Trading D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez confirms that Magic and Pelinka see maximizing and using cap space as their priority for building out the long term roster. I believe the Russell trade was a serious mistake for several reasons, but won’t litigate the issue here, and will instead focus on analyzing how the deal fundamentally reworks the team’s salary cap picture as we head into free agency and the future.
Magic and Pelinka’s comments in connection with the trade made clear that the team’s plan is to hoard 2018 cap space to add two max level stars, with one presumably being Paul George (whether by trade this summer or free agency next). I will lay out below the team’s current and future cap situation, and how various contingencies could impact their ability to sign free agents in subsequent offseasons.
THIS SUMMER
First, below is the cap picture for next year as things currently stand. I assume the team will not pick up Black’s team option given the glut of big men (even though he’s a good value at $6.7M for one year), but will keep Nwaba given the need for backcourt help, and Bryant given his upside. This leaves around $19M in cap room:
| Player | 17-18 |
| Deng | $17.2 |
| Lopez | $22.6 |
| Clarkson | $11.6 |
| Brewer | $7.6 |
| Black
(team option; assumed not kept) |
$6.7 |
| Ingram | $5.5 |
| Randle | $4.1 |
| Nance | $1.5 |
| Zubac | $1.3 |
| Nwaba | $1.3 |
| Lonzo | $5.2 |
| Kuzma (17 #27) | $1.2 |
| Hart (17 #30) | $1.2 |
| Bryant (17 #42) | $1.1 |
| Salary Cap | $99.0 |
| *Min Salary | $80.3 |
| Cap Space | $18.7 |
The current depth chart is very big heavy:
PG: Lonzo
SG: Clarkson, Hart, Nwaba
SF: Ingram, Brewer
PF: Randle, Nance, Deng, Kuzma
C: Lopez, Zubac, Bryant
I would not be surprised to see additional moves this summer, ranging from trading for Paul George, to dealing a spare PF for needed guard help. In terms of how to spend the $19M, Pelinka stated the team would treat its 2018 cap room as “sacred,” which means looking at one year deals, likely for a backup PG (who can play next to Lonzo when he slides to SG), and another wing.
For more detail on how this free agent market should shape up in terms of contract amounts, I refer back to my piece from two months ago. In short, there is far less total capital in the market this year than last year (I projected about $475M this year vs. $972M last year), and the capital (dollars to spend) to salary cap ratio should be right on par with 2014 and 2015. This means that free agent contracts should be equivalent to those 2014/2015 amounts, as opposed to the absurd 2016 amounts, when looking at contracts as a percentage of the cap. Fringe stars will get 20-25% of cap, starter level free agents will get 15-20%, solid rotation players 8-12%, and so on.
THE IMPACT OF THE TRADE – BEFORE AND AFTER
Putting aside the merits of the trade, the Lakers opened up significantly more future cap room by moving off Mozgov and Russell. To illustrate, I list below a before and after snapshot of the team’s cap picture for 2018-19 and 2019-20. The cap situation for next year did not materially change (Lopez and Mozgov + Russell each make about $22M).
