A Little FA News

[Retroram52]

Yahoo and its sportswriters/speculators are floating a story that the Lakers are eyeing Okafor and hope they will be in a position to get the most ping pong balls to get him. If this fails, Mudiay is the next guy on the radar and then they would go after Monroe or Deandre Jordon this summer in FA.

Other venues suggest the Lakers really want to land a true center who can command a presence in the paint. So if Okafor is not going to happen, the drafting of Mudiay and then go after either of the aforementioned centers seems likely. Not sure there is any credibility to any of this at this point but it is fun to dream a little.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

All great points, guys. You're probably right though, Lakersrule and WildTurkey. The Lakers have been terrible for the entire year, another half season shouldn't be too tough to stomach. Guess I am just growing a little impatient, and Dragic would be one of those players who could attract other FA's but the smartest thing to do would probably be to hang onto the picks, possibly even trade for more before the deadline, then take our chances in FA, as a few of you have said.

It would be tempting though if Dragic were willing to sign an extension with the Lakers immediately.

 

[Retroram52]

Get a load of this speculation from Yahoo Sports. Now they seem to think that Lin is being pursued by Houston. Read it for yourself.

Lakers Rumors: Houston Rockets Expected To Pursue Jeremy Lin In Summer | Lakers Nation

 

[trojanfan12]

Truthfully - It would be retarded for the Lakers to trade anything away besides a first round draft pick in a premium position. FYI: No team in their right mind is going to take Lin or Boozer in a trade unless the Lakers are paying them dearly by giving them a pick. They are streaky scrubs with no face value at all. The Lakers are losing and working hard to lose for that protected pick, so the only way they can make it better is to make it worse for the rest of the season. Jordan Hill for example might get the Lakers a first round pick in the top 10, but I wouldn't give him up for anything lower than a 10. Just not worth it.


I say the Lakers hold court, continue losing and see what develops this summer unless the Lakers can pick up a quality first round pick.

Agree about Lin, but not Boozer. Boozer has been playing well and could have value for a younger playoff team that could use his experience. However, if I'm the Lakers, I don't trade him for anyone who can improve the team right now. As wildturkey points out, if the Lakers were to execute a trade for Dragic (or someone like that), all he's going to do is improve the team enough that it all but ensures the Lakers don't get that top 5 pick.

If they trade Boozer (or anyone else) it needs to be for picks, not immediate help.

 

[SJ76]

I can tell you all I watched Rondo play about a month ago against the Bulls. He didn't look good at all. Dallas was better off with what they had going before they traded for Rondo.

Kobe is dreaming and still thinks he can win NOW. Lakers need to keep adding to their youth and re-build. Clarkson and Ellington are pretty good players. Kobe is just so dam selfish and he's not going to shut anyone down anymore.

That's all you need.. Kobe and Rondo with lingering injuries.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yahoo and its sportswriters/speculators are floating a story that the Lakers are eyeing Okafor and hope they will be in a position to get the most ping pong balls to get him. If this fails, Mudiay is the next guy on the radar and then they would go after Monroe or Deandre Jordon this summer in FA.

Other venues suggest the Lakers really want to land a true center who can command a presence in the paint. So if Okafor is not going to happen, the drafting of Mudiay and then go after either of the aforementioned centers seems likely. Not sure there is any credibility to any of this at this point but it is fun to dream a little.

If I'm the Lakers, these are my top 3 choices in order of preference:

1.) Okafor
2.) Mudiay
3.) Cauley-Stein

 

[trojanfan12]

I can tell you all I watched Rondo play about a month ago against the Bulls. He didn't look good at all. Dallas was better off with what they had going before they traded for Rondo.

Kobe is dreaming and still thinks he can win NOW. Lakers need to keep adding to their youth and re-build. Clarkson and Ellington are pretty good players. Kobe is just so dam selfish and he's not going to shut anyone down anymore.

That's all you need.. Kobe and Rondo with lingering injuries.

I'd be surprised if the Lakers were as interested in Rondo as Kobe is. They'll likely keep an eye on Rondo to see how he looks over the course of the rest of the season, but I think they'd only go after him if they don't get Dragic or maybe Jackson and go after a big in the draft.

