72 Suburbs in Search of a City: Anthony Davis to Los Angeles Lakers

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It certainly was lucky that the team that AD wanted to go to needed to move up from 11 to the top 4 to make the trade palatable to NO. And also for the team losing AD to move up to 1 to get Zion. And also for a weak market team to move up to 2. And also for NYK to not fall past 3 in a 3 player draft.

An almost too lucky result one might say.
Divine intervention
 

Tony C

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The reason I don't like the move for the Lakers is that I have zero faith they'll surround these two tremendous talents with anything approaching a championship level roster. To me, the post Jerry Buss Lakers are very interested in accumulating stars, but they're not very interested in actually doing the things that translate to winning. I think we conflate those two ideas when we say it's a "star league" - yeah, of course you need stars, but no one's winning a championship without quality depth as well. We see role players stepping up every playoffs, like Fred Van Vleet this year or Kevon Looney or James Posey or Robert Horry or Ray Allen on the Heat. Those are the guys on the margins who often make up the difference in a tight playoff series.

The past couple of years of Pelinka moves (I mean, just look at the Muscala trade, or the Beasley signing, or letting Brook Lopez go for nothing, or signing Lance Stephenson, drafting Mo Wagner so high, Lonzo at 2, etc.) don't fill me up with confidence. He doesn't seem very detail-oriented and all of the articles about him paint him as a guy who doesn't listen to his basketball operations people. Will have the patience or skill to find guys, outside of Lebron and AD, who will match or overperform their contracts? Because they're going to need that out of players 3-8 on the roster if they're going to contend. And if he doesn't, and they fall short... how do they rebound next year with no draft picks to trade, no young players on cost-controlled contracts, and $80 million dedicated to two players?

If Jeannie Buss had fired Pelinka and hired, I don't know, David Griffin and he made this same trade, I'd be encouraged that they could actually maximize the AD/Lebron years. I just am pretty pessimistic that current regime will be able to leverage them correctly and that'll be a pretty disappointing waste of AD's prime and LeBron's last legs. Time will tell, of course.
This is spot on. I'd just say there's two points of uncertainty: one, how bad was Pelinka or how bad was Magic? Magic is on record saying incredibly stupid things about the type of talent he wanted, so we know he had major responsibility for all their terrible moves. I'd have no faith Pelinka is better, but there's at least some chance he was gritting his teeth as Magic overruled him. (And one thing on which I'd disagree is that Pelinka reportedly is a very hard worker and very detailed. Of course, he also is widely despised not only for overruling his basketball people, as you say, but also as a lying sack of shit...which can't help.) The other is what I mentioned above about Paul/LeBron -- given the Lakers' front office, Paul/LeBron get credit for, well, obviously LeBron but also AD. I have a lot more faith in them knowing what sort of secondary players to bring in than Pelinka.

So that's just a way of saying you're absolutely right that the Lakers would be in great position if they'd hired Griffin or Jerry West or...well...someone competent. But there's at least some chance the front office isn't quite as bad as it was the last few years with Magic.
 

lovegtm

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This is spot on. I'd just say there's two points of uncertainty: one, how bad was Pelinka or how bad was Magic? Magic is on record saying incredibly stupid things about the type of talent he wanted, so we know he had major responsibility for all their terrible moves. I'd have no faith Pelinka is better, but there's at least some chance he was gritting his teeth as Magic overruled him. (And one thing on which I'd disagree is that Pelinka reportedly is a very hard worker and very detailed. Of course, he also is widely despised not only for overruling his basketball people, as you say, but also as a lying sack of shit...which can't help.) The other is what I mentioned above about Paul/LeBron -- given the Lakers' front office, Paul/LeBron get credit for, well, obviously LeBron but also AD. I have a lot more faith in them knowing what sort of secondary players to bring in than Pelinka.

