if Magic and Pelinka go out into free agency and come up empty handed that is a pretty harsh rebuke at this point.
No it isn't.
if Magic and Pelinka go out into free agency and come up empty handed that is a pretty harsh rebuke at this point.
I still cannot believe Short Buss and Kupchak actually thought signing Mozgov and Deng to 4 year deals worth a combined almost 34 million a year was a good idea.
Honestly it has to go down as one of the dumbest moves i can remember- like the Cavs drafting Bennett.
the Lakers- a team that can really push itself in free agency- spends almost 35 million a year for 4 years- between a 1/4 and a 1/3 of their cap space- on Luol Deng and Timo Mozgov.
If not for Short Buss the Lakers would be in such better shape and i thank him for it.
Unfortunately Magic and Pelinka were able to rid themselves of Mozgov's albatross deal and have started to get stuff straightened out.
Definitely can be argued. However, without sacrificing those 3 players, they don't have the cap space they need this off-season. I think the reason for sacrificing Nance and Clarkson at the time they did was because the Cavs needed to make a change right then and the Lakers wanted a first round pick. So, timing more than anything.
Randle is a bit of an unusual case, imo. When the season started, I don't think anyone expected him to make the leap that he did. Considering the Lakers plans have been to clear space for max guys since before Magic and Pelinka took over, he basically played so well that he has likely priced himself out of LA.
To me, whether or not it's a big deal if they strike out depends on why they struck out.
If it's because they were selling the wrong things and basically trying to say..."We're the Lakers, here's your contract. Sign here". Rather than talking basketball, how they plan to win and how each FA fits into those plans...Then that would indicate that they didn't learn much from the Short Buss era.
This is a small max guy class. With Boogie's Achilles injury, the only truly max guys (at least that I'd wan the Lakers signing) are Lebron and PG. Boogie would be okay if there are assurances that he'll be back to at least very close to what he was before the injury.
Also, the team is very young. Max guys may not want to commit until there's a little better idea of what they can become.
That's also an issue I see with a team like Philly. I don't see LeBron even considering Philly or LA without a PG type of player there as well. LeBron to Philly makes for a good headline but why would he want to play with one guy who's got the minutes restriction of a 38 year old and another who's afraid to draw fouls? I don't think LeBron's looking to mentor just yet. He wants to compete.
Yeah, that's definitely why he isn't coming to LA alone. The only reason I could see him going to Philly without another max guy is because they made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs, so they appear more ready to win right now than the Lakers.
But I agree, he may very well want another max guy in Philly with him. I know they can clear the space for Lebron without giving up much. It would be interesting to see what they would do if Lebron insisted on them bringing in another max guy.
Yeah, that's definitely why he isn't coming to LA alone. The only reason I could see him going to Philly without another max guy is because they made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs, so they appear more ready to win right now than the Lakers.
But I agree, he may very well want another max guy in Philly with him. I know they can clear the space for Lebron without giving up much. It would be interesting to see what they would do if Lebron insisted on them bringing in another max guy.
I mean imo there are only a handful of teams he even has an option to go to AND have cap space for him:
Cavs
Lakers
Sixers
The Rockets and Pelicans both need to rid some salaries to acquire him.
I think for a chance to compete with the Warriors you have to appease LeBron. It may haunt you down the line but I'd trade a package involving Kuzma and Ingram for Kawhi if LeBron demanded it. Keeping Lonzo is a viable option as well. LeBron seems to like Lonzo's pass-first mentality, and keeping another primary ballhandler may be what LeBron would prefer. Lonzo can also play pretty good defense.
PG Ball
SG George
SF Kawhi
PF LeBron
It's also good for the NBA. You have the Kyrie/LeBron rivalry on top of the Lakers/Celtics rivalry. Ratings would explode.
Agree. One of those 3 seems most likely. I'd have the Cavs as the favorites because I think Lebron would prefer to stay in Cleveland if they can find some way to get him some help.
Sign Cousins and George....go young.....keep the core--- Lonzo Ball would fit with both those guys really well. Maybe if you can get cousins to take a small discount - and then trade Kuzma and a pick or two to get rid of Deng you can even keep Randle.
PG- Ball
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Randle
C- Cousins
Now that is a good, young fun team that fits together and would be hitting its peak just as Golden State is declining.
I want no part of that flake Cousins.
Cleveland can't be the favorite at this point. I just don't see what they can do. Too many bad contracts with multiple years left. Love isn't even really a great trade asset anymore. He is okay, but rebuilding teams won't want him and contenders won't give a substantially better piece in a package to acquire him.
If LeBron picks Cleveland, he is choosing the Kobe route.
Sign Cousins and George....go young.....keep the core--- Lonzo Ball would fit with both those guys really well. Maybe if you can get cousins to take a small discount - and then trade Kuzma and a pick or two to get rid of Deng you can even keep Randle.
PG- Ball
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Randle
C- Cousins
Now that is a good, young fun team that fits together and would be hitting its peak just as Golden State is declining.
I want no part of that flake Cousins.
Notice how the Pelicans hit their stride once Boogie went down with that achilles injury?
I think that had more to do with him and AD learning to play together more than anything else. I don't recall hearing about any attitude issues with Boogie before he got hurt.
As a Heat fan, you should know from Lebron's first year in Miami, that stars learning to play together can be downright ugly at times.