2018 Free Agent List And My Thoughts On Getting 2 Maxed Free Agents ...

[SlimShady83]

So according too Magic and Rob they are liking the 2018 Free Agent class.

I’m also assuming that they’re going to try and go for 2 MAX FREE AGENTS in the list below.

Honestly, I’m not really liking the Free agent list outside of the max free agents
So, with the list below I’ve taken a quick look and while I don’t know all of the players and their skills/stats etc
I’ve taken a look at players who are max free agents “OR CLOSE TO IT” for 2018

Max free agents or close to it for 2018

• Paul George (28) – $20.703MM player option
• Russell Westbrook (30) – $30.67MM player option
• LeBron James (34) – $35.608MM player option
• DeMarcus Cousins (28)
• Brook Lopez (30)
• LaMarcus Aldridge (33) – $22.347MM player option
• Carmelo Anthony (34) – $27.928MM player option
• Chris Paul (33)
• Isaiah Thomas (29)
• Wesley Matthews (32) – $18.623MM player option
• DeAndre Jordan (30) – $24.119MM player option
• Greg Monroe (28)
• Enes Kanter (26) – $18.623MM player option

Ok so you see the list above and say yeh there are some pretty good maxed out free agents or close to it free agents coming up in 2018 …
- That’s 13 players above that are Maxed out or Close to it < I could be missing some???

Magic and Rob must be smoking some pretty strong _____ if they think they’ll be getting two maxed players in 2018

- Lebron will be 35 and probably 1 injury from retirement, but no doubt they’ll be going after him.
The only real benefit I could see signing Lebron is not only being a true contender but also having future FA’s wanting to sign to LAL again < just IMO

I know how Y’all feel about 30-year old’s joining the team Unless they can mentor or in top 20 players list

- CP3 Just joined Spurs and doubt he’ll leave or want to join LAL, beside he will be 34? And is Injury prone now

- LMA had his chance to join but turned us down, do we really want Him now? We have Lopez and Zubac? Especially since his 33? Lopez is Younger

- Melo should be off limits at all cost being the 2nd highest player and at 34 will be 35

- Isaiah Thomas < I doubt will leave Boston and Def won’t come to west
His out <<< Too Injury prone

Wesley Mathews < no Idea who he is, but his 32 so out of the???

- DeAndre Jordan will be 30 and already with Clippers he isn’t coming

- Enes Kanter He Isn’t leaving + we have Lopez/Zubac

- Lopez, we have him as a backup plan along with Zubac

So that’s 8 players out of the 13 above that are Maxed or Near Maxed players for 2018
That are out of the question already

Out of the 8 players that are out too choose from this leaves us with …

- Paul George (28) – $20.703MM player option
- Russell Westbrook (30) – $30.67MM player option
- LeBron James (34) – $35.608MM player option
- DeMarcus Cousins
- Greg Monroe (28)

Both Demarcus Cousins and Greg Monroe are Centres and we already have
Lopez and Zubac and also Nance who can play extra minutes at C

Do we need either of those 2?

This leaves us now with

Paul George
Westbrook
Lebron James >>> LJ is too much of a wuss to come to the west don't like our chances, despite the rumors

Out of the Maxed free agent’s?

Our only true hope to sign 2 max free agents is relying on Paul George staying true to his word and wanting to come to LAL

Let’s hope Westbrook doesn’t persuade him to stay with OKC …

But let’s Imagine for a 2nd we end up getting PG 13

Who would you rather have?

A soon to be 35-year-old Lebron OR A soon to be 29 Westbrook in his Prime?

