Where do the Lakers go from here...?

shopson67 · Jun 20, 2018

flyerhawk said:
Sometimes. Do you really think that Lonzo Ball is better defender than Marcus Smart?

I think Ball is more of a team defender, whereas Smart is a one-on-one guy. I never said one was better than the other, just that Ball does have stats that indicate he is a solid defender as well.

flyerhawk · Jun 20, 2018

shopson67 said:
I think Ball is more of a team defender, whereas Smart is a one-on-one guy. I never said one was better than the other, just that Ball does have stats that indicate he is a solid defender as well.

I didn't say that Ball was anything but a solid defender.

The Lakers were a middle of the pack defensive squad. The Celtics were either the best or 2nd best defensive team in basketball. I'd say that arguing that Marcus Smart is more of an individual defender than Ball doesn't make a lot of sense.

I know you haven't said one is better than the other. However just about every serious hoops fan would agree that Smart is the better defender, by a wide margin. Smart is about to get paid a healthy contract based almost solely on his defensive ability. I would argue that the Celtics would have lost in the 1st round if not for his defensive effort.

ANGELAKERAMS · Jun 20, 2018

shopson67 said:
...and that can be taken two ways. Having better players around you, including an all-star PG, draws the defense and opens up shots and driving lanes. Sure, he may get fewer shots, and that shows with better shooting and fewer points. We have all seen them play. In fact, head to head Kuzma got the better of Tatum. In the first meeting, Tatum didn't play much and Kuzma only had mediocre stats. In the second game, Kuzma had a huge game with 28 pts to Tatum's 4.

Exactly

Why do people ignore these facts.

If you have all star players on your team, the other team is going to focus more on them and open things up for others.

Why do you think LeBron gets so many assists as a sf? Because the defense is focused on stopping him and he's able to kick the ball to open guys. Duh.

Can we just agree that both players are great in their own right and quit having a pissing match over which team's player is better?

flyerhawk · Jun 20, 2018

ANGELAKERAMS said:
Can we just agree that both players are great in their own right and quit having a pissing match over which team's player is better?

No because they are not at the same level.

Kuzma was a promising looking 22 year old who played fairly well for a not very good team.

I hate the Celtics but Tatum looks to be an All-Star level player. Kuzma looks to be a starter caliber player. Which is damn good from a late 1st round pick.

Shanemansj13 · Jun 20, 2018

ANGELAKERAMS said:
Exactly

Why do people ignore these facts.

If you have all star players on your team, the other team is going to focus more on them and open things up for others.

Why do you think LeBron gets so many assists as a sf? Because the defense is focused on stopping him and he's able to kick the ball to open guys. Duh.

Can we just agree that both players are great in their own right and quit having a pissing match over which team's player is better?

Tatum looks to have a higher ceiling and potential. Remember Tatum is 19. 3 years is a LONG time so they aren’t the same player. We will take Lebron for example:

He was 19 and a rookie and averaged 21 6 and 5. 3 years later he sas averaging 28 6 and 7 with a lot more efficiency. Kuzma being close to Tatum as this point actually means he isn’t the same player bc he had 3 years at Utah in college. Tatum had basically a half a season at Duke

OutlawImmortal · Jun 20, 2018

trojanfan12 said:
I wouldn't mind Boogie (and I was dead set against him for awhile) as long as 2 things happen...

1.) There have to be assurances that he can be at least close to where he was before the injury.

2.) I'd want him on less money and/or a shorter deal.

If not for that injury, I believe he would be high on the Lakers wish list this off-season.

I would switch out Randle for Cousins, just not sure I'd use up a max slot for him.

tlance said:
More with less?

No, they haven't.

First off, the Lakers have drafted ahead of the Celtics every single year except 2014 where the Lakers chose 1 spot behind Boston. Yes, the Celtics have had more picks, but nobody outside of LA is taking:

Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, Randle, Hart

Over

Tatum, Brown, Rozier, Smart, and Ojele

More with less was maybe a little too strong but my main point was that the Lakers have drafted well, and shouldn't panic and get lost in the no man's land of the NBA that is good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to contend. Plan B's are what got them Mozgov and Deng.

When you factor in draft position and number of picks, then I think the Lakers deserve a bit more credit than what they get from the average NBA fan.

flyerhawk · Jun 20, 2018

OutlawImmortal said:
When you factor in draft position and number of picks, then I think the Lakers deserve a bit more credit than what they get from the average NBA fan.

Do you think the Lakers actually start winning games before they get credit for how well they drafted? I'm not saying that they drafted poorly but it does seem a bit premature to give them credit for drafting well at this stage.

ANGELAKERAMS · Jun 20, 2018

flyerhawk said:
No because they are not at the same level.

