Breaking: Isaiah Thomas, More Traded to Lakers for Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance

[shopson67]

Does anyone actually think adding Lebron and PG this offseason makes the Lakers a top 4 team in the WC? Because it doesn't. They needed nice little role players, exactly like Clarckson and Nance, in order for that to happen. And Lebron and PG are aware of that too and it is why you won't see a bonanza this offseason for the Lakers.

Only way this really works out is if the Lakers are patient and use this cap space to acquire major draft pick assets for taking on other teams bad contracts. But doing that puts their window for the playoffs down the road to 3 or 4 seasons away. I can't imagine them having that type of patience.

If you're going to critique the Lakers, you should at least know their situation. Clarkson is a backup combo guard. He's a nice piece, but he's also the type of guard that scores without an assist (ball dominant), which isn't a great fit in Walton's system. Nance is a great defense and hustle role player, but the Lakers are overstuffed with PFs that need minutes already with Kuzma and Randle ahead of him (already pushing Randle to small-ball center much of the time). They are great pieces to have for depth purposes, but they aren't crucial to the Lakers' future.

Lakers got useful players to replace them for the balance of the season, cap space to improve the roster this summer or next, and a 1st round pick out of the deal. Cavs got athletic youth that is under control for another year or two for IT (who wasn't fitting yet and was likely gone this summer) and an underused and aging Frye. Great deal for both sides. The draft pick was the cherry on top for the Lakers.

 

[shopson67]

It was never out of play. What do people not understand about this? Clarkson and Nance are good players and fair contracts. Any number of teams would trade for them come this summer if they needed to be moved. Revoke Randle's rights and stretch Deng, and they would have had room (which still are gonna have to happen if they want to max slots). This isn't hard to do. People out here acting like if LA didn't make this trade they were locked into salary cap hell like Portland or Charlotte for the next 5 years or some shit. None of that is true. They didn't gain any significant tangible flexibility. Lebron and PG are no closer to joining. They just shipped out two assets early with no guarantees. That's all that happened. Considering plenty of teams that are in tight cap situations agree to deals with free agents in the offseason, trade pieces to clear space, and sign that player all within the span of a couple of days, I'd much rather take the less risky path of keeping my assets until I absolutely have to part with them.

Let's put it simply. The Lakers took their shot 100 yards from the target when they could wait 4 months and take their shot 20 yards from the target. They could still hit the target, but the 20 yard shot is an easier shot to hit.

How were the Lakers going to trade Clarkson and Nance this summer and clear that much cap space this same summer? Trade them for picks and unguaranteed contracts only? $13M worth? Or hope for a S&T from the very teams that are hoping to keep their target players? Trading them for expirings this summer takes those salaries off the books in 2019, not 2018. In order to have that flexibility this summer, this had to happen now.

 

[shopson67]

Nance will be welcomed with open arms in Cleveland. They basically have 2 Tristan Thompson's now and Jordan Clarkson was really heating up lately. Makes you wonder how much of an upgrade over Clarkson, Thomas even is. It's an odd move, the odd moves aren't stopping just because Jim Buss isn't at the helm anymore it seems.

Thomas doesn't need to be an upgrade. He should be able to replace Clarkson adequately, but his main job is to be an expiring contract. Now, if he plays lights out, he may open other options for the Lakers. They could S&T him for other assets if a capped out team wants to pursue him, perhaps a target that is not yet a FA. Or, he could get a one year prove-it deal if the Lakers FA pursuits come up empty this summer.

These moves aren't odd whatsoever; they're prescient. Unfortunately, the sins of the past regime force the current front office to be a little more creative and well-prepared.

 

[Kold]

Man, I wake up this morning, turn on the tv...and people are talking about JC and Larry like they are God's gift to role players, while they were considered solid at best while in LA

 

[Battlelyon]

So the Cavs traded Kyrie Irving for
George Hill
Rodney Hood
Jordan Clarkson
Larry Nance Jr
The Brooklyn Pick.

