2019 Los Angeles Lakers Off-Season Thread

[trojanfan12]

I think Magic is thin skinned when it came to critsim he rightly recieved for the moves he made and tried to make for 2 years. He took very little responsibilty for poor move, abrubtly quit, and blamed everyone else. When i hear someone say I am leaving a job to have fun, that sounds like retirement to me lol. That was a job over his head that he should never have taken. I am shocked he got hired telling her he was going to half ass it. I don't think jeanie told anyone what magic told her when taking job. Rob saw magic half assing it and put him on blast.

Yep. It also feels like getting Lebron came so easy that he thought every move would be like that.

I think he thought that he'd let Pelinka, etc. do the grunt work and then he'd show up for the press conference and take credit.

Magic is still my favorite athlete of all time, any sport. But he really comes off as petty and selfish with how he handled this.

 

[Retroram52]

And if Jeanie knew that Magic was going treat that job like a play toy, she made a serious mistake in hiring him. In so doing, she provided ample evidence to all the pundits who have suggested numerous times that Jeanie should either sell the Lakers or stop running it like a family. Maybe this is the reason she let the Rambi run the show.

Her loyalty to ex-players is legendary to the behest of her dead father who, if he needed to do a business decision, had no qualms of pulling the business trigger and not letting his loyalty get in the way. One example: When he traded Shaq to the Heat when Shaq asked for a raise retaining Kobe instead.

Since this whole affair has gotten worse than when Short Buss was running this dog and pony show, I think she has decided to return to her style and get this franchise back on track.

I seriously believe that people like Vogel, Kidd, and the Rambi may indeed move LeBron if it means starting over on a rebuild course that was started with Kupchack around and then somehow got side-tracked when Magic took over with Pelinka.

 

[trojanfan12]

And if Jeanie knew that Magic was going treat that job like a play toy, she made a serious mistake in hiring him. In so doing, she provided ample evidence to all the pundits who have suggested numerous times that Jeanie should either sell the Lakers or stop running it like a family. Maybe this is the reason she let the Rambi run the show.

From the info that has come out, this is how Dr. Buss ran things. The Rambi had a voice in decisions even when Dr. Buss was alive. There are 2 key differences however...

1.) His process was never public like it is now. Probably largely because there was no twitter etc. But also because that's how the Lakers did things.

2.) When it came to the final decision, it was him and an experienced FO person like The Logo or Mitch. Apparently, Jeanie and Pelinka make the final decisions, but Pelinka's not an experienced FO person just yet.

Since this whole affair has gotten worse than when Short Buss was running this dog and pony show, I think she has decided to return to her style and get this franchise back on track.

I wouldn't say worse. Short Buss signed Mozgov and Deng to long contracts. Say what we want about Magic and Pelinka, but they created enough cap space to get Lebron and another top FA.

Signing Lebron > signing Mozgov and Deng.

I seriously believe that people like Vogel, Kidd, and the Rambi may indeed move LeBron if it means starting over on a rebuild course that was started with Kupchack around and then somehow got side-tracked when Magic took over with Pelinka.

The Lakers aren't trading Lebron.

The problem is that the teams that the Lakers could get the best return from are teams that he's not going to go to. He'd retire first.

And the teams that he would play for, would either have to give up much of what made them a team that he'd play for (in which case he'd retire) or they'd have to let him go for a couple of spare parts and a couple of first round picks that wouldn't be very valuable because they'd be late picks.

 

[tomodach10]

From the info that has come out, this is how Dr. Buss ran things. The Rambi had a voice in decisions even when Dr. Buss was alive. There are 2 key differences however...

1.) His process was never public like it is now. Probably largely because there was no twitter etc. But also because that's how the Lakers did things.

2.) When it came to the final decision, it was him and an experienced FO person like The Logo or Mitch. Apparently, Jeanie and Pelinka make the final decisions, but Pelinka's not an experienced FO person just yet.



I wouldn't say worse. Short Buss signed Mozgov and Deng to long contracts. Say what we want about Magic and Pelinka, but they created enough cap space to get Lebron and another top FA.

Signing Lebron > signing Mozgov and Deng.



The Lakers aren't trading Lebron.

