Building around AD and LeBron next season

[LAKESHOW]

Kuzma and KCP would have been nice. Kuzma has had a better year than Russ. KCP has been solid as always. And this time last year KCP, Kuzma, and Dennis without Bron abs AD for half the year still had a top defense and we’re staying in games.

If Bron and AD had sucked it up and moved over to the 4 and 5 so Kuzma could start for a whole year, and KCP was starting with those 3 we would be better off and out wing and guard defense, rebounding, shooting, passing, and turnover count would be better. But those two dumb asses never would let Kuzma start one game next to them because they were the 3 and the 4 now they have had bum ass Ariza, Deandre, Reeves, Stanley Johnson, Dwight, and everyone try … it’s laughable.

What the team needs is KCP and Kuzma! Frank would have a better record. Add in Dennis like Rob wanted and it ain’t close lol

All the sudden I'm liking Schroder. Lol

[TimeisIllmatic]

Tough spot

Roster construction has been a disaster this season & have very few assets

IF they flame out this season then they can’t blame it on the play of LeBron but next season he’s an expiring & old

If the Nets collapse then maybe Simmons + something

I like AD but he’s arguably the better trade asset due to his contract

Jaylen Brown + Marcus Smart +?

Sign me up for that Jaylen Brown package for AD. He's the type of player this Lakers team needs. He brings a lot of energy on both ends and he's still young.

[babyjax13]

Ok, so assuming we keep AD (or can't move him), then I would look to make splash. My mostly, but not completely unreal scenario would be a trade between Lillard and Westbrook. I know...I know. This is entirely dependent apon Lillard wanting to come to the Lakers. But if he did, I think Portland would consider it a good thing that Westbrook has 1 season left. Perhaps we sweeten the deal with our 2027 first round pick. And further sweeten by offering THT for Bledsoe....so they can go full youth / rebuild. The long shot there is Lillard wanting to come to Lakers. But if he did, I think Portland does him a solid. They prob just sit Westbrook. Perhaps a buyout?

In other words....try to lure a want-away star with our one-year deal. I think Lillard is a player worth going all-chips-in for. He and AD would be our core for 3-4 years. If we are not able to move AD this offseason (per our assumption) then we prob won't be able to the following either, right? So if you can somehow swap Westbrook and his 1 remaining year for a star who wants a move, and it's a good fit, then I think you try this one last time.

The other scenario I could see would be the rumor that Donovan Mitchell is frustrated with Gobert, and feel like the Jazz have reached their peak, and its not good enough. Would they be willing to take the 1 year of Westbrook? Or could we work out a 3-way deal? Maybe Lillard goes to Utah (would he want that??) We take not only Gobert, but get someone like Conley, and move THT in that deal.

Utah sheds a sh**-ton of salary. They would prob have to part with a couple picks in this deal. But now they not only have Lillard, but they prob can sign someone semi-decent as well.

Portland moves their star...but now has a couple of picks from Utah (maybe a young player), and only 1 year on Westbrook. Rebuild on the way.

Lakers bring in Gobert, and Conley. We're stuck with them for a bit....but holy hell that's gonna be better than Wetbrook. Can AD - Gobert, Conley, and Lebron do some damage? I like the sound of that team 50 times better than Westbrook.

I feel like all teams involved not named the Lakers could do a bit better than that, but I think there is some appeal for Utah there. We don't have the goods that some do...but if we're willing to suck up Conley's salary...that has value. Portland would never do either scenario I laid out.....unless this was something Lillard asked for. I think there is a way (especially with a couple Utah picks, and maybe even our 27 first) to sweeten it enough that they go along.

But are you ready for 4 years of AD and Gobert? And 3 years of old-arse Conley? This really puts us in a bad way once Lebron leaves, but the question is, do you think you can squeeze a title out of that turnip?


Barring that crazy S......I say sit tight. We have 1 more year of Lebron and Russ. If Lebron screams to the heavens, then maybe we can get some picks for him (prob could). Would feel nice to put the squeeze on another team for once. Teams would do stupid things to get Lebron on their squad for a season. If he stays....the we suck it up for another year.....watch Lebron get the points title, and then go from there. It's still the Lakers. They will have AD, and a ton of cap space. If all goes well....perhaps AD stays on the floor for the bulk of 2023, and we are able to move him for some picks/young guys.

(a) Westbrook isn't getting you Conley and Gobert
(b) THT doesn't have positive value

The only way LAL gets Gobert is by offering AD or LeBron, and I don't think we'd trade him for either guy. We've had two years in a row now where Rudy has been significantly better than AD. If AD returns to form he's better, but I'm not sure that's happening. I do think the Lakers can shuffle the roster, but there isn't a way for them to add a star without trading one of their own. I don't mind the idea of Gobert for Lillard (don't love it) but LAL doesn't have enough to add to incentivize Portland, some other team could do a lot better than a first all the way in 2027.

[wco81]

Lebron will be a UFA in the summer of 2023.

Do the Lakers extend him for another 4 or 5 years?

He could probably still score 25-30 PPG for the next couple more years. Probably at age 40 and beyond.

May not be the 2-way force he used to be but being able to get buckets is still a key attribute which determines salary and the competitiveness of the team.