It's got nothing to do with Kobe being "selfish". He wants to win now and there's nothing wrong with that. ALL players want to win now, it's what they're supposed to do. With some luck and the right moves, the Lakers could be back to winning as early as next season. It depends on how the ping pong balls fall and who they can attract in the off-season via FA.

 

[lakersrule]

Truthfully - It would be retarded for the Lakers to trade anything away besides a first round draft pick in a premium position. FYI: No team in their right mind is going to take Lin or Boozer in a trade unless the Lakers are paying them dearly by giving them a pick. They are streaky scrubs with no face value at all. The Lakers are losing and working hard to lose for that protected pick, so the only way they can make it better is to make it worse for the rest of the season. Jordan Hill for example might get the Lakers a first round pick in the top 10, but I wouldn't give him up for anything lower than a 10. Just not worth it.


I say the Lakers hold court, continue losing and see what develops this summer unless the Lakers can pick up a quality first round pick.

Boozer can't be traded period, regardless of whether he sucks or not.

 

[lakersrule]

Yahoo and its sportswriters/speculators are floating a story that the Lakers are eyeing Okafor and hope they will be in a position to get the most ping pong balls to get him. If this fails, Mudiay is the next guy on the radar and then they would go after Monroe or Deandre Jordon this summer in FA.

Other venues suggest the Lakers really want to land a true center who can command a presence in the paint. So if Okafor is not going to happen, the drafting of Mudiay and then go after either of the aforementioned centers seems likely. Not sure there is any credibility to any of this at this point but it is fun to dream a little.

That's my thinking. If they end up with the #1 pick, draft Okafor and look to sign wing/backcourt players. If they are in position to draft Mudiay, then try to sign Monroe. The future of a frontcourt of Okafor and Randle would be bright.

 

[Retroram52]

TJF12, there are many sports pundits who agree with you on the draft selection order. And yep, I totally agree lakersrule. Our future looks pretty good right now and right around say 2016 and 2017, we are going to be a force again barring injuries even in the west.

 

[trojanfan12]

TJF12, there are many sports pundits who agree with you on the draft selection order. And yep, I totally agree lakersrule. Our future looks pretty good right now and right around say 2016 and 2017, we are going to be a force again barring injuries even in the west.

I'm almost higher on Cauley-Stein than Okafor. Cauley-Stein is 7'1" and runs the floor like a guard. However, I think Okafor is the most "NBA ready" and would contribute pretty much immediately.

Cauley-Stein will probably need a couple of seasons (and some time in the weight room) before he really started to have a true impact. Sort of like a certain shooting guard that the Lakers got with the 13th pick 19 years ago.

 

[SJ76]

Trojan my point is Kobe thinks he actually can win a championship... Or he thinks he can "give it a shot" and really just move up on the all time scoring list. Either way he's not in reality. He can't even stay healthy because his body is broken down. It happens with age. He needs to hang it up. That's why he's selfish. It's all about him, not what's best for the Lakers.

The longer he stays, the more the Lakers are going to have trouble finding an identity

 

[lakersrule]

I'm almost higher on Cauley-Stein than Okafor. Cauley-Stein is 7'1" and runs the floor like a guard. However, I think Okafor is the most "NBA ready" and would contribute pretty much immediately.

Cauley-Stein will probably need a couple of seasons (and some time in the weight room) before he really started to have a true impact. Sort of like a certain shooting guard that the Lakers got with the 13th pick 19 years ago.

I need to start watching the scouting videos on these guys. Don't know much about any of them since I don't watch college ball. It would be nice to find that next great center.

 

[lakersrule]

Well, there's that.

 

[trojanfan12]

Trojan my point is Kobe thinks he actually can win a championship... Or he thinks he can "give it a shot" and really just move up on the all time scoring list. Either way he's not in reality. He can't even stay healthy because his body is broken down. It happens with age. He needs to hang it up. That's why he's selfish. It's all about him, not what's best for the Lakers.

The longer he stays, the more the Lakers are going to have trouble finding an identity

Kobe ALWAYS thinks he can win a championship. It's one of his greatest assets. I guarantee, he probably thought they could win this year.

