It’s official, Lakers are the worst team.. so far

[tamaraw08]

Worst record, the only team without a win
Some want to punt the season and actually want to piss off Lebron so he’ll feel so disgusted of wasting the season and demand a trade. Imagine Pelicans get Wemby enabling them to win rings.
Future superstar free agents witness how front office maltreated Lebron and avoid them like Leprosy.
Not saying any trade would make them instant contenders but if the additions fit good while the team finally hit their shots and maintain their defense then they have a chance imo

[SlimShady83]

Some want to punt the season and actually want to piss off Lebron so he’ll feel so disgusted of wasting the season and demand a trade. Imagine Pelicans get Wemby enabling them to win rings.

Rebuild time

Edit: He can take Klutch sports with him too

[sonnyhill]

If there was ever a time for the Lakers to have gone into "full rebuild" mode, it was this past off-season.

Yet, there might be more going on with the ownership group and the front office than putting a winning roster onto the floor:
1. Jeanie's is more interested in having LeBron breaking the all time NBA scoring title while wearing a Laker uniform than she is in rebuilding the Lakers back to prominence;
2. Jeanie does not have the financial acumen nor resources to compete to win championships in today's NBA;
3. Jeanie may already have a "deal" in place for LeBron and Klutch to purchase the Lakers upon his retirement (why else would she re-sign LeBron and not commit the financial resources (paying more in luxury tax, hiring more accomplished assistant coaches and development staff, investing in acquiring land and building a Laker-owned arena, etc.?);

The sad irony of the current state of the Lakers is how the team could have been a perennial contender for championships if it had not done the trade for AD, hired Tyronn Lue to coach the team and developed its previously well-stocked cupboard of young talent.
The Pelicans are now in a position to further capitalize on the Lakers ineptitude by using this upcoming off-season's Laker draft pick to acquire another talented player.

[TylersLakers]

Has nothing to do with LeBron other than LeBron wanting Westbrook. It’s up to the GM and a smart organization to be like “no, I’m sorry. There’s better options out there and different areas we’d like to use our resources.”

We could’ve traded for an assortment of Utah players that would’ve included Bogdanovic, Clarkson and others but the Lakers didn’t want to take on long term salary cap money. Uhhh.. why not?

We’re only going to have $35M in space. Not enough for a max spot. So eliminate the big time players (Harden, Irving, Middleton, etc). So now we have the ability to add 2-3 role players with the $35M. We’d have more roleplayers with the Utah deal and we’d have an MLE to use ($11M) which we wouldn’t have if we went the cap space route. All we’d have left after the theoretical cap space is a room exception of $5M to use.

You can also re-sign players like Bogdanovic, Clarkson, Beasley to longer term deals at a good number when the cap will rise. See Detroit re-signing Bogdanovic today.

Instead, we’ve kept Westbrook and the picks. In the hope that a star will become available. Newsflash: they won’t and we’ll accept a Myles Turner/Hield deal 20-30 games into the season when we have an 11-20 record and we’ll be trying to integrate those players and lose games in the process. A process that could’ve started months ago.

If we want to be a good team, we need to start functioning as a smart basketball team in the front office. We’re not doing that. It’s disgusting.

[sonnyhill]

...If we want to be a good team, we need to start functioning as a smart basketball team in the front office. We’re not doing that. It’s disgusting.

100% correct!!!

[tamaraw08]

Some want to punt the season and actually want to piss off Lebron so he’ll feel so disgusted of wasting the season and demand a trade. Imagine Pelicans get Wemby enabling them to win rings.

Rebuild time

Edit: He can take Klutch sports with him too

OMG, you make it sound like rebuilding is an easy thing as if you can trade Lebron this season.
Even if you can,
1. how many teams would have the cap space to absorb Lebron and AD’s contract?
2. The teams that have cap space, what are the chances they want an aging and another one made of glass?
3. What is the realistic draft picks are you really going to get for them?
4. Do you really think future free agents would want to come here now after how they shipped people who helped them win a ring?

[SlimShady83]

Some want to punt the season and actually want to piss off Lebron so he’ll feel so disgusted of wasting the season and demand a trade. Imagine Pelicans get Wemby enabling them to win rings.

Rebuild time

Edit: He can take Klutch sports with him too

OMG, you make it sound like rebuilding is an easy thing as if you can trade Lebron this season.
Even if you can,

LOL

[tamaraw08]

Has nothing to do with LeBron other than LeBron wanting Westbrook. It’s up to the GM and a smart organization to be like “no, I’m sorry. There’s better options out there and different areas we’d like to use our resources.”

We could’ve traded for an assortment of Utah players that would’ve included Bogdanovic, Clarkson and others but the Lakers didn’t want to take on long term salary cap money. Uhhh.. why not?

