Lakers talk 2

06 Jul 2022 19:37:45
I think Lakers got some good quality signings this year. One big thing they got instead of last summer is youth and fresh legs.

Jones & Bryant are both quality centers that will be an upgrade over Howard at this point imo. Bryant can space the floor and Jones has potential to be a 10 & 8 guy if given 20+ mins a game. Lonnie Walker is a good pickup to replace and re-up his value like Monk. Brown and Anderson aren't bad deep bench players. I really like the Pippin pickup for 2-way.

28 Jun 2022 07:45:15
Lakers...I know it's easy to focus on trading Russ but here are your returning pieces:

Nunn/Westbrook
Monk/Christie
THT/Reaves
LBJ/
AD

See what O'Neal and Pippen do in summer league...

I focus more on getting shooting and defenders than an unpredictable Irving.

Not sure how the rules work but can LBJ and Russ opt out to open a max slot and take less money and return? You throw a Zach Lavine and possibly a Mitchell Robinson, you're adding the right side of youth and experience.

Not sure if that can happen but a lineup of

Nunn/Westbrook
Monk/Reaves/Christie
Lavine/THT
LBJ/???
AD/Robinson

That would be ALOT Better than last year.

28 Jun 2022 15:53:20
As far as the opt out Lebron has no opt out. He has an expiring contract. Westbrook had an opt out but he opted in today at $47M. Westbrook is not in the Lakers long term plans so him opting out would make no sense cause no team is going to pay him anything close to that. Lavine to the Lakers is Out. Not happening. He will sign with Bulls at 5 years $250M max money. Robinson will have to take less with the Lakers so I don't see him coming either. There is talk about Monk accepting a $6M mid level so we will see but he will have teams interested. Lakers need to wait til next off season to have cap space.

27 Jun 2022 23:56:20
Lakers should hold on to Westbrook until the trade deadline, he will have much more value then. they might actually GET assets back instead of having to GIVE assets just to trade him now. especially if he has a better season.

Lakers are closing on a rebuild. maximize the assets (Westbrook COULD be an asset, yes) and start thinking about the future.

28 Jun 2022 15:57:42
You use the word asset well around the league Westbrook is not an asset. He has an expiring contract which would net the Lakers long term bad contracts which the Lakers will have no salary flexibility next off season if the trade Westbrook. What will happen is Westbrook will play out his contract and become a free agent next off season. If the Lakers do poorly they will just buy him out and he will become a free agent during the season where the Lakers have no long term commitment.

26 Jun 2022 22:25:14
Sign and trade for Kyrie in three team deal with Pacers which rids us of Westbrick
Then sign and trade for Lavine sending Davis home
Imagine a lineup with Lebron, Kyrie and Lavine?
Let's do it!!!!!

20 Jun 2022 17:53:57
What you guys think? Is there and realistic Chance that the Lakers say "hey Russ, if you opt out of your Contract, we will give you a new contract worth 70mil over 3years!"

23 Jun 2022 22:51:23
No. This isn't a Chris Paul situation with the Suns where he opted out and got a contract extension. This is Westbrook playing out his contract and becoming a free agent next offseason either on the Lakers or another team. Expect him to go back to OKC next season. He can't this season due to his big contract unless he is bought out or waived.

12 May 2022 14:07:26
If lakers keep Westbrook and let him run his contract out how much capp lakers will have in 2023 offseason?

13 May 2022 02:36:29
If it's based off of what the salary cap will be this next coming season $72M in cap space. It might be $74M in 2023. This all depends if Lebron James signs an extension this summer. If he does then the Lakers will on have $24M in cap space in 2023.

01 May 2022 11:48:01
The face of the Lakers has successfully transitioned from one star to another. What young star in today's game could be the succesor to James if he leaves?

1) Anthony Edwards:
2) Ja Morant
3)Zion Williamson
4) B Ingram
5) Trea Young
6) Luka Doncic
7) Lamelo Ball
8) somebody else
9) None

02 May 2022 03:02:26
Right away well nobody cause the Lakers have no assets other than a 2027 and 2029 first round pick to get any of them. Those players are under team control for around 6 to 7 years each. Lakers will need to go year by year and view each free agent class and figure out who fits the team best. Also they must draft well when they are eligible for a pick instead of giving it away in trades.

16 Apr 2022 16:45:14
If lakers can't trade Westbrook I'll say he stay 1 more year and we should have cap space him LeBron are free agents in 2023 they resign LeBron and better role players

09 Apr 2022 03:42:28
“Russell Westbrook never respected Frank [Vogel] from Day 1,” said one Lakers staff member with knowledge of the situation. “The moment Frank said anybody who gets the rebound can bring it up the court, which is just how the NBA is played these days, Russ was like, ‘Naw, I’m the point guard. Give the ball to me. Everybody run.  Frank was like, ‘No, we have Talen [Horton-Tucker) ] We have Austin [Reaves]. We have Malik. We have LeBron. We have AD. They can all bring the ball up. ’ He was like, ‘Nope, I’m the point guard. Give me that s—. Everybody get out the way. ’ “From that point on, in training camp, it was a wrap, ‘cause now Russ is a fish out of water. He doesn’t know what to do. That’s how that started. ”.

21 Mar 2022 20:59:21
Malik Monk Opens Up On Lakers Team Dynamics: "Older Guys Yelling At The Rookies Because It's Their Fault. Everything They Do, It's Our Fault Out There Because They Know Everything And You Don't And When You Mess Up, You Just Got To Take It. "

20 Mar 2022 20:55:38
I just want to make sure I understand this correctly. If the Lakers end up in the 10th seed, then they have to win 2 consecutive games against 9th seed and 2 consecutive games against loser of 7th and 8th seed to get into the playoffs as the 8th seed?

