Lakers 2017-2018 Season Thread

[tomodach10]

Not too shabby and we are just 10 games back from .500.

7 years ago that would have been laughable, but in 2018 it does not seem so bad lol

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

This team is looking better and Hart has really come on lately.

Even with Lonzo's poor shooting, he brings other things to the table. If he improves his shooting, this year's draft class will be ridiculous with the way Hart and Kuzma are playing.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22343526/los-angeles-lakers-recalibrating-focus-2019-free-agent-class

 

[DJ]

Looks like the Lakers will wait till 2019 and go after Thompson, Leonard or Butler.

 

[DJ]

This team is looking better and Hart has really come on lately.

Even with Lonzo's poor shooting, he brings other things to the table. If he improves his shooting, this year's draft class will be ridiculous with the way Hart and Kuzma are playing.

He's been another bright spot with Ball out.

 

[trojanfan12]

www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22343526/los-angeles-lakers-recalibrating-focus-2019-free-agent-class

Looks like the Lakers will wait till 2019 and go after Thompson, Leonard or Butler.

It's the smart move, imo. They are still going have things ready to go so that they can make a move this off-season if the opportunity presents itself. But with PG saying he's content so far in OKC, and other potential difference makers that could be acquired via FA or trade getting hurt (Boogie and Love) it makes sense to start shifting their focus to 2019.

If I'm not mistaken, Deng will be in the final year of his contract next season. That will make it more valuable in a potential trade to a team looking get expiring contracts to clear space. That will really help as far as the Lakers own cap space.

Considering what has happened injury wise, I think the only way the Lakers do anything major this off-season is if OKC gets embarrassed in the playoffs. That could get PG to re-think how content he is in OKC and lead to the possibility of him and Lebron coming to LA. Not holding my breath on that though.

 

[tomodach10]

I think they may have come to realize, what a mess they inherited, and fear the franchise will not be as attractive to free agents this summer, and with the potential growth of the young team next year, they will have a better shot at prize free agents in 19. I am not excited about Butler or Leonard in 2019.

 

[Retroram52]

If we get to .500 and/or make the playoffs, ten-to-one all this talk of a max player will dissipate quickly like flatulence in the wind. You can keep PG too. Another year and he'll be in that career downside window. I'll take our youngsters and more of the same that come to the Lakers via the draft in June.

 

[tomodach10]

If we get to .500 and/or make the playoffs, ten-to-one all this talk of a max player will dissipate quickly like flatulence in the wind. You can keep PG too. Another year and he'll be in that career downside window. I'll take our youngsters and more of the same that come to the Lakers via the draft in June.

Do we have a #1 in 19??

 

[Retroram52]

Here is the explanation.

2018 second round draft pick from Denver
Denver's 2018 2nd round pick to the L.A. Lakers (via Utah to Chicago) [Denver-Golden State-Utah, 7/10/2013; Atlanta-Chicago-Utah, 2/18/2016; Chicago-L.A. Lakers, 7/7/2016]

2019 second round draft pick from Chicago
Chicago's 2019 2nd round pick to the L.A. Lakers [Chicago-L.A. Lakers, 7/7/2016]

2018 first round draft pick to Philadelphia or Boston
L.A. Lakers' 2018 1st round pick to Philadelphia (via Phoenix) or to Boston (via Phoenix to Philadelphia) protected for selections 1 and 6-30; if this pick falls on any of its protected selections and is therefore retained by Philadelphia, then Boston will instead receive the more favorable of Philadelphia's 2019 1st round pick protected for selection 1 and Sacramento's 2019 1st round pick protected for selection 1 (via Philadelphia) and Philadelphia will receive the less favorable or the protected of these two picks [L.A. Lakers-Phoenix, 7/11/2012; Milwaukee-Philadelphia-Phoenix, 2/19/2015; Philadelphia-Sacramento, 7/9/2015; Boston-Philadelphia, 6/19/2017]; the 2019 pick conveyance is included in "2019 first round draft pick from Philadelphia or Sacramento" on Boston Incoming

