2018 Roster

[LakersSoul]

Okay with the 2017 season winding down, can we talk about what our 2018 roster might look like and who we should bring back? The uncertain or gone list is as follows:

Nick Young (Player Option)
TRob
Nwaba
Ennis
MWP

I will assume Nick Young will exercise his players option and try for gold even though teams didnt want to trade him for a second round pick. He will try to get a 3 year deal somewhere and should fetch 6-8 million per.

TRob has shown engergy and rebounding plus athleticism but hasnt been given enough minutes in the 2nd half of the season. He would still be a valuable bench spark guy along with Nwaba. Nwaba has been a pleasant surprise and the team will/should keep him. Defense and energy.

Ennis might be a backup guard but looks more like a guy on the way out. We will need to find a better draft pick/veteran over the summer.

MWP's time is over.

Overall, I think we lose Nick Young, Ennis and MWP. These spots get taken by 2 draft picks (Houston plus our 1st or 2nd round). Then we pickup a vet or another pick over the summer. Starting roster barring any major trades:

Guards:
Dlo
Clarkson
Nwaba

Forwards:
Ingram
Brewer
Deng

PowerForwards:
Randle
Nance
TRob

Center:
Zu
Black
Moz

3 additional players to get to 15 and we will need 2 guards and possibly a forward. Over the 2017 summer, we pickup one vet guard and one draft pick to replace Ennis and Young's guard spots. We also lose Brewer and Black after next season so finding a good forward will be needed this summer. If we get lucky with someone like Jarrett Allen or BAM or Leaf or Rabb then we can even think about moving Randle for assets before he becomes expensive.

What do you guys think?

[larry14r]

Okay with the 2017 season winding down, can we talk about what our 2018 roster might look like and who we should bring back? The uncertain or gone list is as follows:

Nick Young (Player Option)
TRob
Nwaba
Ennis
MWP

I will assume Nick Young will exercise his players option and try for gold even though teams didnt want to trade him for a second round pick. He will try to get a 3 year deal somewhere and should fetch 6-8 million per.

TRob has shown engergy and rebounding plus athleticism but hasnt been given enough minutes in the 2nd half of the season. He would still be a valuable bench spark guy along with Nwaba. Nwaba has been a pleasant surprise and the team will/should keep him. Defense and energy.

Ennis might be a backup guard but looks more like a guy on the way out. We will need to find a better draft pick/veteran over the summer.

MWP's time is over.

Overall, I think we lose Nick Young, Ennis and MWP. These spots get taken by 2 draft picks (Houston plus our 1st or 2nd round). Then we pickup a vet or another pick over the summer. Starting roster barring any major trades:

Guards:
Dlo
Clarkson
Nwaba

Forwards:
Ingram
Brewer
Deng

PowerForwards:
Randle
Nance
TRob

Center:
Zu
Black
Moz

3 additional players to get to 15 and we will need 2 guards and possibly a forward. Over the 2017 summer, we pickup one vet guard and one draft pick to replace Ennis and Young's guard spots. We also lose Brewer and Black after next season so finding a good forward will be needed this summer. If we get lucky with someone like Jarrett Allen or BAM or Leaf or Rabb then we can even think about moving Randle for assets before he becomes expensive.

What do you guys think?

That could happen, but remember trades can happen too you know.

[Princeinrevolt]

Targets for this offseason (1+1 team option contracts)
1. Jodie Meeks
2. Brandon Rush
3. Anthony Morrow
4. Thabo Sefelosha
5. Luke Babbit
6. Randy Foye
If we want to get good for next year, either the young guys play amazing or we trade for someone good.

[Sofa King]

I'm leaning to trading Randle, Clarkson, and Dlo for anything better now. Those 3 are no longer untouchable.

Targets for this offseason (1+1 team option contracts)
1. Jodie Meeks
2. Brandon Rush
3. Anthony Morrow
4. Thabo Sefelosha
5. Luke Babbit
6. Randy Foye
If we want to get good for next year, either the young guys play amazing or we trade for someone good.

