2024 off-season: what moves would you like to see??

[Hoopz Afrik]

Who would you prefer between Kyle Kuzma and Jerami Grant?

[DNP-Old]

Who would you prefer between Kyle Kuzma and Jerami Grant?

Player: Grant
Contract: Kuzma
Player+contract: Kuzma

[loveshaq007]

best off-season....

sign Lowry at vets min.... him and DeRozan are boys.

trade Rui, m. lewis, #17, and future unprotected first for Lauri m. and 2024 second round pick

trade Gabe, vando, hood, and wood for Caruso and DeRozan at $18,740,156 a year.... so salaries are exact

[scoobs07]

Who would you prefer between Kyle Kuzma and Jerami Grant?

Player: Grant
Contract: Kuzma
Player+contract: Kuzma

Grant because if his offense and defense. Kuz is vastly overrated by Lakers fans. He is a below average shooter and a below average defender (at the 3), so what gives?

[LaLover11]

Trade AD/Reaves for Mitchell/Allen

S & T DLo/Rui/Gabe for Lauri

LeBron, Mitchell, Prince, Lauri, Allen

[Godfather13]

Who would you prefer between Kyle Kuzma and Jerami Grant?

Player: Grant
Contract: Kuzma
Player+contract: Kuzma

Interesting nuance. I have to agree.

Would've said Grant off the bat.

[Godfather13]

trade Rui, m. lewis, #17, and future unprotected first for Lauri m. and 2024 second round pick

I think you're underestimating Lauri's value. Ainge is likely to want Austin + all 3 tradable picks for Lauri. I'm game if he does it for even 2 picks. Such an insane fit for AD.

trade Gabe, vando, hood, and wood for Caruso and DeRozan at $18,740,156 a year.... so salaries are exact

This trade can't happen -
1. Illegal - DeRozan Sign & Trade would make us a 2nd Apron team and according to the new CBA we cant aggregate multiple player salaries
2. Chicago don't usually make trades + Chicago particularly don't make trades with us

Personally, I'd sacrifice a pinky for Caruso.

[Godfather13]

Realistically this team is not going to make big moves for financial reasons outside of re-signing their guys (D'Lo, Max, Bron obviously, Dinwiddie because he will be cheap even though he's not good anymore) but I'd like to see more depth at the C position. Daniel Theis, Tillman, Goga are probably our options.

I think we're going to make some real changes outside of LeBron + AD. I'd be stunned if they don't trade all their future draft capital.

I'd tear it down to the foundation while there are marketable assets. Trade Davis and Bron will leave.

That said, the "family" needs the cash flow so they will ride this pig into the ground before they sell it. I can see them keep swinging for the fences. We're getting late in this cycle... about Nash/Howard late. Look for CP3 to somehow find his way here and a borderline star at the twilight.

The cash flow should be fairly sorted for the near future as Adam Silver just signed a TV deal worth 3x of the previous one. That escalates the owner's share by about 2-2.25X(300-375 mil).

It's the reason Jeanie's finally willing to spend on a coach. Lets not count our chickens.. blah blah.

[Godfather13]

Trade AD/Reaves for Mitchell/Allen

S & T DLo/Rui/Gabe for Lauri

LeBron, Mitchell, Prince, Lauri, Allen

Nah.. lol

AD's going no where. That's the one untouchable piece.

[Godfather13]

Realistically this team is not going to make big moves for financial reasons outside of re-signing their guys (D'Lo, Max, Bron obviously, Dinwiddie because he will be cheap even though he's not good anymore) but I'd like to see more depth at the C position. Daniel Theis, Tillman, Goga are probably our options.

I think we're going to make some real changes outside of LeBron + AD. I'd be stunned if they don't trade all their future draft capital.

There is honestly no deal out there that will make this team into a championship contender, IMO. Rui, Reaves, maybe Vando (although he has not been healthy), Lewis, JHS, and future picks are not compelling assets for a team looking to give up a valuable player.

I'm all for optimism but as fans of the Lakers we also need to be honest about the value of the players on our team.

