On May 17th the NBA will hold their annual celebration of the losers…err their Draft Lottery. The Lakers (and their fans) understandably have a fair amount of angst around this event. With “only” a 55.8% chance of keeping their pick, the team can only sit and wait until their fate is announced on live television. I, for one, will have trouble watching.
I’m not alone, either. The general feeling among Lakers’ fans is that it would be a disaster if the team lost their pick. While I wouldn’t go that far, I understand the notion. There are only so many chances a team has of netting a pick this high. The Lakers just suffered through a 17 win campaign and would like to reap one of the only awards which come with that type of futility. Losing out on that pick because of a trade long ago executed would serve as another punch to the gut in a season which produced too many to count.
Further, while the Lakers hope to make a splash in free agency, there are no guarantees they sign any of the top names they are sure to chase. Adding a top college player, then, would be a nice consolation prize in June should none of their plans in July go as hoped. The prospect of another cost controlled talent — especially one as good as Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Dragan Bender, or a few other top prospects — being added to base of young talented players the team has built over the past two drafts would be, in a word, fantastic.
There is also the angle of simple asset acquisition. Even if the Lakers would end up trading the pick (or, more accurately, trading the player they select since they could not, by rule, trade the pick itself), they would, in theory, reap some reward from the selection. Jettisoning a top pick to another team for a more established player wouldn’t be met with universal praise, but at least the Lakers would have something to show for it. They could also always keep the pick and try to trade one of their current young players instead, to the tune of a similar reward.
In other words, the pick offers a path towards opportunity. Not having the pick cuts those paths off. Or at least creates forks in the road with detours and obstructions to get to the same goal.
If there is any silver lining to the prospect of the Lakers failing to retain their pick it comes in the form of additional cap space and more draft certainty in future seasons.
Without a draft pick this year, the Lakers gain anywhere from $3.9 million (3rd pick) to $4.9 million (1st pick) in additional cap space this summer. For a team looking to add talent in free agency this summer, that extra money could end up being quite useful. For example, if the Lakers were looking to sign two max free agents in the 30% tier (6-9 years of service), their starting salary would be $27.6 million based on a $92 million cap. If the Lakers do not have a pick, they can max out at roughly $64 million in cap space come July. That’s enough for two max players in the 30% tier and an additional $9 million in spending power.
This isn’t a minor point. I know the saying “cap space never won a game for anyone”, but the Lakers are in a unique situation of being able to offer huge contracts to multiple players at the same time. By being able to offer multiple players the max and, on top of that, also be able to add a 3rd player at above the mid-level only improves the optics of their pitch.
There is also the angle that losing this year’s pick locks in the team’s draft pick for the 2017 draft. I am no draft expert, but those who follow such things do say the players in the 2016 draft are not as good as the players projected to be in the 2017 one. If that’s the case, the Lakers may still get a chance at a very good player, though a year later than hoped. Having the pick locked in also opens up trade opportunities the team does not currently possess with protected picks.
None of this is to say the Lakers are better off losing the pick. As noted, unless you are a bad team in perpetuity, there are only so many chances a team has at drafting this high. The Lakers hope to move beyond the lottery entirely as early as next year (which is a longshot, but that is the goal). Losing the #4 or #5 pick this year, then, would be far from ideal if the goal is to draft in the late teens (or later) in the next draft. Having the asset now (whether it’s the player you draft or opportunities opened up via a trade) are too worthwhile to downplay too much.
While I am prepared to lose the pick, most of that comes from the fact none of this is controllable now. The Lakers are at the mercy of the lottery balls and that’s that. Still, though, the consequences weigh heavy on the mind. Here’s hoping the Lakers find some luck on May 17th.
Rico says
For the Lakers
1. Brandon Ingram
2. Ben Simmons
3. Buddy Hield
4. Jaylen Brown
A Horse With No Name says
3.Bender goes three. Book it.
Vilomar Jose says
I thought that next year pick goes to Orlando, doesn´t it? there is some kind of tricky scenarios between this year and next draft, could you explain a little further on that? Darius?
