Where do the Lakers go from here...?

[DJ]

Here is a thought. The Lakers should float the trade of Deng for Gasol and Ingram and Ball for Kawhi. GAsol says he wants to play three more years and that trade would be a great addition of a former Laker who could then retire as one. Then we can add PG and LeBron as max players, keep Randle, select Ball's brother in the draft to take his place, and voila, everyone is happy.

We can't keep Randle AND sign PG and James. Financially impossible.

 

[Retroram52]

Exactly Outlaw. I personnaly think Cousin's playing days are over. Not everyone returns like Kobe did from the Achilles tear and most do not return to their former performance levels post-injury. Cousin's past reputation and his performance history belies any respectable return enough to garner any interest for trade activites.

 

[The Oldtimer]

Not really. Paul George is only 28 and Kawhi is only 26. Both have many years left of playing at a very high level and you only have Lebron for a maximum of 4 years.

Can the Lakers sign all three of them? Besides is PG that good and doesn't Kawhi get hurt every year?

 

[The Oldtimer]

I don't think it's a mistake at all. For one, they would be getting the best player in the world.

It's also not like they're going to be signing him to some 10 year Albert Pujols contract that will hurt them for years after he's no longer "that guy" anymore. The most they could sign him for would be 4 years. So, even if he only has say, 2 years as the best player in the world, unless he falls off a cliff, you still have him as a top 5 or so player in the world for 2 more years.

Also, regardless of who they bring in with Lebron (Paul George or Kawhi), they still keep 3 or 4 of their young guys, it's just a matter of which ones.

Okay, good opinion.

 

[Wamu]

Okay, good opinion.

I didn't read what he said but my guess is it's wrong. How are you today?

 

[DJ]

People that don't return from that injury are typically older than 30. Cousins has time on his side. Plus, he's not a high flyer who puts a lot of pressure on it. Cousins is a low post banger.

And it's not like Kobe returned playing like his former self. He was a shadow of his former self.

 

[DJ]

I don't think it's a mistake at all. For one, they would be getting the best player in the world.

It's also not like they're going to be signing him to some 10 year Albert Pujols contract that will hurt them for years after he's no longer "that guy" anymore. The most they could sign him for would be 4 years. So, even if he only has say, 2 years as the best player in the world, unless he falls off a cliff, you still have him as a top 5 or so player in the world for 2 more years.

Also, regardless of who they bring in with Lebron (Paul George or Kawhi), they still keep 3 or 4 of their young guys, it's just a matter of which ones.

This.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Can the Lakers sign all three of them? Besides is PG that good and doesn't Kawhi get hurt every year?

They could sign PG and James. Randle won’t be back. Then they can trade for Kawhi. Probably still have Hart and Kuzma. Not much depth.

 

[Mecca]

Exactly Outlaw. I personnaly think Cousin's playing days are over. Not everyone returns like Kobe did from the Achilles tear and most do not return to their former performance levels post-injury. Cousin's past reputation and his performance history belies any respectable return enough to garner any interest for trade activites.

I hope not. But, you never know with Bigs.

According to him, for whatever that's worth, he's coming along.


As far as rehab, are you going five days a week? Do you have to be cautious about not going too hard?

I go six days a week, and I was cleared a while ago to just go [hard]. My doctors and my team around me have been great with how hard they pushed me, how far they pushed me. The results have been good so far — well, not even good, great.

What does “great” mean as far as a timetable for a return?

Just at the pace I’m improving, how well I’m improving. Some people may be aware, but they may not know about this injury. Usually you lose a lot of size in your leg and it takes a while to get that size basically where you have matching legs. For me, I didn’t lose any size in my leg, so that’s something that my doctors and the guys coaching me through this process have been raving about it. They are super excited about it.

I didn’t lose much strength. It’s a lot of positives. Like I said, everything’s been great and it’s in the right direction.

