about the game today and where it’s going.
Walton, though, is currently viewed as the opposite type of coach. He’s young (and new-school), is believed to embrace analytical approaches to the game, and is thought of as a communicator who relates to all players well. He’s also someone who can be seen as tied to past Lakers’ success and non-Lakers’ influences from his time in Golden State.
There’s an old saying about never being able to please everybody and how you really can’t be everything to everyone. Walton, though, seems to (at least partially) defy negative connotation. This can be an incredibly powerful and important thing for this current version of the Lakers. Over the past several years the organization has been plagued with in-fighting and mixed messages on what constitutes the best path forward. Walton looks to be the type of leader who can help get everyone on the same page.
Whether it actually plays out that way remains to be seen. As we have written, there is so much work still to do. Walton, simply by being hired, is a nice addition, but the front office will need to continue to add talent while the training and analytics staffs will also need to continue to take positive strides forward in their ever advancing fields.
That said, I trust Walton to be the person who guides the team forward. Being able to inspire that type of shift in confidence coming off recent seasons is a major accomplishment in and of itself.
Lou says
Getting Luke was a good step. It seemed like a sure step. They knew who they wanted and it appeared from Mitch’s comments that they had a good idea they could get him.
If we get a top three pick that will be not a good step but good fortune.
If they show that they have learned from last years FA humiliation, that will be another step in the right direction. They need to know who they want and if they can get them. Luke has to be heavily involved. Mitch has shown that he can do this. Luke and Mitch have the potential to be a good team.
It would be nice if the Busses fade into the background.
And then we need to be patient.
KevTheBold says
Good read Darius.
Funny how after Scott was let go, he finally admitted that he thought D’Angelo had star potential.
But again, he said it to the media, not to the player.
I was surprised when Magic announced that he was going to mentor Russell, as prior to Walton’s hire, he was not a part of the hands on squad.
Seems like Walton is uniting many diverse camps and individuals.
JeffT says
I just read the title vertically on my computer and it said “Luke Force”. Maybe there is something to this hire…
Baylor Fan says
Now Mitch/Jim need to show they have an inkling about analytics and how that applies to building a team. Luke is certainly capable of installing a modern offense but he needs the players to make it happen. Is Mitch up to the job of targeting the right kind of players and getting them to sign on the dotted line? And no more excuses about not being able to get superstars, the Lakers have lots of openings on their team. There will be enough players available in free agency to start filling those holes.
Fern says
Good read thank you. I really hope Luke don’t read FB&G because if he read that breakdown in the last article about the offensive and defensive troubles of this team last season and how ugly the numbers are, he would be begging the Warriors to take him back lol. Tremendous article. That is the monumental disaster that was Byron’s regime in numbers. I don’t follow analytics that closely but I don’t think there have been numbers that ugly, EVER. It’s really encouraging that Luke wants to take up the challenge and is really encouraging that the FO let him know already who they are planning to go after in FA. For the first time in years there seems to be a plan in place.. Luke has brought optimism and hope to all of us. And i think the FO feels the same even Magic is going to mentor DAR, thats something that dont happen everyday, i just hope is not on social media LOL. I hope all the feuds and all the pettiness and divisions are a thing of the past finally. This summer can be special and the Lakers need to present an united front. Im exited!!!
Fujitsu says
I’m wondering what tool Luke has in his bag.
The Warriors were on auto pilot, this team needs motivation and guidance, he can’t use any of the old school tactics, can he really just say “good job guys, keep playing” with this team.
I know Luke knows the game, how does that translate to coaching a deficient team? It was always the Larry brown types that took on teams this bad and turned it around.
I hope he can last.
KO says
His tool is a entire book written but not published by Kerr written during his years as an analysts. Its called “what would I have done”..
Luke has only outside copy. Bible of future coaching.
BigCitySid says
– Luke has already accomplished at least one thing: his signing has given fans guarded hope. Something realistic Laker fans haven’t had in sometime.
– I for one actual believe the Lakers will be able to sign a free agent in July who has other options, unlike in recent history.
– Finally our Lakers are getting back on track.
Warren Wee Lim says
The biggest significance of the Walton hire is that now the team has gravitas in the entire league. Some of you might question why an inexperienced (0-0) coach would suddenly bring this to a team that has fallen on hard times. The easy answer is that the Lakers “finally” got it right this time and it was shown in an impressive and decisive manner – something we haven’t seen our franchise do in the last few summers. Granting we needed to let go of every baggage we had, including Kobe, now the team can really move forward with flexibility and function normally without looking back.
