A Little FA News

[trojanfan12]

They will work it out and resolve their issues for the benefit of the team. Carlisle hates defense which has been Rondo's priority, so that's most likely their beef. Hard to second guess, but there will be some good free agents, so if the Lakers can land two decent agents, they will be on the road to recovery. The list so far

Rondo
Love
Dragic

I know there are others, but so far those will be in consideration. I'm just glad that the Lakers didn't get Carmelo Anthony

Actually, the Rondo/Carlisle disagreement is more about the type of offense they run and Rondo's role in it. Carlisle's offense is similar to the Triangle in that you don't need, or particularly want, an old school, ball dominating PG which is exactly what Rondo is.

Defense is why the Mavs got Rondo in the first place.

 

[trojanfan12]

No, I think the Lakers will be focusing on Monroe and Deandre Jordon this summer. Love has lost priority I believe.

I agree. I think the Lakers have moved on from Love for the most part. I think they still have him in the mix of possible FA's, but I don't think he's as high on the list as he was in the off-season.

 

[lakersrule]

Based on what Mitch said recently, I don't think they pursue Rondo. Mitch said that they aren't going to sign expensive veteran players to surround Kobe just to give another chance at a title. Mitch said that they basically need to move on from the Kobe era. Signing rondo wouldn't fit what Mitch said. And they shouldn't.

 

[lakersrule]

The Lakers definitely drafted well last summer. I was high on Clarkson after seeing him in summer league, and he is proving that talent at the NBA level. We really haven't seen Randle yet against the big boys, but I have a feeling he'll do well. Great article by Ding about Randle. Here's the link.

A Season Lost, Julius Randle Readies His Mind and Body to Lead Lakers from Abyss | Bleacher Report

 

[Retroram52]

Yea, those comments when Kobe was still active and the Lakers visited Boston that Kobe favored signing Rondo before Rondo was dealt to Dallas were a bit of Kobe living in a fantasy world-like he somehow influences who the Lakers sign as FAs.

There might be a suggestion or two, but now that Kobe's career is nearly done, Mitch and the Buss Family are full on rebuild mode and B. Scott has a great deal to do with that. So, I think we will see some serious attempts at young guys with the draft and FA period this summer.

 

[trojanfan12]

Based on what Mitch said recently, I don't think they pursue Rondo. Mitch said that they aren't going to sign expensive veteran players to surround Kobe just to give another chance at a title. Mitch said that they basically need to move on from the Kobe era. Signing rondo wouldn't fit what Mitch said. And they shouldn't.

By that standard, they shouldn't pursue Dragic or have been looking to trade for him either. Rondo is only 29 and his game should age well since he's not constantly driving to the hoop and prefers to dish. If the Lakers were to pursue him, there's really no reason to think that they couldn't get 5+ good years out of him.

Having said that, if Clarkson can convince the Lakers that he is the answer at PG, there really wouldn't be a need to pursue Rondo or Dragic.

 

[trojanfan12]

The Lakers definitely drafted well last summer. I was high on Clarkson after seeing him in summer league, and he is proving that talent at the NBA level. We really haven't seen Randle yet against the big boys, but I have a feeling he'll do well. Great article by Ding about Randle. Here's the link.

A Season Lost, Julius Randle Readies His Mind and Body to Lead Lakers from Abyss | Bleacher Report

Randle breaking his leg may end up being a blessing in disguise. If Randle were healthy and playing as well as many thought he would, we probably would have still missed the playoffs, but wouldn't be in the running for a top 5 pick.

Plus, it's giving Randle a chance to truly learn the game from a mental standpoint. I love that Mitch has been having him write up quarter by quarter breakdowns of the games. Keeps him engaged and will make him a smarter player.

 

[lakersrule]

By that standard, they shouldn't pursue Dragic or have been looking to trade for him either. Rondo is only 29 and his game should age well since he's not constantly driving to the hoop and prefers to dish. If the Lakers were to pursue him, there's really no reason to think that they couldn't get 5+ good years out of him.

Having said that, if Clarkson can convince the Lakers that he is the answer at PG, there really wouldn't be a need to pursue Rondo or Dragic.

I agree. I wouldn't give Dragic a max deal either.

Rondo just isn't worth the money. His game is overrated. Several years into his career and he still can throw a pea into the ocean.

 

[lakersrule]

Randle breaking his leg may end up being a blessing in disguise. If Randle were healthy and playing as well as many thought he would, we probably would have still missed the playoffs, but wouldn't be in the running for a top 5 pick.