So that's just a way of saying you're absolutely right that the Lakers would be in great position if they'd hired Griffin or Jerry West or...well...someone competent. But there's at least some chance the front office isn't quite as bad as it was the last few years with Magic.
The way the Lakers blew every minor detail of this deal, down to things like reverse protections on picks and the July 6th vs July 30th issue, doesn't instill a lot of confidence in Pelinka's attention to detail. Which, as a Cs fan, I'm happy about going forward.
 

cheech13

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Tony C

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I think it depends whether you think the C’s will want to get under the cap anytime in the next 4-5 years.

Unless Ingram is a total bust next season, it will take a 4-year deal at substantially more than the full MLE to retain him. I think that would scuttle any chance of signing a max free agent two years from now (when Hayward comes off the books, assuming he opts in for 2020-21).

If money isn’t a factor, then sure, I can see why you’d like Ingram better than #14. But your typical team drafting in the mid-late teens would almost certainly prefer the flexibility; if Danny offers #14 for Ingram, it will be NO’s richest offer by far.
This is Magic Realism thinking. No one will give a #14 or better for Ingram but someone will pay him a ton of money after next year? That seems contradictory. I'm fairly certain that if there's a team out there that will pay him "substantially more" than the full MLE out there than that team would be willing to offer a draft pick #14 or better.

In any case, it's not like I'm a scout, but that a #14 would be by far the richest offer for Ingram doesn't accord with what I've seen from Ingram, what his late season (SSS) stats show, what I read from internet experts who don't have on rooting blinders, and Griffin is on record as having loved Ingram. I dunno...maybe everyone here is right, though -- Griffin gave away AD for terrible the 4th pick, 2 mediocrities, and late 1st future picks. Maybe....
 

the moops

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I think they gotta go the route of splitting up the 24-32 million they will have rather than offering a max to Kemba/Butler/Middleton/etc. Can't see how they fill a competent roster with just minimum guys.
 

nighthob

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This is Magic Realism thinking. No one will give a #14 or better for Ingram but someone will pay him a ton of money after next year. I'm fairly certain that if there's a team out there that will pay him "substantially more" than the full MLE out there than that team would be willing to offer a draft pick #14 or better.
Last summer no one would have given up a late lottery pick for Terry Rozier, even in this draft. He will be paid substantially more than the full MLE. The two statements are not contradictory. However if you're saying that Ingram is as valuable as Scary Terry I'm not going to quibble.
 

Jimbodandy

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This is Magic Realism thinking. No one will give a #14 or better for Ingram but someone will pay him a ton of money after next year? That seems contradictory. I'm fairly certain that if there's a team out there that will pay him "substantially more" than the full MLE out there than that team would be willing to offer a draft pick #14 or better.

In any case, it's not like I'm a scout, but that a #14 would be by far the richest offer for Ingram doesn't accord with what I've seen from Ingram, what his late season (SSS) stats show, what I read from internet experts who don't have on rooting blinders, and Griffin is on record as having loved Ingram. I dunno...maybe everyone here is right, though -- Griffin gave away AD for terrible the 4th pick, 2 mediocrities, and late 1st future picks. Maybe....
They are not late 1st future picks. Please stop saying that.
 

Devizier

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I think they gotta go the route of splitting up the 24-32 million they will have rather than offering a max to Kemba/Butler/Middleton/etc. Can't see how they fill a competent roster with just minimum guys.
In the abstract that makes sense, but on who? They can't get too creative because even third tier guys like Rozier will cost a lot of scratch.

I mean there's a serious chance that Rondo will be coming back for another year.
 

HomeRunBaker

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The way the Lakers blew every minor detail of this deal, down to things like reverse protections on picks and the July 6th vs July 30th issue, doesn't instill a lot of confidence in Pelinka's attention to detail. Which, as a Cs fan, I'm happy about going forward.
I don't agree that the Lakers "blew every minor detail" simply because there is always going to be give and take in any negotiations. The Pelicans are looking to make the #4 pick as attractive as possible to other suitors for a potential deal......this isn't the Lakers blowing anything it is the cost of doing business in closing this deal because the Pelicans refused to bend over backwards for them by pushing the deal back to the end of July. Anthony Davis refused to waive his no-trade....that isn't the Lakers blowing a detail either.