Anonymous says
They can’t go two consecutive years w/out a draft pick. League rules
rr says
I will be interested to see what the FO does if the Lakers get the 3rd pick.
rr says
2016 first round draft pick to Philadelphia
L.A. Lakers’ 1st round pick to Philadelphia (via Phoenix) protected for selections 1-3 in 2016 and 1-3 in 2017 and unprotected in 2018 [L.A. Lakers-Phoenix, 7/11/2012; Milwaukee-Philadelphia-Phoenix, 2/19/2015]
2018 first round draft pick to Orlando
If at least two years after the L.A. Lakers conveyed a 1st round pick to Philadelphia, then the L.A. Lakers’ 1st round pick to Orlando protected for selections 1-5 in 2018 and unprotected in 2019; if the L.A. Lakers have not conveyed a 1st round pick to Philadelphia by 2017, then the L.A. Lakers will instead convey their 2017 2nd round pick and 2018 2nd round pick to Orlando [L.A. Lakers-Orlando, 8/10/2012]
From RealGM.com
rr says
Vilomar Jose:
http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed
That link explains. I just posted it but it is in mod.
Vilomar Jose says
Thanks rr: I get it now! Next year it´s Lakers Pick, unless they keep it this year.
changes says
Dude, you don’t go 17-65 then get no pick til #32 without committing sports suicide.
Yes it is very bad to miss out. A Jimmy Buss and Mitch gift to LakerLand.
barry_g says
From what the pundits are saying, anything we could get w/ pick 4 on up isn’t worth very much anyway given the talent available in this yr’s draft, so don’t mind losing it in exchange for keeping next yr’s pick. Top 2 are pretty clear at the moment, and we’d do well to get either one. As rr mentioned, the most interesting scenario happens if the Lakers get the 3rd pick.
david h says
darius: if someone were to post their piece on the warriors on this site; I could see that the subject could be categorized under other hoops as per guideline #2 and thereby should not be a problem. especially if said piece poster were to include a laker reference or two.
pretty sure, we can run with that.
Do it !
Go lakers
lil pau says
Darius, this is your site. You put in an incredible amount of work keeping it great.
Post what you want to post. It’s simple enough not to read it if anyone has a problem on that front….
Plus, that’s 3 minutes I won’t have to spend worrying about the lottery.
Rico says
How I think the Draft will go.
1. Ben Simmons
2. Brandon Ingram
3. Buddy Hield
4. Chris Dunn
5. Jamal Murray
6. Dragan Bender
7. Jaylen Brown
8. Jacob Poelt
Anonymous says
Mitch said in his last radio interview that hey are acting as if the pick is gone. This is realistic given the stats of how hard it is to land a top 3 pick, notwithstanding where we ended up in the standings.
CALLIE WILLIS says
Mitch already knows because they have already did the draft. It just delayed to get high ratings
Fern says
We will have a pick either this summer or the next, that’s all there’s to it. Mitch and the FO are moving forward like we have no pick. That’s the best approach, as far as im concerned there’s no pick until we get it. If we miss the pick and we have no capspace, now that would be a disaster but since we are going to have a boatload of cap I don’t think missing out this year is as disastrous as some people made it out to be. We still can improve the team quite a bit and still have a 1st rounder next year. I want the pick but im not losing any sleep over it unless the Lakers get it. Then there will be a myriad of paths to follow and this summer will become a lot more interesting. Getting the 2nd last year could be as lucky as we can hope to get…
matt says
Repost
In the last 10 years of the nba draft lottery the #2 slotted team has recieved the top 3 pick only 3 times
Matter of fact in the last 10 years the #2 slotted team has never recieved the #1 pick
Also is it true that steph curry is the first nba mvp to when by unanimous votes??
LordMo says
In 2016:
The top five guys are players but there are always some surprises… like Miles Turner last year.
Ivan Rabb comes to mind in this current crop…kid is going to be a player has to add weight but seems to be skinny strong like Garnett was.
Simmons (Clear cut #1 regardless of the chatter)
Ingram
Bender
Brown
Dunn
In 2017:
The top 15 guys are insanely talented…. I would take any of these guys! Watched them on the (USA Select) play the world all-stars and it was like 16-0 before the world could even get a bucket.
Bottom-Line is if you are going to lose a pick in 2016 or 2017 then 2016 would be the year to give it up. However, in our zeal to become relevant again I fear we might lose both picks with marginal moves that make us a border-line playoff team at best. As I have stated before all the top teams in the playoffs have a core they drafted and developed for the most part adding a key free agent here and there.