[Princeinrevolt]

I'm leaning to trading Randle, Clarkson, and Dlo for anything better now. Those 3 are no longer untouchable.

Targets for this offseason (1+1 team option contracts)
1. Jodie Meeks
2. Brandon Rush
3. Anthony Morrow
4. Thabo Sefelosha
5. Luke Babbit
6. Randy Foye
If we want to get good for next year, either the young guys play amazing or we trade for someone good.

Why do you not like Jodie Meeks? I'm just targeting 3 point shooters. And what do you mean by "anything better"? i'd still not trade Dlo, unless we get an all star for him.

[Sofa King]

I'm leaning to trading Randle, Clarkson, and Dlo for anything better now. Those 3 are no longer untouchable.

Targets for this offseason (1+1 team option contracts)
1. Jodie Meeks
2. Brandon Rush
3. Anthony Morrow
4. Thabo Sefelosha
5. Luke Babbit
6. Randy Foye
If we want to get good for next year, either the young guys play amazing or we trade for someone good.

Why do you not like Jodie Meeks? I'm just targeting 3 point shooters. And what do you mean by "anything better"? i'd still not trade Dlo, unless we get an all star for him.

Jodie Meeks has been trash.

Anything better does include all stars just so you know.

[Princeinrevolt]

I'm leaning to trading Randle, Clarkson, and Dlo for anything better now. Those 3 are no longer untouchable.

Why do you not like Jodie Meeks? I'm just targeting 3 point shooters. And what do you mean by "anything better"? i'd still not trade Dlo, unless we get an all star for him.

Jodie Meeks has been trash.

Anything better does include all stars just so you know.

Yeah I was just asking...
But for Jodie Meeks he is averaging 40 percent 3 point percentage which is pretty good. I think he's been trash because he's been getting injured a lot, but I just want some damn shooters on the team so i'll take whoever that can do that.

[mambo]

Two days later nwaba's 2nd 10day contract will be over. How can we keep? Need to cut someone ?
I should give him 2years contract 2nd is TO.
We neeeeeed this guy!

[danfantastk32]

It's a hard question to answer. Do we get that lotto pick?

If we do end up getting someone like Fultz or Ball....you have to think D'Lo becomes someone we try and package for other things. Of course, if we dont get that pick...the whole equation changes. I don't think they trade D'Lo then.

And consequently...whoever was incoming in that hypothetical trade is not here....and the domino's fall.

Young might exercise his option. The fact nobody wanted him for a second-rounder (peanuts) kinda tells you he's prob not gonna fetch too much out there. It would have only been a short loan...so it's not apples to apples.....but if he was anything near coveted, a 2nd-rounder sure isn't much. We will owe him $5.7. Not a ton...but how much is he really gonna get?

A guy like Nwaba is gonna sign with whoever offers him ANYTHING. And rightly so. Here's a guy signed for $63k. Something as paltry as a 2-year $6 mil deal is an absolute life changer. Spain..China...hell, even the Clippers...go wherever you can get a check. Hopefully the guy gets a deal again with us, but it better not be for too much....so if the guy can get $$$ elsewhere, good for him.

Pretty sure Artest, Ennis, Caulderon, TRob are all gone. They don't even get playing time...so a new cast will be shuffled in, and we'll see what happens with them. I felt TRob had something to give the team. Prob deserved more playing time than he got.

Im gonna wait until we get / dont get that pick. I think the new management team will want to make their footprint into the team, but it becomes vastly, VASTLY trickier without that pick.

[TylersLakers]

Shooters or defenders: That's my mantra this off-season.

Which means: I could see Clarkson/Randle gone. Especially with Randle's looming contract extension. I think I'd rather pay Nance 8M per season than Julius at 15-20M. Problem is, I just don't see a market out there for Randle. Not sure what type of value we could get back for him. So keep him while we still have leverage. As for Clarkson, deal him to his hometown San Antonio Spurs along with our early 2nd round pick and a future draft pick for Danny Green and Davis Bertans. With Patty Mills set to be a FA this off-season and Parker and Ginobili's careers winding down, Clarkson could bring some youth to that back court. Popovich is the right coach for him.

