The non-max FA angle

[zimpy27]

I'm thinking that KD and Klay are likely off the table.

If Lakers can't get Kawhi then I think Jimmy Butler should be the target.

The reason I think Butler should be the target is because LeBron/Kuzma should be the SF/PF moving forward and I think either Lonzo or Ingram should be the PG (and the other should be traded).

SG is the main need right now and Butler may be around 30m. Sign a 5m player. Trade Lonzo (or Ingram), Hart, Wagner, 1st for an 18m all-star level player and then sign an MLE (because over the cap but under the apron).

Ingram (or Lonzo), Butler, LeBron, Kuzma, All-star level PF/C

5m player, MLE player, 3 vets

[Kilroy]

Unless AD fires Rich Paul, I feel like we still have the inside track on AD.
My gut tells me the reason we didn't express much interest in PG and maybe Kawhi, is because LeBron and Klutch assured us we were in the drivers seat for AD.
I don't think Paul is going to take the BS NOP did lightly, and if he knows the money's going to be the same basically anywhere, he'll be in AD's ear to sign with us.
I also think if the trade market for AD opens up again, they're going to be sending out loud messages that he will only sign an extension with us...

So I think we're still going to get AD unless AD changes his mind in a big way, and I don't think Rich Paul will let that happen... It's a matter of pride and Brand Mystique for him at this point.

That means maybe we don't get 3 superstars, but with Ingram emerging, and Kuz in hand, along with Ball... Ball, Ingram, Kuz, LeBron, AD, is still at least a WCF threat... If Defense of course...

[zimpy27]

Unless AD fires Rich Paul, I feel like we still have the inside track on AD.
My gut tells me the reason we didn't express much interest in PG and maybe Kawhi, is because LeBron and Klutch assured us we were in the drivers seat for AD.
I don't think Paul is going to take the BS NOP did lightly, and if he knows the money's going to be the same basically anywhere, he'll be in AD's ear to sign with us.
I also think if the trade market for AD opens up again, they're going to be sending out loud messages that he will only sign an extension with us...

So I think we're still going to get AD unless AD changes his mind in a big way, and I don't think Rich Paul will let that happen... It's a matter of pride and Brand Mystique for him at this point.

That means maybe we don't get 3 superstars, but with Ingram emerging, and Kuz in hand, along with Ball... Ball, Ingram, Kuz, LeBron, AD, is still at least a WCF threat... If Defense of course...

How do you get AD though? Do nothing next season as well and wait for FA?

[stan francisco]

No Boogie. No Buttler. Nice touch, DD.

Three team deal:
LeBron to NYK (If KD dislikes, there’s LAL w/o LBJ)
AD to LAL
Zion and EXP, cash and multiple picks to NOP

LeGroin gets a huge market, Kyrie back; and a soft landing god forbid Magic backs down and trades him.
NYK get their super duo (trio w KD) and more ring chasers to opt in. He can sell his team soon and retire.
KD might not say no to that trio. NYK won’t.

LAL gets a player we need more than LBJ in AD. Rondo and Lonzo can handle on par with LBJ, at times even better. Few other teams have three playmakers of their rank. And then, Ingram. There might be a reason for why teams get players of complementing abilities, not the same qualities.

AD gets to lead the baby Lakers to rings, beat LBJ, KD, KI in the finals, next to Kawhi or Klay and Ball, BI, Kuz, Rajon.

KD can chose between the young Lakers w AD and the Knicks w LBJ and KI. I like our chances but would happily see us adding Kawhi or Klay to Davis.

For NOP, they can send a thank you card to Demps and start the rebuild with Zion and Holiday and so on. I’d happily trade for Holiday if Ferry wants to start from scratch.

I assume KD will be a Knick.

Lonzo
Kawhi
Ingram
Kuzma
Davis


Jeannie,

How much are LBJ’s jersey sales worth?

Not Gonna happen . AD is heading to knicks with KD and Kyrie. KD is orchestrating the moves to win more rings and cement his legacy. He does not want LeBron as part of the team.

