Start the Got Deng Wagon

[Dr Aki]

There is such thing as a mutually beneficial buyout.

Look at Sanders' buyout with Milwaukee. Had 33 mil over 3 years left. Negotiated for 13.3 mil buyout.

Bucks stretched that 13.3 mil over 7 years for a 1.9 mil a year cap hit.

Obviously something like that would greatly help the Lakers. Even 20 mil knocked off the 54 mil we owe him, would result in 34 mil over 7 years for about 4.85 mil hit, which is 2.5 mil more than if we kept him until we stretched him next summer.

Otherwise it's tough to find a buyer.

Does he need to retire like Sanders to swing a deal like this?

No, just goodwill

[milesfides]

The key mistake was starting Kuzma instead of Deng or Randle. The Lakers had, and still have, the estimated length of Nance’s recovery to showcase Deng or Randle. That would allow the Lakers an opportunity to clear one of those players to open up minutes for the other.

The shorsightedness is not understanding that we need to move both Deng and Randle, and should divide or stagger playing time to create an opportunity for either to make his case. Nov-dec, Jan-feb.

Minutes are currency right now.

It would have been smart to work with the coaching staff and Deng. Give that mandate to Luke, so Deng gets X period of time to play his ass off.

Instead, the Lakers seem like they’re doing everything to make trading Deng and Randle difficult.

In a difficult situation, you’ve got to pick your poison: but sorry, finding out that Kuzma could shoot and has great chemistry with his best friend Ball was merely confirming the obvious. At the cost of rockblocking the road to a superteam.

[Dr Aki]

I wouldn't have been surprised to see Kuzma get the starting job.

But to not even have bench minutes when:
1. Randle is now playing small ball center
2. There's now a shortage of power forwards for 48 minutes.

I mean, how does Luke not justify throwing Deng some scraps when there's clearly minutes on the table

[iQon]

The key mistake was starting Kuzma instead of Deng or Randle. The Lakers had, and still have, the estimated length of Nance’s recovery to showcase Deng or Randle. That would allow the Lakers an opportunity to clear one of those players to open up minutes for the other.

The shorsightedness is not understanding that we need to move both Deng and Randle, and should divide or stagger playing time to create an opportunity for either to make his case. Nov-dec, Jan-feb.

Minutes are currency right now.

It would have been smart to work with the coaching staff and Deng. Give that mandate to Luke, so Deng gets X period of time to play his ass off.

Instead, the Lakers seem like they’re doing everything to make trading Deng and Randle difficult.

In a difficult situation, you’ve got to pick your poison: but sorry, finding out that Kuzma could shoot and has great chemistry with his best friend Ball was merely confirming the obvious. At the cost of rockblocking the road to a superteam.

Come on...

Randle's doing just fine where he is, and there's nothing Deng can do to fool a team into eating $54m over the next 2.5 years. He is who he is, and I wasn't particularly impressed with him in Game 1.

I'd rather continue being competitive and winning games vs. showcasing a 32-year-old on a bad contract.

[danfantastk32]

Randle's doing just fine where he is, and there's nothing Deng can do to fool a team into eating $54m over the next 2.5 years. He is who he is, and I wasn't particularly impressed with him in Game 1.

I'd rather continue being competitive and winning games vs. showcasing a 32-year-old on a bad contract.

Agree and agree. Randle is playing really well in his new role. Still reckless from time to time, but I think he looks better against the other bench guys too. This was a good move by Luke.

And yeah.....there aint nobody gettin' fooled into eating that horrific Deng contract. You could doctor the tape, and it wouldnt help. You know, I was actually ok with the Deng contract at first. He played well the prior season...I thought he was good with Chicago. Good defender....great locker guy. I thought the price / 4 years was a bit much....but it seemed much better than the Moz contract. I could see where Deng might fit, and work.

But dear god, did he turn 50 overnight or what? He looks old, tired, and inept out there. I think the team is playing it right. In a year or two maybe people will forget how bad he played with us, and want another look.

Luke's no A-hole. This wasn't 1 game....this was preseason, and practice. He knew this guy was a waste of time for us.