They can get salary relief after summer 2023. Either they will trade WB or let him walk, opening up that salary slot.

So any cap relief would be temporary, because presumably the Lakers will pay to keep Lebron and sign some free agents to fill most of the salary occupied by WB this season and next season.

[danfantastk32]

(a) Westbrook isn't getting you Conley and Gobert
(b) THT doesn't have positive value

The only way LAL gets Gobert is by offering AD or LeBron, and I don't think we'd trade him for either guy. We've had two years in a row now where Rudy has been significantly better than AD. If AD returns to form he's better, but I'm not sure that's happening. I do think the Lakers can shuffle the roster, but there isn't a way for them to add a star without trading one of their own. I don't mind the idea of Gobert for Lillard (don't love it) but LAL doesn't have enough to add to incentivize Portland, some other team could do a lot better than a first all the way in 2027.

I'm not gonna argue with you on it, cause I really don't know the Jazz roster too much. Is Conley a positive?? I figured he was more of a salary hog, than anything else these days. Like I said....could totally be wrong. But your focusing too much on the details with my post. My point was, there are rumors that Mitchell is frustrated with Gobert, and wants the Jazz to mix it up. I get that the Westbrook doesn't look like much....but its his 1-year remaining that has at least some appeal out there. If I'm the Lakers, I'm looking for teams with a desperate situation themselves, and see if I can't insert myself into the deal. In the case of a 3-way trade...if Portland loses Lillard because he demands out...they prob want a rebuild. A guy like Westbrook makes salaries match, but it's just a 1 year commitment. There's value in there.......IF you can mix him in with the right situation. It very well might not be the Jazz. That was just an example of a team that might find itself being muscled into making changes by their franchise guy.

I also think that if your the Lakers, you gotta be willing to take a guy who's got 2-3 years left on a deal where he's overpaid. The Lakers don't want to get a bum.....but if they can ship Westbrook off, and get a decent, but overpaid player....that pairs ok with AD and Lebron...we might have something. Some team might do it, who want to rebuild, and is willing to take one bad year of Westbrook to shed a guy with 3 years left.

Westbrook may not be worth squat....but $40mil with only 1 year committed, is valuable. You just gotta find the right partner, that's all I'm saying. Jazz were just a hypothetical.

[wco81]

They re-signed Conley so they think he's a positive.

But they each make over $30 million, way more over $30 million for Gobert.

Probably need to send out more salary than WB.

[babyjax13]

(a) Westbrook isn't getting you Conley and Gobert
(b) THT doesn't have positive value

The only way LAL gets Gobert is by offering AD or LeBron, and I don't think we'd trade him for either guy. We've had two years in a row now where Rudy has been significantly better than AD. If AD returns to form he's better, but I'm not sure that's happening. I do think the Lakers can shuffle the roster, but there isn't a way for them to add a star without trading one of their own. I don't mind the idea of Gobert for Lillard (don't love it) but LAL doesn't have enough to add to incentivize Portland, some other team could do a lot better than a first all the way in 2027.

I'm not gonna argue with you on it, cause I really don't know the Jazz roster too much. Is Conley a positive?? I figured he was more of a salary hog, than anything else these days. Like I said....could totally be wrong. But your focusing too much on the details with my post. My point was, there are rumors that Mitchell is frustrated with Gobert, and wants the Jazz to mix it up. I get that the Westbrook doesn't look like much....but its his 1-year remaining that has at least some appeal out there. If I'm the Lakers, I'm looking for teams with a desperate situation themselves, and see if I can't insert myself into the deal. In the case of a 3-way trade...if Portland loses Lillard because he demands out...they prob want a rebuild. A guy like Westbrook makes salaries match, but it's just a 1 year commitment. There's value in there.......IF you can mix him in with the right situation. It very well might not be the Jazz. That was just an example of a team that might find itself being muscled into making changes by their franchise guy.

I also think that if your the Lakers, you gotta be willing to take a guy who's got 2-3 years left on a deal where he's overpaid. The Lakers don't want to get a bum.....but if they can ship Westbrook off, and get a decent, but overpaid player....that pairs ok with AD and Lebron...we might have something. Some team might do it, who want to rebuild, and is willing to take one bad year of Westbrook to shed a guy with 3 years left.

Westbrook may not be worth squat....but $40mil with only 1 year committed, is valuable. You just gotta find the right partner, that's all I'm saying. Jazz were just a hypothetical.

I think the right partner is someone like New York who might want to move Fournier + Burks + Kemba, or the proposed Pacers trade...but there is just no way to aggregate LA's non-star assets for guys the caliber of Lillard or Mitchell.

I agree with the latter point, you search for guys that fit. Something like Brogdon + Heild for Westbrook + Reaves + 2027 LAL 1st (unprotected) or the aforementioned New York guys...

RE: Conley, I'd say he is neutral. Good player, old, could fall off at any time. Certainly not going to attach him to Mitchell for Westbrook and a distant first, though - just think about how something like Wall + a distant first would look for AD, not something LAL would or should consider.

[babyjax13]

They re-signed Conley so they think he's a positive.

But they each make over $30 million, way more over $30 million for Gobert.

Probably need to send out more salary than WB.

Conley makes $21 million. But Rudy and Gobert each make over $30 million starting next year: https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/UTA.html