The Lakers truly need both picks and some patience. What you are hearing coming out of the Lakers is marketing hype more than anything. They know they are not anywhere close and won’t be for at least 3 years or longer. Think about this if was as simple as getting a good coach and adding a big-time free agent don’t you think Kobe would have stuck around one more year for another shot? Right! He knew… the young guys are not going to be ready anytime soon.
Craig W. says
I want our pick this year.
Situation #1: That means Orlando will get our 2017 and 2018 2nd round picks. If we finish 1-3 in 2017, then Philly gets our 2018 1st round pick, else they get our 2017 1st round pick. We lose both picks in either 2017 or 2018 and our 2nd round pick in the other year..
Situation #2: If we lose our pick this year, then Philly gets it and….Orlando gets our 2018 pick, unless we finish 1-5 in 2018. In that case they get our 2019 1st round pick. We keep all our 2nd round picks.
Situation #1: We lose one 1st round pick and two 2nd round picks.
Situation #2: We lose two 1st round picks.
I don’t want to lose two 1st round picks – regardless the timing. Drafting is becoming more important, even if the players drafted are less able to contribute right away. The only advantage to later round picks is the players are more likely to have 4 years of college and contribute more quickly – if at an ultimately lower level.
matt says
76ers………Simmons
Lakers/76ers. …..ingram… 76ers at 4. Hield
Celtics (nets) bender or j.Murray
Suns……bender or brown
Twolves…..j.Murray or dunn
Pelicans ….hield or poeltl
Knicks……dunn or poeltl or brown
Bucks…..ellenson or sabonis
Raptors (Nuggets)…….???
Kings …….???
I’m not sure if the raptors take nuggets pick or knicks pick
If our lakers lose the pick 76ers fill 2 holes in this draft
Anonymous says
I’m not impressed with Hield. Undersized two and not athletic. I worry about him getting his shot off against NBA perimeter defenses.
As a PAC 12 fan I am high on Marquese Chriss. His young and foul prone but he has the potential to be special. He’s listed as a PF but has enough range to be a Three.
Anonymous says
I like and respect Mitch. But, that Nash trade has got to go down as the absolute worst is franchise history. We see the long term impact with the uncertainty about our pick. Someone green lighted that and I hope there is documentation that Mitch said no.
Busboys4me says
Excellent point. It was a panic move for losing CP3.
Grimlock says
Ezeli hands good.
Slappy says
“Here’s hoping the Lakers find some luck on May 17th.”
They need more luck than most consider, meaning that they need to keep the pick and hope that whoever is above them does not draft Ingram. Such is not to say that Ingram is better than Simmons but only that Ingram is a better fit, at least if the team thinks that Randle is the future at PF.
But before we get there, well, the CAP space thing isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, I mean, if you think that Russell and Randle are the future at PG and PF, then there’s two max contracts looming on the horizon. Teams usually have 4 max guys? In words, let us take the low end of the thing, and so DeRozan and Whiteside as the 2 max FA this off-season and Ingram in the draft. If all goes well with Ingram, Russell and Randle, and with DeRozan and Whiteside, then that’s 5 max guys, sooner or later. No one has that, since while the Lakers can go over CAP and into repeater tax territory, no one has 5 max guys, not even the Lakers. And that’s a consideration for the incoming max FA, if any, as well, since being older, they would presumably understand that if Russell, Randle and Ingram become max guys, then these older max FA are going to have to go away, i.e., youth over age, all else being equal.
And think about that, if they sign on this off-season, will still be two to three years before Russell, Randle and Ingram are all that, and so two or three years with the still developing and then you have to be traded away to make room for their max contracts now that they’re developed and all that. Or they could not wait for Ingram, trade the pick away, even if they keep the pick, and maybe trade one or both of Russell and Randle as well. That’s the predicament that the team is in. Since no one has five max guys.
Oh, and for those who think that some are being unfair with Jimbo, this is particularly why his deadline statement does not help in the slightest. Since unless Jimbo wishes to commit ritual suicide after the Japanese fashion, he won’t be doing the let’s have some more seasons for Russell, Randle and Ingram to develop, and right before they are max, sign some mid-level guys to be the Rick Fox, Robert Horry types (complimentary players), as that will be way past his self-imposed deadline. His self-imposed deadline favors trading the pick, if kept, for immediate talent, signing two max FA, and also trading away one or both of Russell and Randle for yet more immediate help. Only way to well and truly contend, now, and not be what Robert calls a pretend contender in the short term.
