From Baby Lakers to badass — your vision

[stan francisco]

Lottery or playoffs, may be what be. Looking ahead to next season, what would your plan be?

Your front office and Magic
I say:
VP: Mitchy
GM: Ryan West
Consultant/PR/smile/FA lure/D-Lo mentor: Magic

What young players do you keep?
I think we have a great core of young talent in Russell, Ingram, Nance, Randle, Zubač. In fact I'd like to see that as our hugely tall starting lineup 1-5 for a bit this season.

JC has been on my personal trading block wish list since late last season for not passing the ball. Ever, unless to Kobe. I've seen him pass once or twice lately and so if he changes his mind last second about playing 1 vs 5, so will I in my opinion of him. Rest of season would be my max time span to tell before trading him, but I'd offer him up in a good TD trade scenario to rid ourselves of Young or Williams. Today, I'd trade him if pressed.

While Ingram grows into his body, we could use a superstar SF to bring us to the playoffs for the next two years.

Enter Magic
Time for some of that Magic Tinseltown smile to earn its keep. A real star, someone around the ranks of a George Paul or is needed. A total stud and a last shot taker/maker. Someone somewhere in the league is disillusioned and ready for a change. Magic might know how to lure them.


What do you see as most pressing needs?
If there's a star pass-first PG out there that defends and is realistically attainable, I'd seriously consider moving Russell to the two spot. Our back court could be absolutely deadly with Russell at the two, if the right man steers the ship.

Who do you keep?
My keepers:
Russell, Ingram, Nance, Randle, Zubač
Huertas or Calderon, Young, Robinson, Black

Who goes buh-bye?
Williams. A borderline playoffs team with a low scoring bench will need someone like him right about now before the home stretch and playoffs. I'd look into all potential fits around the league. Part of me would rather trade Nick but he's not as selfish nor as consistent a scorer compared to Lou so Lou Williams has to be the value player we trade in order to hope for a good return.

Mozgov. I had high hopes despite the price tag but no. He's too slow for Luke's style of ball. He's fundamentally sound, sets good screens etc, but just too slow. If we can trade him for a young replacement, I'm all for it. Now is when we rebuild, let's get it going.

Deng. I had high hopes here, too, despite the price tag but no. His personality and work ethic has surely rubbed off on the kids, so thank you for having been a class act role model but moving on.

Clarkson. As much as he's improved, not the right fit. Good trade value right now as there can still be untapped potential. I've decided he's Monta Ellis v2.0 but could turn into a defender.

Huertas or Calderon. Both is too much of the old international PG without D thing.


Who would you aim for using the above?
In a trade for the above, we could get one or more of the below from a team on the way up or down, I'd do it right away.

Defensive elite vet PG who defends and passes first

Defensive beast SF who can dominate the O, a star

Defensive beast C who rebounds and defends

On my personal wishlist, go after Tony Allen in a trade. Give up more than you'd like if that's what it takes. If he's not available, who's the next best SG defender one-on-one in the league?

Why would any star sign with us?
Because of Luke, and style of play, and being a star in LA. The target players would all have to be disillusioned enough at season's end to want a clean slate, start over with a new young team on the up. Three names I would look at sending Magic to snake charm into demanding a trade or otherwise let West and Mitch pursue in a fourway trade or whatever it takes, would be the utopian pipes of Whiteside or Cousins at (C), PG13, and down the ranks from there (SF, and I know how impossible)... Yes, I'd also want Conley here.


Strategy / style of play going forward
Hard nosed defense. Runningvthe break needs no coaching. Luke's motion offense looks great when clicking. Not a problem here.


Those are my roundabout thoughts. Yours?

[dockingsched]

Young players to keep: Ingram, Zubac, Nance, Russell

Most pressing need: the NBA unicorn, a big man that can defend, pass, and stretch the floor all st the same time.

Who needs to go: Williams this up coming off season. Don't really care about Mozgov or Deng unless you have an indication that you have someone ready to sign and need the cap.

[Landsberger]

Players to keep if we can better the team: None. This core in 4 years is not "bad ass".

So... you'd resign Young and trade Clarkson. Arguably they have similar impact on games. Both score first guys who rarely pass. Clarkson is the more rounded scorer and 5 years younger. Probably cheaper too when you factor in Young's career year shooting.

We've got 4 rotational guards and If we're trading any of them it should be Young and Williams.

I'd put Zubac and Ingram on a nearly no trade list until mid next season. Russell, Randle, Nance, Black and Clarkson could all go if we get more value in return. None of these guys are more than secondary pieces on a very good team in reality. Trouble is how many of them does it take to get that next 'GUY" here? Even if he's available.

[Vae Victus]

Win Lotto and draft BPA. Thats all that matters this offseason. If the ping pong gods finally turn on us, its gonna be an UGLY time especially if we keep sucking til 2019...

Black is getting alot of PT now to try to fluff up his trade value and try to trick someone into forking over a 2nd for him, or maybe Swaggy P + Black for Expiring + late 1st might be feasible. Mozgov is who he is and he's gonna be starting next year after we finish out the tank this year, even if you think he sucks we still need to build up his trade value if we want to try to dump him and that means starting mins. It's pretty clear we got our C rotation set for next year with Mozgov/Zubac eating all 48 mins.

