Lakers first 10 games predictions

[danfantastk32]

How exactly are you going to spin it and make Lebron and AD agree to an amicable separation?
Lebron pretty much left his hometown and transplanted his family here where the weather is the best in the country, his businesses are based here, the Lakers is a historic franchise and you expect him to say, well, I am 40 years old, I guess it's time to move on and play.... where exactly?
Same with Davis who demanded the Pelicans to trade him specifically here and not anywhere else including Boston.

Spin it? Come on now.....

It's simple! 2 years ago, we got swept! "Time to change things up". Last year we managed to eek out a game, but it was a 5-game dismantle.....and what was it??? 13 losses in 14 games against the Nuggets? Ok....so there's no need to "spin" things here...we're not getting it done.

I just said (just said) in my last post that I understand we prob wouldn't get much for Lebron. I mentioned his no-trade clause. So yeah...we may have to keep Lebron. Totally said all of that. I'd hope that once we traded away AD for picks, Lebron would weigh his options, and decide to try and get to GS to play with Curry, and get 1 more. Would be a 45 min flight home....very doable. But if not....oh well. We got him 1 more year after this (I wouldn't have done the extension, of course...but spilt milk now) and then we move on.

As for AD....we've paid him prob more than a quarter billion dollars (let that really sink in, before we shed any waterworks) he's delivered a title...everyone walks away happy. Rebuilds, and trades are all part of the business, He forced his way off a team that did no wrong to him....part of the business right?? So now shoes on other foot. We're not dogging him.....this team got swept! Time for changes. We incorrectly ran it back another year, and bounced off the same wall again. Time for changes.

I understand the rebuild part and it's inevitable. I'm aware that It's going to be a very lengthy one. And like I said, I only give up those FRP's for the right guys.

What "right guys" and more importantly...WHEN? If we get bounced hard by the Nuggets again..or OKC, then what? I mean at what point is the chicken cooked here? And key to all of this: At what point does AD's value start to wane? The Lakers are gonna need to trade AD at a point where it still kinda hurts to do it, if you wanna get 3-4 picks for him. There will need to be some real tread left on the tires. You can't just toss out "what used to be AD" and expect to get squat for him.

The Lakers were actually (especially 2 years ago) sitting on a fairly decent hand here. If we'd moved them 2 offseasons ago, I think our rebuild woulda been over by 2026-27 season. I don't mean contender...but we'd be lookin good, and ASCENDING. And we would still have picks...which we could trade for a new star! (Who'd be much more interested in joining a new ascending squad). OKC started to see dividends on their rebuild about 2 seasons ago. Last season they went a couple rounds into the playoffs. And remember...they got Chris Paul...who refused to get with the program, and carried them to the playoffs year 1 of their rebuild.

Don't look now...but Houston is starting to grow into themselves. You get a nice stock of picks, and these things don't have to be that painful. We're doing it all wrong. I just worry we waited too long now.

[tamaraw08]

How exactly are you going to spin it and make Lebron and AD agree to an amicable separation?
Lebron pretty much left his hometown and transplanted his family here where the weather is the best in the country, his businesses are based here, the Lakers is a historic franchise and you expect him to say, well, I am 40 years old, I guess it's time to move on and play.... where exactly?
Same with Davis who demanded the Pelicans to trade him specifically here and not anywhere else including Boston.

Spin it? Come on now.....

It's simple! 2 years ago, we got swept! "Time to change things up". Last year we managed to eek out a game, but it was a 5-game dismantle.....and what was it??? 13 losses in 14 games against the Nuggets? Ok....so there's no need to "spin" things here...we're not getting it done.

I just said (just said) in my last post that I understand we prob wouldn't get much for Lebron. I mentioned his no-trade clause. So yeah...we may have to keep Lebron. Totally said all of that. I'd hope that once we traded away AD for picks, Lebron would weigh his options, and decide to try and get to GS to play with Curry, and get 1 more. Would be a 45 min flight home....very doable. But if not....oh well. We got him 1 more year after this (I wouldn't have done the extension, of course...but spilt milk now) and then we move on.