Kuzma was a promising looking 22 year old who played fairly well for a not very good team.

I hate the Celtics but Tatum looks to be an All-Star level player. Kuzma looks to be a starter caliber player. Which is damn good from a late 1st round pick.

Ugh

I'm not saying they are equal-Hello!

I said they are both great players in their own right.

And if you really want to split hairs, of course Tatum has more potential. That's why he went 3rd and Kuzma went 27th.

You act like we are comparing guys that went back to back in the draft.

All I'm saying is they are both great at what they do. I'm not saying Kuzma is on Tatum's level or has his potential.

Good grief!

True Lakers Fan · Jun 20, 2018

One report says Chris Paul told LeBron James prefers Los Angeles Over Houston

Another report says Lonzo Ball is out if that happens

If that's the case - Luol Deng & Ball for draft picks or a player that works and then Ingram and Kuzma for Leonard

flyerhawk · Jun 20, 2018

ANGELAKERAMS said:
Ugh

I'm not saying they are equal-Hello!

I said they are both great players in their own right.

And if you really want to split hairs, of course Tatum has more potential. That's why he went 3rd and Kuzma went 27th.

You act like we are comparing guys that went back to back in the draft.

All I'm saying is they are both great at what they do. I'm not saying Kuzma is on Tatum's level or has his potential.

Good grief!

This "debate" started because a Lakers fan tried to use stats to claim that they were similar players.

Shaqdaddy11 · Jun 20, 2018

True Lakers Fan said:
One report says Chris Paul told LeBron James prefers Los Angeles Over Houston

Another report says Lonzo Ball is out if that happens

If that's the case - Luol Deng & Ball for draft picks or a player that works and then Ingram and Kuzma for Leonard

Ball and Deng plus picks isn't going to cut it. They'd have to add either Kuzma or Ingram.

Heatles84 · Jun 20, 2018

Shaqdaddy11 said:
Ball and Deng plus picks isn't going to cut it. They'd have to add either Kuzma or Ingram.

I was told that the Spurs should thank their lucky stars if LA is willing to trade Ingram for Kawhi only.

Shanemansj13 · Jun 20, 2018

True Lakers Fan said:
One report says Chris Paul told LeBron James prefers Los Angeles Over Houston

Another report says Lonzo Ball is out if that happens

If that's the case - Luol Deng & Ball for draft picks or a player that works and then Ingram and Kuzma for Leonard

You can’t believe any reports. Listen to Woj. He is usually spot on. All these rumors are fuj and all but are mostly BS

Shaqdaddy11 · Jun 20, 2018

Heatles84 said:
I was told that the Spurs should thank their lucky stars if LA is willing to trade Ingram for Kawhi only.

I know if Kawhi comes an and explicitly says that he's going to sign in LA in 2019 no matter what, other teams aren't going to offer them a great package.

And even in that situation the Lakers won't ( and can't) lowball the Spurs. It'll take AT LEAST 2 out of their 3 young stars, plus picks.

But if somehow they managed to get lebron and PG, I hope they wait it out for a year then.

Heatles84 · Jun 20, 2018

Shaqdaddy11 said:
I know if Kawhi comes an and explicitly says that he's going to sign in LA in 2019 no matter what, other teams aren't going to offer them a great package.

And even in that situation the Lakers won't ( and can't) lowball the Spurs. It'll take AT LEAST 2 out of their 3 young stars, plus picks.

But if somehow they managed to get lebron and PG, I hope they wait it out for a year then.

Won't happen because then you won't be able to sign Kawhi to a max contract then.

Shaqdaddy11 · Jun 20, 2018

Heatles84 said:
Won't happen because then you won't be able to sign Kawhi to a max contract then.

Good point, I didn't think about that.

Shaqdaddy11 · Jun 20, 2018

True Lakers Fan · Jun 20, 2018

Shanemansj13 said:
You can’t believe any reports. Listen to Woj. He is usually spot on. All these rumors are fuj and all but are mostly BS

I don't count on anything in rumors - players like that will anything to get traded, but if the Spurs can find him a good team - Leonard will do what's right. However here is another one

Report: 'Deep suspicions' that Leonard is set on playing for Lakers

True Lakers Fan · Jun 20, 2018

Shaqdaddy11 said:
Ball and Deng plus picks isn't going to cut it. They'd have to add either Kuzma or Ingram.

That article I saw yesterday seemed to think it would do it - I think it depends on if the Lakers can get Leonard and then convince LeBron and George to take less money for the first year to bring them under the cap with Deng. Then they could wait one more year and dump the Deng contract easily

Shanemansj13 · Jun 20, 2018

Shaqdaddy11 said:
Good point, I didn't think about that.

That isn’t unordinary for you

Where do the Lakers go from here...?

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