This trade catapulted the Lakers to be odds-on favorite to win the 2019-20 Championship...….let's put our green glasses aside and not sound like we are sore losers here. It sucks but this is where AD wanted to land and the Lakers got lucky in the lottery to provide them with an enormous trade chip to add to a deal. Saying that the Lakers "blew" anything reeks of sour grapes.
 

benhogan

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I don't agree that the Lakers "blew every minor detail" simply because there is always going to be give and take in any negotiations. The Pelicans are looking to make the #4 pick as attractive as possible to other suitors for a potential deal......this isn't the Lakers blowing anything it is the cost of doing business in closing this deal because the Pelicans refused to bend over backwards for them by pushing the deal back to the end of July. Anthony Davis refused to waive his no-trade....that isn't the Lakers blowing a detail either.

This trade catapulted the Lakers to be odds-on favorite to win the 2019-20 Championship...….let's put our green glasses aside and not sound like we are sore losers here. It sucks but this is where AD wanted to land and the Lakers got lucky in the lottery to provide them with an enormous trade chip to add to a deal. Saying that the Lakers "blew" anything reeks of sour grapes.
I don't think lovegtm was questioning this trade, he was just questioning Pelinka's ability as a GM.

Adding AD is a no-brainer, especially when the agent says he will re-sign there after this season.

We'll see just how good Rob is with filling out this roster around AD/LBJ. The filler job Maglinka did last summer was less than impressive.
 

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It really is a both sides get what they wan t
They are not late 1st future picks. Please stop saying that.

Why can't he characterize them as such? The path to the Pels never swapping the 2023 pick and the 2022 and 2024/5 picks being low is pretty plausible.

If the 2022 Lakers have 28/9 year old Anthony Davis, 26 year old Kuzma, the max or close to max player they sign this offseason in his age year 30-32 year old season and what ever they put in LeBron's cap space after the 2021 season, along with their mid to late 1sts from 20 & 21, there is a very good chance that the Pels are getting a late first round pick. Further, Klutch will still be tilting the scales to get free agents to sign with their then premier client Davis. The Lakers will still have their ridiculous local TV rights deal and seats at Staples will likely be selling for quite a bit after a few years of Lebron and AD together.
 

cheech13

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I think they gotta go the route of splitting up the 24-32 million they will have rather than offering a max to Kemba/Butler/Middleton/etc. Can't see how they fill a competent roster with just minimum guys.
That's a good back-up plan, but who are you getting in that scenario? Presumably you're talking $7-12MM AAV and in that range you're probably looking at Collison/Rose/Beverly/Rondo for PG, D. Green/Hood/Aminu/Morris for wings, and Portis/Dedmon/Davis for bigs. Let's say you nab one from each group, use the room on KCP and vet min contracts for Jeff Green and Chandler. Does that make a championship team? I'd rather get the third star and then fill out with ring chasers. Those MLE-level contract guys tend to be the ones that are most overpaid, although they might be useful in the future as salary ballast.
 

HomeRunBaker

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I don't think lovegtm was questioning this trade, he was just questioning Pelinka's ability as a GM.

Adding AD is a no-brainer, especially when the agent says he will re-sign there after this season.

We'll see just how good Rob is with filling out this roster around AD/LBJ. The filler job Maglinka did last summer was less than impressive.
I wasn’t specifically saying lovegtm was questioning the trade in that instance only that some were actually doing so on a deal that propelled the Lakers to the betting favorite.

I was actually a huge fan of the Lakers post-LeBron signings of expiring contracts along with the AD-push to get moved last deadline. It didn’t work out that way but the FA signings design was intended to have AD join the Lakers last winter.......not to make a playoff run with KCP, Rondo, and Lance.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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I was actually a huge fan of the Lakers post-LeBron signings of expiring contracts along with the AD-push to get moved last deadline. It didn’t work out that way but the FA signings design was intended to have AD join the Lakers last winter.......not to make a playoff run with KCP, Rondo, and Lance.
And hey, that awkwardly-constructed-for-2019 roster helped them land AD anyways by giving them the ping pong balls they needed to jump to #4 in the lottery.
 

lovegtm

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I wasn’t specifically saying lovegtm was questioning the trade in that instance only that some were actually doing so on a deal that propelled the Lakers to the betting favorite.