| Before Trade | After Trade | |||
| Player | 18-19 | 19-20 | 18-19 | 19-20 |
| Deng | $18.0 | $18.8 | $18.0 | $18.8 |
| Mozgov | $16.0 | $16.7 | — | — |
| Clarkson | $12.5 | $13.4 | $12.5 | $13.4 |
| Ingram | $5.8 | $7.3 | $5.8 | $7.3 |
| Randle | $12.3
(hold) |
$20.0
(ext.) |
$12.3
(hold) |
$20.0
(ext.) |
| Nance | $2.3 | $6.8
(hold) |
$2.3 | $6.8
(hold) |
| Zubac | $1.5 | $4.6
(hold) |
$1.5 | $4.6
(hold) |
| Lonzo | $6.2 | $7.3 | $6.2 | $7.3 |
| Russell | $7.1 | $21.3
(hold) |
— | — |
| Kuzma (17 #27) | — | — | $1.4 | $1.6 |
| Hart (17 #30) | $1.4 | $1.6 | $1.4 | $1.6 |
| Bryant (17 #42) | $1.1 | $1.3 | $1.1 | $1.3 |
| 19 #16 | — | $1.9 | — | $1.9 |
| Salary Cap | $101.0 | $105.0 | $101.0 | $105.0 |
| Salary Committed | $84.2 | $121.0 | $62.5 | $64.6 |
| Cap Space | $16.8 | -$16.0 | $38.5 | $20.4 |
Note that I have assumed a $101M cap for 2018 and $105M for 2019. Both figures are lower than reported estimates, but the cap numbers should come down some in conjunction with this year’s cap lowering to $99M. I have also assumed that Lopez, Black, Brewer, and Nwaba do not re-sign past next season. I have also not take into account roster holds of approximately $0.8M until 12 spots are filled, or second round picks (the Lakers have Denver’s in 2018 and Chicago’s in 2019).
As you can see, the trade results in serious cap savings for the next few years:
- For 2018: $21.7M in additional cap room.
- Losing Mozgov’s $16.0M and Russell’s $7.1M, and adding Kuzma’s $1.4M.
- For 2019: $36.4M in additional cap room.
- Losing Mozgov’s $16.7M and Russell’s cap hold of $21.3M, and adding Kuzma’s $1.6M.
- For 2020 (not shown): $39.8M in additional cap room.
- Losing Mozgov’s $16.7M and Russell’s $25M (estimated extension), and adding Kuzma’s approximate $1.9M.
The Lakers, of course, could have stretched Mozgov instead of trading him. If they had waited to stretch him in the 2018 offseason, he would have been on the books for $6.5M per season for 5 years, saving $9.5M in 2018 and $10.2M in 2019, but adding $6.5M the following 3 seasons. For 2018, the Lakers saved $12.2M through the trade beyond what they would have saved by only stretching Mozgov; for 2019, they saved an additional $26.2M.
FUTURE FLEXIBILITY
So what can the Lakers make happen with this cap room going forward? Can they execute Magic and Pelinka’s stated plan to sign two max free agents next summer? The short answer is yes, there are reasonably possible paths to obtaining the cap room for two max free agents, but it will take a little work.
As shown above, the team currently projects to have around $38.5M in cap room following the Russell/Mozgov trade. Free agents with less than 7 years in the league can receive up to 25% of the cap (designated veterans up to 30%), 7-9 years up to 30% (designated veterans up to 35%), and 10+ years up to 35%.
With the 2018 cap likely around $101M, give or take, star free agents like Paul George, Demarcus Cousins, Russell Westbrook, Isaiah Thomas, and Deandre Jordan can sign max contracts beginning at $30M or $35M per season, depending on whether they qualify for the 35% rate (Westbrook would certainly qualify).
The Lakers thus need to get to $60-65M in cap room to make room for George and one additional max free agent next year. Trading for George and obtaining his Bird rights only minimally helps, as his cap hold would be $29.3M for 2018, saving about $1M.
I see three options for making sufficient room to add George and a second max player.
First, the team could trade away salary in a deal for George, thus moving off long term money. For example, if the team traded away Clarkson, Randle, and a recent young pick or two, they would have around $35M in cap space left for FA signings.
Second, if the team stretched Deng next summer, his cap hit would lower to $7.4M, saving $10.6M. If the team also traded Clarkson or Randle (who has a $12.3M cap hold if they wait on his extension), they would be at around $58M in cap room, putting them in striking distance. If the cap came in a little higher they would have enough for two 30% FAs, or they could move a small contract or two from Nance, Zubac, and the recent picks.