- Reaves is probably our highest positive value asset.
- Then the 3 picks cos people around the league assume Jeanie/Rob will find a way back to the bottom as soon as Lebron/AD are done as a partnership.
- Takers for Rui, Vando, JHS can be found I guess, but not too easily.
- The rest of the assets - Gabe, DLo, etc will probably need picks attached to cancel out the negative value


I'd very much like to go all in(barring Reaves) for Mikal Bridges + DFS & see if BKN bites. DFS is a FA, so it should not require attaching extra assets.

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/8783865

We will need some primary playmaking backup with DLo/Gabe(or both) gone. CP3 has been linked to us - it's not gonna be easy seeing him in purple and gold, but Bridges+DFS is worth it IMO.

Think it gives us a solid two way starting 5 with enough size, athleticism & shooting to contend with the right coach and a couple more mid tier role players.


Austin - CP - JHS
Bridges - TP - Max
DFS - -
Lebron - Wood -
AD - -

We will have 4 Vet minimum & 1 TMLE(5 mil) to find a back up Center / PF & a SF.

Honestly looks a little thin in terms of depth, but Bridges & DFS POA defense + shot making feel like unbelievably massive upgrades from whatever we've had since the title season.

[Godfather13]

Very well thought-out, but not enough offense, especially of the quick, penetrating variety.

We'll all hate the lineup of Paul, Caruso, Drummond, Vanderbilt, and Finney-Smith.

I love the time and thoroughness of your post, but this team'd need more offense.

Also, hate to poke holes.....but why is CP3 leaving $30m to come play here for $3? .....answer....he's not. So we gotta stay real here. This is the part of the year where fans often massively over sell the whole "your a LAKER" thing. Doesn't mean squat. And last I checked, the Lakers were like 3 regular season wins above the Warriors. So if he's chasing a ring....we're hardly the destination.

It's time Laker fans get it.....We're not a favored destination. We're a middle of the road team. Changing the coach won't change who actually runs the floor. And that guy running the floor isn't just the wrong side of 30......he'll be the wrong side of 40 mid season. Don't you get it?? Lebron ain't turning back the clock. AD literally played more games this last season than he played his entire career. THAT WAS IT FOLKS.....it wont 'get better. And it wasn't really close to enough. Im sorry, but its time to take off the goggles, and accept reality: You wont get a better year than last year from our two stars....and it wasn't close to enough.

Im sorry, but while I appreciate your effort.....exactly what did CP3 bring to GS last year? Nada. And we're supposed to get him for 10% of what he's gonna earn next year?

The mental hoops people go through to dodge reality around here. I don't want to be a dick, but enough already. This team is completely mediocre, and declining. Stop dodging the truth!

lol.. Maybe do a little research before the essay calling out OP

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/2609/chris-paul

CP's final non guaranteed year is a 100% certain to be waived by GSW, since they've already indicated that they'll be trying to get under the tax, since they're not really contending for anything anymore. GSW might drop Klay and CP's 70ish mil all of a sudden this year.

That's why the smart folks are assuming that he may be available for 10-20% of his salary, if he chooses to play another year.

[Godfather13]

Some notes in red

Alright, I've been doing some number crunching and this is our path forward to winning a Championship with Russell not on the roster.

As much as I'd love to have D-Lo on the team in the regular season, if we're serious about trying to win a Championship next season, he can't be on the team unless he's a 6th man. And from his comments and how he felt about coming off the bench this year, it sounds like he would need to be severely humbled to accept a 6th man role off the bench. If he truly wants to contribute to winning, that is where I think he'd be best.

LeBron:

1 A) Re-sign LeBron. As much as I'd love him to take less, he won't. So he'll opt-out (as reported) and re-sign a new deal to get a no trade clause. I would imagine it'll be a 2 or 3 year deal, either way his salary would start at $50.1M.

He gets more money(5m per year) & a 3(2+1) year deal, only if he extends - so I figure that's what he ends up doing, instead of opt-out

1 B) Draft Bronny James, 2nd round pick (#55): Hire a good player development staff and see what he turns into.

Idk if this is the best thing for Lebron or Bronny. Just takes the focus away from winning IMO & Lakers with AD-Bron are not poised to be a youth development team. We couldn't give Max any minutes, wth is Bronny gonna do?

This will be a terrible decision for Bronny. Just unserious BS tbh.

Trades:

2) Trade Vincent, JHS, Max Lewis, 2024 1st (#17), 2029 1st (unprotected) to Chicago for Alex Caruso and Jevon Carter.