Our team right now as we speak is …

C- Brook Lopez, Ivica Zubac, Thomas Bryant (R)

PF- Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr., Thomas Robinson (FA), Kyle Kuzma (R)

SF- Brandon Ingram, Luol Deng, Corey Brewer

SG- Jordan Clarkson, Josh Hart (R), David Nwaba

PG- Lonzo Ball (R), Tyler Ennis (FA)


- Paul George by the looks of it is our saviour

I’m now praying for PG13


Point Guards
• Patrick Beverley (30) (N)
• Seth Curry (28)
• Malcolm Delaney (29) – $3.125MM player option
• Tyler Ennis (24) (R)
• Dante Exum (23) (R)
• Yogi Ferrell (25) (R)
• Tim Frazier (28)
• Cory Joseph (27) – $7.945MM player option
• Shabazz Napier (27) (R)
• Jameer Nelson (36)
• Tony Parker (36)
• Chris Paul (33)
• Elfrid Payton (24) (R)
• Marcus Smart (24) (R)
• Garrett Temple (32) – $8MM player option
• Isaiah Thomas (29)
• Tyler Ulis (22) (N)
• Russell Westbrook (30) – $30.67MM player option
Shooting Guards
• Will Barton (27)
• Marco Belinelli (32)
• Avery Bradley (28)
• Malcolm Brogdon (26) (N)
• Jamal Crawford (38) (N)
• Danny Green (31) – $10MM player option
• Gary Harris (24) (R)
• Joe Harris (27)
• Rodney Hood (26) (R)
• Sean Kilpatrick (28)
• Zach LaVine (23) (R)
• Wesley Matthews (32) – $18.623MM player option
• David Nwaba (25) (R)
• Norman Powell (25) (R)
• Austin Rivers (26) – $12.65MM player option
• Iman Shumpert (28) – $11.011MM player option
• Nik Stauskas (25) (R)
• Lance Stephenson (28) – $4.36MM team option

• Dwyane Wade (36)
• Isaiah Whitehead (23) (N)
• C.J. Wilcox (28) (R)
• Lou Williams (32)
• James Young (23) (R)
Small Forwards
• Kyle Anderson (25) (R)
• Carmelo Anthony (34) – $27.928MM player option
• Trevor Ariza (33)
• Davis Bertans (26) (R)
• Corey Brewer (32)
• Bruno Caboclo (23) (R)
• Wilson Chandler (31) – $12.801MM player option
• James Ennis (28)
• Paul George (28) – $20.703MM player option
• LeBron James (34) – $35.608MM player option
• Richard Jefferson (38) (N)
• Joe Johnson (37)
• Wesley Johnson (31) – $6.135MM player option
• Mindaugas Kuzminskas (29) (R)
• Jake Layman (24) (N)
• Doug McDermott (26) (R)
• Quincy Pondexter (30)
• T.J. Warren (25) (R)
• Andrew Wiggins (23) (R)
• Paul Zipser (24) (N)]

Power Forwards
• LaMarcus Aldridge (33) – $22.347MM player option
• Darrell Arthur (30) – $7.465MM player option
• Nemanja Bjelica (30) (R)
• Joel Bolomboy (24) (N)
• Trevor Booker (31)
• Ed Davis (29)
• Cheick Diallo (22) (N)
• Derrick Favors (27)
• Channing Frye (35)
• Aaron Gordon (23) (R)
• Montrezl Harrell (24) (R)
• Josh McRoberts (31)
• Kyle O’Quinn (28) – $4.256MM player option
• Jabari Parker (23) (R)
• Julius Randle (24) (R)
• Noah Vonleh (23) (R)
• Brandan Wright (31)
• Thaddeus Young (30) – $13.964MM player option
•
Centers
• Cole Aldrich (30) (N)
• Clint Capela (24) (R)
• DeMarcus Cousins (28)
• Joel Embiid (24) (R)
• Justin Hamilton (28)
• Spencer Hawes (30)
• Al Jefferson (33) (N)
• Nikola Jokic (23) – $1.476MM team option
• DeAndre Jordan (30) – $24.119MM player option
• Enes Kanter (26) – $18.623MM player option
• Kosta Koufos (29) – $8.74MM player option
• Brook Lopez (30)
• Greg Monroe (28)
• Lucas Nogueira (26) (R)
• Jusuf Nurkic (24) (R)
• Jason Smith (32) – $5.45MM player option
• Diamond Stone (21) (R)
• Ivica Zubac (21) (N)

[Lakernut4ever]

Lebron-George or (unless Westbrook opts in) Westbrook-George.....but is not enough to topple the dubs...

