Post Mortem 2023/24 - Los Angeles Lakers (Eliminated in 1st Round)

[CD_41]

If they were smart they'd blow it up and start over. 40 year old LeBron and ad and a bunch of mid role players has a ceiling of just this. First round exit. They don't have the assets to get a star either.

The Days of gullible teams trading star/franchise players to the Lakers for 'unders' has gone the way of the Dodo.

Problem is, they seem committed (wrongly imo) in keeping their 24 pick and drafting Bronny James.

Lakers are done challenging for a ring under current ownership/front office.

One of Jamie Jaquez Junior, Podziemski or Cam Whitmore would have been invaluable in their series against The Nuggets, and took a project player still a couple of years away from being NBA ready.

Rob Pelinka is not getting anywhere enough blame for another fizzer of a Lakers season and inglorious playoff exit.

Lebron's obsession with playing his son is going to hurt the Lakers and their ability to be a contender going forwards.

Nope Lakers will draft Bronny and let him learn under LeBron the next 3yrs. Max Christie didn't play 1 minute the whole Denver series...Bronny takeover that roster spot. Max is most likely gone next season in a trade including Reaves/Rui/Gabe/Vando & Maybe DLo in a sign and trade for a 3rd star, no matter if you deny it.. it's going to happen.

They can easily get Durant, Mitchell, Trae, Lauri, Lillard
All very attainable that would compliment AD/LeBron

Jalen Lakers draft pick is 1000% percent worse than Bronny and Pelinka drafted him. You don't think they are you going to draft Bronny to Keep LeBron for 3 more seasons????? Bronny can turn into a great defender off the bench and can hit spot up 3's. That's a perfect role for him and the Lakers can slowly start turning him into a scorer in a few seasons if he gets better and stronger

You realize that D-Lo can´t be traded? It is your team, you should know at least these kind of things...
It is so cute to see how you're trying your hardest to turn every possible scenario into the best case scenario just because you love the Lakers so much.

[DOT]

Looks like they finally figured something out

Nuggets should be worried the next time they meet in the playoffs.

[kg01]

Whatever dude

It's a fair question. Care to elaborate on your premise?

They could trade Reaves, Rui, Vando, Gabe, Jalen & Pick for Trae. Hawk are happy with Murray for half the price

They need good rotational players with a bit more size like AR/Rui & Gabe/Vando are great defenders off the bench. This trade would make the Hawks a playoff team with depth and not relaying on 160lb Trae Young

Like, none of this is true.

[GeorgeSears]

I suppose, Lakers could try and trade DLo and Rui + 1st for Donovan Mitchell, the problem is that Mitchell is a playoff zero as well, poor defense, and without Rui, they have to play Vando or Reddish, two poor offensive players. Either way, tough choices to make.

As I said before, they played really well when everyone was healthy.

[ballzboyee]

I suppose, Lakers could try and trade DLo and Rui + 1st for Donovan Mitchell, the problem is that Mitchell is a playoff zero as well, poor defense, and without Rui, they have to play Vando or Reddish, two poor offensive players. Either way, tough choices to make.

As I said before, they played really well when everyone was healthy.

Lakers couldn't even trade Anthony Davis for Mitchell straight up. Mitchell is the better player.

[Myth_Breaker]

I am too devastated to elaborate more. Let's just say: it was a great ride overall while it's lasted, but now - barring some miracle - LeBron's era in LA as contender is pretty much over and Lakers must rebuild again. Minor moves like adding CP3 next season unfortunately cannot change it... I will be less interested in playoffs now than for the last >25 years. But I'd like to see Twin Towers Wolves or Luka's Mavs win it all. If not them, at least not Nuggets or (obviously) damned Celtics!

[LaLover11]

I suppose, Lakers could try and trade DLo and Rui + 1st for Donovan Mitchell, the problem is that Mitchell is a playoff zero as well, poor defense, and without Rui, they have to play Vando or Reddish, two poor offensive players. Either way, tough choices to make.

As I said before, they played really well when everyone was healthy.

Lakers couldn't even trade Anthony Davis for Mitchell straight up. Mitchell is the better player.

Lmao Cavs would give up Mitchell and another player easily for AD what you are talking about?

[GeorgeSears]

I suppose, Lakers could try and trade DLo and Rui + 1st for Donovan Mitchell, the problem is that Mitchell is a playoff zero as well, poor defense, and without Rui, they have to play Vando or Reddish, two poor offensive players. Either way, tough choices to make.

As I said before, they played really well when everyone was healthy.

Lakers couldn't even trade Anthony Davis for Mitchell straight up. Mitchell is the better player.

Mitchell could just force his way to LA. You're forgetting about that. Either way, it just doesn't seem like he's staying with the Cavs. Especially if the the Cavs lose in the first round.

[sp6r=underrated]

don't see how they can get better, they need a full rebuild at this point!

Eh sell off all your good players for picks and be bad for half a decade ("rebuilding") is overrated. The success rate is lower than lots of fans think and watching terrible teams with lack of talent for 3-4 years is miserable. And in a city like LA fans will stop watching games when you put out an unplayable team.

