Dennis Schroder is back

[tamaraw08]

Agree with this. He might’ve been our best defensive player that year. At the time I thought, I had no idea this guy’s defense was this good. Vogel said something similar. He was a big part of our outstanding defense that year.

I think Dennis is the back up plan in case Russ don’t play defense. I don’t think Bev can play more than 24 minutes per game at a high level.

Does anyone think Russ will play defense? Russ is one of the most stubborn players the league has ever seen. Russ will never change!

I think he will try, if he doesn’t, Lakers would just send him home ala John Wall and that will crush his pride and no team would sign him ever. The only reason Schroeder has a contract is that Ham is desperate for a guard who can play defense.

[tamaraw08]

I see how you’re trying to see this positively and work with it but I personally can’t and won’t watch 20 mpg of Schroeder’s bouncy-ball dribbling. First round exit. He’s weak sauce.

We need another solution.

Trade Westbrook to Utah now, so that we can bury Schroeder behind Conley, Beverly and Nunn on the very deep pine.

PG: Conley, Beverly, Nunn, Schroeder
SG: Reaves, Gay, Brown, Christie
SF: AD (playmaker), Bog, JTA, Walker
PF: LBJ, Swider, Bog, Gabriel
C: Jones, Huff, Bryant

If Utah is willing to do Conley, Bogdanovic, and Beasley for Westbrook, Gabriel, 2027 1st - with only 1 pick included and we HAVEN'T accepted the deal just because Conley has an extra year of "salary" I'll be even more amazed at the lack of IQ this front office has. I have no idea why this "cap space" plan is a thing. They don't even have close to a max slot.

Either Jeannie is bleeding for money or her devotion to win at all cost has taken a backseat over profits.
She whined about paying the luxury tax even though 3-4 other teams have spent more to put their teams in the best position to succeed. Rob could have kept both Caruso and THT esp after losing good defenders like KCP, Kuzma bec Jeannie forced him to choose to limit that tax bill expense. Im betting her coaching staff payroll is not in the top 12 in the league even though this team is top 4 in gate and TV revenue.

[zuju]

Sought of like this Schroder acquisition. With him joining the team again, the Lakers has the space to operate and resolve the Westbrook issue, either trading them without worrying the point guard position or sending him home.

A humbled Schroder is a very useful player as the third scoring option with a very very reasonable price.

Lakers now have too many small guards. A few of them will be fringe players. Reaves and Walker are relatively bigger and suit the SG position. Pat Bev may be put on court for some defensive anchor on the perimeter whenever there is a breakdown on the defensive end. Nunn's situation and condition is still uncertain. Westbrook may stay or maybe traded. Schroder is your starting PG or your sixth man depending on Westbrook. Christie is not ready yet.

So the line up now would be like this I guess

Westbrook (21) / Schroder (18) / Pat Bev (9)/ Nunn (?)
Walker (24) / Reaves (15) / Pat Bev (9)
LBJ (22) / Brown (16) / / TJA (10)
AD (32) / LBJ (6) / Wayne (10)
Bryant (24) / Jones (24)

Still barely able to match up with most team size-wise. After a Westbrook trade later in the season, I hope the team will have more size.

I also hope that somehow we can get a Johnathan Issac from any sort of deal anytime in this season.

[stan francisco]

This sickens me ... I'd rather someone from the G-league team to give them a chance than to have this clown on the team again.

I share this sentiment. Westbrook and Schroeder are my two least favorite guards in the league.

We need team-defensive players, not individual fools,

[stan francisco]

Unless Russ is gone or sent home - this makes no sense.

Marc Stein just had a tweet where he said the Lakers view Russ and Schroder as PG's, Walker and Beverley as SG's and Reaves as a SF. And that.. is hilarious.

And once again another season in which roster construction makes absolutely no sense.

That’s the signum mark of a team built by LeBron / Rich Paul. This is what I expected — idiocy.

[LAKESHOW]

I'll accept anything at this point. Just not Westbrook. Massive front office failure on this single move

[SlimShady83]

I'll accept anything at this point. Just not Westbrook. Massive front office failure on this single move

You do realize It wasn't just the front office who had the say in this... Most of Westbrook coming here is on Bron/AD IMO they had a huge say in this If not all of it - they asked Bron/Ad who they wanted - keep in mind at the time Lakers were close to getting Derozen at the time and they ended up with Russ - Media - Laker nation etc all said Jeanie ended up asking Bron/AD who they'de like and they ended up going with Russ - It is what it is though

Redemption year for Russ - Not that last year was all on Russ Fault - covid, thousand different line ups, injurys etc doesn't help any team, can't blame last year all on Russ - Not saying you are, but a lot of people are.

[stan francisco]

Does anyone think Russ will play defense? Russ is one of the most stubborn players the league has ever seen. Russ will never change!

To try the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result is the definition of insanity, said John Lennon.

Whomever expects Russ to suddenly become a good defender in his last few seasons, consult John Lennon.

There’s only one way. If he decides (it’s in his power to do so) to change his mindset on defense, he has all the tools physically to be a great wing defender. Defense is a mindset, not a physical gift. If you like the idea of playing D you’ll get good at it. If you only care about offense, you’ll suck at D (Russ). Not only is he an athletic freak, still to this day, but he’s a super competitive person. He needs to reinvent his approach and role in basketball going forward or he’s useless, in my view. No team ever won rings with only 4 defenders.