RealGM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v64pK_EUjOs

Lakers at #12? what do you guys think?

I personally think their a playoff team if Kobe is healthy

I also think we're a playoff team with a healthy Kobe.

Kobe should just take the year off and get back to 110% . We're not winning **** next year so what's the point, in Kobe's mind wouldn't that be considered a wasted year. What else does this guy have to prove.

It amazes me how some people want to just throw the season for a high draft pick. that's losers mentality. teams like sacramento and charlotte can get away with it, but not us. Don't underestimate team chemistry.

Every team (bar one) who is now a contender or a fringe contender got where they are through the draft lottery, without it they would not have become contenders (The Heat, Spurs, Thunder, The Nets, The Clippers, the Bulls, The Grizz and the Pacers). The one weird exception of Houston doesn't provide a good case study to follow either, they were 9th for 3 years before a series of lucky, one off events allowed them to become a contender. You can't plan for that really. I've got the Lakers about 11th right now. I believe they could get as high as 8th if things break right for them, but given the situation going forward they're better off tanking a little next season to improve their pick, then trying to gradually rebuild the team in free agency and trades over the next few years. I'm also pretty sure that as injuries happen Mitch will start to take the throttle off as the season closes, and he'll be right to do so.

... they could even rank us at number 15 ... i don't care ...

... i would love to prove the doubters wrong ...

Durins Baynes wrote:Every team (bar one) who is now a contender or a fringe contender got where they are through the draft lottery, without it they would not have become contenders (The Heat, Spurs, Thunder, The Nets, The Clippers, the Bulls, The Grizz and the Pacers). The one weird exception of Houston doesn't provide a good case study to follow either, they were 9th for 3 years before a series of lucky, one off events allowed them to become a contender. You can't plan for that really. I've got the Lakers about 11th right now. I believe they could get as high as 8th if things break right for them, but given the situation going forward they're better off tanking a little next season to improve their pick, then trying to gradually rebuild the team in free agency and trades over the next few years. I'm also pretty sure that as injuries happen Mitch will start to take the throttle off as the season closes, and he'll be right to do so.

Good point, I see this season ending up like the 2005 one. Start off solid, but if injuries start to pile up, it's best to throw in the towel around the all-star break. End up with a high draft pick.

Durins Baynes wrote:Every team (bar one) who is now a contender or a fringe contender got where they are through the draft lottery, without it they would not have become contenders (The Heat, Spurs, Thunder, The Nets, The Clippers, the Bulls, The Grizz and the Pacers). The one weird exception of Houston doesn't provide a good case study to follow either, they were 9th for 3 years before a series of lucky, one off events allowed them to become a contender. You can't plan for that really. I've got the Lakers about 11th right now. I believe they could get as high as 8th if things break right for them, but given the situation going forward they're better off tanking a little next season to improve their pick, then trying to gradually rebuild the team in free agency and trades over the next few years. I'm also pretty sure that as injuries happen Mitch will start to take the throttle off as the season closes, and he'll be right to do so.

I wouldn't consider the Heat, Clippers, or Nets to have built their teams through the draft. Sure they were able to draft #2 or #3 options (Wade, Griffin, Lopez), but the motors that make those teams run came through free agency and trade.

The Heat would never have gotten Lebron or Bosh if they hadn't already obtained Wade in the lottery. They also lucked into a one off circumstance- Lebron, Bosh and Wade being friends who had planned to team up for years. The Clippers 2nd best player was the #1 pick, while their best player was obtained via the Clippers trading lotto assets- if the Clippers didn't have those assets, they never get Paul. The Nets drafted Lopez, and only got Deron by trading a lotto pick package (Favours), while to keep Deron happy they had to trade another lotto pick (Lillard as it turned out) to bring over guys like Wallace. Without lottery picks they'd have never built their current team. The lottery is basically essential in team building.

Nash and Gasol with younger players around them will command respect in the West, if Bryant plays or not. This is going to be a fun year, no target on our backs will be a first. 4th-6th seed