Trade Lou Will or Clarkson for late 1st, once one of em goes keep the other as the bench combo guard gunner. I wouldnt mind resigning Swaggy P if i can retain him for cheap (~7 mil), especially if we somehow dump Clarkson for a 1st. Lou Will + Swaggy P at 15 mil is a nice use of resources.

Randle needs to be traded at peak value. Ideally Randle + Black + 1st (we got from trading Lou Will or JC) for a high quality 3+D wing would be the ideal. Its unfortunate but no way in hell we're gonna find a sucker to take either Deng or Mozgov from us even if we use Randle + pick as the sweetener. Randle just isnt a good fit for the new age NBA offense. Honestly starting Deng as a stretch 4 would prolly get his career back on track and maybe make him tradable for expirings. Nance is a fine backup 4.

C - Mozgov 28 mins, Zubac 20 mins
PF- Deng 28 mins, Nance 20 mins
SF- Ingram 28 mins, Young 20 mins
SG- 3+D Wing via trade 28 mins, Lou Will 20 mins
PG- DLo 28 mins, #1-3 pick 20 mins

Adjust mins as needed based on who has the hot hand. If we're lucky we can consolidate talent by packaging off Deng or Mozgov + #1-3 pick or DLo/Ingram for a truly elite impact player like PG13, DMC, Blake Grifin, etc etc

[snaquille oatmeal]

Young players to keep: Ingram, Zubac, Nance, Russell

Most pressing need: the NBA unicorn, a big man that can defend, pass, and stretch the floor all st the same time.

Who needs to go: Williams this up coming off season. Don't really care about Mozgov or Deng unless you have an indication that you have someone ready to sign and need the cap.

ok so my bad i haven't been watching all the games this season, but when I do Williams is the best player we have off the bench. so explain to me like Im a 6 year old why would we get rid of him?

[Vesper]

It's going to be difficult next season...

Finding a trading partner for Mozgov.
If we keep the pick, we are going to pick a wing.
If we keep Young, we have too many players...

So, potentially

Russ-JC
Draft pick -Young-LouWill
Ingram-Deng
Randle-Nance
Black-ZUbac-Mozgov

Meaning 12 players... Ideally, I would prefer a rotation of 9-10 guys

Ideally, best option would be to find a way to trade

Mozgov
Randle
Jordan Clarkson
Black

Keep a pf-center rotation of zubac, deng, nance and groom Ingram to play the four eventually. Might even keep Trob at the vet min.

[dockingsched]

Young players to keep: Ingram, Zubac, Nance, Russell

Most pressing need: the NBA unicorn, a big man that can defend, pass, and stretch the floor all st the same time.

Who needs to go: Williams this up coming off season. Don't really care about Mozgov or Deng unless you have an indication that you have someone ready to sign and need the cap.

ok so my bad i haven't been watching all the games this season, but when I do Williams is the best player we have off the bench. so explain to me like Im a 6 year old why would we get rid of him?

for me, williams is currently the most effective player on the team because of his uncanny ability to create his own shot and draw FT's. and while that may translate to a better chance of winning, it doesn't translate to better development. his skills shine when the offense has either broken down or isn't being run. He can make something out of nothing, a sort of security blanket.

what the team needs though is someone who enhances team play, helps the team run its offense, not score when the offense has broken down. williams would be a perfect asset for a team that is trying to win games, not simply develop its system and players. williams' skills are something the team will need down the line when they're a playoff contender and needs a spark to help them get through any cold streaks. right now though he's more of a security blanket that may not be the best thing for the team right now.

[Vesper]

I hope the Lakers go for Plumlee this summer.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Young players to keep: Ingram, Zubac, Nance, Russell

Most pressing need: the NBA unicorn, a big man that can defend, pass, and stretch the floor all st the same time.

Who needs to go: Williams this up coming off season. Don't really care about Mozgov or Deng unless you have an indication that you have someone ready to sign and need the cap.

ok so my bad i haven't been watching all the games this season, but when I do Williams is the best player we have off the bench. so explain to me like Im a 6 year old why would we get rid of him?

for me, williams is currently the most effective player on the team because of his uncanny ability to create his own shot and draw FT's. and while that may translate to a better chance of winning, it doesn't translate to better development. his skills shine when the offense has either broken down or isn't being run. He can make something out of nothing, a sort of security blanket.

what the team needs though is someone who enhances team play, helps the team run its offense, not score when the offense has broken down. williams would be a perfect asset for a team that is trying to win games, not simply develop its system and players. williams' skills are something the team will need down the line when they're a playoff contender and needs a spark to help them get through any cold streaks. right now though he's more of a security blanket that may not be the best thing for the team right now.

everything you just said seemed like reasons to keep him to me

[Mirjalovic]

Randle will be our leader, Ingram will be our best player and Russell will be our most important player.




ok, that maybe sound cheesy and weird.

[DNP-Old]

I hope the Lakers go for Plumlee this summer.

Why isn't this in green font?

[stan francisco]

Williams plays a different brand of ball than what Luke tries to instill. He's been trade bait all year, I think. And good bait he is, too. Other teams could use him off the bench, and I'd trade his offense for equally good defense in a red hot second. We.score enough to win without him.

Doesn't fit the system, can bring us in trade what we need. Strike a deal, Mitch. I want Tony Allen (or the next best thing) here...