Anyone know how many 4-game winning streaks the Lakers had all season?

21 Mar 2022 16:53:35
Here is how it works. The 7th and 8th seeds and The 9th and 10th seed each play a 1 game playoff. The winner of the 7th/ 8th seed gets the 7th seed. The loser of that game plays the winner of the 9th and 10th seed for the final 8th seed. The loser of the 9th and 10th seed game is out. Now in order for the 9th or 10th seed to get the 8th seed they must win 2 consecutive games against the loser of the 7th/ 8th seed game.

The Lakers had only 1 stretch they won 4 in a row and another stretch they won 3 in a row.

Predictions at this point the Lakers will either get 10th seed and probably win the one game but then lose. The other possibility is that they miss the play in all together and I say the Spurs take the 10th spot. This Lakers team defense stinks and the Lakers has very little hope.

16 Mar 2022 07:21:48
What teams are possible destinations for LBJ and Lilliard?

I can see LBJ go to a contender like Phoenix (playing with CP3), Golden state or the Nets.

I don't see a team that has enough assets to make Portland happy and that can content for a title. Maybe the Lakers can swap A Davis or the knicks could be prepared to give up their young players and assets.

17 Mar 2022 20:02:03
There is 2 ways to approach this. Reality and hypothetically. Reality is he is under contract for $44.4M next season. Teams are not going to want to give up assets for a 1 year rental of Lebron James. They will want a commitment of say 2 additional seasons which would brings him to his 22nd year. Big 3's don't work all the time and for a team like say the Suns, Nets or Warriors they would have to give up a piece in order to get him. That's not happening. There is an outside chance of him leaving for say a team like the Cavaliers where he would go home again but I find it hard to believe management or ownership wanting to deal with him again. He should just end his career with the Lakers. Lakers are not going to take on long term contracts.

Now hypothetically speaking just to talk if the Suns were to give up Devin Booker and say Jae Crowder sure that should be considered. If the Warriors put say Klay Thompson on the table along with Moody or Kuminga that might be enough to get a trade done. Nets really don't have anybody that would make sense for the Lakers in a trade for Lebron other than Durant but he will be untouchable. Irving is great but I don't see him getting dealt in a deal like that either. Simmons well he is represented by the same agent as Lebron. That's not going to work. Earlier I read someone bring up the Heat putting a package together which would make sense for the Lakers but doubt the Heat do it.

02 Mar 2022 21:19:42
After an incredibly disappointing season thus far, the Los Angeles Lakers and Westbrook reportedly have “mutual interest” in parting ways this offseason.

Guess Westbrook is opting in.

23 Feb 2022 23:29:46
You know it's bad when Los Angeles-based sports talking heads and reporters are making the recommendation that that the Lakers trade Lebron James during this upcoming off-season.

YIKES!

What kinda of trade package do you think teams will make for Lebron for one-year at $45 mil?

28 Jan 2022 15:59:24
VALUE OF LAKERS 2027 PICK

Future projections are difficult to make, especially five years out. But given the Lakers position and their lack of assets outside of their 2027 pick, it has me trying to speculate what the value of that might actually be. Bear with me on this one:

The Lakers have been a draw for top tier players for the last couple of decades, but they've also had two of the game's most transcendent players for the better part of that time, which has me wondering; will they have the same draw a few years from now with Lebron (possibly) off the team? Even if he plays well into his 40's it's likely it becomes harder and harder to stay healthy and have the same impact on the team. Consider Bryant's last couple of seasons in the league. He still produced at a high level when healthy, but it didn't change the course of the team during that time.

Unless they learn from this season and let the front office surround them with the right supporting cast rather than bringing in their aging veteran friends, it'll be awhile before they have a solid set of young players they can develop into the right roles. Particularly with their scarcity of picks over the next few years.

So if we're looking into our crystal ball and projecting ahead to the 2025-2026 season:

IF James and Davis are still around, you're looking at two aging, banged up vets. IF they can stay healthy, will they still have the same impact on the game they've had historically? Will a Lakers team that features this duo still be as attractive to other top tier vets looking for a ring? Or will we be looking at something closer to the 2013-2016 Lakers with an aging and banged up Kobe and Gasol?

If it's the latter, that pick all of a sudden looks a lot more attractive. Keep in mind they had the number 2 overall pick three of those years (with 2014 being the outlier at no. 7) following a similar strategy. Remember when they signed a 38 year old Steve Nash?

I just get this sense that history may be repeating itself. It would be a gamble to give up a solid piece for that pick NOW, but there's also a very good chance that gamble pays off handsomely in a handful of years. For the right team (thinking Pacers with Turner or Pistons with Grant, for example) it might be worth the gamble.

Curious to hear your thoughts.

29 Jan 2022 23:35:19
Personally I wouldn't give up a 2027 first round pick to get someone now other than maybe Marcus Smart. The fact is the defense for the Lakers this season isn't really that good. They will be top a 7th seed and low out of the tournament all together. I say they do make the play in tournament though. Lebron James will be gone well before the 2025-26 season and I say Anthony Davis will be gone as well. That will leave the Lakers in a position of rebuilding turning that time. Yes the Lakers could go after some stars like they did with Lebron and AD but nobody can really predict if the Lakers can get a championship level talent at that time.

As far as gambling the 2027 pick the Lakers have offered the pick along with a package of THT and Nunn to several teams including the Kings for Hield and Pistons for Grant. Nobody seems to really be that interested in the package. The only team willing to take the 2027 pick is the Rockets in exchange the Lakers take John Wall for Russell Westbrook. I wouldn't do that deal and based on reports the Lakers aren't interested. Lakers fans are so pushy. They don't want to wait or build a team. Trade or sign a player. Fact is nobody wants what the Lakers got right now.