Third, the team could try to trade Deng next summer, when he has only two years left on his deal, by attaching attractive players/assets – some combination of Randle, Zubac, and the recent picks. It would be complicated to trade Randle next summer as his extension is kicking in, but assume they signed + traded Randle for picks, moved a pick and Zubac to unload Deng, and traded Clarkson into someone’s cap space (so in the net, the Lakers would be losing Randle, Clarkson, Deng, and Zubac, and gaining picks). This would result in around $75M in cap room, enough to sign George, another max free agent, and another solid rotation player. I wouldn’t ever move off this many impact young players, especially Randle, just for cap space, but something like this may be possible if the team has free agents in hand that would be worth the sacrifice.
If Magic and Pelinka can’t work out a deal for George this summer, I think the second option is something we can count on. The team can stretch Deng and find a way to move Clarkson’s contract (which will have two years left at that point), even if they have to attach a small asset to do so. We can thus safely plan that the team will have enough room to sign George and another max free agent.
Would this have been possible without sacrificing Russell? Yes, I think so, but it’s not certain and would have required extensive cap machinations at the same time they were trying to recruit and sign star free agents. They would have had to move one of Mozgov or Deng next summer without trading Russell/Lonzo/Ingram, stretch the other, find a home for Clarkson, etc., etc., but I think they could have ultimately made it happen. And even if they couldn’t, I still would have preferred to keep Russell for several reasons, but, again, I won’t relitigate the deal here…
But what’s done is done, and we can now turn our focus to the era of Lonzo, Vegas and our absurd summer league roster, preparing ourselves for Paul George goodness (he’s truly an amazing basketball player), Ingram transforming from baby foal to league destroyer, ZUBAC and Zubac-twitter-stans, seeing our new rookies do things, Nance murdering people, Randle raining 3s, etc, etc. There’s much to be excited about, even following the Russell fiasco, and seeing Magic and Pelinka execute their ambitious plans will certainly be worth our time…
-Reed (@Reed_nba)
Lakers17 says
I agree that the DLo trade was a total unmitigated fiasco. The Lakers had a long term plan in place to wait out the Warriors window, and due to unverified rumors about Lebron, they decide to go in a completely different direction. It’s very unlikely Lebron will join the Lakers. If he does, he will be in his mid thirties. PG coming to the Lakers isn’t even a guarantee. I foresee the Lakers missing out on signing any major max free agents in 2018, then settling again as Mitch and Jim did on role players just to make the playoffs so that Magic and Rob won’t get fired leaving us in a worse cap hell than Moz and Deng. As I said before, 2018 is when we become 10 years of Los Angeles Hawks.
KareemE says
Thank you for this analysis. Puts the trade within perspective. In some ways, I am happy to see the Lakers move from Russell. He had a plodding deliberate offensive style that was not consistent with our roster and coaching style. Oftentimes, he would walk up the ball and not initiate the offense until 16 seconds left on the clock. This was disastrous and led to a lot of poor offensive possessions. I think that the style of play our coaches are advocating and the roster the FO is constructing doesn’t maximize Russell’s style and attributes. That said, the trade did not return immediate maximum value and the optics were poor. I feel that the disparaging comments about Russell were meant as communications to season ticket holders, blaming Russell for the need for an immediate trade with poor return on value.
My question is what might the Lakers be able to get for Lopez at the deadline. Might they get a prospect and a pick from a borderline playoff team or a team looking to shed long term salary. Thinking about the Pheonix trade of Markieff Morris for a 1st round draft pick, Ty Lawson from Denver to Houston, and Mozgov to Caveliers. If we are able to translate Lopez into a decent prospect or solid rotation player and a pick, would that make this trade much better on the whole? Is this possible and who might the takers be?
James Katt says
Nah. They can simply do 1 year contracts with free agents to make the minimum cap salary. These are rent-a-free-agents.
These get dumped the following year when free agents again are available. They won’t waste money on huge multi-year contracts like Jim and Mitch did.
