If you were the Lakers, would you go for the star or the role players?

[zimpy27]

The regular season is about depth & the PO's, top end talent. The Lakers are a PI team the last 3yrs but have made a deep PO run losing to the eventual champs, Denver in the WCF's. IMO Lakers lack quality depth, which the regular season requires. I think James & Davis is enough top end talent if surrounded by the right supporting cast. Not factoring the cap management of 3 max contracts.

I think Lauri is over-rated AF. More than 90% of his made buckets are assisted, he's not a strong rebounder or defender. He's basically a catch & shoot 7 footer where teams value spacing which comes with a huge asking price, which would gut a contenders depth & future, especially one that's already lacking in depth & FRP's.

#2 Depth, would be my choice. As stated, I don't think top end talent is a Lakers issue. Cam may not be 7' but can be an elite catch & shoot player. DFS is a 2 way wing/forward. IMO improving the depth helps to ensure an ageing Lebron & injury prone Davis is not heavy usage during a long season just to squeak in & or get worn down if they make a deep PO run.

Your best player is dealing with a lot of mileage = depth >
Your 2nd best player is prone to getting banged up = depth >

I think so too..

LeBron, Davis, Reaves have performed well last 2 POs.
Rui had a good and bad PO.
Vando had a good one but was injured for the 2nd.

Adding 3 guys to Reaves, LeBron, Davis that are better and more reliable than existing players is the better option than adding 1 IMO.


Reaves, DFS, CamJ, LeBron, Davis -- Vando, Sharpe

That's a lot of size, which matters because West is big now. Maybe Lakers could bring in a free agent guard for their 8th guy in playoffs.

[Karmaloop]

Rebuild. But that's not an option until next offseason at the earliest. This is the LBJ retirement tour. Hopefully, Anthony Davis stays healthy and I'd seriously consider moving him in the offseason if/when LeBron retires.

[zimpy27]

Rebuild. But that's not an option until next offseason at the earliest. This is the LBJ retirement tour. Hopefully, Anthony Davis stays healthy and I'd seriously consider moving him in the offseason if/when LeBron retires.

No point rebuilding until 2027 offseason really

[AingesBurner]

Let's say they have 2 trades they can make:


Rui+JHS+LAL27FRP(unprotect existing top 4 protection)+LAL29FRP(unp)+LAL31FRP(unp)+2xswaps(unp in 28 and 30)
For
Lauri
DLo, Reaves, LeBron, Lauri, Davis -- Vincent, Christie, Knecht, Vando, Wood


OR

DLo+Rui+JHS+LAL29FRP(unp)
For
CamJ+DFS+Sharpe
Reaves, DFS, CamJ, LeBron, Davis -- Vincent, Christie, Knecht, Vando, Sharpe



If both were on offer, which would you choose?



This is really a question about giving up your future to improve the 3rd star or sticking to the path of improving multiple players in your playoff 8.

That’s not getting Lauri

[Whole Truth]

Let's say they have 2 trades they can make:


Rui+JHS+LAL27FRP(unprotect existing top 4 protection)+LAL29FRP(unp)+LAL31FRP(unp)+2xswaps(unp in 28 and 30)
For
Lauri
DLo, Reaves, LeBron, Lauri, Davis -- Vincent, Christie, Knecht, Vando, Wood


OR

DLo+Rui+JHS+LAL29FRP(unp)
For
CamJ+DFS+Sharpe
Reaves, DFS, CamJ, LeBron, Davis -- Vincent, Christie, Knecht, Vando, Sharpe



If both were on offer, which would you choose?



This is really a question about giving up your future to improve the 3rd star or sticking to the path of improving multiple players in your playoff 8.

That’s not getting Lauri

Your post is the most helpful to this discussion.

[zimpy27]

In this scenario the star bc it concurrently helps their depth by replacing all of Rui's minutes with a better player + some minutes currently allocated elsewhere. We can debate what Utaj should/could actually accept, obviously we can't know unless something happens and/or we know what other teams offered. So, ignoring whether the value is right, in terms of on-cpirt impact I think it's a better deal. It's more interesting if the player returned has a larger salary because then you introduce depth issues (e.g., Ingram, LaVine, to a lesser extent, Grant).

That's true. Maybe Ingram is the better question. Though I prefer Lauri as a fit over any of those others.