As for AD....we've paid him prob more than a quarter billion dollars (let that really sink in, before we shed any waterworks) he's delivered a title...everyone walks away happy. Rebuilds, and trades are all part of the business, He forced his way off a team that did no wrong to him....part of the business right?? So now shoes on other foot. We're not dogging him.....this team got swept! Time for changes. We incorrectly ran it back another year, and bounced off the same wall again. Time for changes.

When I said "spin it", I meant spin it in a way the Lakers would not be the bad guys for trading them. AD"s dad was very upset with Boston when they traded IT and said his son would never play for the Celtics for how they treated Thomas.
Lebron chose to come here, aside from great weather and business, was because he saw how the Buss family treated Kobe.
Lakers could have waived Vlad Radmanovic for violating rules about doing activities that risk injuries but they didn't because of probable blow back from future free agents.
If Davis was getting fat and was purposely delaying surgeries and publicly yelling at owners, then yes, future free agents would consider proper context but if they just trade a guy against his wishes, then it's another story.
And I don't like that he got "paid" reasoning. The guy is no Zion or Ben Simmons or any player missing 40 + games every season.
Last season, he only missed 6 games, currently averaging 31pts, 11 rebs at 35 mins/game and you're going to tell him to pack his bags and relocate his family and go play somewhere else?
If he wants to leave on his own and it's not the Lakers doing something to upset him , and the team can get multiple lottery FRP's, then yes of course by all means trade him.

[danfantastk32]

When I said "spin it", I meant spin it in a way the Lakers would not be the bad guys for trading them. AD"s dad was very upset with Boston when they traded IT and said his son would never play for the Celtics for how they treated Thomas.
Lebron chose to come here, aside from great weather and business, was because he saw how the Buss family treated Kobe.
Lakers could have waived Vlad Radmanovic for violating rules about doing activities that risk injuries but they didn't because of probable blow back from future free agents.
If Davis was getting fat and was purposely delaying surgeries and publicly yelling at owners, then yes, future free agents would consider proper context but if they just trade a guy against his wishes, then it's another story.
And I don't like that he got "paid" reasoning. The guy is no Zion or Ben Simmons or any player missing 40 + games every season.
Last season, he only missed 6 games, currently averaging 31pts, 11 rebs at 35 mins/game and you're going to tell him to pack his bags and relocate his family and go play somewhere else?
If he wants to leave on his own and it's not the Lakers doing something to upset him , and the team can get multiple lottery FRP's, then yes of course by all means trade him.

Well the context of the "he got paid" reasoning is we didn't ask him to take a haircut, and then we just dumped him. He wanted the max...we gave the max. If he got moved, there would be no case made for "being wronged". And what Boston did to IT is light years from simply trading a player. Especially in the context of a rebuild.

And no....Lebron didn't come here cause of how we treated Kobe.....totally oversold. Kawhi didn't come....Paul George didn't come. When Lebron himself dangled taking a paycut this very offseason, nobody showed up. And let's not pretend like we didn't treat Pau pretty poorly. Pau took a paycut to leave, he felt so slighted. <--------- this whole reasoning is vastly, vastly oversold. Boston's had no problems signing guys. The Clippers totally broke up lob-city, and shipped the big doofus off to Siberia...I mean Detroit. Kawhi and PG didn't bat an eye snubbing us.....USED us (and our ever-holy treatment of Kobe) to get to the Clippers.

In fact, I'd argue that keeping Kobe like we did, and signing him to that 3-year max when he was clearly done did nothing but hurt the Lakers. Made us look stupid. Nobody wanted to join us. Made our rebuild take forever. If you don't want a long - drawn out rebuild, then don't do what the Lakers did last time.

