Where do the Lakers go from here...?

[Wamu]

Where do the Lakers go from here? Has anyone suggested the G League?

 

[OutlawImmortal]

I just dont agree in the slightest.

I think Simmons is the 2nd best talent to come into the NBA in the last 10 years after Anthony Davis and he has the upside to be a top 5 player in the entire NBA someday. I just dont see Ingram anywhere close to that- but we shall see.

I'm sure similar things were said about guys like Andrew Wiggins as well, but I realize comparing Ingram and Simmons isn't an extremely popular thing to do.

 

[Retroram52]

I have stated all along on the Lakers board that this mindset of trading our young core for established players is a Short Buss mentality and I doubt very much that Ingram or definitely Kuzma are going anywhere. Randle may be headed some place if they don't sign the dude obviously but I still believe that Magic and Pelinka are taking the GSW's model to heart and implementing it because their head coach got a ring and was trained in that system and he likes the results.

The Icon help build the present team in GS and he did it by the draft and judicious additions of key vets. This talk of Randle or Kuzma or a number one for Leonard has the smell of a Short Buss mentality and I doubt Popovich, who has already pubically stated he would do everything in his power to void such a move, will let this mirage deal go anywhere but down the toilet with the rest of the waste.

 

[Black Adam]

I have stated all along on the Lakers board that this mindset of trading our young core for established players is a Short Buss mentality and I doubt very much that Ingram or definitely Kuzma are going anywhere. Randle may be headed some place if they don't sign the dude obviously but I still believe that Magic and Pelinka are taking the GSW's model to heart and implementing it because their head coach got a ring and was trained in that system and he likes the results.

The Icon help build the present team in GS and he did it by the draft and judicious additions of key vets. This talk of Randle or Kuzma or a number one for Leonard has the smell of a Short Buss mentality and I doubt Popovich, who has already pubically stated he would do everything in his power to void such a move, will let this mirage deal go anywhere but down the toilet with the rest of the waste.

i agree...

selling out for a couple of playoff runs(that wouldn't get us a title anyhow considering GS' roster) imo is foolish...

we've been going in the direction of building a team that'll contend for the long run, so why change horses in the middle of a stream...?

 

[Retroram52]

Yep, CL67. We have gone from a perrenial 20-23 win team to a 35-win team in just two years under Luke and if they keep things intact and say add a PG this summer, I expect we may see the inside of play-off basketball after this coming season.

 

[ericd7633]

The Lakers will drastically improve next year from the 11th best team in the West to the 10th.

 

[Black Adam]

The Lakers will drastically improve next year from the 11th best team in the West to the 10th.

DEAD wrong...

 

[ericd7633]

DEAD wrong...

You might be right...there's always a chance the Clippers will still be better than the Lakers...

 

[Black Adam]

You might be right...there's always a chance the Clippers will still be better than the Lakers...

funny man...

stay tuned...

 

[trojanfan12]

I mean how else do you grade a draft?

I dont think anyone much thought the Sixers made the wrong pick picking Fultz over Tatum- but in retrospect it was the wrong pick. I want my GM to be the guy that goes against the national media consensus and gets it right- like Danny Ainge did.

Like Phil in NY- I absolutely give him a ton of credit for going against what many people thought was a risky pick in picking Porzingis.

Tons of people liked MKG as the consensus #2 pick after Davis- but its clear in retrospect that lillard, beale, drummond, etc. were better picks.

NBA GM's are paid to pick the right players--- when they do - like Utah did with Mitchell- they deserve all the credit in the world- when they dont- like say I remember Jan Vesley was like the 7th overall pick to the Wizards- they deserved to be ripped.

Thats the job.

Lol @you thinking that a re-draft is an accurate assessment after 1-2 years. When Ben Simmons ended up sitting out his entire first season, people were questioning whether it was the right move. No one is questioning that now.

They questioned whether getting Embiid was the right move because he couldn't stay healthy. Now, while there is still some question about his injuries, no one is questioning drafting him as high as he was anymore.

If Fultz fixes his shot, no one will be questioning that pick either.

"The job" is to get the best guy possible based on the information available at the time. You do that by taking the player who appears to be the best available or you draft according to need.

The Lakers needed a lot and they drafted the consensus best guys available. The Celtics and Sixers didn't need as much and drafted based on need.

Also, 1-2 years or so after a draft is way too soon to be playing the re-draft game anyway. These days, because more guys are coming in after only 1 season of college, it often takes 3-4 years for a guy to start showing his worth.

Look at Ingram. After his rookie season, him going 2nd didn't look too good. After his 2nd season, it looks a lot better. Maybe still not #2 quality, but definitely better.

If he continues to improve, then in another 1-3 years, it'll look like the right choice.

 

[Mecca]

You might be right...there's always a chance the Clippers will still be better than the Lakers...

Why you have to drag me into this?.....lol

 

[trojanfan12]

Simmons has work to do before he can be considered elite. His jumpshot is essentially nonexistent. Ingram made a marked improvement in his 2nd year, I don't think it's unreasonable to add Ingram to the conversation if Simmons is there. I think there's a difference between having elite talent and being an elite player because skills are apart of it too. LeBron is the best in the world because he has an abundant supply of both.

It's kind of interesting how Lonzo gets far less praise for stuffing the stat sheet than Simmons does.

