Are the lakers underrated?

[Ryoga Hibiki]

I think something is not adding up, there's a very good chance the lakers will contend for the #1 spot.
Probably it's because of the LeBron drama, but if Luka is '24 Luka (and that's in SGA's tier, maybe even Jokic's) I don't see why they shouldn't be near the top.
Well, I understand the question marks, but I think they are not big limitations if Luka is Luka again.
Maybe not enough to win the West (the lack of wing defense is probably my biggest concern), unless something else goes right, but I would put the floor into mid 50s win.
Assuming Luka is back, of course.

Ayton
Rui
LeBron
Reaves
Smart
Vanderbilt
Vincent
LaRavia
Knecht

[Maxthirty]

The Lakers are never fully appreciated, that’s for sure.

[junot111]

I feel like lebron is somehow underrated. 24/8/8 on 60%ts, can still defend when needed and has played 70+ regular season games the past two seasons. He's still a top 15-20 player but some people act like he's washed and needs to retire

[Dominator83]

Haters are gonna hate. I'm not even a Laker fan and i acknowledge they're a dangerous team that is capable of beating anybody in a 7 game series

[Message Boar]

The Lakers are never fully appreciated, that’s for sure.

Lol, I don't even...



(would 100% assume this post was /s if it didn't have a Lakers logo next to it.)

They do have a good roster, though. but so do a bunch of other teams. Good luck putting them at a 55-win 'floor' in the west.

[doogie_hauser]

Lakers fans are so insecure it's hilarious.

This current roster is not capable of winning more than 50 or so regular season games and a second round exit at best (based on what we have seen in the past couple of years)


Add in the fact LeBron is likely to exit the team before the All Sta Break via trade and their only off season additions were Ayton and a cooked Marcus Smart and the Lakers are rightfully regarded as they should be - Pretenders.

[1993Playoffs]

No. They lost in the first round. And are depending on a guy in year 23 to be a major contributor.

[Mavrelous]

You're overrating them if you have their floor at mid 50s, Luka never reached that mark, and he didn't for the same reason he won't this year, he never had full season of a roster qualified to do it.
This team needs Ayton to 70 games, 32 MPG, 16/12 with being willing to screen and be physical, that's not a place any team wants to be.
LeBron had the biggest decline in performance last year, and I expect the decline to continue.
They lost their only small ball center in DFS, which makes them over reliant on Ayton.
They didn't address perimeter defense and athleticism deficiencies.

[Optms]

You're overrating them if you have their floor at mid 50s, Luka never reached that mark, and he didn't for the same reason he won't this year, he never had full season of a roster qualified to do it.
This team needs Ayton to 70 games, 32 MPG, 16/12 with being willing to screen and be physical, that's not a place any team wants to be.
LeBron had the biggest decline in performance last year, and I expect the decline to continue.
They lost their only small ball center in DFS, which makes them over reliant on Ayton.
They didn't address perimeter defense and athleticism deficiencies.

DFS may have been way more valuable 4 years ago. Not today with the wave of actual centers who outrebounded the Lakers badly in round 1. DFS didn't help that one iota. And definitely not for the price he would have cost.

They addressed the center position and the bench is better than last year. Smart is an elite guard defender when healthy. The team realistically is a 50+ win team barring no injuries.

[Mavrelous]

You're overrating them if you have their floor at mid 50s, Luka never reached that mark, and he didn't for the same reason he won't this year, he never had full season of a roster qualified to do it.
This team needs Ayton to 70 games, 32 MPG, 16/12 with being willing to screen and be physical, that's not a place any team wants to be.
LeBron had the biggest decline in performance last year, and I expect the decline to continue.
They lost their only small ball center in DFS, which makes them over reliant on Ayton.
They didn't address perimeter defense and athleticism deficiencies.

DFS may have been way more valuable 4 years ago. Not today with the wave of actual centers who outrebounded the Lakers badly in round 1. DFS didn't help that one iota. And definitely not for the price he would have cost.

They addressed the center position and the bench is better than last year. Smart is an elite guard defender when healthy. The team realistically is a 50+ win team barring no injuries.