There's nothing selfish about a great player wanting to go out on his terms. It's what they all want and what they all deserve. It's why Steve Nash has put himself through the stuff he did over the past 2 off-seasons trying to get back for one last run.

Yes, Kobe's body is breaking down on him, but he also has shown that he can adjust his game and still play at a high level. He just can't do it for 35+ minutes anymore.

Hopefully, the Lakers can improve the roster over the off-season and Kobe can at least have another shot at the playoffs. After that, I have no problem if he wants to come back for another season or 2, as long as he is still playing at a high level and understands that he has to lean on his teammates more.

Before he got hurt, he had started taking on more of a distributor role, was just looking to score when the Lakers needed him to and they were actually starting to play some decent basketball. If he continues in that role and the Lakers improve the roster, they can have a pretty good season next year.

I'm no particular Kobe fan. He's not only never been my favorite player, he's never even been my favorite Laker and I've been plenty critical of him. But this notion that he's all about Kobe and not about the Lakers, is just silly. It's based on what? He's taken a lot of shots and scored a lot of points? He's also the only player in NBA history with over 30,000 points and over 6,000 assists. Even MJ isn't on that list. To accomplish that, he's had to pass to a teammate or 2 somewhere along the way.

Plus, he's got 5 rings. So, he's done something right along the way.

 

[trojanfan12]

[MEDIA=twitter]566289941873704961[/MEDIA]


Well, there's that.

Probably means that they have their sights set on Okafor or Cauley-Stein in the draft. I'm sure they also have a plan B if they aren't in position to draft either of them.

Besides, as someone else pointed out, at some point or another, the Lakers going to be expected to be offering a few guys a max deal as the rumor mill chugs along.

 

[lakersrule]

Probably means that they have their sights set on Okafor or Cauley-Stein in the draft. I'm sure they also have a plan B if they aren't in position to draft either of them.

Besides, as someone else pointed out, at some point or another, the Lakers going to be expected to be offering a few guys a max deal as the rumor mill chugs along.

The Lakers are rumored to be going after everybody and their mothers!

That's what I said in an earlier post. If they draft a big, they'll pursue backcourt/wing players. Makes sense. My problem is that if they are considering a youth movement, why blow a big chunk of cap space on a 29yo?

 

[trojanfan12]

The Lakers are rumored to be going after everybody and their mothers!

That's what I said in an earlier post. If they draft a big, they'll pursue backcourt/wing players. Makes sense. My problem is that if they are considering a youth movement, why blow a big chunk of cap space on a 29yo?

29 is still youngish. The good thing about bringing in an experienced top player (especially a PG) is that he can help bring along the young guys a little faster. One of the hardest things to get young guys to learn is how to share the ball. A top level, experienced PG like Dragic can help them learn that because he'll be the one deciding who gets the ball and when.

It would be fun to see what a lineup that included Okafor or Cauley-Stein, Randle, Clarkson, Swaggy P and Kobe could do with a guy like Dragic distributing the ball to them.

 

[Retroram52]

I like Cauley-Stein as well TJF12. He could use a year or two behind somebody like say a Monroe or Deandre Jordon but he has the tools to be a good one going forward and he is 7'1 as you mentioned.

I hope they don't blow it and trade for Dragic when they can do all of this during the FA period this summer and still keep that top fiver. It would be a slap in the face of the present roster of they traded for Drajic as you, lakersrule, and turkey have already discussed.

 

[SJ76]

But this notion that he's all about Kobe and not about the Lakers, is just
silly. It's based on what? He's taken a lot of shots and scored a lot of points?
He's also the only player in NBA history with over 30,000 points and over 6,000
assists. Even MJ isn't on that list. To accomplish that, he's had to pass to a
teammate or 2 somewhere along the way.

I'm not trying to take over the Lakers board here, but do you think the Lakers would be better off if Kobe called it a career? I know this is all he knows.. But he's played 1 full season since 2010-2011. And while he is still a Laker, he's going to want the team built around him.

How do you rebuild while "Bad Grandpa" wants to keep winning championships? Even though it ain't gonna happen.