It would be amazing if we could attach Deng with the Houston pick to Minnesota to get Pekovic and Aldrich. Those contracts are guaranteed for next season and Aldrich's 18-19 is not guaranteed.

Hope to the basketball god we keep the 2nd pick and draft Lonzo Ball.

Stretch Mozgov. He would count against our cap for the next 7 seasons with a cap number of $6,857,142. Thanks Mitch and Jim.

Release Pekovic.

Our roster would look like:

PG: D'Angelo Russell [5.6M]/ Lonzo Ball [5.3M]/ = 10.9M
SG: Danny Green [10M]/ = 10M
SF: Brandon Ingram [5.5M]/ Corey Brewer [7.6M]/ Davis Bertans [1.2M] = 14.3M
PF: Julius Randle [4.2M]/ Larry Nance [1.5M]/ = 5.7M
C: Ivica Zubac [1.3M]/ Cole Aldrich [7.3]/= 8.6M

That gives us about $50M in guaranteed salary. Add in Mozgov and Pekovic's salaries as well as cap holds and that adds another approx. 20M onto that figure. Which would give us a total team salary of around $70. That's enough for a maximum contract, but I wouldn't go that route. I'd accept the team option on Tarik Black to give us some continuity on the front line. That puts our team salary around 77M.

Free agents I'd target:

- Thabo Sefolosha
- PJ Tucker
- Shaun Livingston
- Tim Hardaway Jr. -- If we want to use more cap space and sign a long term option, I hope he's the player.
- Anthony Morrow

Hopefully out of that crew we come up with..

Anthony Morrow: 1 year deal, 8M + team option for Year 2
Shaun Livingston: 2 year deal, starting at 8M + team option for Year 3.
David Nwaba: 1 year deal, 3M

PG: D'Angelo Russell/ Lonzo Ball/ Shaun Livingston
SG: Danny Green/ Anthony Morrow/ David Nwaba
SF: Brandon Ingram/ Corey Brewer/ Davis Bertans
PF: Julius Randle/ Larry Nance/
C: Ivica Zubac/ Tarik Black/ Cole Aldrich/

With a rotation of..

PG: Russell [14]/ Lonzo Ball [26]/ Livingston [8]/
SG: Green [20]/ Russell [20]/ Livingston [8]/
SF: Ingram: [30]/ Brewer [10]/ Green [8]
PF: Randle [18]/ Nance [25]/ Ingram [5]
C: Zubac [26]/ Randle [15]/ Black [7]/

A crunch time line-up of Ball/Russell/Green/Ingram/Randle could be a dangerous one, depending on matchups.

As far as the 2018 summer: The only realistic committed salaries would be stretched Mozgov [6.8], Russell [7.0], Ball [5.5], Ingram [5.8], Zubac [1.6], Livingston [8.2], Nance [2.3], and Randle's cap hold [5.6]. Aldrich, Brewer, Bertans, Green, Nwaba, Morrow would be FA's or team/player options. That would be easily enough for 2 max salaries, if not more.

[LakersSoul]

It's a hard question to answer. Do we get that lotto pick?

If we do end up getting someone like Fultz or Ball....you have to think D'Lo becomes someone we try and package for other things. Of course, if we dont get that pick...the whole equation changes. I don't think they trade D'Lo then.

And consequently...whoever was incoming in that hypothetical trade is not here....and the domino's fall.

Young might exercise his option. The fact nobody wanted him for a second-rounder (peanuts) kinda tells you he's prob not gonna fetch too much out there. It would have only been a short loan...so it's not apples to apples.....but if he was anything near coveted, a 2nd-rounder sure isn't much. We will owe him $5.7. Not a ton...but how much is he really gonna get?

A guy like Nwaba is gonna sign with whoever offers him ANYTHING. And rightly so. Here's a guy signed for $63k. Something as paltry as a 2-year $6 mil deal is an absolute life changer. Spain..China...hell, even the Clippers...go wherever you can get a check. Hopefully the guy gets a deal again with us, but it better not be for too much....so if the guy can get $$$ elsewhere, good for him.