2018 second round draft pick to Orlando or Brooklyn
Orlando will receive the more favorable of its 2018 2nd round pick and the L.A. Lakers' 2018 2nd round pick and Brooklyn will receive the less favorable of these two picks (via Orlando to Toronto) [L.A. Lakers-Orlando, 8/10/2012; Orlando-Toronto, 5/25/2017; Brooklyn-Toronto, 7/13/2017]

2019 second round draft pick to Portland or Cleveland
Portland will receive the more favorable of Minnesota's 2019 2nd round pick (via Cleveland) and the L.A. Lakers' 2019 2nd round pick (via Indiana to Cleveland) and Atlanta will receive the less favorable of these two picks (via Cleveland) [Cleveland-Minnesota, 6/25/2015; Indiana-L.A. Lakers, 7/9/2015; Cleveland-Indiana, 7/23/2015; Cleveland-Portland, 7/27/2015; Atlanta-Cleveland, 10/14/2017]

 

[Retroram52]

I am not sure we have much of anything in 2018 except some second rounders from other teams.

 

[wildturkey]

www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22343526/los-angeles-lakers-recalibrating-focus-2019-free-agent-class

This is just a fancy way of saying their plan isn't going to work and they are trying to save face. Shelburne is basically the PR wing for the Lakers. Her sources have always been in Jeanie Buss' side of things and she acts as that PR firm for them by cleaning up any stories to paint things in a positive light. What happened was they went all in on chasing 2018 free agents last summer, a full year before necessary, and now they're top targets are very likely not coming. So now they are leaking this out to say "Well actually...we like what we have and are moving down the road". But this is the exact same thing Jim Buss did for the last 5 years. Keep pathways to cap space available to chase the top free agents, those top free agents pass, the organization says "We'll get them next year!" and the process repeats itself. They are still going to have to clear space for 2019 anyway so its not like the guys rumored to be moving are going to be with the team long term. It's just delaying the move. Instead of moving this week, they could be moved 6 to 8 months from now.

FWIW, I still think they still need to target a free agent this year. Young teams don't win shit. And you're not attractive if you don't win. If you run this team back next year, it won't be improved enough to attract any free agent. You're going to see the same results again. We're not good enough to attract Lebron. Paul George is seems happy in OKC. Cousins is hurt. If I'm them, I'm going all in on DeAndre Jordan. I can be a .500 team that could maybe make the playoffs next year with Ball, some SG, Ingram, Kuzma, and Jordan. Then in 2019, I target Klay Thompson, who might be ready to spread his wings and have a team of his own. Ball, Thompson, Ingram, Kuzma, and Jordan would be a very potent line up and you could conceivably sell guys like Thompson if you go in with that plan. But it doesn't matter if you don't improve your team THIS summer. You can't just keep being all youth or dumping ground for contracts to save space. You have to get better to attract better players.

If we get to .500 and/or make the playoffs, ten-to-one all this talk of a max player will dissipate quickly like flatulence in the wind. You can keep PG too. Another year and he'll be in that career downside window. I'll take our youngsters and more of the same that come to the Lakers via the draft in June.

I know everyone is feeling the positive vibes from the win streak but there's no effing way we're making the playoffs this year. .500 is a far distant dream as well. We're what, like 10 games back? We'd have to like 20-10 over our last 30 games just to get to .500. At this point in the season, making up a 5 game difference in the standings is a tall task, much less 10. People need to be a little more realistic. Enjoy this for what it is, a nice run in the dog days of the NBA.

 

[tomodach10]

Here is the explanation.

2018 second round draft pick from Denver
Denver's 2018 2nd round pick to the L.A. Lakers (via Utah to Chicago) [Denver-Golden State-Utah, 7/10/2013; Atlanta-Chicago-Utah, 2/18/2016; Chicago-L.A. Lakers, 7/7/2016]

2019 second round draft pick from Chicago
Chicago's 2019 2nd round pick to the L.A. Lakers [Chicago-L.A. Lakers, 7/7/2016]