Lose a young stud.....or wait a couple years. Unless this guy agrees to a significant buyout cut, we're stuck with him

[snaquille oatmeal]

The key mistake was starting Kuzma instead of Deng or Randle. The Lakers had, and still have, the estimated length of Nance’s recovery to showcase Deng or Randle. That would allow the Lakers an opportunity to clear one of those players to open up minutes for the other.

The shorsightedness is not understanding that we need to move both Deng and Randle, and should divide or stagger playing time to create an opportunity for either to make his case. Nov-dec, Jan-feb.

Minutes are currency right now.

It would have been smart to work with the coaching staff and Deng. Give that mandate to Luke, so Deng gets X period of time to play his ass off.

Instead, the Lakers seem like they’re doing everything to make trading Deng and Randle difficult.

In a difficult situation, you’ve got to pick your poison: but sorry, finding out that Kuzma could shoot and has great chemistry with his best friend Ball was merely confirming the obvious. At the cost of rockblocking the road to a superteam.

Realistically Miles it doesn’t matter how well Deng and Randle get showcased nobody will take them. There is no incentives in taking in Dengs contract and then either letting go or resigning Randle. Either way is a lose lose lose situation in cap, money and loss of assets for who ever takes them on a trade. Regardless of how great they play this season. We would def have to give up either Lonzo, Ingram, or Kuzma for somebody to even consider a trade.

[BEazy]

What if Deng got injured starting because he’s exerting too much from his body trying to prove that he can still play? What then? He’ll be 18 million dollars of useless, not only for us, but for other teams as well.

[snaquille oatmeal]

What if Deng got injured starting because he’s exerting too much from his body trying to prove that he can still play? What then? He’ll be 18 million dollars of useless, not only for us, but for other teams as well.

It’s our karmic penance for that Bynum to Philly trade

[Wavy Q]

Deng would have to play at his Bulls level for multiple months before anyone would be willing to trade for him, and that would require giving him 30+ minutes which we have neither the luxury nor the will to do.

He's been bad now for a full season+, and not just kind of bad, but completely useless on the floor bad. Playing him in the hopes that he somehow regains his former ability for a slight modicum increase in trade value is borderline irresponsible.

[milesfides]

Realistically Miles it doesn’t matter how well Deng and Randle get showcased nobody will take them. There is no incentives in taking in Dengs contract and then either letting go or resigning Randle. Either way is a lose lose lose situation in cap, money and loss of assets for who ever takes them on a trade. Regardless of how great they play this season. We would def have to give up either Lonzo, Ingram, or Kuzma for somebody to even consider a trade.

Well, there a lot of conflict over Randle's value right now.

But objectively, Randle is a really valuable asset for several reasons. One, any team that trades for him will get his bird rights. If he gets the max, it'll be because he played his way to get it. It'll also be the baby max. Second, he improved. A lot. He is playing like a borderline all-star in his limited minutes, with a PER between Al Horford and Kevin Love. He noticeably has improved in some major categories, particularly in defense. If he can keep that up with increased minutes, how many starting power forwards would be better? You're getting an arguably top 15 power forward who isn't even 23 yet.

How is that potential not worth exploring? Because if I'm a rebuilding team that has capspace but trouble attracting free agents, I'd jump at the chance of getting a stud for simply parking a bad contract for a couple years. Sam Hinkie did this as a policy, and now look at Philly. Of course, there's also the Nets who did exactly this, eating Mozgov to get D'Angelo.

We have everything to lose and everything to gain. The stakes are so high, but we're not even trying. I get Luke is trying to win basketball games because it's his job and pride on the line, but again, if you're the front office, you've got bigger fish in a larger pond to fry right now.

[madmaxmedia]

He says he wants out to go play. "Love of the game" and all that.

Ok....the Lakers paid you $18mil last year, which you even admit you were crappy. So do the honorable thing, and waive the contract. That's right...put your money where your mouth is. You got massively overpaid last season....so your all good. It's not about $$, but love of the game...so tear up the contract and go be a free agent again.

And that's our problem....All that stuff up there is actually bullsh**. This guy doesnt care about love of the game. He got his fat contract, and he's gonna sit and earn every penny. He admits he sucked balls last season....but he really doesn't give a fat f**. We signed him for 4 years.......and we're gonna pay him for 4 years. If we can find someone who will trade for the contract, then great. But there's not a chance in hell he's taking a big cut in his buyout.