These 1 year contracts make attractive trade bait and they keep the cap space available.
Lakers17 says
If the Lakers miss out on any 2018 free agents, the plan should be to develop the youngsters, keep space open for 2020 as there are not many worth going after in 2019.
Anonymous says
1) If the Lakers traded for George, wouldn’t his cap hold only be $20.5M as he has a player option for that amount (or does it have to be exercised in order for it to be that amount)?
2) Also, is Deng’s contract stretchable? There is a provision that a team cannot have more than 15% of the cap space going to stretched contracts. As Deng’s contract is $18M and the cap is around 105M, it is more than 15% and therefore not stretchable.
Reed says
Good questions. If George declines his option then his cap hold is 150% of his prior year salary.
And for stretching, the resulting amount after stretching ($7.4) must be below 15% of the cap – another attorney and I reviewed the provision and ran it by Larry Coon to confirm … So we are ok to stretch Deng. Thanks.
Anonymous says
Awesome. Thanks for the update. Was very curious as to the stretch provision. Good to know we can use it on Deng as a worst case scenario.
JJ says
Happy trails, D’Angelo Russell! Hope you grow up in Brooklyn. GREAT trade for the Lakers, because Lopez >>>>>>>>>>> Mozgov AND Ball > Russell (as a PG, oh absolutely!) AND $60M more in savings/cap room > no $60M in savings/cap room. Don’t think we get George til 2018, if at all. There will always be an unhappy star player looking to get moved. Happens every year. Hopefully, the new regime will get back to only giving max money to stars. Go Lakers!
Anonymous says
I think they are dumb for waiting for George. They need to stretch Deng and sign Hayward.
R says
Signing Hayward is an excellent idea, but it’s kinda like dating, the other person has to want you back.
Rumor has it that Boston wants Hayward. Now be honest, which team is more enticing, Boston or the Lakers?
ED says
The one guy they have to get is George. After that,it`s an open question whether they can get a 2nd max player who can actually ad to the overall strength of the club or will just rearrange things.How the entire org. on court and off perform this year,will give us an idea as to how effective they will be with FA`s in the future.
Tar Baby says
Lakers give up Randle, Clarkson, Lopez and 2 seconds (from Calderon)
Lakers get George and Wesley Matthews
Why? George’s Bird rights and a vet SG who can start while they develop Hart
Pacers give up George and Monta Ellis
Pacers get Clarkson, Lopez, Dallas’ 2018 first and 2 seconds
Why? Pacers get player, picks and cap space
Dallas gives up Wesley Matthews and a 2018 first
Dallas gets Randle and Monta Ellis
Why? Dallas gets Randle and cap space (Ellis contract < Matthews contract)
In other words, Lakers get the player they want and give up scrubs
Pacers get cap space, picks and a scrub
Dallas gets Randle and a cap space
drrayeye says
Hi Reed,
So far, the Lakers have been able to pursue long term and short term strategies at the same time through the draft and a single trade–improving the starting alignment for next year (two new starters) while improving the prospects to catch a star through free agency next year.
The maddening uncertainty is that we could actually catch one specific PG star most anytime (today even) through trade, or he converts to a FA acquisition next year–or we’re wasting our time and effort on nothing. That uncertainty plays havoc with your cap space projections as well as the Laker team we get to watch next year.
If the Pacers had accepted a trade involving Clarkston, Randle, and a draft pick, we would have preserved our cap status for this year, eliminated our extension dilemma for Randle, and added a third new starter for this season. With that kind of improved Laker team, we could properly be expecting to be in the playoffs–with much more to come. With the wrong trade, the one we haven’t made yet, we could fail to make the playoffs–and be no better off than we are right now for years to come.
If we move forward with the team we have so far assembled, maintaining the possibility of a favorable PG trade, with cap space that could not only land PG as a free agent, but additional assets, we’re backing in to your analysis–and the Magic/Pelinka vision.