Plus, it's giving Randle a chance to truly learn the game from a mental standpoint. I love that Mitch has been having him write up quarter by quarter breakdowns of the games. Keeps him engaged and will make him a smarter player.

Sounds like he is taking this studying the league seriously. He's putting together his own scouting reports on the other PFs of the league. The mind is an important part of the game as well as the physical. I really look forward to seeing what he can do next season.

 

[trojanfan12]

I agree. I wouldn't give Dragic a max deal either.

Rondo just isn't worth the money. His game is overrated. Several years into his career and he still can throw a pea into the ocean.

Gotta look at it from the standpoint of what the Lakers are likely to need. If they play their cards right in FA and with the draft, they won't need him to score. They will need him to distribute the ball and play defense against the monster pg's that the west has. Both of which he excels at.

I'd rather the Lakers not max him and hope that they won't even need a pg in FA because I'd love to see Clarkson be the answer at that position. But max deals are driven by need as much as the players stats.

As of right now, pg is a big need for the Lakers. Clarkson is making that need smaller and hopefully, by the time FA and the draft roll around, he will have developed to the point that it's no longer a need. Allowing them to concentrate on other positions like center and small forward.

 

[trojanfan12]

Sounds like he is taking this studying the league seriously. He's putting together his own scouting reports on the other PFs of the league. The mind is an important part of the game as well as the physical. I really look forward to seeing what he can do next season.

Some of the greatest players in league history have taken little athletic ability and ended up being hall of famers and all-time greats because of how well they studied the game and their opponents. Randle, actually has athletic ability, so if he adds the mental part, he can really be something special.

After reading that article, I'm even more excited to see him get back on the court.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Based on what Mitch said recently, I don't think they pursue Rondo. Mitch said that they aren't going to sign expensive veteran players to surround Kobe just to give another chance at a title. Mitch said that they basically need to move on from the Kobe era. Signing rondo wouldn't fit what Mitch said. And they shouldn't.

I'm not sure I agree because no matter what they do, they can't rebuild that team without some veterans in the mix if they really intend to have the team relevant in the three year plan they talked about. There is no way in hell, they can be relevant by 2016 if they are going with all rookies and young players. They will still need someone like Rondo to come in and get the job done

 

[trojanfan12]

I'm not sure I agree because no matter what they do, they can't rebuild that team without some veterans in the mix if they really intend to have the team relevant in the three year plan they talked about. There is no way in hell, they can be relevant by 2016 if they are going with all rookies and young players. They will still need someone like Rondo to come in and get the job done

Yes and no. I think the point isn't that the Lakers don't want vets, it's that they want young vets. They aren't going to be grabbing up older FA's to try and give Kobe one last run to the finals (i.e. the trade for Dwight/Nash). They'll be looking at younger FA's who can be with the team for 5+ years (like Monroe, DeAndre Jordan, Dragic, etc.).

If those younger FA's can gel quickly enough to give Kobe one last title run next year or play well enough to entice Kobe to come back for one last season and a possible title run, great. But the point is building for the future to have several years of potential title runs.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Yes and no. I think the point isn't that the Lakers don't want vets, it's that they want young vets. They aren't going to be grabbing up older FA's to try and give Kobe one last run to the finals (i.e. the trade for Dwight/Nash). They'll be looking at younger FA's who can be with the team for 5+ years (like Monroe, DeAndre Jordan, Dragic, etc.).

If those younger FA's can gel quickly enough to give Kobe one last title run next year or play well enough to entice Kobe to come back for one last season and a possible title run, great. But the point is building for the future to have several years of potential title runs.

If Kobe is to win another championship, then he will need to sign for another two or three years and be there for the complete development of this next team which means he will have to make some tough decisions. First he will have to take a huge hit on the money - right now he is barely worth 5 million if at all, and he would have to play limited minutes. If he is willing to make those adjustments - then he has a chance because we already know that a championship is not likely to happen in 2016 - I won't say impossible though because you never know if and when the Lakers get lucky like they did with the Pau Gasol

 

[trojanfan12]

If Kobe is to win another championship, then he will need to sign for another two or three years and be there for the complete development of this next team which means he will have to make some tough decisions. First he will have to take a huge hit on the money - right now he is barely worth 5 million if at all, and he would have to play limited minutes. If he is willing to make those adjustments - then he has a chance because we already know that a championship is not likely to happen in 2016 - I won't say impossible though because you never know if and when the Lakers get lucky like they did with the Pau Gasol