And to round it out, the immediate help, now, because no point in waiting for Russell, Randle and Ingram to be on the cusp of being max guys and then having to trade them away, since no team will ever have 5 max guys. Is why, by the way, the team isn’t saying how enamored it would be if they kept the pick this draft, since, again, if you thought that Russell, Randle and the pick (preferably Ingram) will be max guys one day, then why in heaven’s name would sign two max FA this off-season, and why would the two max FA sign on in any event…so they can be traded right when the team is ready to well and truly contend? They’ll be gone for the guys to complement Russell, Randle and Ingram.
For a bonus freebie, for the one soul and the Nash trade, one wonders about that one mightily, which is to say that the team in all its prior relevant seasons never thought that it was a good idea to have a ball dominant PG signing on with a ball dominant Kobe. One of the reasons why it never worked, even before the injuries to Nash. And so one wonders why the change of heart. And so no one gets me wrong, you can have a mad chucker at SG, but that doesn’t mean that he has to be ball dominant. And while some might have wished it was the other way, Kobe was always someone who needed to have the ball. That was just Kobe. Why the Fisher type of PG worked so well, despite any and all of Fisher’s limitations as a PG. Fisher’s role was to simply ensure that it wasn’t all Kobe. And so one can never forget that one game in Orlando against the Magic in the Finals when Fisher tossed the ball to Lamar there in the corner for the 3, and then back to him again, in the corner, on the next possession. Play the tape. Look at Kobe’s reaction. Which isn’t a knock on Kobe, but was Fisher’s job, simply to make sure that some others had some time with the ball, and sometimes on back to back possessions, and without Kobe ever touching the ball. But never was Fish ball dominant like Nash was. It wouldn’t have worked and so it didn’t work, even before the injuries to Nash.
And on that note, one of the other funny things was some, more than a few, looking at the pick and roll numbers for both Dwight and Nash and then saying, it’s going to be pick and roll paradise. Wrong. And for one simply reason. One can never isolate the performance from the context in which that performance occurred. Courtesy of ESPN:
A suggestion: Watch each clip twice. On first viewing, take a look at the primary action — how Nelson and Howard (and often Rashard Lewis with a staggered screen) initiate the screen-and-roll. But on the second viewing, watch what’s happening off the ball, especially after the defense collapses on Nelson. That’s what separates Orlando’s execution from lesser teams. It’s important to note that talent plays a role. For instance, Orlando has uncommonly good shooters spaced along the perimeter at the 2, 3 and 4 positions.
Did the Lakers have that, uncommonly good shooters at the 2, 3 and 4? And was Jameer Nelson a prober, as it were, like Nash, or instead a take it to the rack, in your face, kinda guy? Why it worked it so well for the Magic, plus shooters at 2, 3, and 4 and an aggressive PG who would take it to the rack. And you can add that when at his peak, Nelson was also shooting 43.3% from 16 feet out to the 3 pt line, which was way up near the top of the league, and 45.3% from 3. Nash had to instead worry about hard falls and his spinal stenosis and not so much room in any event because the Lakers had none of the outside shooting that the Magic had and so everyone was crowding around in the paint waiting for Dwight to dive the lane there. Which was trouble for Dwight as he isn’t a nimble ball handler, doesn’t really contort the body well for shooting purposes, and he can’t shoot FTs to save his life, so when all else fails, foul him in the lane. And I almost forgot, but at the time, Dwight was averaging a single FGA per game outside of 10 feet, so there goes Dwight shooting the elbow jumper out of the PnR.
matt says
I would say I’m highest on simmons for the lakers, simmons and clarkson in transition would be great, and simmons and russell together moving the ball around. But then you have simmons and randle together, both can’t shoot, but it could work nicely with both needing to be doubled on the drive and simmons passing abilities. I hope it’s 1st or 2nd pick or no pick.
West Coast Ram says
@ rr
The link you posted makes it appear that if we keep the pick this year and lose the pick to the 76ers in 2017 that the 2018 1st round is available to the Magic. I thought there was something in the NBA rules that states a team cannot trade consecutive year 1 round draft picks. Do I have that incorrect?
matt says
Ram you r correct if we give up a 1st round pick, then the next year we keep it, so every other year you would give up a 1st round pick
matt says
Worst trade in franchise history, didn’t we trade for kwame
Actually i just looked trade to get kwame wasn’t near as bad as nash trade
Dr Mike says
As I understand it:
Scenario 1
2016 – Lakers keep 1st rounder (pick falls 1-3).