[tamaraw08]

When I said "spin it", I meant spin it in a way the Lakers would not be the bad guys for trading them. AD"s dad was very upset with Boston when they traded IT and said his son would never play for the Celtics for how they treated Thomas.
Lebron chose to come here, aside from great weather and business, was because he saw how the Buss family treated Kobe.
Lakers could have waived Vlad Radmanovic for violating rules about doing activities that risk injuries but they didn't because of probable blow back from future free agents.
If Davis was getting fat and was purposely delaying surgeries and publicly yelling at owners, then yes, future free agents would consider proper context but if they just trade a guy against his wishes, then it's another story.
And I don't like that he got "paid" reasoning. The guy is no Zion or Ben Simmons or any player missing 40 + games every season.
Last season, he only missed 6 games, currently averaging 31pts, 11 rebs at 35 mins/game and you're going to tell him to pack his bags and relocate his family and go play somewhere else?
If he wants to leave on his own and it's not the Lakers doing something to upset him , and the team can get multiple lottery FRP's, then yes of course by all means trade him.

Well the context of the "he got paid" reasoning is we didn't ask him to take a haircut, and then we just dumped him. He wanted the max...we gave the max. If he got moved, there would be no case made for "being wronged". And what Boston did to IT is light years from simply trading a player. Especially in the context of a rebuild.

And no....Lebron didn't come here cause of how we treated Kobe.....totally oversold. Kawhi didn't come....Paul George didn't come. When Lebron himself dangled taking a paycut this very offseason, nobody showed up. And let's not pretend like we didn't treat Pau pretty poorly. Pau took a paycut to leave, he felt so slighted. <--------- this whole reasoning is vastly, vastly oversold. Boston's had no problems signing guys. The Clippers totally broke up lob-city, and shipped the big doofus off to Siberia...I mean Detroit. Kawhi and PG didn't bat an eye snubbing us.....USED us (and our ever-holy treatment of Kobe) to get to the Clippers.

In fact, I'd argue that keeping Kobe like we did, and signing him to that 3-year max when he was clearly done did nothing but hurt the Lakers. Made us look stupid. Nobody wanted to join us. Made our rebuild take forever. If you don't want a long - drawn out rebuild, then don't do what the Lakers did last time.

https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-organizations-treatment-of-kobe-bryant-was-factor-in-lebron-james-signing/

Fast forward a few years and James is set to enter his seventh season with the Lakers after signing a new deal in the offseason. Even though they haven’t won it all since 2020, LeBron has stuck through it all and now will have the chance to likely finish his career in the purple and gold alongside his son Bronny.

As it turns out, there were indeed reasons beyond basketball for James to come to the Lakers. In fact, the organization’s treatment of Kobe Bryant, another inner circle Hall of Famer and franchise legend, in the final years of his career played a big factor for LeBron, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN

:

[danfantastk32]

https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-organizations-treatment-of-kobe-bryant-was-factor-in-lebron-james-signing/

Fast forward a few years and James is set to enter his seventh season with the Lakers after signing a new deal in the offseason. Even though they haven’t won it all since 2020, LeBron has stuck through it all and now will have the chance to likely finish his career in the purple and gold alongside his son Bronny.

As it turns out, there were indeed reasons beyond basketball for James to come to the Lakers. In fact, the organization’s treatment of Kobe Bryant, another inner circle Hall of Famer and franchise legend, in the final years of his career played a big factor for LeBron, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN

:

So we'll start with the heading of the page "Laker rumors"

If true (which I don't believe)....then great....Lebron knew he'd get paid past his expiration. How's that a benefit?

But either way....we're drifting off into the weeds. I don't think that our treatment of Kobe has done anything for us...except maybe this little "yet another reason"....but if I'm totally wrong about that, then fine. Whatever. The Duo of Lebron and AD are on the downhill, and the importance of getting the max return for them is what we're talking about.

If you think we can get something to take us over the top...then I ask who...when...and at what price. Cause while I understand there's gonna be pain in moving AD, he's also near/at the end of his prime. Building around him in 2-3 years when Lebron leaves is not an option. And waiting till then will get us nothing for him. So you gotta ask yourself: Does this team have it to win a title either this year or next? If no.....then what can we REALISTICALLY do to put us there? If nothing realistic, then what are we doing?

