Lakers 2017-2018 Season Thread

[True Lakers Fan]

Kuzma is another steal later in the draft for the Lakers. This kid is special and makes it worth losing DeAngelo for.

Agreed and If I understand the situation correctly there could be more good news for the Lakers. Luol Deng wants out of the Lakers - so if he accepts a buy out now, everything paid counts toward the salary cap, but next year his salary comes off the books and the Lakers are free without having to give up a valuable asset.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Kuzma is another steal later in the draft for the Lakers. This kid is special and makes it worth losing DeAngelo for.

Lakers did not need both Ball and Russell - unless you played one of them as shooting guard and Russell is balling for the Nets.

 

[shopson67]

Kuzma is another steal later in the draft for the Lakers. This kid is special and makes it worth losing DeAngelo for.

I don't agree with this, but not because Kuzma isn't great so far. Lakers had 2 consecutive picks, and odds are they could've just selected Kuzma with that pick (from the Rockets). The bonus from the D'Angelo trade was the salary dump and Hart/Bryant IMO. Hart has been earning minutes, but Bryant has a long way to go yet.

 

[Retroram52]

This sort of frustration can lead a franchise to do something stupid. Everyone wants the Deng contract gone but all suitors have made it known they want a youngster to go with like Ingram, Ball, or Randle. Now Kuzma has been added to that list. It would be really stupid to trade any of these aforementioned players just to rid us of Deng.

Hopefully, Magic, Pelinka, Luke, and Jeannie will come to the best option right now and in my opinion that would be the stretch provision. Unless Deng voids the contract himself and takes his game elsewhere, to get rid of anyone of those guys just get rid of Deng would set the fragile chemistry this team has built back a year or two.

Sitting tight with the stretch and hoping Deng voids the contract may just happen if everyone stays patient.

Lakers Trade Rumors: Lakers actively discussing Luol Deng trades

 

[Retroram52]

Looks like Phoenix moved Bledsoe to the Bucks for Greg Monroe and a number one.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/eric-bledsoe-traded-bucks-173020304.html

 

[Retroram52]

Looks like the buy-out option is becoming more viable as the principals continue to chat. It may become THE option (I hope). Also looks like they are going to move Deng ASAP. I hope it does not involve trading any of our young players.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-luol-deng-lakers-working-012138593.html

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Well we know he is going to be sore for a few days.

Ah man, and he only came back from an injury on 11/2, right TLF?

 

[wildturkey]

This sort of frustration can lead a franchise to do something stupid. Everyone wants the Deng contract gone but all suitors have made it known they want a youngster to go with like Ingram, Ball, or Randle. Now Kuzma has been added to that list. It would be really stupid to trade any of these aforementioned players just to rid us of Deng.

Hopefully, Magic, Pelinka, Luke, and Jeannie will come to the best option right now and in my opinion that would be the stretch provision. Unless Deng voids the contract himself and takes his game elsewhere, to get rid of anyone of those guys just get rid of Deng would set the fragile chemistry this team has built back a year or two.

Sitting tight with the stretch and hoping Deng voids the contract may just happen if everyone stays patient.

Lakers Trade Rumors: Lakers actively discussing Luol Deng trades

Cost of doing business. Teams don't take bad contracts just for shits and giggles. Moving Mozgov costed us D'lo, who was our best player up until that point. Teams will want something else to eat that Deng money. They aren't gonna do us any favors ESPECIALLY knowing we plan to use that cash on Lebron and George.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Ah man, and he only came back from an injury on 11/2, right TLF?

I noticed that you like to attack almost everyone in here and pretend like you know everything. Then you like to attack other's sex life as if you think you know something about it. You should consider getting professional help. You are really seriously mentally disturbed.

 

[Retroram52]

Looks like the Lakers have an interest in a Knicks second-year forward player. Could there be movement of Deng in there some where?

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/fd983ed4-ee28-38ca-88bf-db1a97d4ffd4/ss_lakers-rumors:-l.a..html

 

[tomodach10]

Looks like the Lakers have an interest in a Knicks second-year forward player. Could there be movement of Deng in there some where?

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/fd983ed4-ee28-38ca-88bf-db1a97d4ffd4/ss_lakers-rumors:-l.a..html

As long as we don't part with one of our core youngsters to get rid of Deng. However, it would have to be a forward since we are so deep at that position. The only one I think they would trade is Randle. I just hope they buy Deng out.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I noticed that you like to attack almost everyone in here and pretend like you know everything. Then you like to attack other's sex life as if you think you know something about it. You should consider getting professional help. You are really seriously mentally disturbed.