2018 first round draft pick to Philadelphia or Boston
L.A. Lakers' 2018 1st round pick to Philadelphia (via Phoenix) or to Boston (via Phoenix to Philadelphia) protected for selections 1 and 6-30; if this pick falls on any of its protected selections and is therefore retained by Philadelphia, then Boston will instead receive the more favorable of Philadelphia's 2019 1st round pick protected for selection 1 and Sacramento's 2019 1st round pick protected for selection 1 (via Philadelphia) and Philadelphia will receive the less favorable or the protected of these two picks [L.A. Lakers-Phoenix, 7/11/2012; Milwaukee-Philadelphia-Phoenix, 2/19/2015; Philadelphia-Sacramento, 7/9/2015; Boston-Philadelphia, 6/19/2017]; the 2019 pick conveyance is included in "2019 first round draft pick from Philadelphia or Sacramento" on Boston Incoming

2018 second round draft pick to Orlando or Brooklyn
Orlando will receive the more favorable of its 2018 2nd round pick and the L.A. Lakers' 2018 2nd round pick and Brooklyn will receive the less favorable of these two picks (via Orlando to Toronto) [L.A. Lakers-Orlando, 8/10/2012; Orlando-Toronto, 5/25/2017; Brooklyn-Toronto, 7/13/2017]

2019 second round draft pick to Portland or Cleveland
Portland will receive the more favorable of Minnesota's 2019 2nd round pick (via Cleveland) and the L.A. Lakers' 2019 2nd round pick (via Indiana to Cleveland) and Atlanta will receive the less favorable of these two picks (via Cleveland) [Cleveland-Minnesota, 6/25/2015; Indiana-L.A. Lakers, 7/9/2015; Cleveland-Indiana, 7/23/2015; Cleveland-Portland, 7/27/2015; Atlanta-Cleveland, 10/14/2017]

We don't even have a first in19??? Damn!!!

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22347434/los-angeles-lakers-fined-50000-magic-johnson-violates-league-anti-tampering-rule

Hey NBA

How is Magic answering a question as to whether Giannis compares to him or not, and him answering and saying he is going to lead the Bucks to a championship someday tampering?

This is so ridiculous. Now you are telling us team executives can't praise another team's player for his play or it's tampering?

How stupid is this?

 

[tomodach10]

www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22347434/los-angeles-lakers-fined-50000-magic-johnson-violates-league-anti-tampering-rule

Hey NBA

How is Magic answering a question as to whether Giannis compares to him or not, and him answering and saying he is going to lead the Bucks to a championship someday tampering?

This is so ridiculous. Now you are telling us team executives can't praise another team's player for his play or it's tampering?

How stupid is this?

I agree soooo stupid.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Magic and Pelinka would do the franchise a favor (and the fans as well) by putting to rest the rumors of trading Randle, Clarkson, and Nance and move on. This article intimates that to trade Randle is really going to be a setback in the developmental progression everyone wants because teams aren't willing to give up anything much of value for any one or all three players and the Lakers would shoot themselves in the foot by tading any one or all three.

We have some nice additions in Gary Peyton II, Brook Lopez, and Thomas Bryant called-up from the G-league so it really is pointless at this point to continue to keep the roster in suspense as to who is going. It is called the Philadelphia syndrome and the latter franchise have just now climbed out of their five-year abyss of keeping everyone in suspense as to who is going to be traded. This is just not a good strategy. Time to move along and continue to develop the present roster of good-to-great young talent.

Why The Lakers Shouldn't Part With Julius Randle Before The 2018 NBA Trade Deadline - Lakers Nation

I went to middle school with Gary Payton Jr. in Las Vegas. Starting to feel old!!

 

[Kold]

I'm totally enjoying watching this young team grow up

 

[tomodach10]

I'm totally enjoying watching this young team grow up

They really are growing up fast. Love it.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

The team is starting to figure out how to play together the right way.

Luke seems to have found the right combination to his rotations and giving young guys like Hart some valuable minutes to develop and it's working.

And you know what they say: don't fix what isn't broken.

Stand pat at the deadline and let this young team continue to develop together and build chemistry together. Don't make a trade just to make a trade. No team is going to offer what Randle and Clarkson are worth, so don't do it.

This is how GS did it. These group of guys may just be that right combo to follow that blueprint.

 

[wildturkey]

Goodbye Clarkson, Nance.

Hello Isaiah Thomes, Channing Frye, and the Cavs 1st round pick (in the 20s)

Garbage trade