WT: Mitch says no major trades before the deadline

[Kilroy]

WT: Mitch says they won't make major trades before the deadline.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/225949/Kupchak-Lakers-Wont-Trade-Howard

Mitch Kupchak flatly said that the Los Angeles Lakers will not trade Dwight Howard ahead of the February deadline. Kupchak also seemed to imply that Pau Gasol, who has been a subject of trade rumors, will not be traded though he didn't mention him by name.

"We will not make a trade. We will not trade Dwight Howard. We have no intention of making a trade. It's unlikely that we'll make any trade with any of our principal players. To make another change at this time of the year being behind the eight-ball like we are, I think that would just make it more difficult. The talent is there. We have to find our way."

Normally, I'd say he was just playing the game but this is more adamant than he usually is.

Also, I thought Kobe was quoted as saying that they were told before the 'Clear the Air' meeting, that the team was intact for the rest of the year. That this was who they were running with and they needed to figure out how to play together.

Pau could still be traded, but I'm starting to wonder... Mainly because I think his expiring might be more valuable to us than to anyone else and I don't thing we want to take on long term contracts. I think we really are looking forward to having all that salary off the books.

[Kobean]

Its difficult to figure out wether he means it or not....guess we'll just have to wait and see....

[Kilroy]

I'm getting the impression we really are anticipating full rebuild mode in 2014.

[LApwnd]

could just ADD a player or else why bother applying for that injury exception?

[Father Time]

I just don't understand how we can still be so bad defensively. I was gonna say that arguably the talent isn't there, that we aren't as deep as the league's contenders. But I look at Miami and think they aren't very deep at all, yet they play their asses off on the defensive end. OKC isn't that deep either but they have guys who are exceptional role players. I would call our role players mediocre, aside from Clark/Hill.

[diplan]

Hey guys... I think we need to trade Pau... I know he's playing well, thats the main reason to trade him, i love pau.. but he doesnt like to come off the bench, he and d12, can't play together, let's make a deal for 2 or 3 young legs, and try to improve our bench.... a couple like Timmy/Robinson is very difficult to find.

[Kilroy]

They're clearly concerned about trying to bring another player into our core with all the silliness that's gone on this season.
I think Pau's here at least until the off season.

I think if we trade it will be guys like Ebanks, Duhon, Morris and Sacre, and maybe Blake.
I can still see them trading Clark too if something spectacular came along because I'm not sure we want to pay him long term.

[LApwnd]

They're clearly concerned about trying to bring another player into our core with all the silliness that's gone on this season.
I think Pau's here at least until the off season.

I think if we trade it will be guys like Ebanks, Duhon, Morris and Sacre, and maybe Blake.
I can still see them trading Clark too if something spectacular came along because I'm not sure we want to pay him long term.

I agree with your sentiment on Clark and trading him if some crazy talent is available, preferably an athletic young wing is made available. I do not trust players who emerge during contract years, its happened countless times where they get overpaid and revert back to their career norm the very next year, most recent is Illsysova (spelling) of the bucks maybe even Hibbert if you want to base it on stats?

[hermes]

yeah right mitch you sly dog


do it mitch

[Jetset]

i don't agree with trading clark. the guy actually wants to be here and we're not getting anything better than him should we deal him. he out of everyone should be retained, even over dwight.

screamin a smith had a sit down interview with howard today, gonna air 6pm est on sportscenter.

[LApwnd]

i don't agree with trading clark. the guy actually wants to be here and we're not getting anything better than him should we deal him. he out of everyone should be retained, even over dwight.

screamin a smith had a sit down interview with howard today, gonna air 6pm est on sportscenter.

there is always a chance for these contract year players to shine just that year....lets not forget about Walton, he wasn't good defensively but offensively he did everything as good if not better than Clark at the moment, in fact Walton lead the league in 3pt% before the league switched back to the normal during his contract year.

[Kilroy]

i don't agree with trading clark. the guy actually wants to be here and we're not getting anything better than him should we deal him. he out of everyone should be retained, even over dwight.

screamin a smith had a sit down interview with howard today, gonna air 6pm est on sportscenter.

