Draft and Free Agency Question

[DJ Fieri]

*Turns the page*

 

[tomodach10]

The more likely scenario is Whiteside. Cousins is probably going to stay with the Queens because he and Karl get along nicely and Durant is in no rush to come to the Lakers. The W's have a better chance of signing Durant than the Lakers.

OK no to crazy Cousins.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I think Al Holford is going to be a free agent too

 

[trojanfan12]

I think Al Holford is going to be a free agent too

He is.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I don't want Horford....he's going to be 30 in June.

 

[trojanfan12]

I don't want Horford....he's going to be 30 in June.

That's not too bad. He's still got a good 5-6 years left in him. He'd be a very good, steady influence on the young guys. Heck, Pau is what? 34 or 35? Look how well he's playing in Chicago. Bigs tend to get old a bit slower than perimeter guys as long as they avoid foot and back issues.

 

[DJ Fieri]

That's not too bad. He's still got a good 5-6 years left in him. He'd be a very good, steady influence on the young guys. Heck, Pau is what? 34 or 35 and look how well he's playing in Chicago. Bigs tend to get old a bit slower than perimeter guys as long as they avoid foot and back issues.

True but I'd just prefer somebody that is 26-28 that could mentor the kids and still have 4-5 years left in his prime.

 

[trojanfan12]

True but I'd just prefer somebody that is 26-28 that could mentor the kids and still have 4-5 years left in his prime.

The only problem with that is that most of the guys that fit into that age group have question marks that Big Al doesn't.

Whiteside is 26 and while he is on the cusp of becoming arguably the best center in the game, he has had his own issues. He seems to have learned from them and moved on, but is that the result of the vets he has around him with the Heat? Or is it true growth and maturity on his part? Plus, I think the Heat will pay whatever it takes to keep him. It would be pretty silly to develop him like they have and then let him go to someone else. He is unrestricted, however, so they can't keep him by matching what another team offers. I'd expect him to be loyal to the team that gave him his shot and stay in Miami though.

They could try and make a trade for Boogie Cousins who is 25, but we all see his issues. Maybe a change of scenery does him some good, but what if it doesn't? Then he becomes a cancer on a very young team who is stuck with him for another 3-4 years.

Drummond would be a good pickup and he's only 22. So young enough to grow with the Lakers young guys, but still has 3 years of NBA experience. Problem is, he's a restricted free agent and it would be incredibly stupid of the Pistons to not match whatever he is offered.

In short, Horford may be the guy they have the best chance at landing who could make a big impact.

 

[DJ Fieri]

The only problem with that is that most of the guys that fit into that age group have question marks that Big Al doesn't.

Whiteside is 26 and while he is on the cusp of becoming arguably the best center in the game, he has had his own issues. He seems to have learned from them and moved on, but is that the result of the vets he has around him with the Heat? Or is it true growth and maturity on his part? Plus, I think the Heat will pay whatever it takes to keep him. It would be pretty silly to develop him like they have and then let him go to someone else. He is unrestricted, however, so they can't keep him by matching what another team offers. I'd expect him to be loyal to the team that gave him his shot and stay in Miami though.

They could try and make a trade for Boogie Cousins who is 25, but we all see his issues. Maybe a change of scenery does him some good, but what if it doesn't? Then he becomes a cancer on a very young team who is stuck with him for another 3-4 years.

Drummond would be a good pickup and he's only 22. So young enough to grow with the Lakers young guys, but still has 3 years of NBA experience. Problem is, he's a restricted free agent and it would be incredibly stupid of the Pistons to not match whatever he is offered.

In short, Horford may be the guy they have the best chance at landing who could make a big impact.

True but I'd prefer Whiteside over Horford because he is a freaking triple double waiting to happen and he has time to mature. Just look at Cousins as an example.

 

[trojanfan12]

True but I'd prefer Whiteside over Horford because he is a freaking triple double waiting to happen and he has time to mature. Just look at Cousins as an example.

I would too, I just don't think the Lakers can get him. Earlier in the year when the talk was Miami only offering about $14-15 million, I was on board with the Lakers outbidding them, even if it meant giving him a max deal. However, he has improved so much since then that I think Miami will give him a max deal now.

And Cousins as an example of time to mature? Have you been watching what he's doing in Sacramento? He just got suspended for a game for screaming at his coach on the sidelines and Rondo had to play peacemaker. When Rondo is the voice of reason, something is really, really wrong.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I would too, I just don't think the Lakers can get him. Earlier in the year when the talk was Miami only offering about $14-15 million, I was on board with the Lakers outbidding them, even if it meant giving him a max deal. However, he has improved so much since then that I think Miami will give him a max deal now.

And Cousins as an example of time to mature? Have you been watching what he's doing in Sacramento? He just got suspended for a game for screaming at his coach on the sidelines and Rondo had to play peacemaker. When Rondo is the voice of reason, something is really, really wrong.

I thought Miami had to make a decision between Whiteside and Dragic, they can't afford both?

 

[DJ Fieri]

Was unaware of the recent Cousins development.....he had been doing good for a while there.

 

[lakersrule]

I thought Miami had to make a decision between Whiteside and Dragic, they can't afford both?

Dragic is locked in for a few years. It all depends on what discount Wade would take in order to give Whiteside a max.

 

[lakersrule]

I don't think Horford would see the Lakers as a top destination. He'll likely be similar to Aldridge in that he'll want to go to a team that can contend immediately. Signing Durant first would immediately turn the Lakers into that, but that seems unlikely as much as I want it to happen. The attraction of growing with a young team out in LA might attract Whiteside rather than playing with an ageing core in Miami.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I don't think Horford would see the Lakers as a top destination. He'll likely be similar to Aldridge in that he'll want to go to a team that can contend immediately. Signing Durant first would immediately turn the Lakers into that, but that seems unlikely as much as I want it to happen. The attraction of growing with a young team out in LA might attract Whiteside rather than playing with an ageing core in Miami.

Exactly. While Whiteside wants to get paid AND compete.....I think he'd see the Lakers as an up and coming team where he can give them a very good center and improve a need they have to fill.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Dragic is locked in for a few years. It all depends on what discount Wade would take in order to give Whiteside a max.

That's what I thought regarding Dragic.....momentarily forgot about Wade being a FA.
















TGIF!!!!

 

[lakersrule]

One name that might be out there this summer is Larry Sanders. If he is past his personal issues, which it seems he is, that would be an interesting signing. He lives in Los Angeles and is a Lakers season ticket holder.

 

[lakersrule]

That's what I thought regarding Dragic.....momentarily forgot about Wade being a FA.

Wade has a big cap hold ($30mil). Loul Deng also has a significant cap hold ($13mil). Those will have to be addressed before they can deal with Whiteside.

 

[lakersrule]

Exactly. While Whiteside wants to get paid AND compete.....I think he'd see the Lakers as an up and coming team where he can give them a very good center and improve a need they have to fill.

He'd be a great roll man for the guards. And Simmons!

 

[DJ Fieri]

Wade has a big cap hold ($30mil). Loul Deng also has a significant cap hold ($13mil). Those will have to be addressed before they can deal with Whiteside.

Remembering now.....that's why I thought it was unlikely they could keep earlier this season.