DeMarcus Cousins: ‘I’m shooting to be ready for training camp’

 

[Mecca]

People that don't return from that injury are typically older than 30. Cousins has time on his side. Plus, he's not a high flyer who puts a lot of pressure on it. Cousins is a low post banger.

And it's not like Kobe returned playing like his former self. He was a shadow of his former self.

Spot on.

 

[Mecca]

Can the Lakers sign all three of them? Besides is PG that good and doesn't Kawhi get hurt every year?

You can sign Lebron and George by renouncing all your free agents, including Randle.....stretching Deng.

You would have to trade for Kawhi, he's not a free agent.

Gotta think that will cost you , minimum, Ball, Ingram and picks.

George is great as a #2.

Not as a #1....imo

Healthy Kawhi is the 4th best player in the NBA behind James, Durant, Davis.....imo

Plus, you'd have two of the top 4 two way players in the NBA.

Only problem?

They all play the same position.

You could have LeBron as your point, George as the two and Kawhi as the 3.

Who plays pf though?

Kuz?

 

[DJ]

Spot on.

Time shall vindicate me again when Cousins returns balling at a high level. Regardless if he is playing for the Lakers.

#updatethespreadsheet

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Exactly Outlaw. I personnaly think Cousin's playing days are over. Not everyone returns like Kobe did from the Achilles tear and most do not return to their former performance levels post-injury. Cousin's past reputation and his performance history belies any respectable return enough to garner any interest for trade activites.

Trading for him would definitely not be in the Lakers best interest. I haven't even bothered to check, I just assumed he would be a free agent and the Lakers wouldn't have to give anything up.

And it's not like Kobe returned playing like his former self. He was a shadow of his former self.

That actually supports my argument against pursuing Cousins.

 

[DJ]

Trading for him would definitely not be in the Lakers best interest. I haven't even bothered to check, I just assumed he would be a free agent and the Lakers wouldn't have to give anything up.



That actually supports my argument against pursuing Cousins.

Kobe was a decade older.....

 

[DJ]

Cousins is a FA....they wouldn't need to trade for him.

 

[The Oldtimer]

You can sign Lebron and George by renouncing all your free agents, including Randle.....stretching Deng.

You would have to trade for Kawhi, he's not a free agent.

Gotta think that will cost you , minimum, Ball, Ingram and picks.

George is great as a #2.

Not as a #1....imo

Healthy Kawhi is the 4th best player in the NBA behind James, Durant, Davis.....imo

Plus, you'd have two of the top 4 two way players in the NBA.

Only problem?

They all play the same position.

You could have LeBron as your point, George as the two and Kawhi as the 3.

Who plays pf though?

Kuz?

It's actually "I love you woman"!!!

 

[DJ]

You can sign Lebron and George by renouncing all your free agents, including Randle.....stretching Deng.

You would have to trade for Kawhi, he's not a free agent.

Gotta think that will cost you , minimum, Ball, Ingram and picks.

George is great as a #2.

Not as a #1....imo

Healthy Kawhi is the 4th best player in the NBA behind James, Durant, Davis.....imo

Plus, you'd have two of the top 4 two way players in the NBA.

Only problem?

They all play the same position.

You could have LeBron as your point, George as the two and Kawhi as the 3.

Who plays pf though?

Kuz?

Kuzma. Or James.

Position-less basketball though.

 

[Mecca]

Trading for him would definitely not be in the Lakers best interest. I haven't even bothered to check, I just assumed he would be a free agent and the Lakers wouldn't have to give anything up.



That actually supports my argument against pursuing Cousins.

Next year for Kawhi.

He will be UFA if he doesn't take the Supermax from the Spurs this Summer.

 

[DJ]

It's actually "I love you woman"!!!

Easy old timer!!!!!

 

[Mecca]

It's actually "I love you woman"!!!

I love you back, OT.

One of my most favorite posters from Fannation and the SportsHoopla.