[Pointgod]

So according too Magic and Rob they are liking the 2018 Free Agent class.

I’m also assuming that they’re going to try and go for 2 MAX FREE AGENTS in the list below.

Honestly, I’m not really liking the Free agent list outside of the max free agents
So, with the list below I’ve taken a quick look and while I don’t know all of the players and their skills/stats etc
I’ve taken a look at players who are max free agents “OR CLOSE TO IT” for 2018

Max free agents or close to it for 2018

• Paul George (28) – $20.703MM player option
• Russell Westbrook (30) – $30.67MM player option
• LeBron James (34) – $35.608MM player option
• DeMarcus Cousins (28)
• Brook Lopez (30)
• LaMarcus Aldridge (33) – $22.347MM player option
• Carmelo Anthony (34) – $27.928MM player option
• Chris Paul (33)
• Isaiah Thomas (29)
• Wesley Matthews (32) – $18.623MM player option
• DeAndre Jordan (30) – $24.119MM player option
• Greg Monroe (28)
• Enes Kanter (26) – $18.623MM player option

Ok so you see the list above and say yeh there are some pretty good maxed out free agents or close to it free agents coming up in 2018 …
- That’s 13 players above that are Maxed out or Close to it < I could be missing some???

Magic and Rob must be smoking some pretty strong _____ if they think they’ll be getting two maxed players in 2018

- Lebron will be 35 and probably 1 injury from retirement, but no doubt they’ll be going after him.
The only real benefit I could see signing Lebron is not only being a true contender but also having future FA’s wanting to sign to LAL again < just IMO

I know how Y’all feel about 30-year old’s joining the team Unless they can mentor or in top 20 players list

- CP3 Just joined Spurs and doubt he’ll leave or want to join LAL, beside he will be 34? And is Injury prone now

- LMA had his chance to join but turned us down, do we really want Him now? We have Lopez and Zubac? Especially since his 33? Lopez is Younger

- Melo should be off limits at all cost being the 2nd highest player and at 34 will be 35

- Isaiah Thomas < I doubt will leave Boston and Def won’t come to west
His out <<< Too Injury prone

Wesley Mathews < no Idea who he is, but his 32 so out of the???

- DeAndre Jordan will be 30 and already with Clippers he isn’t coming

- Enes Kanter He Isn’t leaving + we have Lopez/Zubac

- Lopez, we have him as a backup plan along with Zubac

So that’s 8 players out of the 13 above that are Maxed or Near Maxed players for 2018
That are out of the question already

Out of the 8 players that are out too choose from this leaves us with …

- Paul George (28) – $20.703MM player option
- Russell Westbrook (30) – $30.67MM player option
- LeBron James (34) – $35.608MM player option
- DeMarcus Cousins
- Greg Monroe (28)

Both Demarcus Cousins and Greg Monroe are Centres and we already have
Lopez and Zubac and also Nance who can play extra minutes at C

Do we need either of those 2?

This leaves us now with

Paul George
Westbrook
Lebron James >>> LJ is too much of a wuss to come to the west don't like our chances, despite the rumors

Out of the Maxed free agent’s?

Our only true hope to sign 2 max free agents is relying on Paul George staying true to his word and wanting to come to LAL

Let’s hope Westbrook doesn’t persuade him to stay with OKC …

But let’s Imagine for a 2nd we end up getting PG 13

Who would you rather have?

A soon to be 35-year-old Lebron OR A soon to be 29 Westbrook in his Prime?