Yeah, I find the bold interesting too. Lonzo isn't a good shooter, but he will still shoot. Simmons isn't a good shooter, but he acts like shooting beyond about 5 feet is illegal.

If I'm the Sixers, I want him to at least be willing to shoot it, it's the only way to get better.

I think a lot of the Lonzo criticism has to do with Lavar. Because of his mouth, some people were actively hoping for Lonzo to fail.

So to fit their narrative, they want to focus on his shooting and not talk about the assists, rebounds, defense (which was far better than advertised) and the fact that the Lakers offense generally ran better when he was on the floor.

In short, the son is paying for the sins of his father.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

You might be right...there's always a chance the Clippers will still be better than the Lakers...

No there isn't, but by all means continue your trolling if that makes you happy

 

[ericd7633]

No there isn't, but by all means continue your trolling if that makes you happy

Sure there is. I personally don't think it will happen though. But I was just responding back to the other Lakers fan who suggested I was dead wrong about them going from 11th to 10th in the West. I think there's clearly 9 teams better right now. We'll see what happens in free agency.

 

[Black Adam]

Sure there is. I personally don't think it will happen though. But I was just responding back to the other Lakers fan who suggested I was dead wrong about them going from 11th to 10th in the West. I think there's clearly 9 teams better right now. We'll see what happens in free agency.

well, unless you have a crystal ball i'll STILL say dead wrong...

we'll see how it all shakes out though...

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Sure there is. I personally don't think it will happen though. But I was just responding back to the other Lakers fan who suggested I was dead wrong about them going from 11th to 10th in the West. I think there's clearly 9 teams better right now. We'll see what happens in free agency.

I think the main reason that you are wrong is because of how much the Lakers have improved. The main difference, however is if the Lakers get a free agent although Paul George getting his knees scoped doesn't help him at all, he still should be okay if he has recovered enough to be able to announce that he will be ready for the regular season.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Yeah, I find the bold interesting too. Lonzo isn't a good shooter, but he will still shoot. Simmons isn't a good shooter, but he acts like shooting beyond about 5 feet is illegal.

If I'm the Sixers, I want him to at least be willing to shoot it, it's the only way to get better.

I think a lot of the Lonzo criticism has to do with Lavar. Because of his mouth, some people were actively hoping for Lonzo to fail.

So to fit their narrative, they want to focus on his shooting and not talk about the assists, rebounds, defense (which was far better than advertised) and the fact that the Lakers offense generally ran better when he was on the floor.

In short, the son is paying for the sins of his father.

Yeah, Simmons makes Lonzo look like Ray Allen. I think public perception of this Lakers' core so far would be a lot different if they were in the East and had an opportunity to make the playoffs. Winning 16 championships also sets the bar pretty high, as opposed to the Sixers who haven't won since 1983. Different levels of expectation and exposure. I mean, Lonzo's rookie year was under a level of scrutiny unseen since LeBron.

 

[WiggyRuss]

LaVar Ball Unleashes Preposterous Take On Lonzo Ball, Kawhi Leonard

oh you knew it was coming at some point...lol


It was only a matter of time before LaVar Ball made his way back into the spotlight with a ridiculous take. It’s been a relatively quiet past few months in terms of Ball’s outlandishness, but LaVar made his triumphant return to lunacy during an interview with ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley and Travis Rodgers.

During the radio appearance, Ball was asked his opinion on the idea of his son, Lonzo Ball, being traded in a deal for Kawhi Leonard. LaVar, predictably, wouldn’t even entertain the thought.

“Stop it. Stop it. I’m gonna tell you why (that won’t happen),” LaVar Ball said, as transcribed by ForTheWin. “You know what Lonzo is to me? Gelo is my pretty boy. This (LaMelo) is my wow boy. But Zo is the people’s choice. They won’t let it happen. You can’t get rid of Zo! He’s the people’s choice. “Everybody on the outside can say what they want, but when you put it down on paper, the Ball boys are good for business.”

If that wasn’t enough, LaVar doubled down by firmly stating his belief that Leonard isn’t as good of a player as his son. “Stop it! … Hell no. Lonzo, I’m gonna tell you what he does, makes everyone on the team better,” LaVar Ball said. “Who don’t want to start a team with that? You put Kawhi on there, he won’t make everyone better. He’s gonna do his thing. He’s a specialty guy.”

Over the course of seven NBA seasons, including his injury-riddled 2017-18 campaign, Leonard’s résumé includes an NBA championship, a Finals MVP award, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and two All-Star appearances. While Lonzo only has one season of league experience, it’s difficult to envision him becoming as dominant of a two-way player as Leonard. It’s tough to blame LaVar for trying to hype up his son, but at some point, you just have to be a realist.

Read more at: LaVar Ball Unleashes Preposterous Take On Lonzo Ball, Kawhi Leonard

 

[WiggyRuss]

LaVar Ball suggests that the Lakers can help Lonzo Ball fix his shot by drafting LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball

riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Yeah, Simmons makes Lonzo look like Ray Allen. I think public perception of this Lakers' core so far would be a lot different if they were in the East and had an opportunity to make the playoffs. Winning 16 championships also sets the bar pretty high, as opposed to the Sixers who haven't won since 1983. Different levels of expectation and exposure. I mean, Lonzo's rookie year was under a level of scrutiny unseen since LeBron.

yaaaaaaah...Ball shot 36% from the field....Simmons shot 54.5%........