The part we can’t sacrifice, IMO, is putting together an obviously improved team that, with or without PG, might actually make the playoffs.
We’re obviously not there yet, but we’re in the game. Given what’s happened so far, I’m expecting further team roster developments in the right direction–especially through trades.
I’m sorry we lost D’Angelo, but anyone who’s been following the Lakers for a long time has been through this over and over–and not always with happy endings.
So far, this looks like a win for everyone.
Anonymous says
I think the pundits and younger fans are missing the point on the Russell trade. Pelinka said that the Lakers benefited in three ways because of that trade. Well, I think there was a fourth way that he didn’t want to say, but Magic gave it away with his unabashed honesty. It is addition through subtraction. The first thing magic said when he took over the reigns is that he needed to change the culture first, then go after the big names. Changing the culture is about players attitudes, not talent. Those 1980’s showtime Laker players had two things in common; they had winning attitudes, and they were gym rats. Russell, as good of a scorer as he is, has neither of those qualities. He doesn’t spend much time in the weight room or in the gym working on his weaknesses. Also, Magic said they wanted a someone who the players wanted to play with. Did anyone here see Twitter blow up with comments from players saying they were shocked and saddened that Russell was traded, and this would hurt the team? Not a one. The truth is, Russell is immature, and no one on the team was willing to have his back. To fix the culture, he had to go, and the sooner the better. It’s not just a cliche, one bad apple truly can spoil the whole bunch.
fern says
Still doesn’t mean he should insult him on the way out the door…
Anonymous says
What insult?
MT87 says
Wouldn’t it have been better to just move Dlo to the 2 and let Ball lead the team and retain an asset that projects to get better over the next 10 years? Furthermore, you say that you don’t see twitter blowing up with comments from players dismayed to see Russell go but the only person with direct knowledge I see saying that Russell was killing the culture is Magic. Russell certainly has warts but if PG doesn’t come over this team will continue to toil at the bottom of the league the next few years and this trade will look terrible. Now, it all may still work out, but it sure seems like this deal was both premature and an unnecessary risk.
CraigW. says
You didn’t get the point of the entry you were responding to…that Russell was part of a chemistry problem. He had to go, if only for that reason. Also, the sooner he went the better.
I may not entirely agree that DLO was somewhat poisonous in the locker room – and that he didn’t get much love on the way out – but if you are going to respond to a blogger, you might want to comment on his/her main point.
P.S. I also don’t think it was particularly smart to insult Russell when it wasn’t necessary.
MT87 says
Craig, I find your response to me confusing given that I directly addressed that in my post. Here, let me help you: “the only person with direct knowledge I see saying that Russell was killing the culture is Magic.” Magic is incentivized to defend his controversial trade in this manner so you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t take him at his word. Like I said, Russell was not without problems (laziness being the one that pissed me off the most), but calling him a chemistry issue on a scale that requires his immediate removal is a position that hasn’t been justified with evidence by anyone. Now, if his former teammates start talking about what a huge problem he was in the locker room I’ll happily change my tune but I regard unfounded speculation by random people on the internet to be nothing more than that and so should you.
Anonymous says
Unfounded speculation? Did you miss his entire rookie year? Have you ever heard him talk on an interview? Did you miss that whole ice in the veins crap after he finally had one decent game? No one is going to trash him because the NBA is a fraternity, and they play with and against all of them. Every year the rosters change. But when they refuse to support a player, that speaks volumes. That is why the Nets fans booed him at his presser. They know he is a one-dimensional player with an attitude problem. But, for some reason, there are a lot of young fans in LA that just can’t see what a liability he was to the team. When you discover one of your young players doesn’t fit, you move him for the best deal you can get. If anyone damaged his trade value it was Russell himself with his childish antics. So don’t blame Magic for the trade, he got far more than anyone else would give for him.