The problem is that the teams that the Lakers could get the best return from are teams that he's not going to go to. He'd retire first.

And the teams that he would play for, would either have to give up much of what made them a team that he'd play for (in which case he'd retire) or they'd have to let him go for a couple of spare parts and a couple of first round picks that wouldn't be very valuable because they'd be late picks.

If we trade lebron, good luck getting any top free agents to come to LA for a long time. His agent has big time clout with alot of NBA players. You don't get rid of n NBA legand after one bad year. You talk about fire storm. You do that , and it will be a long time for the Lakers to recover. The Lakers image would be permanently tarnished. It would tell potential free agents.. You see what they did to Lebron..

 

[trojanfan12]

If we trade lebron, good luck getting any top free agents to come to LA for a long time. His agent has big time clout with alot of NBA players. You don't get rid of n NBA legand after one bad year. You talk about fire storm. You do that , and it will be a long time for the Lakers to recover. The Lakers image would be permanently tarnished. It would tell potential free agents.. You see what they did to Lebron..

Damn, I didn't even think of that. Yeah, folks think FA's don't want to come to the Lakers now...let them piss Klutch off by even trying to trade Lebron.

 

[trojanfan12]

So a possible trade for AD may be getting interesting.

Along with Gayle Benson not being nearly as "over my dead body" as has been portrayed...

I read/heard that Gentry and Griffin like the Lakers kids. Apparently, dealing with the Lakers could give the Pels a few more million in cap space too because the Lakers would also take Solomon Hill's contract which means the Pels wouldn't have to stretch him.

Don't know if that is enough for the Lakers to clearly "win" the trade offers though, which is what they probably have to do for the Pels to deal with them.

 

[Retroram52]

I think the longer the Lakers obsess over AD the worse the long-term prognosis for building a winner with young talent.

 

[wildturkey]

So a possible trade for AD may be getting interesting.

Along with Gayle Benson not being nearly as "over my dead body" as has been portrayed...

I read/heard that Gentry and Griffin like the Lakers kids. Apparently, dealing with the Lakers could give the Pels a few more million in cap space too because the Lakers would also take Solomon Hill's contract which means the Pels wouldn't have to stretch him.

Don't know if that is enough for the Lakers to clearly "win" the trade offers though, which is what they probably have to do for the Pels to deal with them.

I mentioned it in a thread somewhere when Griffin was hired but when all the AD trade stuff happened in Feb, Griff was an analyst on TNT one night during that time and he actually said he would have taken that Lakers deal. Obviously things change when you're actually in the real job but it at least tells you he does see value in those pieces.

 

[trojanfan12]

I mentioned it in a thread somewhere when Griffin was hired but when all the AD trade stuff happened in Feb, Griff was an analyst on TNT one night during that time and he actually said he would have taken that Lakers deal. Obviously things change when you're actually in the real job but it at least tells you he does see value in those pieces.

I had heard that Griffin likes the Lakers kids. But hadn't heard that he had said that he'd actually have taken the Lakers offer. Having the #4 pick should help as well.

Good news, imo. Obviously, it doesn't mean that they are getting AD. As you said, things can change. But it's at least encouraging.

It would be hilarious if they were able to get AD and then use that to attract a top FA. Would love to see the reaction of all the pundits. lol

 

[trojanfan12]

The Lakers need to get Kawhi.

Not only is he my favorite player. But...

 

[tomodach10]

The Lakers need to get Kawhi.

Not only is he my favorite player. But...

He will not come here IMO. If he comes to LA, it would be Clippers. I hope he stays in Toronto. I think he will. He does not seem to like the limelight.

 

[tomodach10]

We can also thank A-hole Popavich for refusing to trade with the Lakers.

 

[trojanfan12]

He will not come here IMO. If he comes to LA, it would be Clippers. I hope he stays in Toronto. I think he will. He does not seem to like the limelight.

I don't know. Maybe. Maybe even probably. I agree that he probably stays in Toronto.

Folks keep talking about what he's going to do. But the one person not saying anything is Kawhi. So everything is based purely on speculation and what people think that Kawhi thinks.

The Lakers are in an interesting/weird situation. Usually, when a front office looks as bad as the Lakers has, it's a team with no shot at anything.

