tOfficial 2015 NBA Draft/Free Agency Thread

[bksballer89]

k, these salaries ARE getting a bit wacko...

Nobody can say Dragic was overpaid anymore

 

[Black Adam]

Nobody can say Dragic was overpaid anymore

you got THAT right...

 

[trojanfan12]

CERTAINLY a couple in particular. now before anyone accuses us of claiming "we're back", no one is saying that. however, these latest moves are downright respectable...ESPECIALLY for a "laughing stock"...

Yeah, the Lakers are not "back" by any stretch of anyone's imagination. These moves are another step in the right direction and I see them as Mitch being allowed to actually do his job.

 

[Black Adam]

Yeah, the Lakers are not "back" by any stretch of anyone's imagination. These moves are another step in the right direction and I see them as Mitch being allowed to actually do his job.

BINGO...

and about time...

 

[trojanfan12]

I get where you are coming from, but you also have to consider the fact that nobody has been interested in going there. I'd take what Barnes says with a grain of salt, but it does seem to match up with the narrative that has been given to the public. LMA had two meeting with the front office and he never even considered them for a second. Melo barely even considered them. That makes me think the front office doesn't know how to attract free agents. Usually if a team has a pitch for a free agent, then that free agent leaves the meeting feeling impressed and considers that team. That really hasn't happened with the lakers in a while. Even the Bulls, who suck at attracting free agents had Melo second guessing staying in New York. I really do think the Lakers are heading for some dark days with the front office they have in place. They have some nice young pieces in Russell and Randle, but I could easily see them including one or both of those players in a trade for a superstar that won't get them far. They were trying to trade for Cousins, who I don't think will ever be the center piece of a title contending team. I don't think they have a clue what they are doing.

Actually, you're incorrect on pretty much everything.

No one has been interested in going there because of the roster. Aldridge had the Lakers as one of his 2 most likely destinations. However, he wants to win now and the Lakers are not there yet. The players that they are looking at as their core for the future are a rookie and 2nd year players one of whom played all of about 12 minutes last year. You can't go to a 30 year old vet who wants to win titles now, with an unproven roster and expect him to sign. I'm actually surprised that Aldridge considered them in the first place.

With the moves they are making this off season, if the young guys are as good as all of the experts seem to think, they should be in a much better spot for dealing with FA's going forward.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I get where you are coming from, but you also have to consider the fact that nobody has been interested in going there. I'd take what Barnes says with a grain of salt, but it does seem to match up with the narrative that has been given to the public. LMA had two meeting with the front office and he never even considered them for a second. Melo barely even considered them. That makes me think the front office doesn't know how to attract free agents. Usually if a team has a pitch for a free agent, then that free agent leaves the meeting feeling impressed and considers that team. That really hasn't happened with the lakers in a while. Even the Bulls, who suck at attracting free agents had Melo second guessing staying in New York. I really do think the Lakers are heading for some dark days with the front office they have in place. They have some nice young pieces in Russell and Randle, but I could easily see them including one or both of those players in a trade for a superstar that won't get them far. They were trying to trade for Cousins, who I don't think will ever be the center piece of a title contending team. I don't think they have a clue what they are doing.

Dark days? They have already been here, we set a franchise record for fewest wins in back to back seasons.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Actually, you're incorrect on pretty much everything.

No one has been interested in going there because of the roster. Aldridge had the Lakers as one of his 2 most likely destinations. However, he wants to win now and the Lakers are not there yet. The players that they are looking at as their core for the future are a rookie and 2nd year players one of whom played all of about 12 minutes last year. You can't go to a 30 year old vet who wants to win titles now, with an unproven roster and expect him to sign. I'm actually surprised that Aldridge considered them in the first place.

With the moves they are making this off season, if the young guys are as good as all of the experts seem to think, they should be in a much better spot for dealing with FA's going forward.

We'll see. Neither of us really know for sure, but if you look at what this front office has done, it's been pretty bad. The only saving grace is that they got Russell, who I think will be the best player of the draft and he can learn from Kobe for a year.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I agree, TJ. I was surprised Aldridge even considered the Lakers (since he clearly wants to win now) but the fact he did was a testament to LA's historic past.

 

[trojanfan12]

We'll see. Neither of us really know for sure, but if you look at what this front office has done, it's been pretty bad. The only saving grace is that they got Russell, who I think will be the best player of the draft and he can learn from Kobe for a year.