2017 – Lakers keep 1st rounder (pick falls 1-3). Magic get our 2nd rounder.
2018 – Sixers get Lakers’ 1st rounder (unprotected). Magic get our 2nd rounder.
2019 – Lakers keep 1st rounder.
Scenario 2
2016 – Lakers keep 1st rounder (pick falls 1-3).
2017 – Sixers get Lakers 1st rounder (pick falls outside of 1-3).
2018 – Lakers keep 1st rounder.
2019 – Magic get Lakers 1st rounder (unprotected).
Scenario 3A
2016 – Sixers get Lakers 1st rounder (pick falls outside of 1-3).
2017 – Lakers keep 1st rounder.
2018 – Orlando gets Lakers 1st rounder (pick falls outside of 1-5).
2019 – Lakers keep 1st rounder.
Scenario 3B
2016 – Sixers get Lakers 1st rounder (pick falls outside of 1-3).
2017 – Lakers keep 1st rounder.
2018 – Lakers keep 1st rounder (pick falls 1-5).
2019 – Orlando gets Lakers 2019 1st rounder (unprotected).
IMO, draft pick wise (Lakers need immediate talent): Scenario 1 >> 2 > 3A, or 3B.
matt says
We needed a doctor to explain it, thank you
Actually i think you got it wrong on the last one
Andy says
Matt: We spun Kwame into Pau so at least that trade had a good ending.
__
Dude, you don’t go 17-65 then get no pick til #32 without committing sports suicide.
Yes it is very bad to miss out. A Jimmy Buss and Mitch gift to LakerLand.
__
Not to harp on the past but gosh didn’t anyone look at the downside of that Nash deal. Four picks should have netted a young all star not a 38 year old w/ pre-existing back issues. Were Jim and Mitch drinking when they made that call to Phoenix?
I understand that the Lakers were trying to win one for Dr. Buss, but looking at the facts at that time the Lakers were clearly fleeced. Wasn’t another pg available for what the Lakers had to spend (which was a lot)? I mean in ‘real life’ people get fired for gambling that big and failing.
matt says
My bad your scenarios are all good
matt says
I like scenario 2 best, hopefully were giving up pick #20 next year
Fern says
I don’t know i think Randle and DAR have a lot to prove and there is so much time left in their contract to be worrying about potential max contracts for them. They are slated to become RESTRICTED free agents in ’18 and ’19 respectively.So they still might be here in 2020 and beyond Their play will dictate their value. It’s way too premature to even think about that. We need to bring in talent now.
R says
If Randle and DAR are under consideration for max deals down the road I call that a great “problem” to have, especially if the “problem” includes fitting too many talented guys under the cap! I mean, gimme a break.
matt says
I read the long post above about the blunder on nash and dwight acquisition and
It starts to make me think whats the worst the FO can do this offseason, i got 2 super sour scenerios
1. Trade #1 pick and d. Russ for boogie cousins
2. Give max contracts to 2 players like batum and horford and both come in and stink
bluehill says
Wow, I realized those past trades were expensive at the time, but the scenarios above make it painfully clear how costly. I didn’t agree but understood the rationale at the time. Big bets with short-term benefits and long tail consequences.
Given the CBA rules, I wonder if the odds of signing one of the top UFAs is about the same as finding a future UFA through the draft. Get the analytics team on that so we can value picks properly.
matt says
Great interview on espn la, with a . c . green, whom I’ve met we taught children’s church together and were members of the same church, they talked about how he remained a virgin while he played in the nba and the guys on the air couldn’t understand it. A.c. got married after he retired, i met his wife, beautiful lady, he is definitely a stand up dude very humble and normal, he definitely stay on the right path (narrow road) and is best person he could possibly be, great testimonial.
Anonymous says
Not to harp on the past but gosh didn’t anyone look at the downside of that Nash deal. Four picks should have netted a young all star not a 38 year old w/ pre-existing back issues. Were Jim and Mitch drinking when they made that call to Phoenix?