But with the Lakers, they could literally bring back the exact same team and as long as they are healthy, they'd make the playoffs.

With the right FA and/or trade, they could be contenders.

Pretty unusual to have a front office look this bad, but have a team that's only a player or 2 away from contending.

 

[Retroram52]

If the Raptors win it all, I believe Kawhi will stay in Toronto for another run. If they lose, he may bolt to avoid the bad taste that goes with losing the NBA Finals.

 

[Retroram52]

Realistically, I believe we will end-up with Butler and possibly Favors in FA signings. The Beal trade is losing its appeal as fast as it gained momentum and the AD situation is nearly dead if not so as we speak.

 

[tomodach10]

Realistically, I believe we will end-up with Butler and possibly Favors in FA signings. The Beal trade is losing its appeal as fast as it gained momentum and the AD situation is nearly dead if not so as we speak.

Toronto seems like a great place for kwahi. He does not seem to want any limelight. He just goes about his business. Humble guy.

 

[trojanfan12]

If the Raptors win it all, I believe Kawhi will stay in Toronto for another run. If they lose, he may bolt to avoid the bad taste that goes with losing the NBA Finals.

Hard to say. Most of the "talking heads" seem to think he's gone whether the Raptors win title or not.

Personally, I don't think anyone really knows anything because Kawhi never says anything.

I do agree with @tomodach10 that Toronto seems like the ideal place for him. But who really knows?

 

[trojanfan12]

Realistically, I believe we will end-up with Butler and possibly Favors in FA signings. The Beal trade is losing its appeal as fast as it gained momentum and the AD situation is nearly dead if not so as we speak.

Not so fast my friend. lol

I don't think the possible AD trade is as dead as some like to portray.

Gayle Benson has denied the "over my dead body" comment that was attributed to her. She denied it when asked a direct question about it by Ramona Shelburne.

Both Alvin Gentry and David Griffin are said to really like the Lakers kids and Griffin has said that he would have taken the deal offered by the Lakers back before the trade deadline. The Lakers having the #4 pick should help them to be able to put together a better package than that one.

Having said that, I think for the Lakers to get AD, they would have to clearly "win" the trade offers.

I think they can beat the Celtics offer because it's starting to look more problematic for them to give up what they will have to and it also looks like Kyrie is gone.

I don't know if they can beat what the Knicks are likely to offer though. At least not by enough to clearly "win" the trade. The problem is, even if the Pels like the Lakers kids better than the Knicks, the draft is said to be pretty average after the top 3 and the Knicks have the #3 pick.

Additionally, we don't know if AD's "preferred destinations" really include Boston or New York. Or if he was just saying what he had to say to try and fix some of the bad publicity that came from the trade debacle.

 

[tomodach10]

Not so fast my friend. lol

I don't think the possible AD trade is as dead as some like to portray.

Gayle Benson has denied the "over my dead body" comment that was attributed to her. She denied it when asked a direct question about it by Ramona Shelburne.

Both Alvin Gentry and David Griffin are said to really like the Lakers kids and Griffin has said that he would have taken the deal offered by the Lakers back before the trade deadline. The Lakers having the #4 pick should help them to be able to put together a better package than that one.

Having said that, I think for the Lakers to get AD, they would have to clearly "win" the trade offers.

I think they can beat the Celtics offer because it's starting to look more problematic for them to give up what they will have to and it also looks like Kyrie is gone.

I don't know if they can beat what the Knicks are likely to offer though. At least not by enough to clearly "win" the trade. The problem is, even if the Pels like the Lakers kids better than the Knicks, the draft is said to be pretty average after the top 3 and the Knicks have the #3 pick.

Additionally, we don't know if AD's "preferred destinations" really include Boston or New York. Or if he was just saying what he had to say to try and fix some of the bad publicity that came from the trade debacle.

What do the knicks have?? I dont see much to offer.

 

[trojanfan12]

What do the knicks have?? I dont see much to offer.

The presumed Knicks offer would be the #3 pick, Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., and maybe DeAndre Jordan or Mitchell Robinson (not sure about DeAndre or Robinson) and maybe a couple of future first rounders.