The Official 2015 Offseason Free Agency Thread

[ALL HAIL]

I agree that Brook Lopez is much more essential if they draft Towns (instead of Okafor).

I don't, however, think that they have to overpay a free agent to become relevant again.

Having capspace is valuable for signing free agents but also for acquiring players through trade. I think this is a very viable course of action.

Lopez could be had via trade. A guy like OJ Mayo could, also, easily be had via trade. There are many other possibilities ...

Like the Lin trade last summer, a few teams may even be willing to attach a pick to rid themselves of salary.

- Milwaukee might be willing to trade Mayo to LA for an exchange of first round picks--that's moving from the 25 range to the 15 range.

If you move up to the 15 range, while first getting lucky enough to draft a guy like Towns, you can draft one of, if not, the most dynamic PGs of the draft -- Kris Dunn (one of my personal favorites).

- Brooklyn might be willing to take on a sign and traded Ed Davis and "sweetener" for Brook Lopez. I'd be willing to give them Clarkson if Kris Dunn's already been secured.

- An extremely overlooked player who will more than likely opt out and who could probably be signed to a tremendously valuable, bargain-basement deal is Jared Dudley.

I think Dudley would sign here for a starting promise and 16 million over three years.

- Chuck Hayes is a guy I'd target for a promise of consistent (albeit limited) minutes and very little money to teach defense to the youngsters.

- In the second round of the draft I'd hope that sharpshooting Micheal Frazier comes out early this year, and I'd grab a defensive swingman who can shoot with that lower second round pick: sleeper Taurean Prince (Baylor).

My team with [what I believe to be] very realistic trades and frugal signings:

PG - Kobe Bryant - Kris Dunn
SG - OJ Mayo - Michael Frazier
C - Brook Lopez - Karl Towns
PF - Chuck Hayes - Julius Randle
SF - Jared Dudley - Taurean Prince

Defensive/shooting veterans with something to prove backed up by hungry youngsters. Problem solved.

[5ertwenty]

I just had a look at some Kris Dunn highlights - how is this guy not ranked higher?

[TyCobb]

Because he's a turnover machine who can't shoot.

[ALL HAIL]

I just had a look at some Kris Dunn highlights - how is this guy not ranked higher?

The primary reason Kris Dunn is rated lower than you would think with his skillset is because of his injury history.

Also, the mock draft sites, while informative, are very often, especially at this stage, full of it.

You have some sites ranking Dunn as low as 25, others as high as 12.

I could make a strong argument that he's the best PG in this draft--he's the best I've seen. Yes, I like him better than Russell.

So, although as Ty has pointed out, he averages over four turnovers a game and he shoots sub 70% from the free throw line, there are many other qualities he possesses that are elite. To ignore his strengths would be stubborn.

I've always seen him as a player that will shoot up the boards like Elfrid Payton did last year.

I still think he doesn't make it past Phila in the middle of the first round, but he'll probably go even higher.

If the Lakers were to pull off Towns, Dunn, Michael Frazier (or Rashad Vaughn), and Taurean Prince, the future would be in excellent hands.

[Austincys21]

I can see the Lakers looking at Hibbert if DJ doesn't work.

[ALL HAIL]

I can see the Lakers looking at Hibbert if DJ doesn't work.

Yeah, I haven't really kept up with Hibbert all year, but I know there was speculation that he might opt out.

I don't know why he would do that this summer when he could make more money in 2016.

The only guys that would opt out this summer are guys who are having anomaly type seasons, guys who worry that they may not be able to top this year's numbers (ie. Jared Dudley), and injury-prone guys who worry that if they don't cash in now, they may be risking missing out on a boatload of money (ie Brook Lopez and Dudley).

The more I think about it, and the more Brook Lopez continues to beast in Brooklyn, he'll probably opt out.

[Austincys21]

I can see the Lakers looking at Hibbert if DJ doesn't work.

Yeah, I haven't really kept up with Hibbert all year, but I know there was speculation that he might opt out.

I don't know why he would do that this summer when he could make more money in 2016.

The only guys that would opt out this summer are guys who are having anomaly type seasons, guys who worry that they may not be able to top this year's numbers (ie. Jared Dudley), and injury-prone guys who worry that if they don't cash in now, they may be risking missing out on a boatload of money (ie Brook Lopez and Dudley).

The more I think about it, and the more Brook Lopez continues to beast in Brooklyn, he'll probably opt out.

I think he can get a similar salary if he opts out. It may be in his best interest do do so now rather wait out a year of a potential injury. I think a team like the Lakers or Knicks will give him 12-13m a year

[Austincys21]

Randle compliments Hibbert pretty well

[ALL HAIL]

I can see the Lakers looking at Hibbert if DJ doesn't work.

Yeah, I haven't really kept up with Hibbert all year, but I know there was speculation that he might opt out.

I don't know why he would do that this summer when he could make more money in 2016.

The only guys that would opt out this summer are guys who are having anomaly type seasons, guys who worry that they may not be able to top this year's numbers (ie. Jared Dudley), and injury-prone guys who worry that if they don't cash in now, they may be risking missing out on a boatload of money (ie Brook Lopez and Dudley).

The more I think about it, and the more Brook Lopez continues to beast in Brooklyn, he'll probably opt out.

I think he can get a similar salary if he opts out. It may be in his best interest do do so now rather wait out a year of a potential injury. I think a team like the Lakers or Knicks will give him 12-13m a year

Brook Lopez or Hibbert?