And even if our treatment of Kobe did actually affect Lebron (something I totally don't believe...other than it maybe made the decision feel more comfortable) it still doesn't change the fact that the NBA trades players, and has player demand moves year in and year out. Moving AD (even if he's a bit miffed about it), in an effort to start the rebuild will be a giant nothing-burger in 5 years. Just ask the Celtics, who not only really did IT wrong...but also moved Pierce and Garnett at the end.

[tamaraw08]

https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-organizations-treatment-of-kobe-bryant-was-factor-in-lebron-james-signing/

Fast forward a few years and James is set to enter his seventh season with the Lakers after signing a new deal in the offseason. Even though they haven’t won it all since 2020, LeBron has stuck through it all and now will have the chance to likely finish his career in the purple and gold alongside his son Bronny.

As it turns out, there were indeed reasons beyond basketball for James to come to the Lakers. In fact, the organization’s treatment of Kobe Bryant, another inner circle Hall of Famer and franchise legend, in the final years of his career played a big factor for LeBron, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN

:

So we'll start with the heading of the page "Laker rumors"

If true (which I don't believe)....then great....Lebron knew he'd get paid past his expiration. How's that a benefit?

But either way....we're drifting off into the weeds. I don't think that our treatment of Kobe has done anything for us...except maybe this little "yet another reason"....but if I'm totally wrong about that, then fine. Whatever. The Duo of Lebron and AD are on the downhill, and the importance of getting the max return for them is what we're talking about.

If you think we can get something to take us over the top...then I ask who...when...and at what price. Cause while I understand there's gonna be pain in moving AD, he's also near/at the end of his prime. Building around him in 2-3 years when Lebron leaves is not an option. And waiting till then will get us nothing for him. So you gotta ask yourself: Does this team have it to win a title either this year or next? If no.....then what can we REALISTICALLY do to put us there? If nothing realistic, then what are we doing?

And even if our treatment of Kobe did actually affect Lebron (something I totally don't believe...other than it maybe made the decision feel more comfortable) it still doesn't change the fact that the NBA trades players, and has player demand moves year in and year out. Moving AD (even if he's a bit miffed about it), in an effort to start the rebuild will be a giant nothing-burger in 5 years. Just ask the Celtics, who not only really did IT wrong...but also moved Pierce and Garnett at the end.

First of all, I want to commend you for being calm and collected, for not hurling any offensive insults towards me because this discussions can be frustrating and heated.
Yes, it is true Lebron is about to be 40 but it's not like he is in steep decline. His EFG% is actually his highest since 2017, his assists/game is his 2nd best in 22 seasons.
AD is 31 and not 37 like KG (who was traded at 37, under 15pts) and is currently ave 31pts, 11 rebs/game. His pt/game and FTA/game are his highest in his 13 year career.
Yes it is true they got beat by Denver in the lasts playoffs, 4 losses by an ave of 5.5 pts/game, 2 losses by 2 pts with the Lakers leading for at least 65% of the time.
AD was very frustrated with Ham for their lack of effective sets in the crucial 4th quarters that he said "I don't know what the hell we were doing" during post game talk.
Now Ham is gone and I don't know if you are noticing their late game executions where there's very minimal free lancing and standing around, I can't remember Lebron doing that 10 second iso perimeter ball where he just takes a 27 footer after dribbling 6x. But yes, JJ canNOT carry this team alone
but I just don't fear any team right now with Denver losing a very good 3&D veteran and Murray struggling to be that semblance of that Superstar playoff performer.
I firmly believe that Dallas got super lucky that their role players hit those 3's vs TWolves.
TWolves lost their best shooter.
The only team i fear is OKC but they also have some health issues and lack of experience.
Lakers I believe with some luck of health if they can bring players who can defend and shoot like Cam Johnson, DFS, Jerami Grant and at the same time bring in a decent center like Valanciunas, or healthy Rob Williams,or Brook Lopez, I believe they have a chance.
The 5 year rebuild really traumatized me, I know it's inevitable but for now, I do believe they have a chance, this coming 20 games will show if they have a shot or not IMO.