I agree... I'm a big Earl Clark fan and would love to see him continue to develop in LA next to Dwight... But I'm not sure the FO sees it that way.

We'll be at around 30M in 2014 with just Nash and Dwight, that's still around 30M of wiggle room if the cap stays consistent...
So on paper, Signing Clark beyond 2014 is possible, but it might limit our options depending on how much he gets offered on the open market.

[AcecardZ]

Assuming we don't win a championship this year, a relatively safe assumption at this point but there's still time for a miracle, it's a pretty safe bet that Pau won't be back next year unless Dwight decides he doesn't want to sign long term with the Lakers.

If we're in a spot to trade Pau what should we be looking to get for him if this is our team:

Kobe
Nash
Dwight
Clark
Hill
Metta
Blake
Morris
Sacre

What two or three players could we reasonanly hope to trade Pau for that would compliment that lineup assuming Dwight returns to his old self next season?

[hoops_32]

Trade Gasol to the Timberwolves for Kirilenko or Williams plus their lottery pick. Resign Howard and Clark

PG-Nash/Blake
SG-Bryant/Meeks
SF-MWP/
PF-Clark/Kirilenko or Williams
C-Howard/Hill

Not a bad looking team. With the draft pick get a PG or SG who can develop for a couple of years then be ready to take over for Nash or Kobe. With the cap space in 2014 resign Kobe and sign a SF. There will be a lot of good SF's available in 2014 (Deng,Gay,Granger, Igoudala). Then we would have a young player at every position and would be very deep and athletic.

[AcecardZ]

Is this a championship team?

Kobe
Nash
Dwight
Clark
K-Love

Hill
Meeks
Blake
Sacre
Morris
D.Williams

This assumes we could miraculously trade Metta and Pau for Love and Williams.

I must admit K-Love does make me a bit nervous. The guy broke his hand doing push-ups of all things. The last thing we need is a big commitment to a fragile player.

[LApwnd]

Is this a championship team?

Kobe
Nash
Dwight
Clark
K-Love

Hill
Meeks
Blake
Sacre
Morris
D.Williams

This assumes we could miraculously trade Metta and Pau for Love and Williams.

I must admit K-Love does make me a bit nervous. The guy broke his hand doing push-ups of all things. The last thing we need is a big commitment to a fragile player.

yes if we made the playoffs and Love came back with enough time to build chemistry and what happened to Jamison?

[AcecardZ]

Is this a championship team?

Kobe
Nash
Dwight
Clark
K-Love

Hill
Meeks
Blake
Sacre
Morris
D.Williams

This assumes we could miraculously trade Metta and Pau for Love and Williams.

I must admit K-Love does make me a bit nervous. The guy broke his hand doing push-ups of all things. The last thing we need is a big commitment to a fragile player.

yes if we made the playoffs and Love came back with enough time to build chemistry and what happened to Jamison?

I was referring to next year. I doubt Pau will be moved before this season ends but once the season is over it seems pretty clear Pau is out if Dwight re-signs with us. Pau doesn't want to come off the bench and it seems pretty clear he and Dwight don't compliment one another when on the court at the same time. They could compliment one anther if Dwight was willing to give up his post touches but he wouldn't be happy being just a rebounder/defender.

[Jetset]

^i assume he meant after this season, since mitch says no trades are going to happen during. jamison will be off the books.

and it absolutely is. you could probably then get away with d'antoni's offense the way it's supposed to be ran with nash stacking up assists since you space the floor by adding love, which gives dwight more room to operate. it would be more of an orlando offense, with him being surrounded by shooters which fits perfectly into d'antoni's system. just know that not a nanosecond of defense is going to be seen.

d'antoni has just got to go. i didn't like it when howard came in and told the FO what he wanted after brown got fired, but if he's going to play hardball and make them choose between him and d'antoni then i'm willing to take everything he's done up to this point and sweep it under the rug.

[LApwnd]

if its next year, I hope the bench is better than that lol.

[Dr Aki]

gotcha mitch