 

[Battlelyon]

What a difference 24 hours make.

 

[handicappers]

Man, I wake up this morning, turn on the tv...and people are talking about JC and Larry like they are God's gift to role players, while they were considered solid at best while in LA

they have a role model now that will push them to become much better players.

 

[gordontrue]

A lot is going to ride on Lue's handling of minutes/rotations.

After Love & LeBron... not a lot separates the next 8 guys in terms of talent: Hill, Clarkson, JR, Hood, Korver, Nance, TT, Green.

Maybe some of those guys will rise to the top and others will fall to the bottom... but at least initially Lue has his hands full managing rotations. Usually playoff rotations tighten up to 7 or 8 guys, but that might not be the best thing for this particular roster.

 

[megalodon30]

Guy should've never left Sacramento.

 

[Montalban]

If you think Hood, Hill, and Clarkson are scrubs then you're not very smart

They are OK but are lesser players at this point than the guys they'll be replacing. All this does is allow James' already inflated ego to explode and say he is mentoring all these young guys.

 

[Montalban]

You're a moron.

Clarkson and Hood are good players.....

They are OK, but are not as good as the guys they are replacing; at least atthis point in their careers.

 

[Montalban]

Just a bad 9 months that started with the death of his sister, blindsided trade by Boston, and now traded from the Cavs after playing for a month.....and oh yeah that max contract he was seeking is gone.

He is not in the lakers' plans either it appears. Johnson left him out completely when talking about next year's squad on Sports Center.

 

[Montalban]

They got young players for washed up bench players. Half the players they traded were either injured or got limited minutes. Crowder and IT were the best players they traded away and they look lost.

They just guaranteed themselves they won't win their conference. They replaced veteran players who have been to the post season and are used to the pressure with guys who have never been there and will collapse under the pressure.

 

[Robotech]

I'm confused and feel like I'm in a time warp...

Isiah Thomas was traded for Larry Nance???

You're in an alternate dimension.

 

[Heatles84]

I actually was wondering why the Cavs would make this move until I read the article - Isaiah didn't fit in with Lebron because the dude is a lot like Kobe and there is no room for him(IT) to grow as a young player. Jordan Clarkson running the point is about as good as he ever will be and will be glad to play second fiddle to James. Nance brings some youth and will also get to grow with more minutes. It turned out to be better for both teams then I thought at first

Isiah Thomas is 29 years old. He's not a young player. His ceiling was what he did in Boston.

 

[Heatles84]

A lot is going to ride on Lue's handling of minutes/rotations.

After Love & LeBron... not a lot separates the next 8 guys in terms of talent: Hill, Clarkson, JR, Hood, Korver, Nance, TT, Green.

Maybe some of those guys will rise to the top and others will fall to the bottom... but at least initially Lue has his hands full managing rotations. Usually playoff rotations tighten up to 7 or 8 guys, but that might not be the best thing for this particular roster.

With this roster, Lue will have to stay with a 10-man rotation.

 

[Heatles84]

Does anyone actually think adding Lebron and PG this offseason makes the Lakers a top 4 team in the WC? Because it doesn't. They needed nice little role players, exactly like Clarckson and Nance, in order for that to happen. And Lebron and PG are aware of that too and it is why you won't see a bonanza this offseason for the Lakers.

Only way this really works out is if the Lakers are patient and use this cap space to acquire major draft pick assets for taking on other teams bad contracts. But doing that puts their window for the playoffs down the road to 3 or 4 seasons away. I can't imagine them having that type of patience.

Yes. Anywhere Lebron goes certainly shifts things in power balance. Not saying the Lakers would be better than the Warriors - but him and PG13 on the same team in the West makes them a pretty good team.

 

[Shanemansj13]

They just guaranteed themselves they won't win their conference. They replaced veteran players who have been to the post season and are used to the pressure with guys who have never been there and will collapse under the pressure.