[danfantastk32]

First of all, I want to commend you for being calm and collected, for not hurling any offensive insults towards me because this discussions can be frustrating and heated.
Yes, it is true Lebron is about to be 40 but it's not like he is in steep decline. His EFG% is actually his highest since 2017, his assists/game is his 2nd best in 22 seasons.
AD is 31 and not 37 like KG (who was traded at 37, under 15pts) and is currently ave 31pts, 11 rebs/game. His pt/game and FTA/game are his highest in his 13 year career.

Always willing to have a good conversation. I agree it's often hard to argue (especially about things your passionate about) without things getting nasty.

So I'll wrap it up by saying that I understand the argument that these two are still great players. It's gotta sound pretty stupid to move AD in his prime. I hear it.

It really comes down to a couple of "windows of time" here for me: I think we all agree that this team as is, is not good enough to win a title. Agree? And while Lebron continues to be amazing...once we hit the post-season, and we go up against a good team....he just doesn't have that 'extra gear' to pull a team over the top anymore. Is that fair? Can we agree with where we are in the conversation to this point? So now comes the issue of A) Lebron will only get worse with time. B) AD is now 31....the decline is in the horizon now. It's not some far off future. Especially for a 6'11" 260 pound guy with his injury history.

So you gotta play this hand through. We've tried for 2 seasons to sign someone. Lebron came out and dangled his "pay cut" in an effort to entice some interest (It's known he tried hard to get Klay to come here)...and we got nothing. So what's essentially happening right now is A) We're sorta wasting everyone's time with a team that we know can't win. B) What it will take to win goes higher and higher as Lebron becomes less and less impactful. C) The window for us to get a kings ransom for AD closes more and more.

The very last thing you want to do, is to make no meaningful improvements.....watch a mediocre team until Lebron retires and walks....and then ride AD for the 3-4 years he has of being very impactful to sort of impactful.......and then start your rebuild.

So what do you do? I see two options here: You either get yourself that 3rd star and go for a title, or you rebuild. Now getting that 3rd star is gonna have some caveats to it: The first being....with AD's injury history, and Lebron's age, there's no guarantee that we'd get a title. You would have to get this guy very soon, it would have to gel, and AD would have to hold up. Secondly...if your gonna use picks for this (you'd 99.99% have to) then this guy also needs to be fairly young, and boy this plan better work out!

So where is this guy?...cause we really needed him an offseason or two ago. The window is closing fast....

Option 2: Get what you can for AD....and start rebuilding. I think you can still get 4 picks (or some combo of young players) for AD. I think there is still enough meat left on the bone there, that teams can look at him as sort of a 4 to 5 year investment....not just 2 years. It will be painful....but that's why your gonna get all those picks! You can't send off a shell in 2-3 years..where the decline has set in, and think your gonna get anything for him. Secondly....since we're in "rebuild mode" I think you can do some things to get more picks. First being, if your able to move Lebron...you could take a bad contract or two back....make it really sweet for the other team...and prob pick up 2 picks there. Same with DLo.....he's off the books in 6 months. So trade him for a bad player with 2-3 years left....for a couple 2ndrounders. We can get creative, and I think we could prob amass a good 5-6 first rounders, and a couple 2nd-rounders.

Now rebuilds are no guarantee either. I have little faith in our FO. It's one of the reasons I'd like to amass as many picks as we can, and assume that at least that way, there is a good mathematical chance they accidentally sign a star level player or two.

We all know rebuilds require a couple years of bottom feeding....that get's you your lottery picks. But I ask back...is it that much worse than being .500, and barely squeaking into the post season...only to get rolled by the first good team you play? Especially knowing your just spinning your wheels, and wasting everyone's time. At least the other option has the appeal of your actually trying to go somewhere.


So that's my argument. I get that AD and Lebron are still killing it. But it's not enough. I get that it will be a bummer watching AD go and dominate on some other team for another 2-3 years. But hopefully in 4-5 years when our team has begun to blossom, we'll all agree it was worth it. I mean....look: this team could sign a couple promising players (Ala Knecht) and we'd be sitting there with multiple picks to play with (we'd have our own as well) and a ton of cap space. There's no reason we couldn't make a play at someone like Ant man in 3-4 years..or whoever, and short-circuit the rebuild either. But the stronger the foundation of the rebuild..the more options we'd ultimately have down the road.

