The Guards

[Skybox]

The sooner we start Black at PG, the sooner this team reaches its full potential. Yes there will be some growing pains along the way, but the point is he needs to get through those no matter what.

Start him day 1.

This would be ideal.

We both know this won’t happen though.

Would you trade Fultz for Reaves?

I'd offer Fultz and a first and they'd still say NO. Given their Westbrook experience, the last thing in the world they need is a lesser version, IMO.

I am warming up to the idea of lobbing a big offer for Reaves...maybe it becomes a SnT out of LAL's financial restraints?
Reaves signs for $18 x 4

ORL sends: Harris & Chuma? Harris & Cole (if I had to)? Isaac?

[IllMagic04]

Black is not starting day one. Thats just insanity. The 2nd half of last season the team was openly talking about making the play in. We didn't make it. So what do you think the goals are this season? You can't get there starting a rookie PG unless he is some outstanding can't miss prospect which Black is certainly not. We can't start this guy because he was the number 6 pick. He gotta come in and earn that right. Which he will not be able to do. Which is fine. He's a rookie. He will be the backup PG behind Fultz. Even if he balls out, if we are in playoff contention, we are still not moving Fultz at the deadline either. The morale for the team is not gonna be good if we stick him in the starting lineup when they all believe they got a chance to make the playoffs. Counting ping pong balls is over. Its time to win.

What drafting Black did do is remove any real shot of Suggs playing the PG. Suggs feels more like the odd man out then people realize. Everyone wants to move Cole. But even if we move him it doesn't solve the log jam problem. Suggs and Black cannot play together aside from late game need a defensive stop situation. Black is absolutely going to be the backup PG. So the only place he can play is in the starting role next to Fultz which also isn't a great scenario. If we move on from Fultz next year then Black is the starter.. and again they can't play next to each other. Unless Suggs shooting takes a drastic improvement, I don't see where he fits short term nor long term..

We drafted the #1 NCAA PG! Last time we did that was Penny Hardaway. What does Black's path to starting on day 1 look like?

1. Fultz is traded
2. Fultz is injured
3. Black outplays Fultz in training camp
4. Team strategy is focused on future value and decides to invest starters minutes in Black

But not the number 1 PG in the draft.

1. I highly doubt that's happening.
2. Very likely to happen.
3. Absolutely not going to happen
4. If we suck and have no realistic path to the play in then I could see it happening

[MartinsIzAfraud]

This would be ideal.

We both know this won’t happen though.

Would you trade Fultz for Reaves?

I'd offer Fultz and a first and they'd still say NO. Given their Westbrook experience, the last thing in the world they need is a lesser version, IMO.

I am warming up to the idea of lobbing a big offer for Reaves...maybe it becomes a SnT out of LAL's financial restraints?
Reaves signs for $18 x 4

ORL sends: Harris & Chuma? Harris & Cole (if I had to)? Isaac?

"While Lakers are limited in how much they can offer Reaves themselves because of the Arenas rule, they're allowed to match any offer sheet that he signs with another team."

Considering they let Caruso walk and that hurt them I fully guarantee they match any deal Reaves gets. If I'm the magic I'm not even offering Reaves anything because it's wasted, let some other team give him the 4/100M deal the lakers will match.

[IllMagic04]

This would be ideal.

We both know this won’t happen though.

Would you trade Fultz for Reaves?

I'd offer Fultz and a first and they'd still say NO. Given their Westbrook experience, the last thing in the world they need is a lesser version, IMO.

I am warming up to the idea of lobbing a big offer for Reaves...maybe it becomes a SnT out of LAL's financial restraints?
Reaves signs for $18 x 4

ORL sends: Harris & Chuma? Harris & Cole (if I had to)? Isaac?

Lakers ain't letting Reaves go unless some team severely overpays for him

[Skybox]

Would you trade Fultz for Reaves?

I'd offer Fultz and a first and they'd still say NO. Given their Westbrook experience, the last thing in the world they need is a lesser version, IMO.

I am warming up to the idea of lobbing a big offer for Reaves...maybe it becomes a SnT out of LAL's financial restraints?
Reaves signs for $18 x 4

ORL sends: Harris & Chuma? Harris & Cole (if I had to)? Isaac?

Lakers ain't letting Reaves go unless some team severely overpays for him

I really hope somebody tests them...worst scenario, they dig deeper into tax territory

[eyriq]

The more I listen back to old pod squad episodes the more I understand the emotional connection our talking heads have with Fultz. They really stood him up as our saviour in dark times, so the correlation of expectations with record when Fultz plays leads powerfully into perceived causation and they just can't help it

[Audi]

The more I listen back to old pod squad episodes the more I understand the emotional connection our taking heads have to Fultz. They really stood him up as our saviour in dark times, so the correlation of expectations with record when Fultz plays leads powerfully into causation and they just can't help it

Or, maybe there is a correlation between a PG and team performance and they are just being stereotypical homers?

[jonbob17]

I'd offer Fultz and a first and they'd still say NO. Given their Westbrook experience, the last thing in the world they need is a lesser version, IMO.