Luke Walton, like mentioned, has no professional career win as a head coach in the NBA. He is, for all intents and purposes, a prodigy that has yet to play a single NBA game. Granting his audition was out of this world and downright impressive, he still needs to perform to back this up.
The best part about all this, and we have never been this excited being out of playoffs and still not sure if we have a lottery pick or not, is that Walton is the hottest coach out there, and we got him, and Byron is probably in the running for the Worst ever, and we got rid of him. The timing and manner matters too, we acted swiftly, decisively and with no hesitation.
The next step, is to wait for Luke to finish his season, hopefully another title and consult/hire his staff. I don’t see veteran coaches lining up for an interview, I know that assistants did line up, but for the job Luke got. So now, it begs the question, to help Luke in the logistics of guiding this team, who do we hire? It could be as important as Luke himself.
The draft, assuming we get lucky again and get a top 3 pick, the focus should be on maximizing team talent. If it comes down on who to pick, it should be Ingram.
In free agency, the world is our oyster. With almost a complete team at hand, there is now one glaring need: HASSAN WHITESIDE. He is mobile, he blocks every shot that comes his way, he is a perfect recipient of the roll passes and lobs, he isn’t a terrible FT shooter and he is only 26. Miami would be doing everything to keep the guy, including post bad PR outside the organization to make sure others do not go hard at him. But the Lakers need to look past that and realize, he is the only real max you need to spend.
And since we have to spend the money up to 90% of 92M, which is 83M, then it won’t be too much of a hassle to land guys who can get it done offensively like Derozan or a skillset we don’t have (stretch 4) like Marvin Williams.
We got it right this time, regardless of what happens in the lottery, draft and FA, Walton is the necessary first move to ace this thing.
Alex says
While Byron was awful by any measure, the FO’s true blunders were getting Howard and Nash with franchise-killing deals. Letting Kobe play out was also unavoidable. So this is the first breathing period after the Nash/Howard/Kobe compounded calamity. Hiring Luke was swift and enormously important. Luke has the halo around him to attract capable assistants and to help with FA’s, while Kobe’s shadow is finally removed. It’s not attractive to a FA being ageing Kobe’s second fiddle, versus being the Lakers leader, with two more maxes coming and several young quality players. Luke adds freshness and promise to that. I am holding out hope that we’ll get two star FA’s (Whiteside seems like a great mutual fit), maybe even one of the big two, and trade for one more with the pick or the youth (which I would rather not do, but appears likely).
Clay Bertrand says
Honestly, IMO, people need to prepare for a realistically underwhelming off season as it relates to Free Agency.
The Salary Cap is rising at a historic rate meaning all teams have spending power. The Lakers however, have long planned for post Kobe financial flexibility to the max meaning that the Lakers will ultimately have more money to spend than other teams over the next couple of years UNLESS, the Lakers blow a majority of their money on 2 MAX FAs this summer.
The Key here is that the 2017 FA class is SIGNIFICANTLY more talent laden than the group available this off season. I don’t believe that the Lakers can ReSign Clarkson, give a MAX deal to Hassan Whiteside AND Nic Batum/Other Overpaid Wing AND then still have another MAX SLOT PLUS to chase FAs in the much more appealing 2017 FA class. So there is reason to suggest that they WON’T empty the clip this summer.
Further, there is a high probability that Kevin Durant signs a 1+1 with OKC w a player option for the second year and then opts out again next summer. Do you want Nick Batum or Chandler Parsons making MAX MONEY if it means losing out on making a strong run at Durant NEXT year??
As an aside, I honestly can’t believe that Crooked Pat Riley DOES NOT have some scheme to keep Whiteside. He played 39 minutes in last night’s playoff game and Pat Riley is just going to let 29 other teams sign him away?? I am growing increasingly skeptical that Whiteside will not be on the Heat next season. Festus Ezeli and Harrison Barnes are Restricted meaning overpayment and extended money being tied up WAITING for GSW to match or not.
My main point is that those hoping for a big FA splash this summer should temper those expectations. Looking over the list below of the top FAs this summer, the best guys are staying put or are restricted and the class for NEXT year is a substantially bigger crop of players across the board.