Our team right now as we speak is …

C- Brook Lopez, Ivica Zubac, Thomas Bryant (R)

PF- Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr., Thomas Robinson (FA), Kyle Kuzma (R)

SF- Brandon Ingram, Luol Deng, Corey Brewer

SG- Jordan Clarkson, Josh Hart (R), David Nwaba

PG- Lonzo Ball (R), Tyler Ennis (FA)


- Paul George by the looks of it is our saviour

I’m now praying for PG13


Point Guards
• Patrick Beverley (30) (N)
• Seth Curry (28)
• Malcolm Delaney (29) – $3.125MM player option
• Tyler Ennis (24) (R)
• Dante Exum (23) (R)
• Yogi Ferrell (25) (R)
• Tim Frazier (28)
• Cory Joseph (27) – $7.945MM player option
• Shabazz Napier (27) (R)
• Jameer Nelson (36)
• Tony Parker (36)
• Chris Paul (33)
• Elfrid Payton (24) (R)
• Marcus Smart (24) (R)
• Garrett Temple (32) – $8MM player option
• Isaiah Thomas (29)
• Tyler Ulis (22) (N)
• Russell Westbrook (30) – $30.67MM player option
Shooting Guards
• Will Barton (27)
• Marco Belinelli (32)
• Avery Bradley (28)
• Malcolm Brogdon (26) (N)
• Jamal Crawford (38) (N)
• Danny Green (31) – $10MM player option
• Gary Harris (24) (R)
• Joe Harris (27)
• Rodney Hood (26) (R)
• Sean Kilpatrick (28)
• Zach LaVine (23) (R)
• Wesley Matthews (32) – $18.623MM player option
• David Nwaba (25) (R)
• Norman Powell (25) (R)
• Austin Rivers (26) – $12.65MM player option
• Iman Shumpert (28) – $11.011MM player option
• Nik Stauskas (25) (R)
• Lance Stephenson (28) – $4.36MM team option

• Dwyane Wade (36)
• Isaiah Whitehead (23) (N)
• C.J. Wilcox (28) (R)
• Lou Williams (32)
• James Young (23) (R)
Small Forwards
• Kyle Anderson (25) (R)
• Carmelo Anthony (34) – $27.928MM player option
• Trevor Ariza (33)
• Davis Bertans (26) (R)
• Corey Brewer (32)
• Bruno Caboclo (23) (R)
• Wilson Chandler (31) – $12.801MM player option
• James Ennis (28)
• Paul George (28) – $20.703MM player option
• LeBron James (34) – $35.608MM player option
• Richard Jefferson (38) (N)
• Joe Johnson (37)
• Wesley Johnson (31) – $6.135MM player option
• Mindaugas Kuzminskas (29) (R)
• Jake Layman (24) (N)
• Doug McDermott (26) (R)
• Quincy Pondexter (30)
• T.J. Warren (25) (R)
• Andrew Wiggins (23) (R)
• Paul Zipser (24) (N)]

Power Forwards
• LaMarcus Aldridge (33) – $22.347MM player option
• Darrell Arthur (30) – $7.465MM player option
• Nemanja Bjelica (30) (R)
• Joel Bolomboy (24) (N)
• Trevor Booker (31)
• Ed Davis (29)
• Cheick Diallo (22) (N)
• Derrick Favors (27)
• Channing Frye (35)
• Aaron Gordon (23) (R)
• Montrezl Harrell (24) (R)
• Josh McRoberts (31)
• Kyle O’Quinn (28) – $4.256MM player option
• Jabari Parker (23) (R)
• Julius Randle (24) (R)
• Noah Vonleh (23) (R)
• Brandan Wright (31)
• Thaddeus Young (30) – $13.964MM player option
•
Centers
• Cole Aldrich (30) (N)
• Clint Capela (24) (R)
• DeMarcus Cousins (28)
• Joel Embiid (24) (R)
• Justin Hamilton (28)
• Spencer Hawes (30)
• Al Jefferson (33) (N)
• Nikola Jokic (23) – $1.476MM team option
• DeAndre Jordan (30) – $24.119MM player option
• Enes Kanter (26) – $18.623MM player option
• Kosta Koufos (29) – $8.74MM player option
• Brook Lopez (30)
• Greg Monroe (28)
• Lucas Nogueira (26) (R)
• Jusuf Nurkic (24) (R)
• Jason Smith (32) – $5.45MM player option
• Diamond Stone (21) (R)
• Ivica Zubac (21) (N)

You're thinking backwards here. Other than Ball and Ingram, there aren't any players that are penciled into a specific position. So you don't forgo picking up talent just because you have a player that you like at that position. We have two max slots, if we get two max players then the off-season is a resounding success. If we move Clarkson and Deng then we can squeeze in 3 max slots. Anyone of George + Lebron/Westbrook/Cousins instantly makes us a top 4 team in the West. Even if we only signed George that's still a home run off-season and we could still maintain flexibility for a max spot the following year. This year's priority should be to move Clarkson, Deng and Randle for cap space. We already have the supporting cast with upside, we just need to get our superstar vets.