I am warming up to the idea of lobbing a big offer for Reaves...maybe it becomes a SnT out of LAL's financial restraints?
Reaves signs for $18 x 4

ORL sends: Harris & Chuma? Harris & Cole (if I had to)? Isaac?

Lakers ain't letting Reaves go unless some team severely overpays for him

I really hope somebody tests them...worst scenario, they dig deeper into tax territory

It wouldn't hurt them until year three of Reaves deal., that would be 2025-26. Lebron and AD aren't even under contract in those years. Lakers basically have a 2 year window with Lebron's, they are definitely matching any offer for Reaves because who cares if he is making $36M per year two years from now when Lebron isnt on the team.

Reaves would be making like 8-9M the next two years on the Lakers.

[eyriq]

The more I listen back to old pod squad episodes the more I understand the emotional connection our taking heads have to Fultz. They really stood him up as our saviour in dark times, so the correlation of expectations with record when Fultz plays leads powerfully into causation and they just can't help it

Or, maybe there is a correlation between a PG and team performance and they are just being stereotypical homers?

Edited my post. I think their expectations that he was the savior and the results that we had a winning record when he played fed powerfully into a perception that Fultz was causing the wins. Can't say I blame them but IT'S A TRAP

[Skybox]

Lakers ain't letting Reaves go unless some team severely overpays for him

I really hope somebody tests them...worst scenario, they dig deeper into tax territory

It wouldn't hurt them until year three of Reaves deal., that would be 2025-26. Lebron and AD aren't even under contract in those years. Lakers basically have a 2 year window with Lebron's, they are definitely matching any offer for Reaves because who cares if he is making $36M per year two years from now when Lebron isnt on the team.

Reaves would be making like 8-9M the next two years on the Lakers.

I understand the crazy structure, but I would imagine that everyone from Anthony Davis to Jeannie Buss would care...basically, everyone but LBJ - assuming he's not there. I think Reaves is pretty good, but $18/yr is pushing it, IMO, and (regardless of average) 2 years of $36+ would HURT.

[jonbob17]

I really hope somebody tests them...worst scenario, they dig deeper into tax territory

It wouldn't hurt them until year three of Reaves deal., that would be 2025-26. Lebron and AD aren't even under contract in those years. Lakers basically have a 2 year window with Lebron's, they are definitely matching any offer for Reaves because who cares if he is making $36M per year two years from now when Lebron isnt on the team.

Reaves would be making like 8-9M the next two years on the Lakers.

I understand the crazy structure, but I would imagine that everyone from Anthony Davis to Jeannie Buss would care...basically, everyone but LBJ - assuming he's not there. I think Reaves is pretty good, but $18/yr is pushing it, IMO, and (regardless of average) 2 years of $36+ would HURT.

2/72, would not be great if he's as good as he's going to get, but he also just went through 3 playoff series and averaged 17/4/5 and shot 44.3% on 5 3s a game. Also averaged 17/4/6 in March and 20/2/5 in April

2/$18M is an absolute steal for a guy who does exactly what the Lakers need.

[VFX]

So now that we have had some injuries happen…

What are people wanting to happen and what do people expect to happen?

[RichCollab]

So now that we have had some injuries happen…

What are people wanting to happen and what do people expect to happen?

Guard rotation returns given both Gary and Fultz are back.

Mosely will broaden the opportunities to get Black in the game now but still fill like he is 5th guard.

WCJ out? More minutes for Paolo and JI? Slide Goga into SL to keep second unit together.

Maybe we make a move for a backup center who can start finally???

[eyriq]

So now that we have had some injuries happen…

What are people wanting to happen and what do people expect to happen?

I expect Fultz to slide back into his spot and Black to get Harris mins.

I want Black to start, the magic to trade Fultz for a big, and Jett to slide into Harris mins.

[Skybox]

So now that we have had some injuries happen…

What are people wanting to happen and what do people expect to happen?

Want
POR trade that's been mulled (maybe ) now is more immediate...Fultz, Harris, Goga, DEN pick, ORL 24 (top 5) for:

bring back Simons (who's out for now) and Robert Williams, who shores up our C spot until WCJ gets back, then (along with Isaac & Moe) helps out the best defensive young frontcourt in the league. Simons heals up, then hits the ground running.

-trade can't happen until Dec 1, so try Paolo some at C, sometimes alongside Isaac, maybe with Black or Suggs in backcourt with Franz at times. Give Jett some run as, for now at least, catch and shoot kick out target. Get Black significant run with sensible pairings. Keep switching it up until we find some combos. Make it harder for opponents to scheme for our predictable lack of outside shooting now combined with lacking interior defense (without WCJ-who's not really a pure interior defender at C anyway and would be best utilized switching 4/5, depending on matchups etc.

Expect
do nothing. Applaud Moe's 15 pts while we lose games and watch opposing teams waltz to the rim. Get Fultz back. Get Harris back. Lose 4 of every 5 against good teams until WCJ gets back and then fight to go .500 with no real chance of more without addressing backcourt scoring. Basically, replicate our hapless beginning of last season rather than address concerns proactively.