Free Agency Class: http://hoopshype.com/2016/05/03/nba-free-agency-2016-the-top-players/
BOTTOM LINE: Free Agency is not going to bring as much of a huge talent influx this summer as people might hope for/believe, but that COULD certainly happen more realistically NEXT summer in 2017.
Anonymous says
for warren
– we needed to let go of every baggage we had –
we still have some baggage.
Clay Bertrand says
I strongly agree with this sentiment as well for our future:
http://thebiglead.com/2016/05/04/lakers-lottery-pick-trade-stupid/
We should not cash out our affordable improving young talent and overpay in a trade for Jimmy Butler or Boogie Cousins…..
rr says
Reminders on the salary floor: the only penalty for not hitting it is giving the guys on the roster extra payouts, and a team does not have to hit it until the end of the year.
Darius Soriano says
RR,
I have also already read reports that the NBA thinks that over half the teams next year will not reach the salary floor AND that there will be a shortfall payment made to the players because revenues are likely to exceed league wide salaries again.
For those who are unaware, this is related to the CBA guaranteeing the players 50% of BRI (basketball related income). When the leaguewide total for salaries is less than 50% of the BRI, the league has to cut the players union a check. The league already anticipates that will happen next season. So, if you are a player on a team which does not reach the salary floor AND the the league makes a shortfall payment to the union, you can expect a couple of extra checks which tack onto your salary at the end of the year.
Clay Bertrand says
Darius & RR,
In addition to the Salary Floor not being expected to be reached by many of the teams next year, there is the impact that the whole exploding cap will have on Trade possibilities. In the most recent past, under the CBA and because most teams are close to or up against the Salary Cap, teams had to MATCH SALARIES for trades to be allowed.
With the HUGE cap jump, the matching requirement for trades will be very much moot. The Lakers could trade Robert Sacre for Lebron James and the salaries would still work because of the ridiculous cap space. Interestingly, this should extend throughout the season through the trade deadline and may in fact continue to be the new norm until teams have their cap room taken up over the next couple of seasons.
IOW, trades will theoretically be much easier to orchestrate than they have been in a very long time. We have seen how most trade deadlines are CHOCK FULL of rumors only to have the deadline pass with a whimper of 3rd tier deals that don’t do a thing to alter the league landscape. We could well see some of the most wild wheeling and dealing we’ve seen in a long time.
R says
Clay, I’ve been thinking the same about Whiteside. Riley is so tricky he’s got a thing or two up his sleeve no doubt.
Regarding trades, yeah if the lakers keep their pick but miss out on Ingram, it might get interesting. Wish they had more chips.
Fern says
Im not entirely on board with trading the pick if we keep it, this summer the Lakers can “made their cake and eat it too”. We can add a young potential superstar stud and have an insane amount of money to spend in free agency. I imagine that pick and one or two of the kids could be dangled to try to get Paul George or Boogie. It does make sense but there are too many variables. I rather hoard all the talent we can amass with both the Draft and free agency. Im on the fence on this one for now…
Vasheed says
@Clay,
I’m a bit flabbergasted by the logic of keeping our rookies. First don’t expect the free agents to come to LA because our team of rookies isn’t all that appealing. Second we need cost controlled rookie contracts but the league expects half of all teams next year to not even meet the salary floor?
I personally believe our team as is will be too glutted with rookies. We make our team far more likely to attract free agents by having a known commodity or two on the roster. If teams don’t spend then that gives an edge back to the Lakers that hasn’t existed since the current caps had been put in place. The star players on current big contracts are cheaper than those being signed next year. In fact I believe it is the only way to build not a 1-2 player punch combo but building 3 to 4 head player teams.
I’m a little concerned that our F.O. gets the right players and not just big names. The players acquired need to be able to play for Walton within his system.
matt says
Yeah if miami reaches the east finals they will attempt to keep the team intact, definitely, only problem only 3 rotation players will still be under contract, bosh, dragic, and winslow, and it looks like they will have a cap of 48 mil before free agency
R says
I wouldn’t bet against Riles doing his thing. Remember he came to LA ostensibly to chat about coming back to the Lakers and left with Shaq tucked away in his back pocket. Keep the doors locked and your daughters hidden when Riles is around!
I say this with full respect and affection by the way.
matt says
And miami has no 1st round pick
Mid-Wilshire says
Pat Riley is wiley, to be sure. But there’s only so much he can do. The math may simply paint him into the proverbial corner. Below are the projected max cap spaces for each of the 12 teams with the most cap space for this summer according to basketball.realgm.com. I am also including the number of guaranteed contracts and the number of possible FAs per team.
