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Mike Bresnahan
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@Mike_Bresnahan
Four Laker starting spots are up for grabs.

Said Rob Pelinka: “We’re really excited about camp this year because Luke (Walton) has decided... we’re going to have an incredibly competitive camp and all the spots are going to be open spots, putting aside LeBron James, obviously.”

Not sure If I should post this elsewhere.. but what do you guys think about Bron having the only secured starting spot?

Pelinka shared this about Rajon Rondo on @SpectrumSN: “The first day when Rondo came, the first thing he did is ask, ‘Where’s your film guy.’ He had him pull film on every single player on our roster so he could start to study their tendencies.’

Quote:
What role did LeBron have in Lakers signing Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee and Rajon Rondo?

“I learned from Dr. Buss that you should always include (star) players,” Magic said. “When (former GM) Jerry West thought about bringing a player in, Dr. Buss would call me, call Kareem.”

More from Pelinka on LeBron: “As Magic was talking about before, (LeBron) is a basketball savant. As we started to get a sense of what was in his head about our roster, talking to him about our guys, we had made a decision leading up to the chance to meet with him to make sure what we built around him was different from what he’s experienced the last three or four seasons. We wanted to build a team that was versatile, that was deep, that was fast and tough. You can see that’s been echoed in the moves we’ve made.”
Added Magic: “And high basketball IQ’s.”

How did GM Rob Pelinka find out LeBron would join the Lakers? Via text from James’ agent.

“The text just said ‘Congrats,’ and it had balloons,”Pelinka said. “It was one of those moments in life you’ll never ever forget.

Pelinka offered an anecdote: “So we go and sign the contract, he’s just getting back from his family vacation. I’m walking out to get in my car, he’s walking out to get in his car. He mentions to his agent or his assistant, ‘Such and such is going to be at the gym at six in the morning, right? That’s when I’m going to start my workout.’ So you realize, that’s just who he is. First day back, just had flown in, 6 a.m., ‘I’m going to get after it tomorrow.’”

There were a lot of good bits that were given as to the insights of the team and getting LeBron.

First thing I liked was that LeBron knew about the young guys strengths and weaknesses.

I also liked the idea of there are no 4 guaranteed starters on this team because honestly we are trying to win and as it stands the young guys got to shat that they can **** play winning ball. Phil did a similar thing benching Fisher, Fox, and Horry when he first came in.

Loved the Rondo bit the most though as he will dissect what they do well on O and what they can do on D

Great interview so happy to See Magic enjoying this he deserves it. give him the cameras he brought us our superstar.

After what i watch, pretty sure the roster is locked.
No trades for this summer.

kblo247 wrote:

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Mike Bresnahan
✔
@Mike_Bresnahan
Four Laker starting spots are up for grabs.

Said Rob Pelinka: “We’re really excited about camp this year because Luke (Walton) has decided... we’re going to have an incredibly competitive camp and all the spots are going to be open spots, putting aside LeBron James, obviously.”

Not sure If I should post this elsewhere.. but what do you guys think about Bron having the only secured starting spot?

So starting lineup is going to be :

Rondo
KCP
Lebron
Lance
Deng

-Spyda- wrote:After what i watch, pretty sure the roster is locked.
No trades for this summer.

Well, the front office is always going to hype the players they have. They also can't assume a move in the future will be made, especially trades. Those are dependent on other teams. And any trade they do isn't going to get rid of all of the young players, so the Lakers will be relying on youth regardless of what they do.

Also, nobody asked about Center? Even if the Lakers want to keep the young core for now, going into the season with McGee and Zubac as the only centers is inexcusable.

Already had my fill of the self congratulatory tour by Magic and Pelinka, and Jeannie...

Remember, it don't mean **** unless rings... And this roster isn't winning anything. Honestly... Are we really patting ourselves on the back about Rondo?

Enough dancing in the end zone. Win some games now. Get back to work looking ahead to the trade deadline. Do it, Pelagic!

stan francisco wrote:Enough dancing in the end zone. Win some games now. Get back to work looking ahead to the trade deadline. Do it, Pelagic!

Common Pelagic species of Yap

Kilroy wrote:Already had my fill of the self congratulatory tour by Magic and Pelinka, and Jeannie...

Remember, it don't mean **** unless rings... And this roster isn't winning anything. Honestly... Are we really patting ourselves on the back about Rondo?

Mitch couldn't get the deal done when he tried and he got sent to Dallas. HE took Russell as our pick and couldn't get it done in free agency that summer either when they talked about bringing him in after letting Lin walk to fill in the backcourt with Kobe at the 3 but Rondo went to a different team by choice. Magic got Rondo done, it wasn't like Mitch and Jim didn't try multiple times but failed to secure him. Magic got Rondo after a great playoff run and off him leading one of the fastest pace teams there was post all star break. HE deserved his victory lap for LeBron and victory clap for Rondo

Danny Darko wrote:

stan francisco wrote:Enough dancing in the end zone. Win some games now. Get back to work looking ahead to the trade deadline. Do it, Pelagic!