You mean guys that were injured, old and couldn’t play defense or shoot...you know nothing. Just shut up LOL

 

[wildturkey]

And what if Clarkson or Larry got injured in the next couple of days and were out for the season? Just see what happened to Boogie or Love who were heavy targets for the Lakers. Heck, if Love wasn't injured he'd probably be on the Lakers right now instead of IT.

Don't get me wrong. JC was my favorite player on the team but the Lakers made the right move. Now their cap space is 100% guaranteed.

So what? Any player can get injured at any time. That's no reason to rush into things. That's a total non issue.

How were the Lakers going to trade Clarkson and Nance this summer and clear that much cap space this same summer? Trade them for picks and unguaranteed contracts only? $13M worth? Or hope for a S&T from the very teams that are hoping to keep their target players? Trading them for expirings this summer takes those salaries off the books in 2019, not 2018. In order to have that flexibility this summer, this had to happen now.

No, it didn't. There are always teams available to take on scraps when another team is shedding salary. Look at any big time free agent and see how the teams juggled money to get them. Both times Lebron James moved, the teams made moves to accommodate him. More recently, look at Kevin Durant and Chris Paul. Did the Warriors shed space at the deadline in order to save it for KD? No. They went into the summer, got him to agree, and then let Barnes walk and traded Bogut among other things to make the room. Did the Rockets free up space for Paul? No. They met with him that summer, we're getting ready to clear out some guys, and then CP3's agent realized it would be better for his client to opt in and they traded for him. So all the guys the Rockets were going to ship out to other teams ended up going to the Clippers. And guess what? The Rockets are gonna do the same thing for Lebron this summer too. They'll meet with him, if he says yes, they will then proceed to shed all the necessary components to make it happen. Study the Rockets in general. They're cap wizards and have done this several times taking advantage of the cap and various loopholes to make moves without sacrificing assets to just hoard space. There's zero reason the Lakers couldn't do the same thing. They would have cap for 1 max guy just by letting KCP/Lopez leave. They could have shed the rest if 2 guys (and we're really just talking Lebron and George) said yes. There's no rule saying you don't get to meet with FAs unless you're under the cap. Going in with cap space just means you have cap space. It guarantees NOTHING. Teams capped out still find ways to get top guys. We've seen it plenty.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

So what? Any player can get injured at any time. That's no reason to rush into things. That's a total non issue.



No, it didn't. There are always teams available to take on scraps when another team is shedding salary. Look at any big time free agent and see how the teams juggled money to get them. Both times Lebron James moved, the teams made moves to accommodate him. More recently, look at Kevin Durant and Chris Paul. Did the Warriors shed space at the deadline in order to save it for KD? No. They went into the summer, got him to agree, and then let Barnes walk and traded Bogut among other things to make the room. Did the Rockets free up space for Paul? No. They met with him that summer, we're getting ready to clear out some guys, and then CP3's agent realized it would be better for his client to opt in and they traded for him. So all the guys the Rockets were going to ship out to other teams ended up going to the Clippers. And guess what? The Rockets are gonna do the same thing for Lebron this summer too. They'll meet with him, if he says yes, they will then proceed to shed all the necessary components to make it happen. Study the Rockets in general. They're cap wizards and have done this several times taking advantage of the cap and various loopholes to make moves without sacrificing assets to just hoard space. There's zero reason the Lakers couldn't do the same thing. They would have cap for 1 max guy just by letting KCP/Lopez leave. They could have shed the rest if 2 guys (and we're really just talking Lebron and George) said yes. There's no rule saying you don't get to meet with FAs unless you're under the cap. Going in with cap space just means you have cap space. It guarantees NOTHING. Teams capped out still find ways to get top guys. We've seen it plenty.

They guaranteed space for TWO max player now. Why wait till the end of the season when they could get things done now?

Plus they got a first round pick out of the deal - something that would be near impossible to get in June/July