Pretty sure Artest, Ennis, Caulderon, TRob are all gone. They don't even get playing time...so a new cast will be shuffled in, and we'll see what happens with them. I felt TRob had something to give the team. Prob deserved more playing time than he got.

Im gonna wait until we get / dont get that pick. I think the new management team will want to make their footprint into the team, but it becomes vastly, VASTLY trickier without that pick.

We play our hands and then let the basketball gods do their thing. As the #2 worst record team, we can only hope that we get a top 3 pick. If we miss out then, we still get Houston's 1st rounder (thanks Lou), Lakers second rounder which still should be a good early second round pick. We also then are guaranteed our 1st rounder in 2018 and our debts are almost paid off, less 2019 pick to Orlando.

In that scenario, then we still add 2 picks (late first and early second) to add to our roster and sign a vet guard/forward just as before. This wouldnt be ideal but at least we are somewhat covered and can move forward by improving players Dlo, BI and Zubac.

If we get the top 3 then its so much sweeter. We add a top 3 pick or more depending on if we want to trade down which I would suggest unless Ryan West is sold on Fultz plus Houston's 1st rounder. I still prefer trading our pick #2-#3 down to add assets and let Ryan West and team pick out more hidden gems for us.

Then next year with the 2 draft picks plus a vet guard/forward, we make strides and push hard for the playoffs as we will lose the 2018 draft pick to 76ers. We make the playoffs as a late seed and then add PG plus another star over the summer if possible by trading some players that do not fit into the team. All through this, if possible, we must protect BI, Zubac and Dlo especially Bi and Zubac. I would possibly only consider Randle and/or Clarkson.

[LakersSoul]

Regarding Nwaba, I doubt anyone offers Nwaba anything close to $6 million. The 2017-2018 minimum salary for 0 years is $562K and for 1 year experience is $905K. We offer Nwaba the minimum with a team option for the second year. He will accept and work even harder.

[danfantastk32]

Regarding Nwaba, I doubt anyone offers Nwaba anything close to $6 million. The 2017-2018 minimum salary for 0 years is $562K and for 1 year experience is $905K. We offer Nwaba the minimum with a team option for the second year. He will accept and work even harder.

Your prob right. My point was just that he needs to ruthlessly follow the $$. If he can get a deal in China...go for it. I like what he brought to us...but he's not a "factor" in our rebuild. So if he gets a chance and signs a good deal somewhere else, then good for him.....I'll be totally happy for the guy.

[LakersSoul]

Why do you not like Jodie Meeks? I'm just targeting 3 point shooters. And what do you mean by "anything better"? i'd still not trade Dlo, unless we get an all star for him.

Jodie Meeks has been trash.

Anything better does include all stars just so you know.

Yeah I was just asking...
But for Jodie Meeks he is averaging 40 percent 3 point percentage which is pretty good. I think he's been trash because he's been getting injured a lot, but I just want some damn shooters on the team so i'll take whoever that can do that.

Why?

We had Lou (38.5%) and Young (40.4%) this year and traded Lou and tried to get peanuts back for Young because they were taking too many shots. Now most of the shots are taken by Dlo, Randle, Clarkson, Ingram and Zubac which is what the team need to do for growth. Next year will be the same as the current players will demand more shots and we will add another 2 draft picks. I think the FO will add a veteran guard/forward but one that will expand and extend the team with energy and defense rather than another shooter like Young/Lou type.

We already have SG in Dlo and Clarkson disguised as PGs. I would prefer we bring in a vet guard that is more of a leader/distributor/penetrator or a forward that is intense and defensiveminded with a knack for taking down rebounds and guarding the paint by making opposing guards pay a price for driving into the lane. This is also what Magic means when he says the team has too many players doing the same thing. This is why our defense will get better and the team will play as a team.

[Sofa King]

Why do you not like Jodie Meeks? I'm just targeting 3 point shooters. And what do you mean by "anything better"? i'd still not trade Dlo, unless we get an all star for him.