The 1-2 punch is still very strong better. They're better off trying to tinker with the roster to see if they can get it back to the point where it is good enough to make a WCF again.

[LaLover11]

don't see how they can get better, they need a full rebuild at this point!

Eh sell off all your good players for picks and be bad for half a decade ("rebuilding") is overrated. The success rate is lower than lots of fans think and watching terrible teams with lack of talent for 3-4 years is miserable. And in a city like LA fans will stop watching games when you put out an unplayable team.

The 1-2 punch is still very strong better. They're better off trying to tinker with the roster to see if they can get it back to the point where it is good enough to make a WCF again.

There will be no rebuild at all next season

They Ran it back with the roster from Last Year thinking Depth would help them but unfortunately Vando and Gabe got injured most of the season and playoffs

Now they will get rid of all the depth and land the 3rd Star

[sp6r=underrated]

don't see how they can get better, they need a full rebuild at this point!

Eh sell off all your good players for picks and be bad for half a decade ("rebuilding") is overrated. The success rate is lower than lots of fans think and watching terrible teams with lack of talent for 3-4 years is miserable. And in a city like LA fans will stop watching games when you put out an unplayable team.

The 1-2 punch is still very strong better. They're better off trying to tinker with the roster to see if they can get it back to the point where it is good enough to make a WCF again.

There will be no rebuild at all next season

They Ran it back with the roster from Last Year thinking Depth would help them but unfortunately Vando and Gabe got injured most of the season and playoffs

Now they will get rid of all the depth and land the 3rd Star

Instead of trying to land a third star they should try to figure out what type of complimentary players will help the big 2 and then acquiring those type of players. The one LA team that legit contended around Lebron-Davis didn't even attempt to have a pseudo-third star. And the franchise took a walk back when they started obsessing over landing one.

But I agree with your larger point. There won't be a rebuild nor should there be one.

[ballzboyee]

I suppose, Lakers could try and trade DLo and Rui + 1st for Donovan Mitchell, the problem is that Mitchell is a playoff zero as well, poor defense, and without Rui, they have to play Vando or Reddish, two poor offensive players. Either way, tough choices to make.

As I said before, they played really well when everyone was healthy.

Lakers couldn't even trade Anthony Davis for Mitchell straight up. Mitchell is the better player.

Lmao Cavs would give up Mitchell and another player easily for AD what you are talking about?

Doubtful. Maybe a couple of years ago. Mitchell is 27-years-old, 5xAll Star, and All-NBA talent. Davis is an injury prone big who can't stretch the floor and four years older than Mitchell. Anyway, Lakers can't trade D-Lo because he has a player option and will become a free agent. Dude would rather order door dash on his phone than participate in a team huddle during a playoff game. Pretty certain Lakers burned that bridge when they shopped him earlier in the year and scapegoated him for their playoff loss despite the fact pretty much carried them after the all star break into postseason.

[Swish77]

don't see how they can get better, they need a full rebuild at this point!

Eh sell off all your good players for picks and be bad for half a decade ("rebuilding") is overrated. The success rate is lower than lots of fans think and watching terrible teams with lack of talent for 3-4 years is miserable. And in a city like LA fans will stop watching games when you put out an unplayable team.

The 1-2 punch is still very strong better. They're better off trying to tinker with the roster to see if they can get it back to the point where it is good enough to make a WCF again.

There will be no rebuild at all next season

They Ran it back with the roster from Last Year thinking Depth would help them but unfortunately Vando and Gabe got injured most of the season and playoffs

Now they will get rid of all the depth and land the 3rd Star

3rd star doesn't work anymore. Suns have proven that.

[LaLover11]

Eh sell off all your good players for picks and be bad for half a decade ("rebuilding") is overrated. The success rate is lower than lots of fans think and watching terrible teams with lack of talent for 3-4 years is miserable. And in a city like LA fans will stop watching games when you put out an unplayable team.

The 1-2 punch is still very strong better. They're better off trying to tinker with the roster to see if they can get it back to the point where it is good enough to make a WCF again.

There will be no rebuild at all next season

They Ran it back with the roster from Last Year thinking Depth would help them but unfortunately Vando and Gabe got injured most of the season and playoffs

Now they will get rid of all the depth and land the 3rd Star

3rd star doesn't work anymore. Suns have proven that.

Suns Don't LeBron and AD lmao

They have nothing but Offensive Players with no post up game and they also don't have a DPOY Candidate & Goat Player

[ballzboyee]

I suppose, Lakers could try and trade DLo and Rui + 1st for Donovan Mitchell, the problem is that Mitchell is a playoff zero as well, poor defense, and without Rui, they have to play Vando or Reddish, two poor offensive players. Either way, tough choices to make.

As I said before, they played really well when everyone was healthy.

Lakers couldn't even trade Anthony Davis for Mitchell straight up. Mitchell is the better player.