I was actually a huge fan of the Lakers post-LeBron signings of expiring contracts along with the AD-push to get moved last deadline. It didn’t work out that way but the FA signings design was intended to have AD join the Lakers last winter.......not to make a playoff run with KCP, Rondo, and Lance.
Yeah, no sour grapes here--I'm actually interested as a fan to see how LeBron+AD+3rd guy+all minimums looks on the court, should be fun.

My point was more that in any trade that has lots of moving parts, you can generally identify which GM was really pushing the edges for details, and which one just wanted to get the deal over with. Over the long run, the former tend to be way better at doing things like rounding out rosters and nailing the marginal moves that push you over the top.

I don't see Pelinka as one of those guys at all. Will having 2-3 amazing players be enough to make up for that? Vegas thinks so, and I don't want to bet against them. I will say that it doesn't bode well for his ability to walk a pretty tight rope wrt their cap situation.
 

nighthob

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If the 2022 Lakers have 28/9 year old Anthony Davis, 26 year old Kuzma, the max or close to max player they sign this offseason in his age year 30-32 year old season and what ever they put in LeBron's cap space after the 2021 season, along with their mid to late 1sts from 20 & 21, there is a very good chance that the Pels are getting a late first round pick. Further, Klutch will still be tilting the scales to get free agents to sign with their then premier client Davis. The Lakers will still have their ridiculous local TV rights deal and seats at Staples will likely be selling for quite a bit after a few years of Lebron and AD together.
But Klutch’s owner will no longer be playing for the Lakers which will end their loyalty to the organization.
 

lovegtm

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Why can't he characterize them as such? The path to the Pels never swapping the 2023 pick and the 2022 and 2024/5 picks being low is pretty plausible.
Because characterizing something that has an EXTREMELY wide range of outcomes in terms of its worst possible outcome is so beyond dumb that I expect better out of this board.
 

Jimbodandy

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Because characterizing something that has an EXTREMELY wide range of outcomes in terms of its worst possible outcome is so beyond dumb that I expect better out of this board.
The outcomes are so ridiculously varied that almost nobody trades a single unprotected, let alone a bucket of them.

Sure it's possible that all of those picks are #30. It's also possible that a few of them are #1.
 

cheech13

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Because characterizing something that has an EXTREMELY wide range of outcomes in terms of its worst possible outcome is so beyond dumb that I expect better out of this board.
That's true, but the potential variance on those picks is huge. The Pelicans have control of the Lakers drafts for the next six seasons. Do you know how many teams went the last six seasons without ending up in the lottery at least once? Five - San Antonio, Golden State, Houston, Portland and Toronto. Basically the Pelicans have at least an 80% chance of securing at least one additional lottery pick out the Lakers before this trade finally comes to a close.
 

Sam Ray Not

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The last time the Lakeshow paired the 26 y.o. superstar big man with the 34 y.o. all-time great (to go along with Steve Nash, Ron Artest, and prime Pau Gasol) was 2012-13. Their draft picks from that point forward:

2013: #17
2014: #7
2015: #2
2016: #2
2017: #2
2018: #10
2019: #4

But it's all good, cos back then they had a dysfunctional ownership and management group...
 