Common Pelagic species of Yap

I’m glad you picked up on the fish gag. The question is which species...

While I'm all for earning starting spots, I really hope we can avoid Zo losing his spot to Rondo. The circus that will come from that will be nauseating.

It was a great interview.
It spells out the game plan.
No one is patting anyone on the back.
All the mecessary props were given.
They answered enough questions.

We have a great Front Office.
We have a solid roster.

What I got out of this:

Magic was quoted after the Lonzo pick that only Kuz, BI and Lonzo were untouchable.

This year I hear only Kuz is untouchable and of course Lebron.

No one's job is safe especially the veterans.

The young players will be given the benefit of the doubt regarding trades because Pelinka says the future is focused on youth.

But no one is going to start unless they van compete.

And Luke Walton's job is safe.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

stan francisco wrote:

Danny Darko wrote:

stan francisco wrote:Enough dancing in the end zone. Win some games now. Get back to work looking ahead to the trade deadline. Do it, Pelagic!

Common Pelagic species of Yap

I’m glad you picked up on the fish gag. The question is which species...

I'm thinking the one in the middle that looks like the incredible Mr. Limpet...

This kind of sucks though... Huge to get LeBron and training camp vids are going to be fire, but still, this is clearly a roster waiting on another star player. So it still feels like we're in this holding pattern that could last until next summer. Not really sure what to get excited about long term.

Kilroy wrote:

stan francisco wrote:

Danny Darko wrote:
Common Pelagic species of Yap

I’m glad you picked up on the fish gag. The question is which species...

I'm thinking the one in the middle that looks like the incredible Mr. Limpet...

This kind of sucks though... Huge to get LeBron and training camp vids are going to be fire, but still, this is clearly a roster waiting on another star player. So it still feels like we're in this holding pattern that could last until next summer. Not really sure what to get excited about long term.

I’dve been thrilled about the damage we would’ve done with last year’s roster if they could’ve stayed together and healthy. The only thing that bums me out is missing Randle’s low post muscle game.

But adding LBJ, Rondo, Stephenson, McGee, Mykhailiuk, Wagner is very exciting. Here’s why I’m so excited:

I’m banking on Lonzo, Kuz and Ingram becoming star NBA players within a few years of starting their NBA careers. The second and third years are typically when stars start breaking out from their draft class. Look at Kobe’s first years etc.

That’s why I expect Ingram to have his first truly dominant season. I expect Lonzo to be dominant next season but show flashes of greatness already this season, especially on defense. I expect Kuzma to be dominant as a scorer this season and to shape up his defense. I expect Hart to kick every opponent’s rear on defense this season.

Add LBJ, Rondo, Stephenson and JMG to that defense? We have plenty to be very upbeat about this season. One thing being that LBJ’s defense is seriously good.

Defense. Run the break. Repeat. 52 wins isn’t out of the question. I love this roster.

Ingram's the key... If that kid can be dominant next to LeBron, I think we'll forget all about Kawhi and start looking for mismatches elsewhere.

Kilroy wrote:Ingram's the key... If that kid can be dominant next to LeBron, I think we'll forget all about Kawhi and start looking for mismatches elsewhere.

Or you can look at keeping Kuzma and Ingram. The just add Rondo, KCP, and Javale all back to the team with Leonard or Jimmy Butler next year. They will learn a lot about if Kuz can play small ball 5 like Draymond or Ingram can be a stud 3. Hell maybe it’s the inverse and Kuz becomes the stud 3 and Ingram grows into the lanky small ball 5 like how Dirk, KG, LO, and Lewis all became power forwards and Centers for small ball after being projected at 3 with his lanky frame

Kilroy wrote:Ingram's the key... If that kid can be dominant next to LeBron, I think we'll forget all about Kawhi and start looking for mismatches elsewhere.

Yes. If Ingram draws a double team starting every second meeting with each opponent, we’re in good shape.

What a dilemma for opponents. With Ingram drawing a double, are they gonna leave LBJ single teamed? If not, what about Kuz? Leave McGee and Lonzo uncovered? It’s gonna take some seriously disciplined, quick and anticipatory team defense to rotate at pace with our running the break at the speed Luke and Magic want to see. With playmakers like LBJ, Lonzo, Rondo, Ingram, AirBlo, Kuzma...?

Defense.

A P&R game with LeBron and Ingram could be a truly dominant play...

Kilroy wrote:
I'm thinking the one in the middle that looks like the incredible Mr. Limpet...

Dating yourself..... and me for knowing it.