Lakers fill main holes with Nets and Bulls

[oldncreaky]

They will try to tank to keep their pick.

not doing a very good job of it so far

Just waiting for them to trade their best player for a couple SRPs to stealth tank

Funny thing: Chicago often plays better without Lavine, although they could look shaky without Vooch

But the tanks wars are extremely competitive in the EC. WAS is WAS, TOR is injury-riddled, BRK has pivoted to tanking, and all of CHA, DET and (even possibly) PHI are teetering on the edge of "might as well tank". Heck, injuries could make IND or even MIA want to tank. If CHI pivots to a tank, they will be joining somewhere between 4 and 8 teams trying not to make the play-in by playing undrafted rookie FAs and 10-days.

If Chicago proceeds on the current trend, they'd be close to .500 at the TDL, and with 25+ wins in Feb I think that would be far too late to tank in the EC. They'd have to pivot to tanking Right Now! -- and even then, it's looking like at least one sub .500 team will "fail-upwards" into the EC playoffs.

The Lakers, OTOH, play in the WC and could easily pivot to a tank . . .

[Godaddycurse]

The Lakers, OTOH, play in the WC and could easily pivot to a tank . . .

They dont own their pick this year though

[zimpy27]

The Lakers, OTOH, play in the WC and could easily pivot to a tank . . .

They dont own their pick this year though

Yeah Lakers aren't tanking, they are going for contention.

I think the Lakers strategy is to get value at the deadline. Not expecting a trade until Jan or Feb.

[nzahir]

I like this deal, but I wonder if its enough for us to be a contender

I probably prefer RW3 to Sharpe, higher reward if it works out

If HOU moves for Butler, I think I may even want Brooks over DFS

Yeah I think maybe Lonzo+RW3 is the better outcome of Lakers don't go for Butler.

I'm souring a bit on Sharpe, Nets fans seem adamant that he won't be traded unless you overpay. Still it's really DFS+Sharpe vs Jevon+RW3, I do prefer DFS because of the Wing defender seems like an important need.

Would BKN take 2-3 2nds for DFS and an expiring basically?

DLo and 2-3 2nds

Can work around salary with fillers if needed

Then work with Portland and CHI on a 3 team deal where we send out a protected 29 1st, Vincent, Vando, and Rui for Lonzo, RW3, and Carter? The team that gets the 1st would take on the less desired salaries and send back a 2nd or two? We can add a 2nd if needed

Lonzo, Reaves, DFS, Bron, AD
Carter, Christie, Knecht, Wood/Cam, RW3

Still have JHS as an expiring to move. Maybe you can package JHS and Carter for something useful? Like a backup pg?

JHS, Carter, and a 26 or a somewhat protected 28 swap with SA for Cp3?

Ways to get creative with this

[zimpy27]

I like this deal, but I wonder if its enough for us to be a contender

I probably prefer RW3 to Sharpe, higher reward if it works out

If HOU moves for Butler, I think I may even want Brooks over DFS

Yeah I think maybe Lonzo+RW3 is the better outcome of Lakers don't go for Butler.

I'm souring a bit on Sharpe, Nets fans seem adamant that he won't be traded unless you overpay. Still it's really DFS+Sharpe vs Jevon+RW3, I do prefer DFS because of the Wing defender seems like an important need.

Would BKN take 2-3 2nds for DFS and an expiring basically?

DLo and 2-3 2nds

Can work around salary with fillers if needed

Then work with Portland and CHI on a 3 team deal where we send out a protected 29 1st, Vincent, Vando, and Rui for Lonzo, RW3, and Carter? The team that gets the 1st would take on the less desired salaries and send back a 2nd or two? We can add a 2nd if needed

Lonzo, Reaves, DFS, Bron, AD
Carter, Christie, Knecht, Wood/Cam, RW3

Still have JHS as an expiring to move. Maybe you can package JHS and Carter for something useful? Like a backup pg?

JHS, Carter, and a 26 or a somewhat protected 28 swap with SA for Cp3?

Ways to get creative with this

Well Bulls have a lottery protected FRP from Portland that likely doesn't convey but hamstrings Portlands manoeuvring a bit. That pick is Pro most valuable to Portland of all teams.

So the deal would be to give a better pick to Bulls and Bulls give back that to Portland. Both get something and Lakers get Lonzo and RW3. This works well I think.