Who Should the Lakers be Targeting this Offseason?

[JRoy]

We're not trading Bridges except for an upgrade. This Boston series is so far proving exactly what I've been saying for the last few months in multiple posts--to here, the General Board, and the Knicks board--that when healthy (which we finally are), we can beat anyone. We have two top-ten (on occasion acting like top-five) players (Brunson and Kat), a top-20-ish player (OG), and three guys who consistently step up to make key contributions on offense and/or defense (Hart, Mitch, Bridges). That's a great core with championship potential.

While a nice player, Reaves doesn't help the Knicks...unless Bridges demands a max on his next contract. (Then, and only then, would we consider trading him...but would the Lakers still want this trade then?)

You think OG is top 20ish?

The Celtics are shooting 17% against OG so far in these playoffs. According to the Ringer, the Celtics have shot 5-29 against OG in games 1 and 2. Tatum is 2-8, Brown is 1-5, White is 0-6, everyone else is 2-10.

When we played Detroit, we put OG on Cade...and suddenly Cade could no longer score (multiple key stops). When we put OG on Wemby the last six minutes during the Christmas Day game, Wemby went scoreless against him...after scoring 42 points on everyone else.

Given that elite defensive impact plus the defensive versatility plus OG's ability to score (not elite but no liability either), I'd argue yes. (And if you disagree, fine--we're still not trading him.)

I like OG. He’s an elite defensive player and good enough on the other end. He is not an all star level player, more like an excellent starter with a hefty contract.

I can’t think of a team on which he would be the best player. UTA maybe? CHA or CHI?

[jbk1234]

Reaves is closer to Mitch Robinson than Mikal Bridges in trade value. Come on.

Not at all true imo. Robinson is negative value. He's always hurt and he's unplayable in the playoffs. Bridges no longer has the time left on a cheap deal he once had which is what made him so valuable.

So Bridges doesn't have close to the value the Knicks paid for him and Robinson has negative value. Reaves might still be in the middle of those two, but much closer to Bridges for sure.

I don't have Robinson as positive value, but he's averaged 22 mpg across six series over the last three years. That's a long way from unplayable and the Knicks are better when he's available.

[mademan]

Reaves is closer to Mitch Robinson than Mikal Bridges in trade value. Come on.

Not at all true imo. Robinson is negative value. He's always hurt and he's unplayable in the playoffs. Bridges no longer has the time left on a cheap deal he once had which is what made him so valuable.

So Bridges doesn't have close to the value the Knicks paid for him and Robinson has negative value. Reaves might still be in the middle of those two, but much closer to Bridges for sure.

I don't have Robinson as positive value, but he's averaged 22 mpg across six series over the last three years. That's a long way from unplayable and the Knicks are better when he's available.

Ya i can get behind Robinson being a negative contract based on his lack of availability, but he is absolutely a difference maker when he plays. Knicks are not up 2-0 if he's not playing this series. He's been an impact monster for them

[taikibansei]

You think OG is top 20ish?

The Celtics are shooting 17% against OG so far in these playoffs. According to the Ringer, the Celtics have shot 5-29 against OG in games 1 and 2. Tatum is 2-8, Brown is 1-5, White is 0-6, everyone else is 2-10.

When we played Detroit, we put OG on Cade...and suddenly Cade could no longer score (multiple key stops). When we put OG on Wemby the last six minutes during the Christmas Day game, Wemby went scoreless against him...after scoring 42 points on everyone else.

Given that elite defensive impact plus the defensive versatility plus OG's ability to score (not elite but no liability either), I'd argue yes. (And if you disagree, fine--we're still not trading him.)

I like OG. He’s an elite defensive player and good enough on the other end. He is not an all star level player, more like an excellent starter with a hefty contract.

I can’t think of a team on which he would be the best player. UTA maybe? CHA or CHI?

Depends on how you value defense vs. offense. For all-star selection, offense matters much more (why OG will likely never make it). That said, I personally value defense highly, particularly in this era (where the rules are against you and so few even bother to try). I also factor in availability--miss too many games (e.g., Embiid, Zion, Kawhi, etc.), and I don't rate you very high. Again, I don't care if you're the GOAT in the 10 games you actually play; if you can't be there for most of the season, you're not worth that much to me.

I may be crazy--actually, as a Knicks fan since 1971, I likely am--but I see OG as a top-five defender in the NBA right now. He's also made it through a full season under Crazy Thibs--you can't get much more available than that. So yeah, given my criteria, I think he'd arguably be the best player on Charlotte, Utah, and New Orleans, plus at least a top-2 player on the Kings and some other teams. This said, I acknowledge that an OG-led team would struggle to score sufficiently to be competitive at the highest level. (Their defense would be much improved, however.) I.e., I see OG as much more than a mere role player--again, we put him on the opposing team's best player regardless of position/size when we want that player shut down--but he needs a 1a/1b player to help take on the offensive load (particularly when tasked--as the Knicks do--to take on such a heavy load on defense).

So yeah, I personally feel that OG is in the 25-29 range in this league--though this is not a hill I'd want to die on! (I.e., if you disagree, that's cool too.)

[Astaluego]

They obviously need to improve the center position. I think Utah has the answers to their weaknesses, ideally two bigs. One big who dominates the paint and one who can stretch the floor. The Kessler/Collins combo would be ideal, or maybe you can skip Collins and keep using Hachimura/Bron at the 5 if they want to go small.

Reaves/Knecht to MAGIC

Goga/Black/Milton/#16/Future FRP(Magic)/Lakers31 to JAZZ

Kessler/Sexton to LAKERS...

Angie ain’t trading with the lakers any time soon

I think this would be a good trade for the Jazz. I guess Angie will do what she thinks is best for them, right? Here, it eliminates the "problem" of having to pay a role player when they don't yet have the piece to build around (especially when they plan on going under, at least for one more season). This draft has very good center prospects around 16 or 21 (to replace Kessler and reset the clock). Plus, they get a good center on a bargain contract, and he's only 2 years older than Kessler, to save face.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

His name is Goga Bitadze…..

[timani]

The biggest question the Lakers have is do you use your limited assets to try to win with LeBron/Luka in the short term or focus on building a sustainable roster around Luka long term.

If you’re building around LeBron/Luka, you need defense and shooting on the perimeter along with rim protection/lob threat.

First thing I would do is dangle Austin Reaves to see if I could get a Mikal Bridges level return. Assuming you can’t, you keep him.

Here’s an initial trade idea with Dallas and Portland:

Jeremi Grant and Daniel Gafford to the Lakers
Dalton Kenecht, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber to Portland
Rui to Dallas

Jordan Goodwins deal would need to be included to avoid hard cap at 1st apron.

Portland gets a prospect and gets off Grant’s contract, Dallas trades defense for offense. Lakers add a 3 and D piece and a rim protector:

Lakers starting lineup:
Luka/Reaves/Lebron/Grant/Gafford
DFS and Vanderbilt off the bench

After using the full MLE - Lakers would have 9 players on the roster (with LeBron/DFS opting in), 14mm in change below the 2nd apron, and early bird rights on Milton/Hayes to try to pull off a sign and trade for another rotation piece. Ideally - LeBron would take a 5mm or so discount to give a little more wiggle room here.

That doesn't really do anything for the Mavs. If Rui was a Guard we might have something, but Dallas already has Lively, Powell, AD, PJ, Flagg in the front court.