I know. It’s been predicted that way by many bright expert, and it’s likely that happens. So let’s trade LBJ to the Knicks before KD decides to go there.

Done. Welcome, KD!

And AD could try that for a year, playing third fiddle. He might love it.

They’ll probably contend, potentially be the team to beat. Hard to say before exact trades and final rosters can be evaluated. Who are the other 12? If they win rings that year, he’s perhaps a Knick for life. First round exits have happened before. All depends on rest of roster, injury luck or not, matchups etc.

He could then decide to lead the next dynasty in LA the year thereafter and he might already be looking at our roster and anticipating the development over the next few years.

Ingram is 21 now, already an elite defender and 6’10” ball handling forward frequently compared to Giannis, Durant, has already punked both of them, would be around 25-26 when AD turns 30.

When healthy, Ball is the best defensive PG in the league, already now. He’s also 21.

Add Kuzma at age 23 and that’s a big 4, for a long, long time into the future.

Oh yeah, and we can still add another vet star like Klay or Leonard or a lesser name. That’s a big 5. I’m not sure AD isn’t thinking about this, and 2020 isn’t that far away.

I wouldn’t be shocked at all seeing him a Knick in the fall in that trio you mentioned.

If a Laker it wouldn’t be until next fall, which makes it less likely. We should try to trade for him this summer in a three team deal. Or we could always avoid trying.

[BB_Fan]

No Boogie. No Buttler. Nice touch, DD.

Three team deal:
LeBron to NYK (If KD dislikes, there’s LAL w/o LBJ)
AD to LAL
Zion and EXP, cash and multiple picks to NOP

LeGroin gets a huge market, Kyrie back; and a soft landing god forbid Magic backs down and trades him.
NYK get their super duo (trio w KD) and more ring chasers to opt in. He can sell his team soon and retire.
KD might not say no to that trio. NYK won’t.

LAL gets a player we need more than LBJ in AD. Rondo and Lonzo can handle on par with LBJ, at times even better. Few other teams have three playmakers of their rank. And then, Ingram. There might be a reason for why teams get players of complementing abilities, not the same qualities.

AD gets to lead the baby Lakers to rings, beat LBJ, KD, KI in the finals, next to Kawhi or Klay and Ball, BI, Kuz, Rajon.

KD can chose between the young Lakers w AD and the Knicks w LBJ and KI. I like our chances but would happily see us adding Kawhi or Klay to Davis.

For NOP, they can send a thank you card to Demps and start the rebuild with Zion and Holiday and so on. I’d happily trade for Holiday if Ferry wants to start from scratch.

I assume KD will be a Knick.

Lonzo
Kawhi
Ingram
Kuzma
Davis


Jeannie,

How much are LBJ’s jersey sales worth?

Not Gonna happen . AD is heading to knicks with KD and Kyrie. KD is orchestrating the moves to win more rings and cement his legacy. He does not want LeBron as part of the team.

I know. It’s been predicted that way by many bright expert, and it’s likely that happens. So let’s trade LBJ to the Knicks before KD decides to go there.

Done. Welcome, KD!

And AD could try that for a year, playing third fiddle. He might love it.

They’ll probably contend, potentially be the team to beat. Hard to say before exact trades and final rosters can be evaluated. Who are the other 12? If they win rings that year, he’s perhaps a Knick for life. First round exits have happened before. All depends on rest of roster, injury luck or not, matchups etc.

He could then decide to lead the next dynasty in LA the year thereafter and he might already be looking at our roster and anticipating the development over the next few years.

Ingram is 21 now, already an elite defender and 6’10” ball handling forward frequently compared to Giannis, Durant, has already punked both of them, would be around 25-26 when AD turns 30.

When healthy, Ball is the best defensive PG in the league, already now. He’s also 21.

Add Kuzma at age 23 and that’s a big 4, for a long, long time into the future.

Oh yeah, and we can still add another vet star like Klay or Leonard or a lesser name. That’s a big 5. I’m not sure AD isn’t thinking about this, and 2020 isn’t that far away.

I wouldn’t be shocked at all seeing him a Knick in the fall in that trio you mentioned.