Jodie Meeks has been trash.

Anything better does include all stars just so you know.

Yeah I was just asking...
But for Jodie Meeks he is averaging 40 percent 3 point percentage which is pretty good. I think he's been trash because he's been getting injured a lot, but I just want some damn shooters on the team so i'll take whoever that can do that.

He's trash because his 40% from 3 is no good when he's cant get on the floor. Lakers had Jodie Meeks. He signed a nice deal in Detroit and got traded to Orlando and still can stay on the floor. We dont need more injury proned players with one trick to save their life on this team.

[TylersLakers]

Jodie Meeks on a cheap one year deal? Sign me up.

[ALL HAIL]

Well, after a trade for Paul George, this is my (switch everything defensively) starting five for next year:

PG - D'Angelo Russell
SG - Josh Jackson
C - Larry Nance Jr.
PF - Brandon Ingram
SF - Paul George

I think it has the potential to be very, very special.

And after signing Avery Bradley the following summer, this is my "death lineup" (not particularly starting) for the 18\19 season:

PG - D'Angelo Russell
SG - Avery Bradley
C - Brandon Ingram
PF - Josh Jackson
SF - Paul George

[Princeinrevolt]

Jodie Meeks has been trash.

Anything better does include all stars just so you know.

Yeah I was just asking...
But for Jodie Meeks he is averaging 40 percent 3 point percentage which is pretty good. I think he's been trash because he's been getting injured a lot, but I just want some damn shooters on the team so i'll take whoever that can do that.

He's trash because his 40% from 3 is no good when he's cant get on the floor. Lakers had Jodie Meeks. He signed a nice deal in Detroit and got traded to Orlando and still can stay on the floor. We dont need more injury proned players with one trick to save their life on this team.

If you sign him for the veterans minimum, why not?

Also, I'm pretty sure I did not make this clear. But the targets that I listed are in no particular order. My bad for the confusion. Jodie Meeks is probably last on my list of targets, due to him being injury prone.

[LakersSoul]

Yeah I was just asking...
But for Jodie Meeks he is averaging 40 percent 3 point percentage which is pretty good. I think he's been trash because he's been getting injured a lot, but I just want some damn shooters on the team so i'll take whoever that can do that.

He's trash because his 40% from 3 is no good when he's cant get on the floor. Lakers had Jodie Meeks. He signed a nice deal in Detroit and got traded to Orlando and still can stay on the floor. We dont need more injury proned players with one trick to save their life on this team.

If you sign him for the veterans minimum, why not?

Also, I'm pretty sure I did not make this clear. But the targets that I listed are in no particular order. My bad for the confusion. Jodie Meeks is probably last on my list of targets, due to him being injury prone.

Meeks got paid $6.5 million this year and you think he will come to the Lakers for vet minimum as the 2nd worst team in NBA?

We already have shooters in Dlo, Clarkson and centers that need the ball in Moz and Zubac. Now, we need a point guard that distributes and shoots the open 3 well. I was hoping that Ennis could be that guy but it doesnt look like it. We will need to address that in FA and the draft.

The other area has been mentioned previously, but we still need more defensive role players like Nwaba. He has been excellent for us and we need another guy that does that as a forward. That guy could still be TRob/Brewer but I expect the team to sign and/or draft another forward to ensure that the team has the right type of players for next year.

[LakersSoul]

Two days later nwaba's 2nd 10day contract will be over. How can we keep? Need to cut someone ?
I should give him 2years contract 2nd is TO.
We neeeeeed this guy!

Yes. Nwaba started for the team and is now getting the most minutes off the bench. Nwaba's energy and defense plus flying dunks will be here to stay. After the 2nd 10day contract is over, I expect the team to announce the signing. It should be 1 year guaranteed and 2nd year team option for the minimum.

Magic and Pelinka are moving the team in the right direction. I wont expect too much this summer but they may surprise us like they did with Nwaba and giving more shots to the youth by sitting oldies like Deng/Moz and trading Lou.