[BlackieMamba]

The biggest question that we need to answer is who will be our opposition in 2018 FA?

Does anyone know who will have cap space next year?
Of those teams how many are viable threats to sign top-tier FAs?


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[BlackieMamba]

I don't know everyone's cap situations but teams like MIA and OKC seem like the only teams with enough front office clout to be serious FA destination rivals to us next year.


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[Edrees]

The biggest question that we need to answer is who will be our opposition in 2018 FA?

Does anyone know who will have cap space next year?
Of those teams how many are viable threats to sign top-tier FAs?


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Spurs..they'll have Aldridge and Tony parker coming off the books, lots of cap space, and unlike OKC people want to play there

[KidDynamit]

I don't know what you guys are missing here.

I don't know if you watched Brook Lopez Press Conference but one of those MAX player is already in L.A.

They will sign George next year and go hard for Westbrook and miss. This is it.

[Kilroy]

"2 Max Free Agents" is essentially worthless if one of them isn't LeBron or Westbrook... Just getting 2 dudes that get paid a lot is worse than nothing.

Honestly, as fans, I think we need to keep the goal straight and hold the FO to it. It's not "2 Max Free agents"... It's LeBron AND Westbrook ideally, or LeBron OR Westbrook at a minimum.

LMA and George or some other variable might get us to the playoffs, but ain't getting us to the WCF unless Ball and Ingram are literally Magic and KD.

[BlackieMamba]

Oh the Spurs have cap next year..... That's not good...

OKC...San Antonio...
MIA? Or did they spend too much this offseason?
Rockets are always a threat I guess...

Anyone else?


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[SlimShady83]

You're thinking backwards here. Other than Ball and Ingram, there aren't any players that are penciled into a specific position.

I know I just put down the entire team so others can look at it

On the Bright side I did this last night after a few drinks and thought what the Hell < It was the smart cells thinking at the time LOL

[SlimShady83]

LMA and George or some other variable might get us to the playoffs, but ain't getting us to the WCF unless Ball and Ingram are literally Magic and KD.

We shouldn't even really consider LMA like I said above, his had his chance to join and + we have Lopez and Zubac over him who I'd rather have.

[Spens1]

Westbrook-George or Lebron-George (ideally the former because that will last longer) is the endgame. Then i think bringing back Lopez in a smaller deal wouldn't be a bad idea.

[brianmc]

Let's say we are able to trade Clarkson and Deng for expiring contracts (big if) and renounce Lopez. That would make about $80 mill available per sportrac. Can we spend that entire $80m on FA's and then go over the cap to max out J Randle since we have his bird rights?

[Dr Aki]

would probably only be happy with the top 5

[Hunter103]

Let's say we are able to trade Clarkson and Deng for expiring contracts (big if) and renounce Lopez. That would make about $80 mill available per sportrac. Can we spend that entire $80m on FA's and then go over the cap to max out J Randle since we have his bird rights?

Probably not, because going over the cap like that would likely require renouncing Randle's Bird rights. There would still be a cap hold.

[dockingsched]

You have to get two of Westbrook James George or Cousins or the front office failed.

[milesfides]

The 2018 plan is B.S.

Really. If the FO were a bit more savvy, we would have gotten 2 max FA this summer such as PG and Hayward, then be in position to pull a third in 2018, with some talented young ballers on rookie contracts.

Instead, we're in position to overpay and underdeliver.

As we've seen, Lakers are kicking back this summer. That's not good. Every sign is they're going to build from their young players. There aren't any clever moves here; we went for Dion Waiters and Jordan Crawford? What?

