Lakers pursuing Dragic | Traded to Miami

[Slava]

The Los Angeles Lakers, who have also coveted Dragic for some time, are likewise presumed to be intent on testing the Suns' resolve when it comes to their Slovenian point guard, since sources say L.A. plans to chase Dragic with an expected max four-year contract offer this summer valued at an estimated $80 million.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12320 ... ic-sources

[Ckay]

[ALL HAIL]

My biggest concern is that Dragic's presence this year will mean a few more insignificant wins.

This team, as presently constructed, is on the fast track to a top three pick.

If Dragic is acquired, can the Lakers legally shut him down without recourse?

If they can't shut Dragic down for the season, I'd much rather they ride this losing "gravy train" on out.

[iamworthy]

I'm surprised there are still agents in the NBA. It seems like everyone in the NBA gets a max contract . Is there a cheaper alternative to Gordon? He's good but is he max money good?

[ALL HAIL]

I'm surprised there are still agents in the NBA. It seems like everyone in the NBA gets a max contract . Is everyone cool with giving a 29 year old a max contract?

Not me.

Dragic's a baller, but the Lakers need GOOD DEALS, not untradeable, overpaid talent.

[crazyeights]

He'd be a UFA in the off-season and as All Hail said would ruin the tank unless he's shut down.

It's a pretty dicey move, and as much as I like Dragic, I'm hoping they wait for the summer to pursue a talent like him.

Wondering if this is just a PR move/Stein inferring this about LAL for the clicks. Value wise--and in a vacuum--I'd give up the Rockets pick for Dragic in a heartbeat. Doubtful we'd find a player as good as him there. However, at almost 30, I'm not sold that he's a great fit for a team with no real direction--especially if we don't keep this damn pick.

If Kobe were healthy, I could see the need for Dragic, who is entering his prime, is a primary ball-handler, can run a team and can score. But 3 consecutive season-ending injuries? I have zero confidence Kobe's swan song will amount to anything. It would be stupid to make any plans for the future factoring in Kobe's last season, IMO.

Conversely, the fact that we won't have a competitive looking team going into next season might be motivation for Mitch to trade for Dragic now. IDK, either way this is head-scratching.

[iamworthy]

I'm surprised there are still agents in the NBA. It seems like everyone in the NBA gets a max contract . Is everyone cool with giving a 29 year old a max contract?

Not me.

Dragic's a baller, but the Lakers need GOOD DEALS, not untradeable, overpaid talent.

I was editing my post while you were typing I guess.

[Michael Lucky]

We have nothing to trade for him, not to mention it makes no sense to do so if we're really desperate enough to also pay him 20 million a year considering he's been a 16-17 PER player this year. If we're willing to spend that kind of money on him I don't see how he isn't coming here considering the massive overpay that would be. Not to mention, if we keep our pick we'd likely end up drafting either Mudiay or Russell unless we won the lottery, so again there's no point in making a move until after the draft especially for a player you can acquire by just paying money too.

[kblo247]

There is a befit to overpay him after trading for him, compared to just over paying him in the summer


THE CAP HOLD WITH HIS BIRD RIGHTS which is only 11 million


You can give yourself wiggle room with just his projected cap figure and offer a starting wing good money and then overpay Dragic to join Kobe, Randle, and Okafor hopefully. If you're just getting Russell and rolling with Kobe at SF, then the benefit is still there as you can dangle cash at Monroe to come with just the cap hold.


Get your hands on him if all it takes is a combo of. Lin, Hill, Nash, or the 2 rockets picks. At a caphold of 11 million you still have 10mil to either get a starting wing or C this summer depending on draft day by simply signing Dragic last on paper after agreeing to verbal terms

[Michael Lucky]

You trade for Dragic now and you can basically forget about keeping the top 5 pick. Our schedule going forward is the easiest we have this entire year. And let's face it, the suns would be more than happy to help us do that in order to take our pick for a player they aren't going to resign anyways.

