Round off the roster now.. Let's take it home!!

Post #81 » by **Kilroy** » Wed Dec 2, 2020 8:18 pm

I think Pau's getting the last spot, and I think he's playing out the season... Not just a quick retirement. Like 4th option at C...

MarxyLebronist · Post #82 » by **MarxyLebronist** » Wed Dec 2, 2020 8:23 pm

Again, totally agree that wing defense needs to be maintained through any moves. Terrified in fact of McKinnie being so much more important than Kuzma as a defender that Kuz's value is completely shot-not just cratered- by end of season and he walks ingloriously. The money is someone else's domain, but vet minimum defense after clearing out the dead weight seems fine after the move for Rose.

lazybatman · Post #83 » by **lazybatman** » Wed Dec 2, 2020 9:59 pm

Kilroy wrote:I think Pau's getting the last spot, and I think he's playing out the season... Not just a quick retirement. Like 4th option at C...

We have two spot, no? Kostas on a two way.

That's why I suggested Pau and Andre Roberson(OKC FA).

DNP-Old · Post #84 » by **DNP-Old** » Wed Dec 2, 2020 10:43 pm

lazybatman wrote:
Kilroy wrote:I think Pau's getting the last spot, and I think he's playing out the season... Not just a quick retirement. Like 4th option at C...

We have two spot, no? Kostas on a two way.

That's why I suggested Pau and Andre Roberson(OKC FA).

Technically, yes we have two open roster spots, but there is only room for one vet-minimum under the hard cap.

MarxyLebronist · Post #85 » by **MarxyLebronist** » Wed Dec 2, 2020 10:50 pm

Pau Gasol just to have the story then?
Not seeing the relevance for on-court, just a symbolic use of limited financial space, hands tied thereafter?

lazybatman · Post #86 » by **lazybatman** » Wed Dec 2, 2020 11:11 pm

MarxyLebronist wrote:Pau Gasol just to have the story then?
Not seeing the relevance for on-court, just a symbolic use of limited financial space, hands tied thereafter?

Pau for -
- Championship experience
- Chemistry
- IQ
- Back up Center for Jokic, Embiid kinda centers with Mark's injury history
- No expectation / whining for minutes - which could be a real thing with this roster.

Story and Lakers' goodwill are a sweet bonus. Personally, I would've had Pau over dumb*ss Dwight and McGee last year, and I bet we still win the chip.

MarxyLebronist · Post #87 » by **MarxyLebronist** » Wed Dec 2, 2020 11:16 pm

lazybatman wrote:
MarxyLebronist wrote:Pau Gasol just to have the story then?
Not seeing the relevance for on-court, just a symbolic use of limited financial space, hands tied thereafter?

Pau for -
- Championship experience
- Chemistry
- IQ
- Back up Center for Jokic, Embiid kinda centers with Mark's injury history
- No expectation / whining for minutes - which could be a real thing with this roster.

Story and Lakers' goodwill are a sweet bonus. Personally, I would've had Pau over dumb*ss Dwight and McGee last year, and I bet we still win the chip.

Quinn Cook can play C I think lol. But seriously: Pau has nothing to offer. Maybe as a coach or consultant of some sort who can sit on the bench for home games though? No cap hit, either! He's LA-local, right? Don't think he's traveling.

lazybatman · Post #88 » by **lazybatman** » Wed Dec 2, 2020 11:31 pm

MarxyLebronist wrote:
lazybatman wrote:
MarxyLebronist wrote:Pau Gasol just to have the story then?
Not seeing the relevance for on-court, just a symbolic use of limited financial space, hands tied thereafter?

Pau for -
- Championship experience
- Chemistry
- IQ
- Back up Center for Jokic, Embiid kinda centers with Mark's injury history
- No expectation / whining for minutes - which could be a real thing with this roster.

Story and Lakers' goodwill are a sweet bonus. Personally, I would've had Pau over dumb*ss Dwight and McGee last year, and I bet we still win the chip.

Quinn Cook can play C I think lol. But seriously: Pau has nothing to offer. Maybe as a coach or consultant of some sort who can sit on the bench for home games though? No cap hit, either! He's LA-local, right? Don't think he's traveling.

lol.. I'd like to see a corny happy ending(no pun intended) for a great dude man.

We don't have any minutes to offer anyway. And, we need another big, don't we?

asero · Post #89 » by **asero** » Thu Dec 3, 2020 4:17 am

What keeping them from announcing the last two slots?

BEazy · Post #90 » by **BEazy** » Fri Dec 4, 2020 9:41 am

Man I really wish we didn't trade Zubac now. That traditional center we're looking for would of been him...

asero · Post #91 » by **asero** » Fri Dec 4, 2020 4:32 pm

Still no news on the two roster spots? Are they really trying to trade Kuzma?

BEazy · Post #92 » by **BEazy** » Fri Dec 4, 2020 8:42 pm

No they're not trading Kuzma. They're talking extensions with him right now...

BEazy · Post #93 » by **BEazy** » Sat Dec 5, 2020 2:00 am

Offseason over! Cook back.

Beethoven · Post #94 » by **Beethoven** » Sat Dec 5, 2020 2:59 am

Oh cmon.

tamaraw08 · Post #95 » by **tamaraw08** » Sat Dec 5, 2020 4:05 am

ScHoolBoy B wrote:Offseason over! Cook back.