So unless someone can point to that major impact player we're getting in Jan or July at the VERY LATEST...then enough. And even then, I'd still pick the rebuild route.

[tamaraw08]

First of all, I want to commend you for being calm and collected, for not hurling any offensive insults towards me because this discussions can be frustrating and heated.
Yes, it is true Lebron is about to be 40 but it's not like he is in steep decline. His EFG% is actually his highest since 2017, his assists/game is his 2nd best in 22 seasons.
AD is 31 and not 37 like KG (who was traded at 37, under 15pts) and is currently ave 31pts, 11 rebs/game. His pt/game and FTA/game are his highest in his 13 year career.

Always willing to have a good conversation. I agree it's often hard to argue (especially about things your passionate about) without things getting nasty.

So I'll wrap it up by saying that I understand the argument that these two are still great players. It's gotta sound pretty stupid to move AD in his prime. I hear it.


Now rebuilds are no guarantee either. I have little faith in our FO. It's one of the reasons I'd like to amass as many picks as we can, and assume that at least that way, there is a good mathematical chance they accidentally sign a star level player or two.

We all know rebuilds require a couple years of bottom feeding....that get's you your lottery picks. But I ask back...is it that much worse than being .500, and barely squeaking into the post season...only to get rolled by the first good team you play? Especially knowing your just spinning your wheels, and wasting everyone's time. At least the other option has the appeal of your actually trying to go somewhere.

We can FULLY AGREE on the part that rebuilds are NO GUARANTEE !!!
What I can guarantee you is that Lakers will be in AT LEAST 3 years of HELL if they rebuild.
I disagree that it will just require a couple of years of bottom feeding because I've been watching teams like Detroit, Washington etc that have been scums of the league and are still languishing in squalor. They have been bathing in filth with their true fans in probably in either therapy or suicide watch by now.
I look at Sacramento, a team that botched the chance of drafting transcendent players, finally getting Fox and STILL trying to eke out a place for the play-in tournament.
What I can guarantee you right now is if healthy and if they can get a couple of 2-way players who can shoot and defend, that this team will compete hard in the playoffs esp with the new innovative coach. Like I said, I only fear 1 team in the West, Murray has not been the same and losing KCP will be a factor for them. I really doubt Dallas can duplicate that run.
Going back to the "optics" of pissing off and trading Davis, If I am a frustrated All Star and of course there are options, I would probably not pick the Lakers as my next destination. I'm monitoring guys like Ant Edwards, Giannis etc. TWolves have been losing to bad teams lately, same with the Bucks.

[danfantastk32]

We can FULLY AGREE on the part that rebuilds are NO GUARANTEE !!!

I disagree that it will just require a couple of years of bottom feeding because I've been watching teams like Detroit, Washington etc that have been scums of the league and are still languishing in squalor.

Well, nothing is a guarantee. AD might tear is his ACL next game. You gotta give yourself the best math.

Detroit gave up youth and picks to get Griffin...and god only knows what they've been doing since. But look at teams like OKC and Houston....and Boston. Those 3 teams sent their stars off (or they demanded trades) but got alot of picks for them. They did the rebuild correctly. They fully committed to it. Those are examples I'd look to.

What I can guarantee you right now is if healthy and if they can get a couple of 2-way players who can shoot and defend, that this team will compete hard in the playoffs esp with the new innovative coach.

Great...who are these guys? And when are they coming? Clock's tickin'................

Going back to the "optics" of pissing off and trading Davis, If I am a frustrated All Star and of course there are options, I would probably not pick the Lakers as my next destination. I'm monitoring guys like Ant Edwards, Giannis etc. TWolves have been losing to bad teams lately, same with the Bucks.

You know who couldn't sign anyone to save their life?? The Lakers who were riding the righteous highway with their boy Kobe. The Clippers moved Griffin, CP3 and the rest....got new FA's a year or two down. Doing AD dirty.....and deciding to rebuild after 4 straight years of .500 basketball are two totally different animals. FA's will come in droves if they see a good core of youth, and tons of cap space.