MT87 says
I’ve been watching him for two years. I’ve heard him speak dozens of times. Everything you have said is nothing more than unfounded speculation from a poster who is literally Anonymous. If you want to tell yourself that everybody who disagrees with you is too young to know anything (and that is a silly proposition btw) you can, but that isn’t a substitute for actual evidence and reasoning.
Lakers Future says
The Lakers lack talent. Period. Trading Russell now was not addition by subtraction. It is a 27 win team that already lost its best player (Williams) and one of its best shooters (Young) who then dumps its last remaining shooter for nothing. That’s plain old subtraction by subtraction.
They are spinning Ball as the second coming and the prospect of LeBron as damage control. Its not because Russell was so great. It because a really bad team just got needlessly worse.
Anonymous says
i agree 100 per cent!!!
FredP says
If the Lakers culture is about keeping a select group of former Lakers happy then yes trading Russell was all about Lakers culture. Instead of waving their dentures at the younger generation they should be supporting the new Lakers and figuring out how to make them successful. Russell was all class at his welcoming interview in Brooklyn; Magic could learn from him.
Reed – this is a terrific snapshot of where the Lakers are and what they can do. I appreciate the time and detail you put into this.
Anonymous says
Part of building a team is getting rid of pieces that don’t fit. Did you hear how the Brooklyn fans booed Russell at his presser? They don’t want him either!
Laker for life says
Hello Reed and Darius,
Any players in mind as potential FA signings with a 1+1 (team option)?
Mike says
I would think moving Moz or Deng next off season to clear cap space for next off season would actually be pretty difficult, since you would have to be trading into someone’s cap space without taking salary back instead of an expiring contract like Lopez. I’m not a fan of the Dlo trade, but if Magic and Pelinka know they’re going to need that cap space (and they’d better be tampering their asses off – circumspectly and with plausible deniability, of course – to know for sure) next off season, then I can see why they’d move to dump Moz now instead of waiting. Dumping multiyear contracts to largely unproductive players is not as easy as many make it out to be. But Magic better be right about at least PG wanting to sign here, or he should be out on his ass and the Buss kids should be forced to sell to someone competent, especially if Dlo blows up in Brooklyn within the next couple of seasons.
fern says
It was completely unnecessary of Magic to take shots ar DAR after he was traded. That was just classless…
Lakers17 says
I don’t necessarily think he was taking as shot at him as much as trying to justify a trade that many were upset about.
MT87 says
It seemed apparent that Magic was doing both.
We says
Magic said he was looking for a leader for the team, I’m sorry but trading Russell way is not taking a shot at his basketball abilities or running him down as a person. Simply saying that he didn’t think he was a leader. One can be a good basketball player and not a leader of a team. Quite acting like Russell was your friend, he is an asset and was used to get another asset (cap space and a capable short term floor spacer).
West Coast Ram says
Can you be a good basketball player and not a leader? That appears to be what Magic said so I don’t see how that is taking a shot at DAR.
Clay Bertrand says
Nice write up Reed. Looks like any way you slice it, we are going to have to say good bye to some of our favorite young players at some point to maximize our cap room. That could be hard to stomach depending on who the Lakers can get in free agency.
My Off Topic Mini Rant:
Not that I am advocating some rash attempt to rush the current Laker talent situation. I’m speaking to the overall narrative that seems to be growing. I’m getting sick of this already set in stone league wide assumption/acceptance that Golden State is going to win every Championship for the next 5 years. I hear it and read it all over the place.
Are they good? Yes. Do they LOOK unstoppable today?? Yes they do. So what?? Things happen in life that are not always foreseen and Sports are certainly not immune to this. What seems to happen fairly often in sports is the WHOLE WORLD jumps on a bandwagon and the grand destiny that the world blindly predicts never comes to fruition.