[Austincys21]

Yeah, I haven't really kept up with Hibbert all year, but I know there was speculation that he might opt out.

I don't know why he would do that this summer when he could make more money in 2016.

The only guys that would opt out this summer are guys who are having anomaly type seasons, guys who worry that they may not be able to top this year's numbers (ie. Jared Dudley), and injury-prone guys who worry that if they don't cash in now, they may be risking missing out on a boatload of money (ie Brook Lopez and Dudley).

The more I think about it, and the more Brook Lopez continues to beast in Brooklyn, he'll probably opt out.

I think he can get a similar salary if he opts out. It may be in his best interest do do so now rather wait out a year of a potential injury. I think a team like the Lakers or Knicks will give him 12-13m a year

Brook Lopez or Hibbert?

We'll both but I was talkin bout Hibbert. Imo i would take Hibbert over Lopez. I'd even take Robin over Brook.

[ALL HAIL]

Hibbert's not particularly injury prone though.

If he has just a solid season next year on what looks to be a very much improved Pacers team, he'll fetch a tremendous payday next summer.

We'll see.

[One Love]

I am not sure why Okafur & Towns discussions continue as we will be lucky to stay in the top 5 therefore our choices will be Mudiay, Stanley, Winslow, WCS or Euro Sensation... In terms of centers if we draft PG or SF the best available center in the league is Asik... He blocks, rebounds, defends & is a UFA & could be had a decent contract... Gasol & LA aren't coming... Lopez doesn't board & Hibb is DONE...

If we want size take WCS or if we don't sign Asik... Simple... I do think WCS is the next Tyson Chandler & would pair nicely with Randle... I am also cool with taking a SG/SF & grabbing Asik...

Lakeshow Baby...

[LApwnd]

I am not sure why Okafur & Towns discussions continue as we will be lucky to stay in the top 5 therefore our choices will be Mudiay, Stanley, Winslow, WCS or Euro Sensation... In terms of centers if we draft PG or SF the best available center in the league is Asik... He blocks, rebounds, defends & is a UFA & could be had a decent contract... Gasol & LA aren't coming... Lopez doesn't board & Hibb is DONE...

If we want size take WCS or if we don't sign Asik... Simple... I do think WCS is the next Tyson Chandler & would pair nicely with Randle... I am also cool with taking a SG/SF & grabbing Asik...

Lakeshow Baby...

WCS isn't a top 5 talent....might as well just trade back if that's what you want.

[Penberthy]

I am not sure why Okafur & Towns discussions continue as we will be lucky to stay in the top 5 therefore our choices will be Mudiay, Stanley, Winslow, WCS or Euro Sensation... In terms of centers if we draft PG or SF the best available center in the league is Asik... He blocks, rebounds, defends & is a UFA & could be had a decent contract... Gasol & LA aren't coming... Lopez doesn't board & Hibb is DONE...

If we want size take WCS or if we don't sign Asik... Simple... I do think WCS is the next Tyson Chandler & would pair nicely with Randle... I am also cool with taking a SG/SF & grabbing Asik...

Lakeshow Baby...

The team who won the lottery the last five years finished with the following record:
9th worst
3rd worst
3rd worst
8th worst
5th worst

[thegamefritz]

if we get to pick #1 or #2 we pick Towns or Okafor. We pick PG in our 2nd 1st rd pick and a bigman in 2nd rd. We give Draymond Green Max and give $8-10mil to either Wes Matthews or Danny Green. We will sign a vet C and a PG.

Roster
C- K. TOWNS or J. OKAFOR/RYAN HOLLINS/Dakari JOHNSON
PF - J. RANDLE/ J.HILL
SF- DRAYMOND GREEN/N. YOUNG
SG-KOBE/D. GREEN or WES MATTHEWS
PG- J.CLARKSON, CJ WATSON, TYUS JONES OR DONNEL WRIGHT


WISHFUL THINKING ROSTER
C- K. TOWNS or J. OKAFOR/KENDRICK PERKINS/DAKARI JOHNSON
PF - J. RANDLE/ J.HILL
SF- KAWHI LEONARD OR JIMMY BUTLER /N. YOUNG
SG-KOBE/D. GREEN or WES MATTHEWS
PG- J.CLARKSON, CJ WATSON, TYUS JONES OR DONNEL WRIGHT

IF We pick between #3 to #5
I'd still like to pick a Big man like Willie Cauley Stein. Picking a PG like Russell or Mudiay will only hinder Jordan Clarkson's development, while Clarkson will never be elite, he can be like a George Hill PG.

Roster
C- WILLIE CAULEY STEIN/ RYAN HOLLINS/D. JOHNSON
PF - J. RANDLE/ J.HILL
SF- DRAYMOND GREEN/N. YOUNG
SG-KOBE/D. GREEN or WES MATTHEWS
PG- J.CLARKSON, CJ WATSON, TYUS JONES OR DONNEL WRIGHT

[TylersLakers]

One Love is 100% correct. At this stage of the game, Towns or Okafor (unless we get lucky on lottery night) are off the table.

If we stay at fourth, what would you wanna see done?

- Draft Mudiay, Johnson, or Winslow?
- Trade?

Personally I would go Mudiay but if we drop to 5th, trade.

[Ckay]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/583766060551114752[/tweet]

[TyCobb]

Going to be a miserable offseason. First exercising Hill, now this...

[crazyeights]

****. I didn't hear about Hill. Man we'd better keep the pick and score in the lottery.

[EArl]

What would be the point in exercising Hill? Can he be traded as an expiring next year?