[tamaraw08]

We can FULLY AGREE on the part that rebuilds are NO GUARANTEE !!!

What I can guarantee you right now is if healthy and if they can get a couple of 2-way players who can shoot and defend, that this team will compete hard in the playoffs esp with the new innovative coach.

Great...who are these guys? And when are they coming? Clock's tickin'................

Brandon Ingram and Jeramy Grant are pretty good defenders who can shoot. Cam Johnson is a very good shooter who is a decent defender. DFS and DeAndre Hunter very good defenders and both are decent shooters. Lakers lost to ONE team in the playoffs in the past 2 playoffs, eliminating Memphis and the Warriors, losing to Denver twice by 2 points with Darvin Ham who didn't have any effective sets to draw for their most crucial 4th quarters of the game.
Obviously I wouldn't know who else will be available before the trade deadline, much like no one knew Memphis would give up Pau for Kwame and a player who hasn't played in the league yet.
Punting away this season by trading AD is freaking suicide and doesn't make sense to me... for now esp with him playing at a very high level and like you said rebuild is no guarantee anyway. If he is 35 or older like KG in Boston, and yes, heck even at 33 or the second Lebron retires, then yes, I would consider it, but for now, it is my opinion with defenders who can shoot and with a better coach, they have a shot IMO.

[danfantastk32]

Punting away this season by trading AD is freaking suicide and doesn't make sense to me... for now esp with him playing at a very high level and like you said rebuild is no guarantee anyway.

I think you can consider this season "punted" as is. We'll hover around .500 and either squeeze in, or just miss the postseason. And we'll get bounced by the first formidable opponent we face. Total waste of time for everyone involved...including the fans. It's 82 opportunities for AD to have a major injury, and be worthless. It's also 82 games he can't get back....all important when negotiating with another team.

Last season was a punt as well.

There are no guarantees....that is true. But AD might become an avid fisherman this holiday season, and decide to retire, voiding his contract and walking away. Conversely, Kevin Durant might join us for the min next season. I mean....who knows when it's all possible, right? Oooooorrrrrrr........we could follow the math. And the math tells us that it's quite unlikely we get the help we need. Not only now, but moving forward, as the peak get's further and further away, due to our aging stars.

If we were to play our cards correctly, and get like 5-6 FR-picks and maybe a couple 2nd-rounders....I'd put our chances at 60/40 that we'd draft decent players. Not a title-winner....but a decent core. Maybe even 70/30. You might get lucky and get the next Giannis...but probably not. But what you would have, if nothing else is a TON of options. And not to mention, it would be a hell of alot more fun to watch an ascending team, than this descending team. Yes....I admit the first couple years would be brutal, as talent started to arrive and grow into themselves........but frankly, the last 3-4 years have been absolutely brutal to watch as is. So I'd take it. I'd much rather watch the future, than watch the past make it's way to the glue-factory.

I'd give us a 70/30 chance that we'd either draft a competitive team, or at least draft good enough that, combined with our financial flexibility...we'd be able to make the requisite moves to build a contender. And might even entice a star like Ant Edwards in 4-5 years when his contract expires. I think that it's way more likely than not, that with 5-6 extra picks...and salary freed up, we'd be able to become a contender....given a few years of course. I think we already have a great piece in Knecht. We'd get to kick the tires on Bronny for a couple years.....maybe there is something there. Prob not...but he'd get his chance. What younger star might look at this team with tons of cap, and a bank-load of picks....and think "I could get in early here, and this would be my team". An opportunity to be the alpha on the next Laker iteration? Sure seems like there'd be interest. Options, options, options! That's the key word here today.

My take on this current squad? I was gonna say 5...but I'll give them a 10% chance that they could make the trades needed to put this team in serious contention. But then what? 6-7 years of having every other draft pick missing, and trying to build from that?? I'd left this little tiny sliver of hope that we could somehow get D-Mitchell here last offseason. With that ship sailed....I'm sorry, but I think even 5% is prob high. This team is brutal. Your starting to see the reality, now that we're facing decent teams again.