DFS had +14 on/off in RS and +8.7 in the PO, he was the only big with a semblance of defense on LAL roster, he also has experience playing with Luka on defense to calculate the right amount of help, he also was a very good floor spacer who knew his spots with Luka.
Speaking of underrating, Lakers were underrated last year, they got the worst matchup possible for them in the 1st round.
I would've given up on DFS for a rim protecting/rim running big like Lively, or versatile big wing like PJ, both Luka had bigger success playing with, but LAL didn't get anything close to that.

[Bob8]

You're overrating them if you have their floor at mid 50s, Luka never reached that mark, and he didn't for the same reason he won't this year, he never had full season of a roster qualified to do it.
This team needs Ayton to 70 games, 32 MPG, 16/12 with being willing to screen and be physical, that's not a place any team wants to be.
LeBron had the biggest decline in performance last year, and I expect the decline to continue.
They lost their only small ball center in DFS, which makes them over reliant on Ayton.
They didn't address perimeter defense and athleticism deficiencies.

DFS may have been way more valuable 4 years ago. Not today with the wave of actual centers who outrebounded the Lakers badly in round 1. DFS didn't help that one iota. And definitely not for the price he would have cost.

They addressed the center position and the bench is better than last year. Smart is an elite guard defender when healthy. The team realistically is a 50+ win team barring no injuries.

DFS had +14 on/off in RS and +8.7 in the PO, he was the only big with a semblance of defense on LAL roster, he also has experience playing with Luka on defense to calculate the right amount of help, he also was a very good floor spacer who knew his spots with Luka.
Speaking of underrating, Lakers were underrated last year, they got the worst matchup possible for them in the 1st round.
I would've given up on DFS for a rim protecting/rim running big like Lively, or versatile big wing like PJ, both Luka had bigger success playing with, but LAL didn't get anything close to that.

Are you telling us that LaRavia + Smart + Ayton are worse than DFS, especially knowing that Lakers had to play small ball most of the time against Wolves, because Hayes was unplayable?

And yes, if you play small ball nonstop players like DFS are crucial, hopefully that will change with Ayton. Btw. Ayton's defensive rtg in Suns was pretty good, I doubt that playing for Portland shows true picture.

[Mavrelous]

Are you telling us that LaRavia + Smart + Ayton are worse than DFS, especially knowing that Lakers had to play small ball most of the time against Wolves, because Hayes was unplayable?

And yes, if you play small ball nonstop players like DFS are crucial, hopefully that will change with Ayton.

Laravia is JAG, Smart and Ayton haven't been impactful since 2022, both had their teams give up on them.
I understand the case for optimism, but it's just that, optimism, according to last year performance I would have kept DFS and added a center with the TPMLE, I wouldn't have gone this path.

[Bob8]

Are you telling us that LaRavia + Smart + Ayton are worse than DFS, especially knowing that Lakers had to play small ball most of the time against Wolves, because Hayes was unplayable?

And yes, if you play small ball nonstop players like DFS are crucial, hopefully that will change with Ayton.

Laravia is JAG, Smart and Ayton haven't been impactful since 2022, both had their teams give up on them.
I understand the case for optimism, but it's just that, optimism, according to last year performance I would have kept DFS and added a center with the TPMLE, I wouldn't have gone this path.

And how would you do that, if you have already paid DFS?

Ayton is in prime and in contract year, Smart was playing for tanking teams. Lakers could be pretty good if Ayton plays like he can and Smart like 31 years old player should. It's a gamble, but pretty reasonable considering price they paid. LaRavia is 23 and pretty cheap too in comparison to 32 years old DFS.

[Mavrelous]

Are you telling us that LaRavia + Smart + Ayton are worse than DFS, especially knowing that Lakers had to play small ball most of the time against Wolves, because Hayes was unplayable?

And yes, if you play small ball nonstop players like DFS are crucial, hopefully that will change with Ayton.

Laravia is JAG, Smart and Ayton haven't been impactful since 2022, both had their teams give up on them.
I understand the case for optimism, but it's just that, optimism, according to last year performance I would have kept DFS and added a center with the TPMLE, I wouldn't have gone this path.

And how would you do that, if you have already paid DFS?