We’re only going to have $35M in space. Not enough for a max spot. So eliminate the big time players (Harden, Irving, Middleton, etc). So now we have the ability to add 2-3 role players with the $35M. We’d have more roleplayers with the Utah deal and we’d have an MLE to use ($11M) which we wouldn’t have if we went the cap space route. All we’d have left after the theoretical cap space is a room exception of $5M to use.

You can also re-sign players like Bogdanovic, Clarkson, Beasley to longer term deals at a good number when the cap will rise. See Detroit re-signing Bogdanovic today.

Instead, we’ve kept Westbrook and the picks. In the hope that a star will become available. Newsflash: they won’t and we’ll accept a Myles Turner/Hield deal 20-30 games into the season when we have an 11-20 record and we’ll be trying to integrate those players and lose games in the process. A process that could’ve started months ago.

If we want to be a good team, we need to start functioning as a smart basketball team in the front office. We’re not doing that. It’s disgusting.

All good points although the Utah negotiations were a little murky. I'm guessing they are trying to force the Lakes to absorb the Conley contract which is not great IMO.
Yes they are very consumed in maximizing their cap flexibility next summer and like you said, It just doesn't make sense because it's not just enough to attract big time free agents... unless Rich Paul is twisting Rob's arm again to OVERPAY another Klutch client like Gary Trent Jr.

[tamaraw08]

...If we want to be a good team, we need to start functioning as a smart basketball team in the front office. We’re not doing that. It’s disgusting.

100% correct!!!

It's extremely difficult when the owner does not have deep pockets like the Clippers and Warriors owners, so they are very cautious about their spending. Then there's Lebron and Rich Paul screaming at Rob's ear to hire as many Klutch clients as possible.

[sonnyhill]

...If we want to be a good team, we need to start functioning as a smart basketball team in the front office. We’re not doing that. It’s disgusting.

100% correct!!!

It's extremely difficult when the owner does not have deep pockets like the Clippers and Warriors owners, so they are very cautious about their spending. Then there's Lebron and Rich Paul screaming at Rob's ear to hire as many Klutch clients as possible.

Actually, Joe Lacob, the majority owner of the Warriors, is one of the least wealthiest owners in the NBA (he just happens to be the most visionary, brazen and aggressive).

Balmer, yes, he is the wealthiest.

The challenge that the Lakers have is how Jeanie Buss is not forward thinking in her approach towards building franchise value and is stuck in a "1980s ownership model." The Buss family is ill-equipped to compete in both today's NBA as well as here in Los Angeles. Laker fans truly deserve better.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Perfect time to cut the cable cord and not feel guilty about not having Spectrum

[tamaraw08]

100% correct!!!

It's extremely difficult when the owner does not have deep pockets like the Clippers and Warriors owners, so they are very cautious about their spending. Then there's Lebron and Rich Paul screaming at Rob's ear to hire as many Klutch clients as possible.

Actually, Joe Lacob, the majority owner of the Warriors, is one of the least wealthiest owners in the NBA (he just happens to be the most visionary, brazen and aggressive).

Balmer, yes, he is the wealthiest.

The challenge that the Lakers have is how Jeanie Buss is not forward thinking in her approach towards building franchise value and is stuck in a "1980s ownership model." The Buss family is ill-equipped to compete in both today's NBA as well as here in Los Angeles. Laker fans truly deserve better.

Jeanie net worth of 500 mil relying mainly from the Lakers while Lacob at 1.5 billion.
Im guessing Jeanie also had to share profits with her siblings, Warriors has the biggest market with richer fans probably costlier luxury suites etc; it makes sense they don’t flinch paying the luxury tax which is substantially higher than the Lakers and Jeanie admittedly whined about it.
Jeannie had to share profits with

[Beethoven]

I dont care if we are labeled the worst team or the laughing stock or whatever by the general board, as long as we keep Russell coming off the bench and AD healthy .

[heezyo2o]

I don't think Russ is playing much different from last season, just doesn't get the blame from off the bench. 6 turnovers in 25 minutes last game. If he did that as a starter, wouldn't hear the end of it. He has been efficient shooting and aggressive going to the basket last couple games so hope he can keep that up.

[tamaraw08]

I don't think Russ is playing much different from last season, just doesn't get the blame from off the bench. 6 turnovers in 25 minutes last game. If he did that as a starter, wouldn't hear the end of it. He has been efficient shooting and aggressive going to the basket last couple games so hope he can keep that up.

Also, by the time he comes in, either opposing starters are on the bench or already spent energy from playing the first 8 minutes, hence less competition. He’s basically a 47 million dollar bench player who will play 24 minutes.

[snaquille oatmeal]

So who gets our first round pick this year?

[tamaraw08]

So who gets our first round pick this year?

Pelicans owns a pick swap so they get the Lakers pick next draft, then the Lakers get their pick.