If a Laker it wouldn’t be until next fall, which makes it less likely. We should try to trade for him this summer in a three team deal. Or we could always avoid trying.

Is AD going to leave 80M to sign with lakers as FA. All of the big market teams have cap space this year and 40% of the NBA players will be free agents. I think AD will sign with the team that trades for him. 80M is too much money to leave on the table.

I think most likely we will get Kemba or Butler. That team plus LeBron will not win a championship.

[stan francisco]

Not Gonna happen . AD is heading to knicks with KD and Kyrie. KD is orchestrating the moves to win more rings and cement his legacy. He does not want LeBron as part of the team.

I know. It’s been predicted that way by many bright expert, and it’s likely that happens. So let’s trade LBJ to the Knicks before KD decides to go there.

Done. Welcome, KD!

And AD could try that for a year, playing third fiddle. He might love it.

They’ll probably contend, potentially be the team to beat. Hard to say before exact trades and final rosters can be evaluated. Who are the other 12? If they win rings that year, he’s perhaps a Knick for life. First round exits have happened before. All depends on rest of roster, injury luck or not, matchups etc.

He could then decide to lead the next dynasty in LA the year thereafter and he might already be looking at our roster and anticipating the development over the next few years.

Ingram is 21 now, already an elite defender and 6’10” ball handling forward frequently compared to Giannis, Durant, has already punked both of them, would be around 25-26 when AD turns 30.

When healthy, Ball is the best defensive PG in the league, already now. He’s also 21.

Add Kuzma at age 23 and that’s a big 4, for a long, long time into the future.

Oh yeah, and we can still add another vet star like Klay or Leonard or a lesser name. That’s a big 5. I’m not sure AD isn’t thinking about this, and 2020 isn’t that far away.

I wouldn’t be shocked at all seeing him a Knick in the fall in that trio you mentioned.

If a Laker it wouldn’t be until next fall, which makes it less likely. We should try to trade for him this summer in a three team deal. Or we could always avoid trying.

Is AD going to leave 80M to sign with lakers as FA. All of the big market teams have cap space this year and 40% of the NBA players will be free agents. I think AD will sign with the team that trades for him. 80M is too much money to leave on the table.

I think most likely we will get Kemba or Butler. That team plus LeBron will not win a championship.

If that’s the outlook, we should fire Magic now, right?

[CoachD]

There are a lot of good unrestricted FA available next season. These guys are all top 10 in RPM for their positions.

PG - Bledsoe
SG - Danny Green, JJ Redick
SF - Rudy Gay
PF - Millsap, Thad Young
C - Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol


For example, Lakers cap could get Bledsoe, Green, M Gasol, P Gasol

Bledsoe, Green, LeBron, Kuzma, M Gasol
Lonzo, Hart, Ingram, Wagner, P Gasol


I know Magic promised another max FA but I think a well-rounded team like this would be more potent.

Just FYI ... Marc has a player option, and it sounds unlikely he will opt out. He loves Toronto.
Danny Green has also said he wants to stay in Toronto, regardless of what Kawhi does.

[LAKESHOW]

Go all in MAX for Kawahi. I see he works well with bigs, as seen in his past with Tim Duncan. Then total fire sale for AD. Bron, AD, Kawai.

[pb-ceo]

lets say AD is traded to a team other than LAL in the off season. So that means LAL can't get him as a FA until 2021 season. at that time bron is going to be 36. AD will have a decision to make. is signing to play with 36 year old bron my best option? part of my calculus is that bron is going to be offered another contract by LAL to close his career out in LA, which will be a massive part of the LAL salary cap. this is why it made sense for NOP to not trade AD this season. the more time that passes, given current team structure, the less attractive LA is as a destination for AD.

[BB_Fan]

Put in this way -

Are Lakers going to preserve 40M in cap space for 2020 waiting for AD free agency. The 2020 free agency will be no good with no top tier players available.

They will have to sign max players in free agency to build a competitive team for Lebron. Brandon will be RFA . In addition kuzma and ball will be up for new contracts.