This is very important. If a team, such as Miami, only has 4 players under guaranteed contracts, then they will have approximately $36 Million to sign 9-10 players for next year. They cannot spend it all on 1 or 2 players. They have a team to build, after all. Boston, on the other hand, is in great shape. They will have approximately $53 Mill in Max Cap Space and already have 9 players under guaranteed contracts. That means that they will have approximately $53 Mill to spend on only 4 or 5 players.
Here’s the link to basketball.realgm.com that spells all of this out for all 30 NBA teams:
http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/240096/The-Maximum-Available-2016-Cap-Space-For-All-30-NBA-Teams
The top 12 teams, in terms of cap space, are as follows:
LAKERS — $62,613,020
Guaranteed Contracts: 6
Possible FAs: 9
PHILLY — $61,220,813
Six Guaranteed Contracts and 3 Possible FAs (with 6 Non-guaranteed contracts)
BOSTON — $53,397,958
Nine Guaranteed Contracts and 4 Possible FAs
DALLAS — $48,081,693
Six and six
WASHINGTON — $45,293,711
Four and seven
PORTLAND — $41,813, 658
Seven and six
HOUSTON — $41,227,809
Eight and 5
CHARLOTTE — $38,830,474
Six and 8
BROOKLYN — $38,636,058
Five and 9
MEMPHIS — $38,082,020
Six and 5
DETROIT — $38,005,231
Seven and 4
MIAMI — $36,643,557
Four Guaranteed Contracts and 9 Possible FAs
Also, according to basketballinsiders.com, the projected maximum contracts for NBA players for 2016 will be as follows:
$21.1 Million for players with up to 6 yrs. of experience
$25.3 Million for players with 7-9 yrs.
$29.5 Million for players with 10+ yrs.
The Lakers, then, are in good shape. Boston is in great shape. Miami, who still has to figure out how much they will pay Dwayne Wade next year, is in a pinch.
It should be an interesting summer.
Clay Bertrand says
Vasheed
I am mainly trying to illustrate that as far as FAs go, they should maintain the flexibility/ability to still make a BIG IMPACT FA MAX signing run or two in 2017.
I agree that the roster currently has a lot of young guys and even Luke himself has mentioned the need to “mix some vets in”.
I would say that I do see some wisdom in the article on keeping the pick vs. trading it along with DeAngelo and/or Randle for Cousins or Butler. Cousins is a 7 foot empty stat machine in a league that plays small ball and doesn’t feature offenses surrounding Centers. Butler could be an option because he is signed for a few more years but he’s not a superstar and Chicago would want a lot for him.
I am all in and would be patient with a full rebuild. I don’t see why we have to push it other than the FO “deadline” and the TWC ratings etc. The team will not lose fans (as the article mentions) by having a youth movement. To me, the better the young guys get and the more experience they have we can be better positioned to attract better FAs in 2017.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that the Lakers themselves are as patient as some of the fans might be. It’ll be very interesting the next couple of years. The tectonic movement of the salary scale in the NBA will not be settled until at least the cap increases stabilize. We need some shrewd dealing to have a strong plan going forward.
Anonymous says
Clay- Cousins is too much of a head case for a rookie coach to handle. So unless we are trading Metta World Peace’s expiring contract for him, I think we should stay away.
Clay Bertrand says
Mid-Wilshire,
Nice. Very helpful. Interesting summer is right!
On Riley, I just smell a rat with Miami. The Beno Udrih buy out where he was injured but took less money just to “help” Miami out for no reason is the most blatant recent oddity to come from Riley’s dealings. Remember the Juwan Howard debacle??
I think they circumvent the cap down there. Just a hunch on my part.
That said, how could they circumvent a $20 Mil payday to a guy in their cap situation?? They shouldn’t be able to but in the end maybe Wade takes a hugely suspect $2Mil contract for next season or some weird crapola……..I just don’t trust Riley. He is shrewd to the point of crooked.
Whiteside will be widely pursued probably by the Lakers, Dallas, Charlotte, Houston, Boston one would think in addition to Miami with their off the books Carnival Cruise Lines Stock Option package. All the Lakers can offer as compensation off the books are Lakers Tickets!!!!!
matt says
Clay, i don’t think anyone disagrees with you, 2017 free agency should be considered in whatever the lakers do, it’s pg heavy group, and lebron will probably go 1 year again in search of his all-star team, anyways little humor, we are pointing out that whiteside most likely is out of miami next year
Clay Bertrand says
Matt, agreed.