_______
They were trying to turn a playoff team into a championship team. At the end of the day, championships rather than playoff participation are what matters to them.
If things had worked out and they would have stayed successful (like the Spurs) those picks would have been late first-round picks, the kind of contracts teams in luxury tax territory are happy to trade away because they mean guaranteed money for players who are not yet ready to contribute.
They probably knew they were taking a risk but felt the prospect of adding more championships was worth it. In hindsight, it was a mistake.
matt says
The fact that bender is projected to be the 3rd pick makes me think this might be a weak draft outside of the top 2, my guess is maybe a sleeper pick in there a foreign center.
T. Rogers says
The Steve Nash trade will live in infamy for a long time.
Ryan P says
At the time Nash/Howard trade was billed as a boom or bust trade. It ended up busting, but by busting we ended up getting the necessary pieces to rebuild again. I just don’t think that the lakers FO could actually sell that to the vast majority of fans. So they try for the home run FA signings, and in the mean time develop our youth.
Fern says
how come I can’t post? Because i was expressing my happines at the Spurs epic collapse and it wouldn’t go true. Or is forbidden to talk about the Spurs unless is sucking up to Pop and how great they are? I doubt it. And im glad they are chocking for the ages…
Fern says
Pop got schooled in this series.
bluehill says
Well, looks like it’s the end of an era for the Spurs. It will be interesting to watch them rebuild. Granted they have some nice pieces with Leonard and LMA. I wonder if Pop will stick around or retire.
matt says
Everyone talking about the need to play small ball, the thunder is doing the opposite of small ball playing two 7 footers adams and kanter and 6’10 durant at the same time and dominating the spurs
Robert says
A very good day. I hate the Spurs.
Yea – I hate the Celtics too but most of their titles have asterisks next to them
* championship was played when jump balls occurred after ball was removed from peach basket.
matt says
Draftexpress has about 5 videos that compare brandon ingram to kevin durant in college, interesting stuff, it’s like ingram is durant with a lower shooting percentage.
matt says
Lol, popovich post game interview
Kbj says
I actually hate the Spurs more than the Celtics. They were the thorn in the Lakers side during the late 1990s to early 2000s. Celtics were irrelevant until 2007. I didn’t care about them until they beat Lakers in the 2008 finals.
I hope Duncan retires. I don’t want to see him get his sixth ring.
matt says
Is chris bosh retiring?
Hale says
Welcome to your vacation, San Antonio Spuds.
AusPhil says
Happy to see the Spurs gone. No teams left for me to hate watch (Celtics, Clippers, Rockets & Spurs).
Just need those damn ping pong balls to drop the right way now…
LKK says
Spurs going fishing is always good! A couple of thoughts: LaMarcus Aldridge has to be having second thoughts about his decision to leave Portland. He appears to have chosen a declining team when he could have remained with a team that seems to be on the rise and have a bright future. The other man’s grass… Etc., etc.
I’m also interested in seeing how the Thunder’s big front court matches up against the Warriors’ small ball lineups. Should be a great matchup.
In the end, the Spurs looked like a bunch of geezers chasing rings. Miller, West, Kevin Martin all lining up to ride coattails. Didn’t work. David West took a vet’s minimum instead of a contract of $10M or so to chase a Larry. Hope that Spurs’ Kool-aid tastes good, Dave!
KenOak says
@Fern and @Robert
Down goes the Spurs! Of course they still have LMA and Leonard, so the “rebuild” isn’t really a rebuild… I think this has to be it for TD though. He looked super old.
Tra says
Well all the Spurs haters within our FB&G Community got what they wanted.
As for myself, I’m definitely looking forward to this WCF. The entertainment factor is going to be through the roof. Inside 2 of the loudest buildings in the league. If there’s any team that can matchup, personnel wise, with the Dubs, it’s the Thunder. Although they lost all 3 games against GS during the regular season, all 3 were competitive in which, if my memory serves correct, they held a 4th quarter lead in each game. IMO, they should have won their lone home game in the series. They have the size and athleticsm to pull off the upset and their confidence, after knocking off the favorite Spurs, is going to be at an all time high. Come Monday night, it’s time to get it on.
Robert says
KenOak: Yea – LMA, Leonard, Holt, Pop, and Buford. They also have more draft picks than we do. Somehow the cyclical up and downs that some like to talk about don’t seem to apply when you are well managed. I hate the Spurs.
