RealGM

I posted this in the Laker board and trade board so I could compare what Laker fans and outsiders think we should do. Please leave feedback.

Goal: Keep core of Kobe and the 3 bigs together while adding solid players at the 1 and 3 to rebuild a champion.

Why: Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make. If the Lakers pull the trigger it may be a similar outcome to the Perkins deal. I want to give the 2009 and 2010 champs another chance and not overreact to a team that was worn out and in a slump.

Lakers assets

*LAL have 8 2nd round picks in the next 3 draft: (2011 NY, Miami, Golden State & LAL),( 2012 Chicago & LAL), (2012 Memphis & LAL)

*LAL can trade its 1st round picks (unprotected) in 2013 and 2015 (which both could be lotto picks if the Lakers do not return to championship form)

*Every other player is available (Artest, Barnes, Fisher, Blake) and young players (Caracter, Ebanks)

*LAL have MLE (assuming its still around after new CBA) to sign a solid starter / bench player (someone like Ariza)

*Lets assume there are 30 overpaid players released due to amnesty rule in new CBA, so guys with horrible contracts (perhaps Lewis, Arenas, Walton for LA...) will be available for cheap
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How can LAL make a splash in the off-seaason?

Random idea I entertained in my head today, and I don't know if I'd even do it but just a thought to make us quicker in the guard spot. We trade Odom and Brown to the Nuggets for Raymond Felton and Al Harrington. Then, we could use the mid level on Tayshaun Prince and fill in the other positions as need be at the end of the bench. Starting lineup: Bynum, Gasol, Prince, Bryant, and Felton. Fisher, Barnes, Artest, and Harrington off the bench.

Force Gasol to go on a weight training program to increase his strength. Get a quick guard like Aaron Brooks or Dragic. In general, try to get younger and quicker reserves, who can penetrate defenses and defend, and who can produce offensively better than our current unit could.

The only way to change/"fix" the Lakers is to either trade Bynum or Gasol. Outside of those two, we simply lack the resources to pull off any worth while moves. Unless an Aaron Brooks is available.

I won't be brave enough to trade either Gasol or Odom until Bynum plays a full season. Outside of that we have little to no flexibility.

even at the point guard it is kind of moot to try to guess who we could get until we know who the next coach is.

But I think we can all agree that Aaron Brooks is the best PG F.A. that we'd be able to get this season. And I personally believe that our coach is going to be Adelman. Take this with a grain of salt because it is Bill Plaschke after all, but he said that after that massive blowout and destruction this team faced and the departure of Phil has all attributed to the upcoming front office shuffle, and that Shaw is no longer a leading candidate. I always knew it would either be Adelman or Van Gundy, I just hope this fool is right for once and it isn't Shaw.



Brooks also played in Adelman's system so of course he'd be an automatic fit with this team, that's another reason why I said him.

Blake/Fisher (Bought out and re-signs with us for min.)/Ebanks

FOR

Calderon/S&T Julian Wright

I like Aaron Brooks but he's a restricted free agent and with Nash getting older will probably sign back with them. The PG I think we should get is Jonny Flynn. He has played in the triangle and shouldn't cost much. He had a bad season last year but a great rookie season. He is also a great option if we get Adelman as the next coach becuase it will allow him to use his speed and quickness. If we can get him and a bench player like JR Smith or Jamal Crawford we will be champions again. We need someone who can provide consistent scoring off the bench besides Odom. Either of these guys would allow Kobe to play less minutes during the regular season making him fresher for the playoffs. Also in adding one of them we would be able to have our bench not only keep leads but extend them which was a big problem along with PG defense. These two changes would fix our two biggest weaknesses we had last season and put us back on top where we belong.

I like Brooks as a scoring punch off the bench but he's atrocious on defense. Not his fault though, he's a midget after all.

Aaron Brooks, Phoenix Suns - $2.0 million – Restricted ($3.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Goran Dragic, Houston Rockets - $2.0 million – Team Option ($2.1 million)
Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons - $2.8 million – Restricted ($3.9 million Qualifying Offer)
T.J. Ford, Indiana Pacers - $8.5 million – Unrestricted
Carlos Arroyo, Boston Celtics - $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Ronnie Price, Utah Jazz - $1.3 million - Unrestricted
Patrick Mills, Portland Trail Blazers - $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Earl Watson, Utah Jazz – $1.2 million - Unrestricted

I'd be disappointed if we didn't make offers for both Dragic and Patty Mills. Stucky could be priced out for more than the MLE.