It's not really complicated, it's not like DFS got paid the max, he went sub MLE with 2 years guaranteed, Lakers had options, they chose this one.

[druggas]

Lakers fans are so insecure it's hilarious.

This current roster is not capable of winning more than 50 or so regular season games and a second round exit at best (based on what we have seen in the past couple of years)


Add in the fact LeBron is likely to exit the team before the All Sta Break via trade and their only off season additions were Ayton and a cooked Marcus Smart and the Lakers are rightfully regarded as they should be - Pretenders.

We still get it. You hate the Lakers and their fans.

[Bob8]

Laravia is JAG, Smart and Ayton haven't been impactful since 2022, both had their teams give up on them.
I understand the case for optimism, but it's just that, optimism, according to last year performance I would have kept DFS and added a center with the TPMLE, I wouldn't have gone this path.

And how would you do that, if you have already paid DFS?

It's not really complicated, it's not like DFS got paid the max, he went sub MLE with 2 years guaranteed, Lakers had options, they chose this one.

I didn't read well, you're talking about 5.6 mio exception, who would they get for that?

If I'm not mistaken DFS has 4 year contract with player option last year.

[Mavrelous]

And how would you do that, if you have already paid DFS?

It's not really complicated, it's not like DFS got paid the max, he went sub MLE with 2 years guaranteed, Lakers had options, they chose this one.

I didn't read well, you're talking about 5.6 mio exception, who would they get for that?

If I'm not mistaken DFS has 4 year contract with player option last year.

No, his last 2 years are unguaranteed, team control, not player control.
Yes, they either would have the small MLE, and try to convince Ayton to take it, or get another center, they also could have dumped players.
There are avenues if you're willing to get creative, it seems this was their plan, they didn't try to explore other options, or they didn't like the other options.
We'll see how this goes, there is a world where you're getting 21 Ayton, 90% of 22 Smart, Laravia is actually 20MPG guy with passable defense, and this is a 55 wins team, but this is on the highly optimistic side of outcome, their median outcome is they are below average defense, top 5 offense, around 45 wins team.

[Bob8]

It's not really complicated, it's not like DFS got paid the max, he went sub MLE with 2 years guaranteed, Lakers had options, they chose this one.

I didn't read well, you're talking about 5.6 mio exception, who would they get for that?

If I'm not mistaken DFS has 4 year contract with player option last year.

No, his last 2 years are unguaranteed, team control, not player control.
Yes, they either would have the small MLE, and try to convince Ayton to take it, or get another center, they also could have dumped players.
There are avenues if you're willing to get creative, it seems this was their plan, they didn't try to explore other options, or they didn't like the other options.
We'll see how this goes, there is a world where you're getting 21 Ayton, 90% of 22 Smart, Laravia is actually 20MPG guy with passable defense, and this is a 55 wins team, but this is on the highly optimistic side of outcome, their median outcome is they are below average defense, top 5 offense, around 45 wins team.

Team you have described would be legit title contender.

And how much wins would they have gotten in your opinion with DFS and without Ayton + Laravia? We already know that Hayes can't be their first C and there's nobody much better for 5.6 mio.

People are forgetting that teams are not willing to pay Ayton 33 mio and Smart 22 mio, but with discount Lakers got them, their are pretty good additions. I would rather have Ayton for 8 than AD for 54 mio. Lakers' main problem is LeBron and his 52 mio. Those great DFS's on/off stats is a reflection of LeBron's disastrous ones.

[Big_Aristotle]

Let's wait until the trade deadline in February to assess their chances. But if they remain healthy, they will be in the playoff spots.

[zimpy27]

Are you telling us that LaRavia + Smart + Ayton are worse than DFS, especially knowing that Lakers had to play small ball most of the time against Wolves, because Hayes was unplayable?

And yes, if you play small ball nonstop players like DFS are crucial, hopefully that will change with Ayton.

Laravia is JAG, Smart and Ayton haven't been impactful since 2022, both had their teams give up on them.
I understand the case for optimism, but it's just that, optimism, according to last year performance I would have kept DFS and added a center with the TPMLE, I wouldn't have gone this path.

Yeah I don't think Lakers got much better than last season. But I also thought Lakers would have been favoured to beat any team outside of the Wolves.