Craig W. says
If you were rooting for the Thunder, I would be very concerned by their turnovers and giving up leads in the 4th qtr.
Did it again tonight, but they were too far ahead when it happened. That is how they lost the regular season against the Dubs.
They have the talent – do they have the stones?
Anonymous says
ESPN 5 on 5 about the Blazers said they should pursue Whiteside. I hope not he’s the one player I thought the Lakers could nab. I guess there’s going to be a lot of competition for him.
R says
Re: Whiteside – even in the “small ball” era its nice to have an aircraft carrier.
R says
@ TMac – Curry unanimous MVP because the league is watered down … hahaha … well believe that if it makes you feel better …
Hale says
Craig, that’s what competition -in part- is about: boulders v pebbles. I’m not aware of what the WNBA metaphor might be.
For my part, I do not root for anyone but the Lakers, anymore. Every other team is the enemy of my enemy sort of thing. I used to have two teams (always Lakers first) but my second home team was evicted then repackaged by David Stern to Clay Bennet. I’ve not been there but I’ve always imagined that the inside of the arena might have a residual odor of sulfur and chicken blood.
Anonymous #n, Whiteside is not hiding in plain sight. Every team will dangle platinum plated hi-tops his way.
Fern says
Tim Duncan this year made Kobe look like he was in his prime. The Spurs did a good job hiding him all season. I say this, the Timmy of old would had dominated this series. Aldridge was a disappointment, you let an ancient Tim Duncan outscore you? He wasn’t demanding the ball. He is too pasive i think either Chuck or Shaq said the other day “he still plays like he is a Portland Trailblazer” LOL, this was the kind of game he was brought in for. Is this the first time a high 60 win team dont make it to at least the Conference Finals? That Spurs vaunted boring system looks like is falling behind on the times. You can go to the same well for so long…
Fern says
Those Pop vaunted schemes. Try to force a half court game and iso with Leonard and Aldridge, he sure outdone himself this time. The Spurs were the 7th slowest team in the league. That’s why they lost. Same schemes different league. Now to keep the player hater mode i hope Lebron goes 2-5 in the Finals LOL. Man i miss the excitement of having my team playing in the playoffs. I just watch the games and haye on everybody lol
Fern says
Those Pop vaunted schemes. Try to force a half court game and iso with Leonard and Aldridge, he sure outdone himself this time. The Spurs were the 7th slowest team in the league. That’s why they lost. Same schemes different league. Now to keep the player hater mode i hope Lebron goes 2-5 in the Finals LOL. Man i miss the excitement of having my team playing in the playoffs. I just watch the games and hate on everybody lol…
Fern says
This is me during this playoffs LOL. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1N5p8IXzNdc
Anonymous says
I don’t get the Spurs hate. They’ve been in the playoffs these last three years and we’ve been watching on TV.
They’ll get as involved as anyone in the Durant/Whiteside/Horford sweepstakes.
KenOak says
@ Anonymous re “Spurs hate”
It’s not necessarily Spurs hate for me. I don’t care for how the media portrays the Spurs vs the Lakers. I don’t care for how the media puts Tim Duncan on a pedestal for his career while Kobe is somehow lesser with more accomplishments.
I love Tim Duncan. I think he’s one of the top 5-10 centers of all time. (If you must call him a PF, then top 3.)
I love Steph Curry and can’t get enough of watching him play. Having said that -> the way that the media portrays him and his penchant for launching 30 footers at any point during the shot clock is quite entertaining in and of itself. Many of Steph’s shots are not just bad shots, but terrible shots. Kobe would and did get destroyed for taking those kinds of shots.
Anyway. /rant off
LordMo says
@Dr. Mike
Thank you! You seem to be one of the few who really understand the draft scenarios. Bottom-Line is the Lakers need BOTH picks in 2016 and 2017. Now you have talent and trade assets for a true Superstar that the FO covets (knowing Jimbo I bet he wants Melo…yikes!). Kobe’s farewell masked the first tank job beautifully…Luke Walton’s hiring will buy them another tank year.
@Robert
Your talking crap but Boston is perfectly positioned for the future. Good young and respected coach with a more talented and younger core than the Lakers. Plus they have tons of picks in the upcoming drafts… and oh yeah they made the playoffs too! Danny Ainge is kicking our Laker butts right now on and off the courts!