If OP was the best offer for Lauri at deadline, would you take it?

[Whole Truth]

In this scenario the star bc it concurrently helps their depth by replacing all of Rui's minutes with a better player + some minutes currently allocated elsewhere. We can debate what Utaj should/could actually accept, obviously we can't know unless something happens and/or we know what other teams offered. So, ignoring whether the value is right, in terms of on-cpirt impact I think it's a better deal. It's more interesting if the player returned has a larger salary because then you introduce depth issues (e.g., Ingram, LaVine, to a lesser extent, Grant).

That's true. Maybe Ingram is the better question. Though I prefer Lauri as a fit over any of those others.

If OP was the best offer for Lauri at deadline, would you take it?

You watching fit in how well Lauri would play off of Lebron's gravity. More than 90% of Lauri's made buckets are assisted in Utah, he's not creating for himself. He's a product of system & coach in a non pressure environment.

If you watching fit in getting a star to help carry load, that's not Lauri. He will require Lebron's gravity to be effective, where Ideally you'd want the trade price of a 3rd star to have the capacity to carry a team in Lebron's absence.

A 3rd star to give rested minutes, possibly effective rest days..

[AingesBurner]

In this scenario the star bc it concurrently helps their depth by replacing all of Rui's minutes with a better player + some minutes currently allocated elsewhere. We can debate what Utaj should/could actually accept, obviously we can't know unless something happens and/or we know what other teams offered. So, ignoring whether the value is right, in terms of on-cpirt impact I think it's a better deal. It's more interesting if the player returned has a larger salary because then you introduce depth issues (e.g., Ingram, LaVine, to a lesser extent, Grant).

That's true. Maybe Ingram is the better question. Though I prefer Lauri as a fit over any of those others.

If OP was the best offer for Lauri at deadline, would you take it?

No

[babyjax13]

In this scenario the star bc it concurrently helps their depth by replacing all of Rui's minutes with a better player + some minutes currently allocated elsewhere. We can debate what Utaj should/could actually accept, obviously we can't know unless something happens and/or we know what other teams offered. So, ignoring whether the value is right, in terms of on-cpirt impact I think it's a better deal. It's more interesting if the player returned has a larger salary because then you introduce depth issues (e.g., Ingram, LaVine, to a lesser extent, Grant).

That's true. Maybe Ingram is the better question. Though I prefer Lauri as a fit over any of those others.

If OP was the best offer for Lauri at deadline, would you take it?

No, I would not.

[schaffy]

You watching fit in how well Lauri would play off of Lebron's gravity. More than 90% of Lauri's made buckets are assisted in Utah, he's not creating for himself. He's a product of system & coach in a non pressure environment.

You keep bringing up that 90% number but it's actually not true. Maybe you're just confusing the numbers? Its over 90% of his 3P are assisted. But his overall was 84% last year, and that was the high water mark for him; year before it was 75%.

Yes -- his coach has done a good job of putting him in positions to capitalize on his strengths. I would imagine if he got traded his new coach would look to do the same.

[Whole Truth]

You watching fit in how well Lauri would play off of Lebron's gravity. More than 90% of Lauri's made buckets are assisted in Utah, he's not creating for himself. He's a product of system & coach in a non pressure environment.

You keep bringing up that 90% number but it's actually not true. Maybe you're just confusing the numbers? Its over 90% of his 3P are assisted. But his overall was 84% last year, and that was the high water mark for him; year before it was 75%.

Yes -- his coach has done a good job of putting him in positions to capitalize on his strengths. I would imagine if he got traded his new coach would look to do the same.

I got the numbers off a NO's board. Looks like I took the post wrong & it was specifically about his 3pt shooting. Thanks for the correction.

I'd put money down the team that trades for Lauri would be like driving a new car off the lot.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

I like Lauri as a player but trading two picks and swaps to regulate to a spot up shooter is a misuse of assets.

The ideal path would be turning Gabe and rui money into 2/3 rotations players with a pick imo.

[meatwad4343]

I wouldn't mortgage the entire future again to bring in someone that's not going to move the needle on title contention. There's not any moves they can make really to win a title this year. 40 year old LeBron isn't that guy anymore. They should just wait out his retirement/father son party until he steps away and then do a proper rebuild.