HomeRunBaker

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That's true, but the potential variance on those picks is huge. The Pelicans have control of the Lakers drafts for the next six seasons. Do you know how many teams went the last six seasons without ending up in the lottery at least once? Five - San Antonio, Golden State, Houston, Portland and Toronto. Basically the Pelicans have at least an 80% chance of securing at least one additional lottery pick out the Lakers before this trade finally comes to a close.
The Lakers are playing to win Championships over these next 4-5 seasons with AD, LeBron, and plenty of time to add pieces around them. People are talking like this is the Nets with a one-year window immediately followed by expected high lottery picks. This can’t be a deal breaker if you’re the Lakers.
 

lexrageorge

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The Lakers are playing to win Championships over these next 4-5 seasons with AD, LeBron, and plenty of time to add pieces around them. People are talking like this is the Nets with a one-year window immediately followed by expected high lottery picks. This can’t be a deal breaker if you’re the Lakers.
I am in agreement with you on the fact that the Lakers are indeed a championship contender. However, I'm not at all convinced that the LeBron window will remain open right up until he's 40. Maybe in 2022 when LeBron will be 37 he may be open to taking somewhat less than the max so the team can continue to add pieces. Or he'll be healthy enough to at least be a #3 option on a championship team.

But the Lakers took a risk. Win a title or three, and it will be well worth it. But there is also a non-zero risk that the lack of picks hurts them when LeBron is pushing 40.
 

cheech13

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The Lakers are playing to win Championships over these next 4-5 seasons with AD, LeBron, and plenty of time to add pieces around them. People are talking like this is the Nets with a one-year window immediately followed by expected high lottery picks. This can’t be a deal breaker if you’re the Lakers.
That's great that they intend to compete for championships. I even understand going all in to get a generational talent like AD. However, that doesn't mean there isn't significant downside risk over the next six years. The Lakers have limited financial flexibility to round out the roster and no picks coming in bolster the bench or add juice to a trade offer. They've basically committed everything to AD+Lebron in this window. Should one of them get injured, decline unexpectedly, or bolt for greener pastures you're looking at a potentially dire situation.
 

Captaincoop

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The last time the Lakeshow paired the 26 y.o. superstar big man with the 34 y.o. all-time great (to go along with Steve Nash, Ron Artest, and prime Pau Gasol) was 2012-13. Their draft picks from that point forward:

2013: #17
2014: #7
2015: #2
2016: #2
2017: #2
2018: #10
2019: #4

But it's all good, cos back then they had a dysfunctional ownership and management group...
8


Sam, you seem like a legitimately cool dude, so don't take this as a shot at you - but if one more person in this thread compares Dwight Howard to Davis, I'm going to blow a blood vessel.
 

cheech13

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Sam, you seem like a legitimately cool dude, so don't take this as a shot at you - but if one more person in this thread compares Dwight Howard to Davis, I'm going to blow a blood vessel.
Dwight Howard was arguably the more accomplished player through his age-26 season. Four times in the top five of MVP voting, 3x DPOY, 6x All-NBA (five times on the first team), and one Finals Appearance.

Come at me.
 

scottyno

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Obviously it's a long way away, but I don't assume that Lebron is finishing his career with the Lakers. Hasn't he already talked about wanting to play with his son? His son finishes high school the same year Lebron finishes his Laker contract, and who knows what the draft rules will be by then, but if high schoolers are eligible and he's good enough to be drafted I can easily see him signing a 1 or 2 year deal to end his career with whatever team drafts Bronny.

Of course it's the Lakers and klutch, so I can also see them essentially forcing Bronny to the Lakers ala Kobe.
 

Captaincoop

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Dwight Howard was arguably the more accomplished player through his age-26 season. Four times in the top five of MVP voting, 3x DPOY, 6x All-NBA (five times on the first team), and one Finals Appearance.

Come at me.
Dwight Howard was a physical freak, but the full list of things he did really well was:

Catch lobs
Block shots
Rebound

Davis is such a complete NBA big, skilled and athletic. He is a legit all around superstar.

I don't care what the Magic did as a team with young Howard - they had a really weak East and a nice roster around him.
 

Euclis20

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Sam, you seem like a legitimately cool dude, so don't take this as a shot at you - but if one more person in this thread compares Dwight Howard to Davis, I'm going to blow a blood vessel.
You're right. Howard was incredibly durable before going to LA (19 total games missed in 8 seasons) and had led a team whose second best player was Rashard Lewis (or Hedo Turkoglu, or Jameer Nelson) to the finals.