Like I said … “Picks and Patience!” There is no FA out there anyway that could save this current Laker team as it is configured. Maybe LeBron could get them to the playoffs and that’s a big maybe!
Ed says
I think the Lakers would trade a #3 in the draft,but probably not a #1 or #2. Adams seems to have jumped ahead of Ibaka as a force inside with OKC.
R says
KenOak, Kobe was nowhere nearly as accomplished a 3 pt shooter as Curry. Steph is among the all time best at 3 pt shooting and my eyeballs suggest his range is the best ever. Never hurts to look at the numbers. Steph is a career regular season 44.4% three point shooter vs 32.9% for Bryant. Curry’s best year was 45.4% from three. Kobe’s best? 38.3%
Ball don’t lie.
Dom says
Im hoping the Lakers get Ingram. If DAR and Randle make quantum leaps forward, along with Clarkson. The Lakers should be more competitive. More competitive doesnt translate into a playoff contender how ever. Luke is installing a new system, new culture, new attitude, it takes time for those seeds to foment. I’m hoping we retain the pick next year. If we lose 2018 its ok because by then we would have too much youth. The accumulation of young talent and assets is never a bad thing. The point about signing 2 max free agents this year knowing that in 3 years we have to make decisions regarding maxing Randle and DAR is a valid one. There is also the decision regarding what kind of offer to make to Clarkson a smallish ball dominant 2 guard.
The disastrous Nash trade was to reunite D’Antoni with Nash and bring the Suns 7 seconds or less offense to Laker Nation. At the time it was thought that a healthy Nash along with a healthy Kobe and healthy D12 would be a mini dynasty. Injuries completely derailed that pipe dream. At the time the thought was it would have continued the Laker Dynasty for another 3-4 years. it clearly failed
KenOak says
@R
Correct. Steph is a better shooter than Kobe. Still doesn’t change the fact that shooting from 10 feet beyond the line with 15 seconds left on the shot clock is a bad shot. Of course…announcers don’t deem it a bad shot. Media creates the narratives.
R says
KenOak: “Still doesn’t change the fact that shooting from 10 feet beyond the line with 15 seconds left on the shot clock is a bad shot. Of course…announcers don’t deem it a bad shot. Media creates the narratives.”
——-
But wait – it seems you were arguing a double standard in the treatment by the media of Steph and Kobe regarding outside shooting. My response was – and you concede – well, Steph is a better shooter.
OK, on to your new point.
Couldn’t care less what the media says. Here’s my narrative: The Warriors are among the best – if not the best – teams in the realm at moving the ball. In addition, they stretch the court in part due to the abilities of a player who hasn’t rewritten the rules; he’s thrown them out the window. In the process, his team has won 140 regular season games over the past two seasons.
Shaun says
toronto traded a single 1zt ronder for lowry that same summer
as for building our team unless your curry, durant,lebron … no one else deserves 30m per year – sure we could sign 2 max guys but barnes is really only worth15, ezeli like 10 – horford taking a step back and whem they were playing valencunis was roughing up whiteside who will play better bigs in the west
not too many players moving the needle individually like say shaq when he first got here
personally i feel we need to build our team and trade for guys on like 3-4 years when dar,randle,clarkson and ingram are all closer to their primes and sign good but not superstar vets around them
KenOak says
@R
My point still stands. It doesn’t matter if someone is a better shooter or not. Bad shots are bad shots. Steph could run the GS offense each time down court and get himself or one of the other players a wide open 3 much closer than 33 feet. Running down the court and jacking a 3 from 30 feet out isn’t a good shot with 15 seconds left on the shot clock. And, yes, I’m still arguing the double standard from the media. Thanks for helping my argument. It wasn’t a good shot when Kobe rarely did it and it isn’t a good shot now.
I live in the Bay Area and love watching the Warriors. I think that Steph is the most exciting -> if not the best player in the game right now. I would still take a Lebron depending on the make-up of my team.
J C says
Curry’s shots would be bad shots for almost any other player. For him, based on his %, they’re incredible shots. The fact that they go in so often makes him a rare player and a great entertainer at the same time.
It’s hard to find a comparison to Curry. Maybe a combination of Nash for shooting, ball-handling and size and Maravich for shooting prowess and flair.
Kobe was easy to compare – to Jordan. No slouch there either. Different type of player.