Here is my tweaking plan for the Lakers. 1st trade Knicks, Warriors picks to get back into the 1st round and draft Nolan Smith. 2nd once CBA is figured out trade Blake and Brown for Felton. 3rd I got this idea from Pincus in his article today trade for Brandon Rush using some of the other 2nd round picks the Lakers have in the next couple of drafts. 4th sign Jeff Foster and somehow get rid of Waltons contract.
2011-2012 Lakers
PG. Felton, Fisher, Smith
SG. Kobe, Rush
SF. Artest, Barnes, Ebanks
PF. Pau, Odom, Caracter
C. Bynum, Foster
I think this is pretty good tweaking of the Roster without blowing it up. You get your PG in Felton your shooter in Rush a real backup C in Foster and youth/athleticism in Felton, Smith, Rush added to Bynum, Ebankss, Caracter.

The only problem with my plan is that I expect if the Lakers ask the Nuggets about Felton they would want more than just Blake and Brown. I would expect them to at least ask for Odom in return for Felton a package of Blake and Odom for Harrington and Felton works money wise the only problem with that is Harringtons contract which if he comes to LA he would have the longest contract on the team he's signed for 4 more seasons. Kobe and Pau are signed for only 3 more.

LAL IN-T. Outlaw, #35 Pick
LAL OUT-L. Walton, D. Caracter, #41 Pick, Cash

NJ IN-L. Walton, D. Caracter, #41 Pick, Cash
NJ Out-T. Outlaw, #35 Pick

Why for LAL-Trading Luke for anything is acceptable to Laker fans. With uncertainty surrounding Barnes's knees and Artest's aging, Outlaw provides nice insurance being younger and more athletic. The Lakers also move up six spots in the second round.

Why for NJ-Dump Outlaw's contract. Walton may not be serviceable but he's cheaper and there would be locker room chemistry (Farmar, Sasha). They also get a cheap prospect in Caracter as well if they're not willing to pay Humphries. The cost of dumping Outlaw comes at moving down 6 spots in the draft.

Jetset wrote:The only way to change/"fix" the Lakers is to either trade Bynum or Gasol. Outside of those two, we simply lack the resources to pull off any worth while moves. Unless an Aaron Brooks is available.

Brooks is a free agent, we can give him the BLE and let him prove himself while cleaning up his rep he destroyed feuding with Adelman. Then we call up Carl Landry he's a FA too.

See there......we get a speed guard on the cheap and give Landry the MLE. We fix our back up PF problem with a hustle dude who's decent.

I don't feel the team needs to be blown up. Like Slava said let's see if Drew plays a full season & not a babied full season. With him taking on most of the load down low, offensively & defensively. Last but not least DEEP pointed out Aaron Brooks & Carl Landry to the bench. This would go a long way with this team.

Are both players UFA?

Trade our first round picks in 2019, 2075, 2076, 2077 and cash for Clevelands first round pick 2011 (8th pick). Pick a PG. PG Problem solved.

Trade Shannon Brown for me, I am a knock down shooter, and you can pay me a lot less to play. I may not be as explosive, but my IQ is higher. SG problem solved.

Make Pau Gasol carry 50 pound dumbbells around his waist and both his hands every other day, all day. Need some muscles on the skinny bitch. PF problem solved.

simple somewhat realistic albeit a bit expensive

2 parts....

Sasha TPE for Ariza
followed by
Jack for Blake

Noh-does it with the thought that Ariza salary is dumped, for that price they give up Jack but do get a decent backup in Blake, there is only $1mill difference between Jakc/Blake contract. The savings for Noh is huge if they are looking to sell the team. If need be send Noh Ebanks to replace Ariza, not exact replacement but Ebanks could develope into an Ariza. For those saying Cp3 is going to be mad who gives an F, mofo has plans to leave regardless.

no core player touched, MLE used on an athletic wing such as Affalo, M. Thorton or worse case scenario JR. Smith