Mitchell could just force his way to LA. You're forgetting about that. Either way, it just doesn't seem like he's staying with the Cavs. Especially if the the Cavs lose in the first round.

The Lakers best projected trade assets is Reaves packaged with other role players. Reaves is nice but he's a combo guard who can't really run the offense after D-Lo jets. They are way over the cap. They would basically have to trade away their depth and would turn into Phoenix, but without D-Lo packaged in a trade its hard to see a great option unless some team overpays for Reaves. Lakers can't win that way with Lebron being 40 and play 40 mpg in the playoffs. They should try to keep their roster intact imho. D-Lo is a solid player despite all the criticism.

However, if D-Lo opts-in, then their best bet would be to trade D-Lo, Reaves, picks, and some other player for Trae Young. Lakers need a real PG who can run an offense and pull-up 3-point specialist. Trae is a defensive liability, but did you see Reaves trying to guard Murray? Maybe they could come up with a similar deal for Mitchell, but that is such a long shot. Cleveland would be crazy to trade Mitchell. He's the second best player they have had in 25 years and a legit superstar who is entering his prime NBA years.

[CKRT]

don't see how they can get better, they need a full rebuild at this point!

Eh sell off all your good players for picks and be bad for half a decade ("rebuilding") is overrated. The success rate is lower than lots of fans think and watching terrible teams with lack of talent for 3-4 years is miserable. And in a city like LA fans will stop watching games when you put out an unplayable team.

The 1-2 punch is still very strong better. They're better off trying to tinker with the roster to see if they can get it back to the point where it is good enough to make a WCF again.

This is the only thing that makes sense to me. LeBron and AD were both like +8 BPM this series and outside of the Wolves are likely walking away with a win against any other western conference team despite their roster flaws. I honestly think if the Lakers FO hadn't gotten tricked by a couple of good games by DLo in January and had made some trades to shore up the PG spot, added a playable wing, and gotten like a playable vet min big they might have just cooked Denver. Ham's post IST rotation experiments did not help them in the slightest with seeding either.

Honestly I still don't get why they blew up that title team. Pelinka deserves to be blasted for mismanaging this team.

[LaLover11]

don't see how they can get better, they need a full rebuild at this point!

Eh sell off all your good players for picks and be bad for half a decade ("rebuilding") is overrated. The success rate is lower than lots of fans think and watching terrible teams with lack of talent for 3-4 years is miserable. And in a city like LA fans will stop watching games when you put out an unplayable team.

The 1-2 punch is still very strong better. They're better off trying to tinker with the roster to see if they can get it back to the point where it is good enough to make a WCF again.

This is the only thing that makes sense to me. LeBron and AD were both like +8 BPM this series and outside of the Wolves are likely walking away with a win against any other western conference team despite their roster flaws. I honestly think if the Lakers FO hadn't gotten tricked by a couple of good games by DLo in January and had made some trades to shore up the PG spot, added a playable wing, and gotten like a playable vet min big they might have just cooked Denver. Ham's post IST rotation experiments did not help them in the slightest with seeding either.

Honestly I still don't get why they blew up that title team. Pelinka deserves to be blasted for mismanaging this team.

Don't worry he's getting fired

[sp6r=underrated]

don't see how they can get better, they need a full rebuild at this point!

Eh sell off all your good players for picks and be bad for half a decade ("rebuilding") is overrated. The success rate is lower than lots of fans think and watching terrible teams with lack of talent for 3-4 years is miserable. And in a city like LA fans will stop watching games when you put out an unplayable team.

The 1-2 punch is still very strong better. They're better off trying to tinker with the roster to see if they can get it back to the point where it is good enough to make a WCF again.

This is the only thing that makes sense to me. LeBron and AD were both like +8 BPM this series and outside of the Wolves are likely walking away with a win against any other western conference team despite their roster flaws. I honestly think if the Lakers FO hadn't gotten tricked by a couple of good games by DLo in January and had made some trades to shore up the PG spot, added a playable wing, and gotten like a playable vet min big they might have just cooked Denver. Ham's post IST rotation experiments did not help them in the slightest with seeding either.

Honestly I still don't get why they blew up that title team. Pelinka deserves to be blasted for mismanaging this team.

I think Lebron critics are nuts but the one fair knock on him is LeGM. Like a lot of superstars he's obsessed with compiling other superstars and probably pressured management to make those moves.

I'm also certain the stars of the past mostly had the same mindset and would have done the same if they played in the current era.

[Hoop Hunter]

What was the deal with AD's shoulder? I've been hit harder in the hallway on my way to the concession stand.

[meatwad4343]

They can easily get Durant, Mitchell, Trae, Lauri, Lillard
All very attainable that would compliment AD/LeBron

Huh? How would they "easily" get Trae or really any of them blokes?

LAL could maybe get Beal but even that won't be easy.

Whatever dude

They are only getting those guys on 2k with forced trades. Lol. Realistically if they want to run it back the only splash move they could really make Is lavine or maybe dejounte if they give up every pick they have coming over the next couple years