Not really a shot at Davis, but he's injury prone and has led his team to the playoffs twice in his career. More than anything I think people are forgetting how good Howard was in his prime. Davis is certainly more versatile, but Howard was hands down the best defensive player and rebounder in the league for about half a decade. His offensive game never developed but he still averaged almost 20 ppg while shooting almost 60%, regardless of how he got those points.
 

nighthob

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That's great that they intend to compete for championships. I even understand going all in to get a generational talent like AD. However, that doesn't mean there isn't significant downside risk over the next six years. The Lakers have limited financial flexibility to round out the roster and no picks coming in bolster the bench or add juice to a trade offer. They've basically committed everything to AD+Lebron in this window. Should one of them get injured, decline unexpectedly, or bolt for greener pastures you're looking at a potentially dire situation.
And let’s face it, if the one bolts for greener pastures the other will demand a trade there. ;)
 

DJnVa

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People are talking like this is the Nets with a one-year window immediately followed by expected high lottery picks. This can’t be a deal breaker if you’re the Lakers.
Did people then talk about a 1 year Nets window and high lottery picks?


I mean, this article gives Nets an A and Celtics a B for it: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1687344-celtics-nets-blockbuster-trade-grading-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-to-brooklyn

It even says the picks likely won't be valuable:
The draft picks likely won't carry a ton of value, but they will still be very useful. Starting in 2016, there is no guarantee that the Nets' pick will end up in the 20s, though any organization with that much star power and such willingness to spend won't likely fall into the sweet spot of the lottery.

EDIT: Although, to be fair, are you saying that people are expecting that with hindsight on how that one turned out?
 
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Average Game James

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So who are the candidates to go to LAL on vet min deals that are good enough to be in a 7-8 man playoff rotation? Like, even if they split their cap room to sign multiple guys, you still need a couple vet min players that aren’t just filler, but are actual rotation players, and that’s not even taking into account load management for LeBron and AD in the regular season. Right now, LAL has 3 (unless you think Wagner can give you real minutes in a playoff series) with potentially only low-$20 millions in cap space if Davis doesn’t waive his trade kicker and literally no trade assets.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Sam, you seem like a legitimately cool dude, so don't take this as a shot at you - but if one more person in this thread compares Dwight Howard to Davis, I'm going to blow a blood vessel.
Hmm, I actually think Kobe/LeBron is the less fair comparison of the two, lol. As others have noted, Howard was probably more accomplished at age 26 than Davis: more dominant in his era, with a better track record of durability and winning. From 2010-2012 he was the second most dominant player in the league after LeBron; and I think there may have been a few months in there where he even passed LeBron (when Orlando made the Finals, e.g.)

Davis is obviously the more skilled and versatile player in that he can shoot and pass, but that doesn’t make him the better player in terms of impact on wins.

Obviously, Howard’s aging curve from that point on is a bit of a worst case scenario, as were the injuries to Nash and Kobe. But I’m not sure if that scenario is at an any more extreme edge of the range of expected outcomes than the one where 35 y.o. LeBron (who has never really thrived alongside a player who likes to operate in the paint) complements AD perfectly and the two of them march to an NBA title in year one under the steady leadership of Frank Vogel, Jason Kidd, Pelinka, Kupchak, Rich Paul, Jeannie Buss, Kobe, Jack Nicholson et al.

Depends a lot on how they fill out the rest of the roster, tho, so for now I’m keeping an open mind (but a heart full of hate, lol).
 
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scottyno

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So who are the candidates to go to LAL on vet min deals that are good enough to be in a 7-8 man playoff rotation? Like, even if they split their cap room to sign multiple guys, you still need a couple vet min players that aren’t just filler, but are actual rotation players, and that’s not even taking into account load management for LeBron and AD in the regular season. Right now, LAL has 3 (unless you think Wagner can give you real minutes in a playoff series) with potentially only low-$20 millions in cap space if Davis doesn’t waive his trade kicker and literally no trade assets.
Carmelo, who knows if he still has anything but he's Lebrons buddy and has never won a ring, if anyones going to sign him it's the Lakers
 

Sam Ray Not

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Complete list of things Bill Russell did at an elite level:

Defend
Rebound

Maybe add passing later in his career, but defense is ~75% of the game for a big man.
 