The real key was Paul George. Magic needed to keep his winking eye shut. We shouldn't have embarrassed the Pacers. If PG wanted out, the Lakers needed to tell his camp to STFU, trade for him in 2017, and we needed to get his low caphold for next summer. Makes a huge difference rather than fitting in another's max in 2018. PG is now going to cost about 10m more in 2018. Good job, front office!

And, we lost our top 2-3 asset in Dangelo Russell, for Kuzma and capspace. Dumb. Brook is gone. If he stays, that's major failure. He's a max contract, and if we keep him, that means we didn't land a true top 10 player. Brook has to stay gone. Now, it probably means maybe only Paul George, and that's about it. But no guarantee we'd get PG. The thunder now look like a top 5 team in the NBA.

I'd much rather grab PG this summer for 20m, send out our lower picks, move out JC and Randle, have a meeting for Hayward, and if need be, stretch Deng/Mozgov to offer a third max next summer or the next. Regardless, we'd have more elite talent than now.

Give me PG, Hayward, Ingram, Ball, Russell, Zubac and some pieces and capspace. Then we're talking about contending.

Right now, it's pure rebuild and wishful thinking.

[brianmc]

We should be able to get rid of Clarkson. There's a market for him. How do you get rid of Deng though? Is anyone giving us an expiring contract for Deng? Maybe if we throw in picks?

Say we shed Clarkson and Deng. Renounce Lopez. Max out Randle as he has a strong year. Matures into a 16-17ppg/10rpg player. What's the best case senario there? Who can we bring in? We would have about 50 mill in space right? Lebron gives a discount and one other elite player?

Now let's say we shed Clarkson and Deng without taking much salary back. Lopez walks and Randle signs an offer sheet elsewhere and we let him walk. Could we add 2 stars and 1 semi star with 80 mill in space?

[dockingsched]

The 2018 plan is B.S.

Really. If the FO were a bit more savvy, we would have gotten 2 max FA this summer such as PG and Hayward, then be in position to pull a third in 2018, with some talented young ballers on rookie contracts.

Instead, we're in position to overpay and underdeliver.

As we've seen, Lakers are kicking back this summer. That's not good. Every sign is they're going to build from their young players. There aren't any clever moves here; we went for Dion Waiters and Jordan Crawford? What?

The real key was Paul George. Magic needed to keep his winking eye shut. We shouldn't have embarrassed the Pacers. If PG wanted out, the Lakers needed to tell his camp to STFU, trade for him in 2017, and we needed to get his low caphold for next summer. Makes a huge difference rather than fitting in another's max in 2018. PG is now going to cost about 10m more in 2018. Good job, front office!

And, we lost our top 2-3 asset in Dangelo Russell, for Kuzma and capspace. Dumb. Brook is gone. If he stays, that's major failure. He's a max contract, and if we keep him, that means we didn't land a true top 10 player. Brook has to stay gone. Now, it probably means maybe only Paul George, and that's about it. But no guarantee we'd get PG. The thunder now look like a top 5 team in the NBA.

I'd much rather grab PG this summer for 20m, send out our lower picks, move out JC and Randle, have a meeting for Hayward, and if need be, stretch Deng/Mozgov to offer a third max next summer or the next. Regardless, we'd have more elite talent than now.

Give me PG, Hayward, Ingram, Ball, Russell, Zubac and some pieces and capspace. Then we're talking about contending.

Right now, it's pure rebuild and wishful thinking.

Paul George's cap hold next summer would've been 150% of his previous salary, so over $29 mil, pretty similar to what his first year salary would be so cap hold or contract, looks to take up same amount of cap.

[Pythagoras]

"2 Max Free Agents" is essentially worthless if one of them isn't LeBron or Westbrook... Just getting 2 dudes that get paid a lot is worse than nothing.

Honestly, as fans, I think we need to keep the goal straight and hold the FO to it. It's not "2 Max Free agents"... It's LeBron AND Westbrook ideally, or LeBron OR Westbrook at a minimum.

LMA and George or some other variable might get us to the playoffs, but ain't getting us to the WCF unless Ball and Ingram are literally Magic and KD.

What about Cousins?