OT, but this is an interesting deal by Pelton (he did the Basketball guys):
http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/15453471/unfulfilled-potential-stats-10-superstars-including-michael-jordan-been
matt says
Let’s just hope boston signs Dwight howard
rr says
I agree with Clay’s overall position, but I am (obviously) hoping that the Lakers keep the pick as a Top 2 and that they can get Whiteside or if not, Ezeli. When the FO drafted Russell over Okafor (a choice I backed) I said that it probably meant that the Lakers would need to pay for a 5 in FA. But for me:
Ingram/Simmons-Randle-Whiteside/Ezeli-Russell/Clarkson
coached by Walton would be worth investing some hope in and certainly worth watching, although that team would be nothing more than the first steps on a long, uncertain road. I have never seen Simmons play and have only seen Ingram once, so I have no position on that question.
T. Rogers says
Clay,
I think the Lakers will have to overpay someone in order to prime the free agency pump. Talent follows talent. Getting the first “impact” player on the roster may require giving someone like Barnes a ridiculous salary for a few years. The Lakers need to be seen as a destination again. Luke and a “name” player will help in this area a lot. My only hope is the over payment goes to a young up and comer and not a guy whose best years are about to be behind him.
Lastly, strategically overpaying one guy this summer can help land a bigger fish next summer.
Clay Bertrand says
rr,
“… I am (obviously) hoping that the Lakers keep the pick as a Top 2 and that they can get Whiteside or if not, Ezeli.”
_________________
Yeah agree totally. Exactly what I’m hoping we look to do too. I’m NOT in favor of trading the pick or the young guys. I’d prefer the organic rebuild until the FAs are more plentiful and potentially interested in the growing core.
KevTheBold says
I’m with Clay in keeping the pick, (if we retain it).
Whenever we try to take short cuts, we always end up on dead end streets.
Yes keeping the pick makes it necessary to grow the team organically, which won’t be a fast track process, yet the rewards for doing so, is a team on the same page, with the same time frames in reaching prime years, thus a powerhouse running on all cylinders.
Mixing young and older imo is like mixing half decayed fruit into your salad just to save time and money.
I’d rather wait for a dynasty salad, than a one and done deal which gets torn apart later, with pieces flying in every direction and setting us back to square one regardless, leaving us with players who have been taught that they are not worthy of stardom.
Our coach is young, our core is young, and I for one will enjoy seeing them mature and grow together.
I’m in no rush.
BigCitySid says
– So it sounds like the Lakers have all the right tools to do what needs to be done. Big question is do they have the craftsmen to do the job.
Clay Bertrand says
T. Rogers, I agree with you about signing one decent FA to start the talent pool off which would be the right max guy this 2016 as you suggest. Just hopefully not TWO this summer. We clearly need to start somewhere though. Hopefully its a wise choice who we pursue.
For Centers, aside from Whiteside, we have the aforementioned, Festus Ezeli (Restricted), Bismack Byombo (raw offensively, decent on D and Boards, 23 yrs old) and the Old French Guys in Ian Mahinmi and Joakim Noah. Those are the best Center options for our current roster IMO.
It’d be nice (though probably unlikely) to get Ezeli and Noah. I think Noah could be like our Bogut. He’s older, not as durable as he used to be but is a strong defender, he’s a tough veteran and good team first locker room guy.
R says
Matt, I’d love to see the Celtics blow it by signing Dwight Coward but sadly Danny Ainge is no fool.
KO says
Sid
You are right about the tools. Sadly they run the business.
Robert says
It is a little difficult to debate what we should do with so many variables on the table. First off – what is the Lakers’ plan? Hopefully they have one – in any case we do not know what it is. In other words – how quickly are we trying to turn things around? What are the goals for next year? This plan would obviously need numerous contingencies such as – if we can land this FA – then we pursue this type of plan, else – we pursue this type of plan. So it is a little difficult to try to determine at this point (without the plan and without the contingencies) whether we should keep all the youngsters and the pick (if we get to keep it), and which FA to go after. Way too many variables. Any statements about such would need to prefaced with the type of plan being pursued.