The Heat looked unstoppable too til Dallas beat em. The Lakers looked unstoppable (altho not as much as in years past) til the Pistons beat em. The Spurs looked unstoppable AGAINST THE Ws A FREAKIN’ MONTH AGO until Kawhi’s ankle gave out. Remember how many more Majors than Jack Nicklaus Tiger Woods was SUPPOSED to win???? Well he NEVER won em and he NEVER will. I don’t buy this KEEP THE POWDER DRY TIL THE WARRIORS DYNASTY FADES plan. Things can happen. Things DO happen.
In the words of pretty famous Modern American Philosopher Heywood “Woody” Allen:
“People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck.”
How sound is Kevin Durant’s foot going to be going forward?? What if Iggy leaves and the chemistry starts to change?? What if Curry has an off year and/or injury issues?? How will they maneuver year to year when they are TOTALLY CAPPED OUT TO THE MAX like the Clips and Cavs are now??? Steve Kerr remains a HUGE question mark going forward with his health. Hell, maybe they’ll even somehow change the Rules like they had to do with Shaq when they basically allowed Zone Defenses to be utilized because he was ridiculously abusing every team in the league.
To me, just waving the white flag for the next five years because the Warriors are good so no one except Lebron should even TRY beating them is WEAK SAUCE CRAP!!! Is Magic trying to waste the next 5 years of his life just waiting for a weaker division to appear??? Pelinka, the Buss Family, and we the entire fan base will just tread water til Steph Curry can’t shoot straight??? The League has to wait until they weaken to commence actually TRYING to beat them???? Screw THAT “strategy”!!!
The bar the Ws set is certainly high. That doesn’t mean teams shouldn’t try hard to reach for it. Its like following up a break away all the way down the court when its obvious the break away player has an uncontested easy layup. Then the guy BLOWS THE LAYUP and the follow up player is there for the put back. You gotta BE THERE to get the put back.
The Warriors seem to be great. EFF the Warriors!!!!!!! Don’t marvel at them in a “WE ARE NOT WORTHY” tone. Try like hell to take em down!!!!! Easier said than done but no one will beat them if everyone defers to their perceived untouchable greatness waiting for their eventual demise.
As always, GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hale says
I gotstha HOLYBasketBALL GhOstah!!!!
and
BUCK FOSTON!!!
drrayeye says
Clay,
I love your mini rant–especially applied to our Lakers. we’re going after those Warriors. We’ve already taken the first steps: we’ve got Luke (their former coach), made trades, got two new vets (Corey and Brook) and five new guys from the draft–starting to get some Lonzo ball “attitude.”
I don’t know exactly how, or when, but we will dethrone the Warriors.
Pbz06 says
I’m terrified Lakers are going to empty the cupboard to try and chase stars again. We’ll have George and Cousins with not much else…only to still get crushed by gsw.
Old Timer says
It appears Pacers is not going to trade George to the Lakers, however Lakers must compete to reach the playoffs as their benchmark goal in ’18. The more they achieve, the better the chances George and LBJ will join in summer of ’18. I prefer Tarik Black and Ennis to have a year extension on their contract while put rookie Bryant in the development G League. Trade Deng for future picks or nothing as a player exception similar to LO trade to Dallas. Tarik is a great rebounder and will shine in Ball feeds for easy dunk, can defend too. Slide Kuzma to 3. On 1, Ennis is a good 3 pt shooter and relief for Lonzo.
1 Lonzo/Ennis
2 Clarkson/Brewer/Nwaba
3 Ingram/Hart/Kuzma
4 Randle/Nance/Black
5 Lopez/Zubac/
Doug says
Bill Russell…well deserved.
He’s in my top 5 of all time.
Alan says
I may be in the minority, but I’m thrilled with the trade and the draft. Russell & Mozgov will not be missed, Magic is correct, team needs leadership and Russell is not the answer. Time will tell if Lonzo delivers that leadership Magic is looking for.