Lewis isn't a contracted player with LA, so he can't be traded. And Chicago, among other teams don't trade with the Lakers. It's not about to start now, unless Rob feels disturbed enough to give up a pick for Lavine, like he did for Russ

3) Trade Rui, 2031 1st round pick (Top 3 protected), x2 2nd round picks to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith.

Free Agency:

4) Renounce D-Lo - This way we have access to the full mid-level exception worth around $13M.

We can't renounce DLo, cos he has a player, not a team option. We will need to waive another 2 vet min players' bird rights to open up the Full MLE, provided DLo walks off his own will.

5) Sign Andre Drummond, 2 year contract (player option 2nd year) starting at $6.5M

What has Drummond ever done to deserve a player option?

6) Sign Buddy Hield, 2 year contract (player option 2nd year) starting at $6.5M.

Buddy will easily get a 10m-MLE level deal with that kinda shooting. And again, player options are only reserved for supermax All NBA level players. We're already paying for unnecessarily doling it out to Dumbf*ckLo

7) I would imagine Chris Paul gets waived, sign him to a veteran minimum. He's at that stage now.

I can see it, but only if Gabe, DLo & JHS are all gone for no other ball handler replacements

8) Re-sign Max Christie, 3 year contract (player option on 3rd year) starting at $6M.

Max might need some assurances to re-sign now, after they way we allowed Ham to treat him. Fingers crossed, I'll be really happy with a contract like that

9) Reddish and Wood opt in, Hayes opts out.

Roster:

PG: Reaves/Paul/Carter
SG: Caruso/Hield/James
SF: DFS/Christie/Reddish
PF: LeBron/Vando/
C: AD/Drummond/Wood

LeBron: $50.1
AD: $43.2
DFS: $14.9
Reaves: $13.0
Vando: $10.7
Caruso: $9.9
Carter: $6.5
Drummond: $6.5
Hield: $6.5
Christie: $6.0
Paul: $3.3
Wood: $3.0
Reddish: $2.5
James: $1.2

We would still have enough room under the hard cap to add a buyout player mid-season. That's an extremely versatile line-up. I could also see other starting line-ups.

That's a line-up that's built to win in the playoffs. Point of attack defenders in Caruso, Vando, Reaves. The ability to start really big with Drummond or bring him off the bench. If we need shooting around LeBron and AD we could go with a lot of different options: Hield, Reaves, Caruso or DFS, Max, Wood. I do think Christian Wood will rebound and have a nice year next season. Regardless, we need to be a better rebounding team and Drummond helps with that significantly. I trust DFS more than Rui. He may not be the shooter or the hub of offense that Rui is, but he's a much better defender.

A situation like this would be perfect for Chris Paul. I could easily see him starting in a backcourt with Reaves and bringing Caruso off the bench like we did in 2020. However, that's not needed. He could come off the bench, play 15-20 MPG, take off nights and really build himself up to be a playoff player.

9 man rotation: LeBron, AD, Reaves, Caruso, DFS, Vando, Hield, Drummond, Paul. If anyone misses time, Max Christie slides in and plays. Jevon Carter, Wood up next. Couldn't care less of Reddish touches the court.

Solid rotation. I just wish we could add Mikal instead of AC somehow, cos AC is never gonna happen with the petty Bulls Front Office.

Coaching

I think it's really important we have a collection of basketball minds. I love the idea of JJ Reddick as a coach and even though he'd be a rookie coach, he has LeBron's respect and LeBron will be a guiding influence until he retires. Reddick is also a guy that could have some success early in a great situation and then by the time LeBron retires, he's earned his stripes as a coach. The other options: David Adelman, Kenny Atkinson, Mike Budenholzer, etc. You really think those guys are going to move the needle? I just don't see it. Those guys all might be better coaches right now, but I just see them being a Frank Vogel for a couple of years. We need to prioritize a long term option and the only options I see for that are Reddick, Adelman or someone like Sam Cassell who's been a successful assistant for many years.

I'd love to see a staff of:

HC: Reddick
Assistants: Terry Stotts, Alvin Gentry, Rajon Rondo, David Vanterpool (player development), Jerry Stackhouse (player development).