THT didn’t want to be Lebron’s designated Hi-Five partner so they rehired Cook again.

zuju · Post #96 » by **zuju** » Sat Dec 5, 2020 12:24 pm

We will be able to sign one more vet min contract later on !

I really don't like the Cook signing. If we sign a wing with some ball handling, passing, shooting and defense, we will have sufficient power from 1-3 spot. Now, we are still a little weak at defending strong wings.

We still need one more big to round out the roster unless Kostas make a big leap this season. As a 2 way contract player, I am sure he will be assigned to play more in the regular season to rest AD and Gasol, and gain experience in the games for further growth.

MarxyLebronist · Post #97 » by **MarxyLebronist** » Sat Dec 5, 2020 3:27 pm

Quinn Cook- called it! The C rotation is all set. :lol:

In all seriousness: that says they like the rotation they have, right, and are only looking at chemistry moves? Nice. Moneywise, what's realistically the most this saved between Cook's guaranteed $1 million and new salary for this season?

lazybatman · Post #98 » by **lazybatman** » Sat Dec 5, 2020 6:28 pm

MarxyLebronist wrote:Quinn Cook- called it! The C rotation is all set.
In all seriousness: that says they like the rotation they have, right, and are only looking at chemistry moves? Nice. Moneywise, what's realistically the most this saved between Cook's guaranteed $1 million and new salary for this season?

hahaha..

It's a chemistry move, the way I see it. Integrating 4 new guys, who command big minutes can't be easy for sure. Or he could end up being an easy trade piece around the deadline.

lazybatman · Post #99 » by **lazybatman** » Sat Dec 5, 2020 6:33 pm

ScHoolBoy B wrote:No they're not trading Kuzma. They're talking extensions with him right now...

Easier to trade after they extend him and assign a Market Value to his *ss, no? :lol:

Jokes aside, this is a good time to try to extend him while his MV and self worth are low. After we know his salary expectations, we can make a clear decision about flipping or re-signing him. I know for sure there would be a few teams that would feel they have a better situation to optimize his talents than the Lakers, and rightly so.

lazybatman · Post #100 » by **lazybatman** » Sat Dec 5, 2020 6:48 pm

My thoughts on integrating our fancy signings -
Gasol and Wes should kinda find their place easily and will only serve as massive upgrades to their respective positions. Integrating 2 X 19 ppg dudes into any lineup can be tough, unless you're the Cavs or Hornets or Knicks, where nobody gives a crap.

Schroeder -
While only a handful of guys can compare to Rondo in terms of half court playmaking, Schroeder makes up most of it with his own scoring threat. He had a career year in scoring efficiency (FG% & 3FG%) playing next to better pure PGs like CP3 and SGA @ OKC. I'm hoping he can retain that scoring efficiency, which shouldn't be an anomaly, given that he's just turned 26 and learning and mastering his craft better, and with the increased primary ball handling edge up to 7-8 assists.

I'm really curious to see how savvy of a PnR ball handler he can become. I've seen him adeptly using screens and hezy moves just to get in on the drive, but he rarely rewards the roller, unless he himself needs a bailout.

Trez is probably the best roller in the game by some distance with the combination of strength, intelligence and excellent finishing ability. And he simultaneously has AD, Lebron & Gasol. That degree of skill, IQ and vertical spacing(excluding Gasol on that last one :lol:

) could be a any true PG's dream.
Vogel should have this chat with him -

Vogel: Hey, I know you had a great year and wanna starting spot with the WC Lakers. What does it mean to you?

Schreoder: That I help Lebron handle the ball. take the load off him and help the team.. blah blah blah..

Vogel: Son, get this - With great power comes great responsibility(..Spiderman music in the background..) We need you to put in relentless work with J. Kidd / Lebron / consulting Lakers' Royalty and the best to have ever done it - Magic Johnson in the background to develop a true P&R game. If you wanna start for us as PG, I need you to be an All Star this season with a 15p-10a stat line. Is that something you would like to do or are you transfixed on scoring 19-20 ppg only this season?

If he gets on board, great! 10s a tall order, a realistic aim should be to get 7-8 assists out of him, cos a good P&R threat brings good things everywhere - FTs, open 3 pointers, tired defenders and engaged bigs willing to do the extra work for the reward.

Magic is dying to get back into the Laker fans' good graces, and I just love him, so why the f*ck not?

Trez -
The weakness for him and the Lakers is that he needs a PG(Born, Caruso, Schroeder) to create for him / play off him. If you don't do that all times, you just have to suffer through a cluttered paint area, which discourages drives, cuts and a lot of easy layups.

Lebron's an insane P&R ball handler(who kinda helped Kupchak sign Mozgov to that contract :lol:

), and I wouldn't be surprised at bench units like Bron + Trez + three shooters blowing games open a'la prime GSW opening up 15-20 point leads in 5-7 minutes. As things stand, Harrell either plays all / most of his minutes next to Lebron.

Caruso is prone to TOVs when he tries complex dribbling moves, so, being the efficient player he is, he rarely ventures with the ball inside the lane, unless it's for a layup or dunk, ergo, making Schroeder’s demeanor all the more crucial to this team being a total juggernaut or just a very good team.