So as long as everyone is crystal clear about whats REALLY being said here......we just got ourselves a butt-hurt employee. But he's not gonna bail us out, and take a 20% buyout to go "play the game he really loves" or any of that BS....so this is all alot of nothing.

Take the $18mil you totally didnt earn, and walk away for nothing. <------you know you wont...so can the crap.

Hey may be Deng, but he's not stupid.

[Edrees]

The key mistake was starting Kuzma instead of Deng or Randle. The Lakers had, and still have, the estimated length of Nance’s recovery to showcase Deng or Randle. That would allow the Lakers an opportunity to clear one of those players to open up minutes for the other.

The shorsightedness is not understanding that we need to move both Deng and Randle, and should divide or stagger playing time to create an opportunity for either to make his case. Nov-dec, Jan-feb.

Minutes are currency right now.

It would have been smart to work with the coaching staff and Deng. Give that mandate to Luke, so Deng gets X period of time to play his ass off.

Instead, the Lakers seem like they’re doing everything to make trading Deng and Randle difficult.

In a difficult situation, you’ve got to pick your poison: but sorry, finding out that Kuzma could shoot and has great chemistry with his best friend Ball was merely confirming the obvious. At the cost of rockblocking the road to a superteam.

At the end of the day, if no FA is going to sign here, we should keep Deng and let his contract finish without losing an asset. Because if we give deng more minutes and kuzma less we're going to win less ball games, and the less we win the less likely any star FA's will want to come here.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Realistically Miles it doesn’t matter how well Deng and Randle get showcased nobody will take them. There is no incentives in taking in Dengs contract and then either letting go or resigning Randle. Either way is a lose lose lose situation in cap, money and loss of assets for who ever takes them on a trade. Regardless of how great they play this season. We would def have to give up either Lonzo, Ingram, or Kuzma for somebody to even consider a trade.

Well, there a lot of conflict over Randle's value right now.

But objectively, Randle is a really valuable asset for several reasons. One, any team that trades for him will get his bird rights. If he gets the max, it'll be because he played his way to get it. It'll also be the baby max. Second, he improved. A lot. He is playing like a borderline all-star in his limited minutes, with a PER between Al Horford and Kevin Love. He noticeably has improved in some major categories, particularly in defense. If he can keep that up with increased minutes, how many starting power forwards would be better? You're getting an arguably top 15 power forward who isn't even 23 yet.

How is that potential not worth exploring? Because if I'm a rebuilding team that has capspace but trouble attracting free agents, I'd jump at the chance of getting a stud for simply parking a bad contract for a couple years. Sam Hinkie did this as a policy, and now look at Philly. Of course, there's also the Nets who did exactly this, eating Mozgov to get D'Angelo.

We have everything to lose and everything to gain. The stakes are so high, but we're not even trying. I get Luke is trying to win basketball games because it's his job and pride on the line, but again, if you're the front office, you've got bigger fish in a larger pond to fry right now.

I am not disputing Randle's value. regardless of how high it becomes teams will want a sweetener in a trade that involves Deng and Randle and will have to include either Lonzo, Kuzma, or ingram.

[Dloading99]

As far as I'm concerned Deng can shut up.

nobody told him to sign with us. he knew Ingram was here. he knew we were rebuilding. the fact is we showed him the money and he signed. there are 72 million reasons why I don't care about what playing time he wants. enjoy your money. Keep Getting Dem Checks.

Be a mentor for Ingram and the other guys on the team. and enjoy the best Laker seats at staples center and guess what they Pay you millions to watch the games and practice with the team. WHAT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deng you are getting paid when you know good and well you shouldn't be getting that money. take a page out of Bobby Bonilla and enjoy your money.

As for the Lakers Randle makes sense a couple of places where they won't get free agents. UTAH Brooklyn Haha lol can we squeeze Deng over there to. Chicago.

But yeah nobody is going to help the Lakers.

All of yall in here mentioning Kuzma Ingram and Ball it aint happening we aren't trading anymore of our young guys and the fact that we got young guys who look great playing together and are getting us wins nah Deng can sit here. that' flucked up contract is on management no more trading our young guys for them messing up.

We'll get him traded and we can always resign Lopez.