Gentry and Rondo both have relationships with AD. Gentry is well respected and would essentially fill the Lionel Hollins role in 2020.

[LaLover11]

Trade AD/Reaves for Mitchell/Allen

S & T DLo/Rui/Gabe for Lauri

LeBron, Mitchell, Prince, Lauri, Allen

Nah.. lol

AD's going no where. That's the one untouchable piece.

Treadmill

[Godfather13]

Trade AD/Reaves for Mitchell/Allen

S & T DLo/Rui/Gabe for Lauri

LeBron, Mitchell, Prince, Lauri, Allen

Nah.. lol

AD's going no where. That's the one untouchable piece.

Treadmill

This is how Rob probably felt when he flipped 12 players off the #1 defense in 2021

[LaLover11]

Nah.. lol

AD's going no where. That's the one untouchable piece.

Treadmill

This is how Rob probably felt when he flipped 12 players off the #1 defense in 2021

AD was a failed experiment
Trade him for a younger Star

[TimeisIllmatic]

I think we're going to make some real changes outside of LeBron + AD. I'd be stunned if they don't trade all their future draft capital.

There is honestly no deal out there that will make this team into a championship contender, IMO. Rui, Reaves, maybe Vando (although he has not been healthy), Lewis, JHS, and future picks are not compelling assets for a team looking to give up a valuable player.

I'm all for optimism but as fans of the Lakers we also need to be honest about the value of the players on our team.

- Reaves is probably our highest positive value asset.
- Then the 3 picks cos people around the league assume Jeanie/Rob will find a way back to the bottom as soon as Lebron/AD are done as a partnership.
- Takers for Rui, Vando, JHS can be found I guess, but not too easily.
- The rest of the assets - Gabe, DLo, etc will probably need picks attached to cancel out the negative value


I'd very much like to go all in(barring Reaves) for Mikal Bridges + DFS & see if BKN bites. DFS is a FA, so it should not require attaching extra assets.

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/8783865

We will need some primary playmaking backup with DLo/Gabe(or both) gone. CP3 has been linked to us - it's not gonna be easy seeing him in purple and gold, but Bridges+DFS is worth it IMO.

Think it gives us a solid two way starting 5 with enough size, athleticism & shooting to contend with the right coach and a couple more mid tier role players.


Austin - CP - JHS
Bridges - TP - Max
DFS - -
Lebron - Wood -
AD - -

We will have 4 Vet minimum & 1 TMLE(5 mil) to find a back up Center / PF & a SF.

Honestly looks a little thin in terms of depth, but Bridges & DFS POA defense + shot making feel like unbelievably massive upgrades from whatever we've had since the title season.

"The Nets have been consistent in saying they are hoping to use Bridges as a lure to bring another star to Brooklyn and build from there," Helin reported. "They are not trading him for the No. 3 pick in this draft. Nice try, though, Houston."

https://www.si.com/nba/nets/news/brooklyn-nets-not-interested-in-houston-rockets-no-3-pick-for-mikal-bridges-01hzngxfr4py#:~:text=A%20potential%20trade%20surrounding%20Mikal,as%20such%20will%20not%20materialize.

[loveshaq007]

Treadmill

This is how Rob probably felt when he flipped 12 players off the #1 defense in 2021

AD was a failed experiment
Trade him for a younger Star

heck no on reaves and AD...

we could get, Merrill, porter, Donavon, and Allen... for Rui. AD and Gabe

[loveshaq007]

vando for Caruso needs to be explored.... vando has a phenomenal contract, while Caruso is on his last year. year. also, Chicago has plenty of guards and need more size

[zuju]

Strange to see so many proposals trading our young players away

On the one hand, all said Lakers lacks the patience to nurture young player and need to make a change on it. On the other hand, every one is looking to trade away the young players as trade chip and salary filler.

[danfantastk32]

lol.. Maybe do a little research before the essay calling out OP

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/2609/chris-paul

CP's final non guaranteed year is a 100% certain to be waived by GSW, since they've already indicated that they'll be trying to get under the tax, since they're not really contending for anything anymore. GSW might drop Klay and CP's 70ish mil all of a sudden this year.

That's why the smart folks are assuming that he may be available for 10-20% of his salary, if he chooses to play another year.

Your about a week late to the party dips**t. Already been through it. But nice try.