That's my point. The window of opportunity for Kobe to have one more title run is pretty much closed. If the Lakers get lucky with a couple of young FA's and they can get Kobe a finals run next year or the following, then great. But I think both the Lakers and Kobe have accepted that they aren't going to sacrifice the future to make a title run and then end up right back in re-build mode in 2 years.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

That's my point. The window of opportunity for Kobe to have one more title run is pretty much closed. If the Lakers get lucky with a couple of young FA's and they can get Kobe a finals run next year or the following, then great. But I think both the Lakers and Kobe have accepted that they aren't going to sacrifice the future to make a title run and then end up right back in re-build mode in 2 years.

That's the reason I said Kobe is playing for the money and nothing else. The window was pretty much closed even before the third season ending injury and I think he knows it. I'm not saying he is doing anything wrong - Hell I would sit on their bench and scrub floors for 25 million a year, but I'm digressing. My point is this team is not going to be a contender next year and from the point they are a legitimate playoff team, it could easily take a few years to become a contender. If Kobe is to win another championship - then he has to do what he is doing - collect one last big fat paycheck and play the waiting game and I personally have believed that's what he was doing when the season started. He is smarter then all of us put together and he couldn't possibly have believed that the current roster was going anywhere but fishing in April. No one is that stupid.

 

[trojanfan12]

That's the reason I said Kobe is playing for the money and nothing else. The window was pretty much closed even before the third season ending injury and I think he knows it. I'm not saying he is doing anything wrong - Hell I would sit on their bench and scrub floors for 25 million a year, but I'm digressing. My point is this team is not going to be a contender next year and from the point they are a legitimate playoff team, it could easily take a few years to become a contender. If Kobe is to win another championship - then he has to do what he is doing - collect one last big fat paycheck and play the waiting game and I personally have believed that's what he was doing when the season started. He is smarter then all of us put together and he couldn't possibly have believed that the current roster was going anywhere but fishing in April. No one is that stupid.

To be fair, Kobe would be out there playing (and probably fucking up their shot at a top 5 pick), but season ending injuries have a way of preventing that.

The argument can be made, from a basketball perspective, that even if he were 100% healthy, the Lakers are overpaying him (although from a business perspective, they are underpaying him). But to say he's only back for the money is disingenuous, imo.

Also, we don't know what this team will be able to accomplish next year. Landing the right FA's can change a teams fortunes overnight and vice versa. Look at Cleveland and Miami. Heck, the Lakers went from a solid team to a championship contender in 2008 by adding Pau Gasol.

Obviously, a lot would have to go right in FA and with the draft, but it can be done and I expect that the Lakers should be able to do enough over the summer to at least be in the playoff hunt next year.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

To be fair, Kobe would be out there playing (and probably fucking up their shot at a top 5 pick), but season ending injuries have a way of preventing that.

The argument can be made, from a basketball perspective, that even if he were 100% healthy, the Lakers are overpaying him (although from a business perspective, they are underpaying him). But to say he's only back for the money is disingenuous, imo.

Also, we don't know what this team will be able to accomplish next year. Landing the right FA's can change a teams fortunes overnight and vice versa. Look at Cleveland and Miami. Heck, the Lakers went from a solid team to a championship contender in 2008 by adding Pau Gasol.

Obviously, a lot would have to go right in FA and with the draft, but it can be done and I expect that the Lakers should be able to do enough over the summer to at least be in the playoff hunt next year.

Kobe never got his shot or rhythm together this year though - and in fact the team played better when he didn't play. I seriously doubt he was 100% healthy from the beginning. Lets just hope he is better next season

 

[trojanfan12]

Kobe never got his shot or rhythm together this year though - and in fact the team played better when he didn't play. I seriously doubt he was 100% healthy from the beginning. Lets just hope he is better next season

I know that he had some soreness in his shoulder early in the season, but didn't have it checked out. From what I've read and heard, the rotator cuff had probably had a small tear for awhile, but that dunk was what put it over the top, so to speak.

I agree. It would be great for him to be able to play at a high level for his final season.

 

[lakersrule]

Team Tank probably breaking shit after that 3 game win streak. Back on track though after yesterday's loss.

24 games left this season. Looking through the schedule, I have them going 5-19. They should be in good shape to hold on to that 2015 first rounder.