Speaking of Deng, can he be packaged with Randle, Clarkson and the forward picked up from Houston in the trade last year for D. Wade, Chicago? I think he’s on a one year contract and Chicago is officially rebuilding after the Butler give away?
Now looking forward to Summer League and free agency, hopefully there are a couple of shooters that want a one year contract. I would hate to see Zubac leave in a trade, he has talent that will come out this year.
As the trade deadline comes around later in the season, that’s when Laker players will have trade value to teams making a run at the playoffs. Let’s not get hasty giving away assets for Paul George. His fate is sealed as long as he doesn’t change his mind regarding signing someplace else besides the Lakers. I personally don’t think he will sign elsewhere.
Really looking forward to this season, no tanking and hopefully the team stays healthy.
Anonymous says
It is a bit strange that many believe the DLo trade will hurt the team. He had ample opportunity to show his talents and it is pretty clear to the eye that he is not going to be a superstar.
Trading him shows the others that noone is untouchable and that they all need to be working.
It was clear to see that many of the young players were not hungry enough.
MT87 says
If you’re the kind of person who thinks that we are going to get PG in the next year and a half and then get to the playoffs with him flanked by Ball and Ingram than yeah, I can see why you would find this a bit strange. From my perspective watching the Lakers try and fail to attract free agents over the last couple years because of the lack of talent on the roster giving up talent for cap space seems like a self-defeating proposition. It isn’t that I have any particular attachment to Russell; its the whole strategy that I find questionable.
Serik says
If someone who has achieved much more than you even at your age tells you are not a leader and you are insulted by this – maybe that’s the reason you are getting traded. But if you are motivated by this instead of saying “it’s irrelevant” – then you probably can be a part of a great team.
I do think that this is not the first time Magic tried to motivate Russell. Did it work? I doubt it. Anyway, “it’s irrelevant now”.
Vasheed says
I believe the Lakers HAVE to make trades and the Russell/Mozgov trade wasn’t a bad idea in itself. An NBA team has to figure out a way to squeezee as much talent onto their roster before having to pay out to keep their roster. The Lakers youth would all be coming up for pay day contracts before Mozgov/Deng contracts expiring putting the Lakers in cap purgatory with no way to get better.
I felt that the Lakers lost on draft day when the Wolves were able to trade for Butler who is on a cap friendly contract for the next 2 years. Thats the kind of player on a cap friendly contract they needed to really start building. To me not getting a guy like Butler when he was available was a big failure.
I also am not sold on Ball. He reminds me a lot of Russell but without the beautiful shooting. To me it looks like trying to do the same thing over and expecting different results. Lonzo might be an upgrade over Russell as a playmaker but, I also remember just how bad the Lakers starting unit looked when Russell was injured, so how much better is a question. I’m also disappointed in how the F.O. handled their comments post trade of Russell. I didn’t think it was classy. The F.O. is starting to feel like a circus.
Gurndogg says
I agree about the Butler trade as Minny got Butler for very little Dunn (hasn’t done much), Lavine
(has done a little but is coming off an ACL tear) & #7 pick.
Yet Russell would of been a lot better than any of those Players & if Laker’s throw in 28 pick or Randle or Clarkson probably would of gotten Butler & that trade would of been miles better than the one they got.
I guess Minny can do trades better than the Lakers.
FredP says
The talk about leadership is a bit myopic. In sports, we ask all players to lead by example and help the team win in any way they can. The best teams have multiple leaders who pick each other up as necessary. For example, who is Golden State’s leader? For defense it would be Green, Durant and Thompson (and even McGee); for offense it is Curry, Durant, Green and Thompson. The other players can make their marks like setting picks to free up the shooters. That is leadership too. OKC and Houston ultimately fell short when individuals took too much responsibility for the team’s success. Their games became more of 1 on 5 vs 5 on 5. For the Lakers to succeed, they need multiple players to step up and be responsible for keeping the defense intense and the offense flowing. Looking for one or two players to make that happen is a fool’s errand.