Really?!? Pretty bad? Have you been reading anything NBA related in the last 24 hours and how pretty much all of the experts are saying what a nice recovery the Lakers have made?

It's really pretty simple. They don't have the roster to to attract top FA's right now, but they had to try anyway. The FO has done as well and perhaps better than expected given the roster the Lakers have been working with. As for Russell being the only saving grace, I guess you forgot that in the last draft they got Randle whom several folks said was on of the 2 or 3 best in that draft and they also got Clarkson who was the steal of last years draft.

It took them about a season and a half to get things figured out after Dr. Buss died and some mistakes were made. However, once Jeanie stepped up and took some control, things have settled and most Lakers fans have very few complaints.

 

[Retroram52]

Yea, in the last 48 hours, to say the Lakers FO did little or nothing right is not exactly living in NBA reality. I really like our new roster and look forward to the final product in a couple of months.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I don't think that guy follows the NBA....

 

[Black Adam]

Yea, in the last 48 hours, to say the Lakers FO did little or nothing right is not exactly living in NBA reality. I really like our new roster and look forward to the final product in a couple of months.

haters are gonna hate. one look at the ol' trophy case is gonna breed that...

seriously though, I think the people in the actual know are seeing some positive signs...

 

[trojanfan12]

seriously though, I think the people in the actual know are seeing some positive signs...

Either that or Lakers fans are being trolled big time by pretty much every NBA "expert" out there.

 

[Black Adam]

I don't think that guy follows the NBA....

kinda like looking at THIS guy's trophy case and thinking "how'd THIS guys franchise get 2 more titles than mine..."

just messin' with ya. 'sides, I usually grind the Raiders in the dirt on Madden as my payback...

 

[DJ Fieri]

Wasn't referring to you, meant the fudgepacker.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Really?!? Pretty bad? Have you been reading anything NBA related in the last 24 hours and how pretty much all of the experts are saying what a nice recovery the Lakers have made?

It's really pretty simple. They don't have the roster to to attract top FA's right now, but they had to try anyway. The FO has done as well and perhaps better than expected given the roster the Lakers have been working with. As for Russell being the only saving grace, I guess you forgot that in the last draft they got Randle whom several folks said was on of the 2 or 3 best in that draft and they also got Clarkson who was the steal of last years draft.

It took them about a season and a half to get things figured out after Dr. Buss died and some mistakes were made. However, once Jeanie stepped up and took some control, things have settled and most Lakers fans have very few complaints.

First of all, I never buy what the talking heads say. I rate these moves as ho hum, won't effect anything. None of their signings will be around when the Lakers are good again. Hibbert and Lou aren't good enough to get them to the playoffs. Honestly, they should've just kept a junky roster in hopes of getting another lottery pick. I guess there is solid reasoning behind it though since it is Kobes last year. Lou is a good 6th man, but he won't make a big splash on a crappy team. Hibbert won't add much either.

As for the future, I see Russell really blossoming, but Randle is a bit of a stretch for me. Yeah, everyone was high on him during the draft, but I think he's going to be bothered almost every night by NBA type strength and length that he didn't experience in college. I see him being an above average PF, but that equates to a prime Boozer/Brand. He will put up good stats, but he will never be a PF that can be a top 2 option on a contender. I'm not even sure I'd want a player like that to be a top 3 option.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Dark days? They have already been here, we set a franchise record for fewest wins in back to back seasons.

2 years of bad teams doesn't constitute dark days to me. Dark days are like the Bulls after Jordan or the 6ers now (they are trying to lose though).

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Wasn't referring to you, the fudgepacker.

It's cool, I didn't think you did.

Edit: I read that wrong. Either way, you're entitled to your own opinion. I can't prove anything on a message board, but I will let you know that I've followed bball a long time, consider myself a smart player and feel as though I know bball a lot more than the average fan.

 

[DJ Fieri]

2 years of bad teams doesn't constitute dark days to me. Dark days are like the Bulls after Jordan or the 6ers now (they are trying to lose though).

That won't happen for the simple fact they already have a nice young trio in Clarkson, Russell, and Randle. As long as they stay healthy they should be a very good trio for 8-12 years if they stay together.

 

[Black Adam]

Wasn't referring to you, meant the fudgepacker.

I know. no worries, man...