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I want to believe the Durant rumors
But something tells me that's a long shot. I wonder if Cousins can be a possibility.

Whoever that is actually willing to sign up for the Jimmy Buss experience.

Jordan coming out of retirement lol

yes, gotta love that entitlement ben simmons

http://hoopshype.com/2015/12/10/nba-free-agency-2016-the-top-players/
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12307054/nba-free-agents-2016-2017

Would like to get Drummond, but he's restricted. Barnes is available but also restricted.

Unrestricted options besides the obvious main target (Durant) is Whiteside which would be a great fit with our core players. Batum would also be a good fit as we desperately need help at the SF spot.
If for whatever reason the Lakers want to upgrade the PG spot, definitely go after Conley.

Players to avoid, Howard, Wade, etc. D-Ho can eat a phat one and Wade is on the decline and doesn't make sense age wise with our core.

Honestly...this off season is going to be interesting. The FO had Kobe selling out tickets despite all the sucking the past few years...but starting next year it gets interesting. The young guys are promising but damn they aren't going to sell out staples every game...and other than the longshot Durant there is no major draw in the free agency. Obviously what happens to our pick is important regarding this too...we keep the pick, and get someone like simmons, and the FO may continue being patient with the FA's (or may become a way better destinations for top level FA's). But what if we don't? Does the FO cave with the cap flexibility and try to put a competitive team, or do they go after the Derozonas of the world in an attempt to fill the Kobe void? Other than Whiteside and Batum, I don't know if any lower tier free agent is worth ruining the 2017 Westbrook dream for...but the FO may be pressured to use their salary in an attempt to be competitive to appease the fans/sponsors/etc ].


That being said, I have no problem being patient for atleast another season. If we don't keep our pick, we have next year's pick, and can really afford to let the young guys grow with Kobe off the lineup. Of course I wouldn't mind smart FA signings, such as Whiteside and Batum, but I'm assuming that if we don't keep our pick, those guys would rather go play elsewhere.

Everything starts with Simmons. We get Simmons, then we get a great shot at Durant, or Westbrook in 2017. If we get neither, then we get Simmons, a top-3 pick in the 2017 draft, and hope Russell grows into being a 2nd or 3rd elite player by his third year.

Nothing great happens without Simmons.

I also notice something on Lakersnation. They mentioned that Lakers plan on signing 8 players that are already in the squad for 5 years and hope to start being contenders again in 2 years (I don't have link), so who are these already suppose 8 players?

Clarkson, Russell, Randle, Nance, Hibbert?, Bass?? then who?

@Miles = Go big or go home on simmons huh? lol - not getting hopes up for number 1 pic. Would love it though.

If we get Durant some how then Westbrook I believe will follow - they ain't winning anything in OKC anytime soon and a fresh start with these youngsters can do them wonders - but they're long-shots as we all know and not getting hopes up on them either.

I feel like the Lakers are gonna try and go after Harrison Barnes. I feel like GSW might not match a max offer so there's a chance he leaves in the off season.

i just want batum and horford...ill take a shot at barnes and noah too...all quality guys....young, kobe, hibbert, and maybe randle should go.

I'd like Batum. He seems like the perfect SF for the team; he plays defense, can facilitate, and can make 3's.

barnes (for more than most of us would imagine) with walton manning the sidelines

you can say it's their current system, but bazemore has improved tenfold since his time in LA. he's a UFA next off season. would love to look at him again. but considering atl lost carrol last summer, theyre probably not going to let bazemore go

We are not getting Simmons. Is everyone forgetting how bad the sixers are?


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It's a lottery man. It doesnt matter how bad the Sixers are. They havent been able to win the lottery in the past 3 years

Laker1 wrote:We are not getting Simmons. Is everyone forgetting how bad the sixers are?


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I know it's a lotto. I just don't have my hopes up for that. I also actually think this team is capable of going on a couple of mini win streak that could displace us of our 2nd worse spot. Also if the sixers haven't been able to win the lotto in the past three years, then chances are their number is about to be called. We got lucky last year jumping 2 spots, I just don't like to get my hopes on that kind of luck happening again.


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What's easier, convincing Durant to come to this current team or losing games? Ironically we need to do the latter to get Simmons and then we can do the former. You control what you can control - and right now there's only one thing to do, for Basketball Reasons.

And you can't be superstitious. You still go for the most ping pong balls. 4 losses separate us from the Sixers. We have 46 games to make that up. Best shot we got.

Batum would be good consolation if we miss out on Durant. But beyond batum, nobody else reasonably available and worth the max that summer.

Batum + Simmons have that versatility that makes GSW so dangerous with Draymond, Iguodala, and to a much lesser extent, Barnes. I think Simmons can play 3-5, Batum 2-4. Matchup nightmares, can play at any pace, and their length could be a huge asset on defense.

Bazemore would be a good stopgap if Durant and Batum are 86ed

I'd also sign Noah or Hibbert to reasonable contracts in that order of preference

I like the idea of Noah facilitating from the elbows, especially if Randle is our other big. I just hope Thibodeu hasn't completely destroyed his legs and Noah at his age would not bother playing for anyone but a meaningful team.

Laker1 wrote:I know it's a lotto. I just don't have my hopes up for that. I also actually think this team is capable of going on a couple of mini win streak that could displace us of our 2nd worse spot. Also if the sixers haven't been able to win the lotto in the past three years, then chances are their number is about to be called. We got lucky last year jumping 2 spots, I just don't like to get my hopes on that kind of luck happening again.


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Why do you think this team is capable of going on a couple of win streaks? Why do you think the sixers chances improve because they havent won the lotto recently?