[ALL HAIL]

The Rockets have a damn-near lotto pick to offer (from New Orleans), so any deal from the Lakers must trump that ... I don't see it on any level.

The only incentive PHX has in trading him to the Lakers is that Dragic immeadiately makes the Lakers better and thus helps the Suns chances to secure the Lakers' high draft pick.

If McDonough is thinking along those lines and succeeds, more power to him ... and shame on the Lakers front office for stepping on that kind of "booby trap".

[crazyeights]

And if we lose Dragic in FA it would be catastrophic.

If you're Goran and you want to win, would you want to stay with a team with Kobe at his lowest value in years and Julius Randle and Clarkson? I'm assuming we'd lose the top pick and the other 1st just to get him.

It's pointless.

[kblo247]

And if we lose Dragic in FA it would be catastrophic.

If you're Goran and you want to win, would you want to stay with a team with Kobe at his lowest value in years and Julius Randle and Clarkson? I'm assuming we'd lose the top pick and the other 1st just to get him.

It's pointless.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

It's easier to trade for him, get his cap hold and over pay him. You make sure no one can pay more or offer a fifth year to the guy this summer. You also set it up so you finally have a guy not named Kobe who wants to stay in la. That's a message the league needs to seem a premier free agent choosing to stay and saying I want to spend my prime here because I think we can win. Plus again with the cap hold you can add a starting caliber wing or big to this very roster alongside Dragic, Kobe, and Randle all while not screwing up the books since Kobe expires the next summer.

It's no different than trading for rondo or love, scratch that it is. I rather max out Dragic any day than either of those two tbh this summer unlike last year with Melo.

I'm assuming we lose the rockets pick btw, not the one that's 1-5. The tank damage was done by Scott. If you truly think were losing that pick and you're Mitch or Jimmy with that be in the WCF timeline hanging over your head, go big at the deadline. Use whatever asset you don't use to get Dragic for a Lopez type of player and try to close the season on a semi positive note and build momentum before Kobe and Randle return

[Michael Lucky]

The Rockets have a damn-near lotto pick to offer (from New Orleans), so any deal from the Lakers must trump that ... I don't see it on any level.

The only incentive PHX has in trading him to the Lakers is that Dragic immeadiately makes the Lakers better and thus helps the Suns chances to secure the Lakers' high draft pick.

If McDonough is thinking along those lines and succeeds, more power to him ... and shame on the Lakers front office for stepping on that kind of "booby trap".

Not to mention if you sacrifice your pick to get him, the team is really in a position to offer as much money as possible in order to not lose him for nothing.

[ALL HAIL]

If it looks like schit and smells like schit, it's schit.

This schit ain't happenin'!

If it does, maybe Jim Buss has been right all along, any Joe Schmo at a bar can be a general manager of a sports franchise.

I believe their smarter than this.

[Laker_Kid]

if it came down to it, i at least hope the restriction on the pick is removed. that i wouldnt mind. still thinking we should wait for the offseason to sign him though. dwight looms.

sent from my LG-G2 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[TankShow]

I love Dragic as a player, but it makes no sense to try and trade for him.

We'd be all, but conceding the lottery pick to Phoenix. We need to lose as many games as possible. I wouldn't mind seeing trying to see what Jordan Hill can bring us in a trade though.

[BEazy]

Well Mavericks got Rondo for **** and giggles. Maybe we could do the same thing with Dragic. I mean most of our players are expiring contracts anyway...

[ratedrdb]

ok heres the deal-- we get both dragic brothers and the top 5 protected pick CHANGES to a top 10 protected pick and the suns get hill and price and houst 1st, we have to overpay ok remember when mavas let nash go--- the thought he was too old, they regret that to this day

[ratedrdb]

with the 8 or 9 or 10 pick we could get a C--cauley-stein from Kentucky or SF Kelly oubre from Kansas.....dragic-kobe-oubre-randle-???? or dragic-kobe-?????-randle-cauley-stein.....