 

[wildturkey]

As long as we don't part with one of our core youngsters to get rid of Deng. However, it would have to be a forward since we are so deep at that position. The only one I think they would trade is Randle. I just hope they buy Deng out.

Define "core". Because to get the the 2 max contracts worth of cap space the Lakers want, they're gonna have to get rid of Clarkson or Randle (probably both) so it doesn't really matter if one is included in a Deng trade or not. Pretty much the only people that will be left are 1st and 2nd year guys

 

[tomodach10]

Define "core". Because to get the the 2 max contracts worth of cap space the Lakers want, they're gonna have to get rid of Clarkson or Randle (probably both) so it doesn't really matter if one is included in a Deng trade or not. Pretty much the only people that will be left are 1st and 2nd year guys

I am not talking about max contract for the off season. I am just talking about getting rid of Deng now. The core players IMO are: ball, Ingram, Kuzma, Randle, Clarkson. We don't need two max players next year IMO thanks to the core we already have.

 

[trojanfan12]

I am not talking about max contract for the off season. I am just talking about getting rid of Deng now. The core players IMO are: ball, Ingram, Kuzma, Randle, Clarkson. We don't need two max players next year IMO thanks to the core we already have.

The problem is that, with the way players are doing things now, the choice may be 2 max players or none.

Just using the 2 most talked about FA's for the Lakers...we know Lebron isn't coming without George (or another top FA) and it seems likely that George may not come without Lebron (or another top FA).

So the Lakers would be left with adding another 3 or so years of development before becoming contenders (assuming the core continues to develop) rather than being in contention as early as next year.

 

[tomodach10]

The problem is that, with the way players are doing things now, the choice may be 2 max players or none.

Just using the 2 most talked about FA's for the Lakers...we know Lebron isn't coming without George (or another top FA) and it seems likely that George may not come without Lebron (or another top FA).

So the Lakers would be left with adding another 3 or so years of development before becoming contenders (assuming the core continues to develop) rather than being in contention as early as next year.

At this point, I don't think we need George. I wrote him off. He may still sign with OKC. In addition, I never read where George would not come to the Lakers without Lebron. It is looking like the Lakers may need a Defensive Big man.

 

[trojanfan12]

At this point, I don't think we need George. I wrote him off. He may still sign with OKC. In addition, I never read where George would not come to the Lakers without Lebron. It is looking like the Lakers may need a Defensive Big man.

Whether or not the Lakers need George, or any top FA, just depends on how patient one is willing to be. It's a choice between becoming contenders right away...or waiting for the kids to develop into contenders.

If your from the "it's been long enough, become contenders now" crowd, then you want them to go hard after Lebron, PG and any other top FA's they can.

If you want to let the kids develop into a contender organically, you want to leave them alone and not worry about FA's.

Both have their risks. The FA's may not gel and the kids may not develop.

I was just using George and Lebron as examples since they are the 2 FA's that most seem to think the Lakers will land.

We know Lebron won't come without another top FA. I would assume the same with George, although I think you are correct that there are no quotes from him saying he wouldn't come. Just an assumption on my part based on how things are working these days.

I'm not sure about needing a defensive big at this point. They seem to be doing fairly well defensively just playing team defense. With the league moving to "positionless basketball" I think team defense is going to be more important than guys who are great one on one defenders or rim protectors.

Not that having either of those is bad thing, lol. I just they are becoming less important.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Send Randle and Deng away. I think we've seen Clarkson and Randle hit their ceiling. Now, Kuzma, Ball and Ingram on the other hand....

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

Stephen A says he's starting to see bust in Lonzo Ball.

Why are these sports guys so quick to label guys busts? Crying out loud, they are a dozen games into the season.

He probably said the same thing about Goff last season- oops!

Why do they continue to give these guys a platform to spew this ridiculous garbage and we get stuck listening to it because supposedly they are the "experts".

Hey, Stephen A, why don't you give the guy a year or two or three before throwing out the bust label instead of 12 games in.

 

[tomodach10]

Stephen A says he's starting to see bust in Lonzo Ball.

Why are these sports guys so quick to label guys busts? Crying out loud, they are a dozen games into the season.

He probably said the same thing about Goff last season- oops!

Why do they continue to give these guys a platform to spew this ridiculous garbage and we get stuck listening to it because supposedly they are the "experts".

Hey, Stephen A, why don't you give the guy a year or two or three before throwing out the bust label instead of 12 games in.

Stephen A is a New York fan. He hates the cowboys and lakers.