Average Game James

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Carmelo, who knows if he still has anything but he's Lebrons buddy and has never won a ring, if anyones going to sign him it's the Lakers
I doubt Carmelo waving a towel from the bench has much impact on the on-court product. He’s far from a competent NBA rotation player at this point in his career.
 

benhogan

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So who are the candidates to go to LAL on vet min deals that are good enough to be in a 7-8 man playoff rotation? Like, even if they split their cap room to sign multiple guys, you still need a couple vet min players that aren’t just filler, but are actual rotation players, and that’s not even taking into account load management for LeBron and AD in the regular season. Right now, LAL has 3 (unless you think Wagner can give you real minutes in a playoff series) with potentially only low-$20 millions in cap space if Davis doesn’t waive his trade kicker and literally no trade assets.
start at the bottom of this list and work your way up

IT4, Rose, Ellington, Bullock, Noah, Vonleh, Bell, Nwaba, Finney-Smith, Chandler, Vince Carter and besty Dwayne Wade await the call.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/players.html
 
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Devizier

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I don't think anyone is certain as to what the outcome for the Pelicans (in terms of draft picks) will be. Or at least they shouldn't be. That's why its an upside play. Getting unprotected and reverse-protected future firsts is about good future value as you can get.
 

Average Game James

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Devizier

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The Lakers are playing to win Championships over these next 4-5 seasons with AD, LeBron, and plenty of time to add pieces around them. People are talking like this is the Nets with a one-year window immediately followed by expected high lottery picks. This can’t be a deal breaker if you’re the Lakers.
The thing is that the Nets really shouldn't have tanked as badly as they did. That was a long tail outcome and really unexpected (by me at least). It worked out great for the Celtics but really we are talking about 99th percentile outcomes here.
 

JohnnyTheBone

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I was actually a huge fan of the Lakers post-LeBron signings of expiring contracts along with the AD-push to get moved last deadline. It didn’t work out that way but the FA signings design was intended to have AD join the Lakers last winter.......not to make a playoff run with KCP, Rondo, and Lance.
Openly tampering with a player that had two years remaining on his deal. The NBA, everybody!
 
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benhogan

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Guard pickings are pretty slim if you’re looking for a guy to take a cheap contract. Maybe Wayne Ellington as a guy that can stand around and hit an open 3?
maybe Collison comes back to SoCal on the cheap.

Seth Curry, TJ McConnell, Micheal Carter-Williams, Devin Harris

old friends Brad Wanamaker and Shane Larkin?

Alex Caruso is a lock if he shaves that dome

Scour the G-League for the 3 most aggressive, defensive-minded, high energy guys for spots 13-15

The day after the draft, sign several undrafted upperclassman (Konate, Wooten and Kyle Guy would interest me)

https://www.espn.com/nba/draft/bestavailable
 
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Devizier

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Let's say Kemba doesn't sign with the Lakers. Can they poach Middleton, Harris, or Brogdon? Do they try to get Redick for a little less?

The other upper-end guys are bigs and that seems like the wrong play for the Lakers. It'll be interesting to see what happens.
 

nighthob

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Brogdon’s restricted. It would be funny to see them add Harris to their F rotation.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Do the Lakers still technically own the 4th pick/are they bound to pick the guy that NOP direct them to?

Asking since the trade won’t be processed until 7/6 at the earliest, it appears.

I’m sure this has come up before but curious how teams navigate it.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Do the Lakers still technically own the 4th pick/are they bound to pick the guy that NOP direct them to?

Asking since the trade won’t be processed until 7/6 at the earliest, it appears.

I’m sure this has come up before but curious how teams navigate it.
They are picking on behalf of the Pelicans so they are bound to pick Griffin's player.