A Horse With No Name says
Random Thoughts:
Anyone hoping that the lakers sign DeRozan should watch last night’s game. Barely passable ball-handling and passing, erratic long-range shooting. He does get to the line, but is a poor fit in the new space/pace offense.
Harrison Barnes looked good last night, but it was just last night. Before that in the playoffs he has played poorly on the offensive end. The two drives to the hole I remember were straight line drives that were mostly uncontested. I’d rather sign Marvin Barnes on the cheap or overpay for Batum than max Barnes.
(THIS IS NOT TRADE SPECULATION) Boogie isn’t on a bad deal–it’s actually really a good deal with the exploding cap. If you consider how the Spurs use pivot men (Duncan, Aldridge), you can be assured that Boogie would fit in very nicely with a movement offense. He is a superb passer and unselfish. (In fact, he is considered an honorary Gasol brother.) He’d look great in the high post, leaving room for guys to cut and score off his dumps–just saying.
Outside of Whiteside, the best big man get would be Pau Gasol. Would he entertain a return to the lakers? If handled properly, he just might. He would kick start the rebuild with his veteran savvy and team first approach. I would be satisfied (for now) with Ian Mahimi–our greatest need is a two-way wing. Maybe two of them, with Clarkson taking on a sixth man role. (As I said above, Batum/Marvin Barnes, and restricted FA Evan Fournier to play the two–he is a big two and I love a big backcourt–Blazers high talent guys are too small to play together–getting abused by the Warriors.)
Fern says
I been on record for months now saying that the Lakers should offer Whiteside a max offer sheet on July 1st at 12:00.01AM point blank. If im not mistaken the max on his case is 17-18 million. And i imagine that the Lakers would like to keep certain flexibility for the summer of 2017 and beyond. I hope that lesson from the past is learned. It took a lot of losses to get to this point. But with that pick looming over our collective heads there will be no clear course until May 17. I imagine they have planned for all scenarios this time around…
Anonymous says
When I see reports of the Lakers open to trading the pick or young guys I think of Jim and the one year he has left on his promise. He wants to make the playoffs like he wanted to win his dad a championship before he died. This is why Jeamie leaving him in place is dangerous — he doesn’t know how to build a team, to him it’s just get a superstar and fill in around him.
Jim is going to f—k this up. Watch and see.
Mid-Wilshire says
Today Jim Buss spoke at length with Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. He talks (highly) about the young core and about which players he’d like to hold on to for next season. Here’s the link:
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/lakers-jim-buss-on-free-agency-luke-walton-and-more/
Clay Bertrand says
Mid-Wilshire, the “17 wins is the lowest….” line is a hopeful and earnest comment that is just gonna be ammo. At least there’s no predictions!
Irrational Moves By Jim Buss?? I hope not.
The Heresay Reasoning:
Ramona Shelburne says that Jim Buss trusts/relies on Mitch.
Mitch says he is going to try to convince the “decision makers” to spend and act prudently so as not to lock the team into mediocrity for the next 5 years.
(RUMOR- Talkshow bigmouth Colin Cowherd says his sources say the Lakers would trade the player drafted with the top pick.)
If this holds true regarding Jim and Mitch (and hopefully it does), then Mitch’s sense of basketball values will guide the off season moves and they won’t do anything stupid.
In reality though, there should be no shock at this “revelation”. The Lakers making it known that the pick can potentially be had (if they in fact did so) is completely normal and reasonable business practice here. Of course it could be dealt. Anything could be dealt. There are only a couple of untouchable players in the entire league. Every other player or pick has a price. Danny Ainge has routinely floated that his pick or picks are on the table for trade leading up to the off season or draft. This is likely nothing more than marketplace puffing about the obvious: “WE ARE OPEN TO ANY POTENTIAL DEAL IF WE CAN IMPROVE OUR TEAM.”
IMO, the Cavs w Lebron and Kyrie in hand trading the #1 pick Wiggins and pieces for Kevin Love is a trade you make with that pick because that Cavs team is a Championship contender. The Lakers w several second year players and the 2nd worst record in the league is a different story. Should they retain their pick and look to deal Simmons/Ingram and Randle for Jimmy Butler or Cousins, that is a trade I wouldn’t make unless its AFTER Durant has signed with us.
If we get the pick, its an asset and a way to get better plain and simple. The fact that we WOULD trade the player drafted doesn’t mean that we WILL.
Baylor Fan says
Luuuuuke, May the 4th be with you!!!! It sounds like you will need it.