The new team is set, how far do the Lakers go?

[SlimShady83]

I feel like the team is now set, unless someone is interested in; Knecht, Maxi, Gabe, I don't see a trade happening and Lakers won't use their draftcapital to get say Wiggins. But if a trade does happen I will edit this and update or mods can I'm easy.

I figured new team, new thread

Ayton, Bron, Rui, Reaves, Luka

Vando,Hayes, Laravia, Smart, Thiero, Gabe, Kleber, Koloko, Manon, Bronny (hopefully not missing anyone edit if need)

2 way = Koloko, Manon,

• Let's talk lineups
• Let's talk minutes per player
• Let's talk match ups, because they matter.
• Will JJ stick with the same lineups or adjust, per team?

example, If Rui has a bad game vs say Clippers, then they should consider benching Rui the next game vs Clippers
maybe Reaves has a bad game vs Wolves, next time they face Wolves bench him? Just something I'd like to see, rather then sticking with the same lineup.

#letsgolakers

[Beethoven]

Champs

[Danny Darko]

Either 3rd or Champ... the big competition will be in the west (Hou/OKC). I do think we have set ourselves up for an in season trade with the expirings and considering Bron just aint going to be here next year so we have a max contract to give next year let alone what might happen in 27, so I think we'll target backup bigs and 3&Ds.

X factors in no particular order:
Growth of a few players-Does Dalton contribute after tanking his trade value? He just may and he did have stretches last year.
Hayes as a backup or are we still able to find a horford situation and offload Vincent/Maxi
Is Thiero a guy? Is Vando focusing on his 3pt shot going to mean anything?

Bron's engagement and health

Smart's health and big moment shooting

Laravia is just 23... he's going to end up being a fan fave I think.

The reason I think we don't go further if X factors look good: JJ- I like him and I saw he needed to grow vs the wolves. He needs to evolve and I'm not sure it will be all fixed in year two. If we fail again, I still keep him, though and bank on his brain figuring it out over time.

[SlimShady83]

Champs

haha ... I said finals, but i'm a tad biased, but aren't we all?... Lakers/Knicks finals. East is wide open

Either 3rd or Champ... the big competition will be in the west (Hou/OKC). I do think we have set ourselves up for an in season trade with the expirings and considering Bron just aint going to be here next year so we have a max contract to give next year let alone what might happen in 27, so I think we'll target backup bigs and 3&Ds.

I haven't yet to do my predictions, but in saying this. I do want Clippers/Lakers first round, can we finally get this? save the road trips etc
2nd round = Denver, let's wreck them in 5 games.
3rd round = only and i state only if healthy, Dallas, they're a good team and feel the NBA would make this happen the tv ratings would go nuts haha.
Finals = Knicks/Lakers what a better stage for "Lebronny" to go out on then the Knicks, my hopes are high.

X factors in no particular order:
Growth of a few players-Does Dalton contribute after tanking his trade value? He just may and he did have stretches last year.
I'm sorry I'm not sold on Knecht like others are with the edition of Laravia, I really don't see it happening on the Lakers, he will be traded come deadline or offseason, maybe sooner then we think


Hayes as a backup or are we still able to find a horford situation and offload Vincent/Maxi

Hayes needs to learn to stay out of foul trouble, if he can do this #winning
Horford, let's wait and see he going to Lakers or GSW IMO.


Is Thiero a guy? Is Vando focusing on his 3pt shot going to mean anything?
Theiro will only get playing time in garbage time, blowout wins/losses or foul trouble etc, his too young
Vando, if the news is correct I'm not giving up on him just yet, give him this year and if he doesn't peform then we can talk trades.

Bron's engagement and health
sorry not interested

Smart's health and big moment shooting
health is the biggest reason i'm not keen on inserting him into the lineup like others are, he can still play quality minutes, just not a as a starter IMO. we'll see.

Laravia is just 23... he's going to end up being a fan fave I think.
yep agree, do you remember when he torched us Lakers, only real reason I know anything of him haha, let's hope he doesn't get the Lakers curse.

The reason I think we don't go further if X factors look good: JJ- I like him and I saw he needed to grow vs the wolves. He needs to evolve and I'm not sure it will be all fixed in year two. If we fail again, I still keep him, though and bank on his brain figuring it out over time.

Match ups matter, just because Reaves played bad vs Wolves, doesn't mean he'll play bad vs say Denver. I just hope JJ adjusts and sees this.

#golakers

[Mamba Mentality]

We still need another wing and a backup big (to a lesser extent). Hopefully Rob can flip a combination of Knecht, Kleber, and Gabe for someone half decent before the start of the season.

[-Spyda-]

We need some trade

[SlimShady83]

We still need another wing and a backup big (to a lesser extent). Hopefully Rob can flip a combination of Knecht, Kleber, and Gabe for someone half decent before the start of the season.

Agree, but it's going to be tough to do b4 the season, probably more mid season

We need some trade

Agree but going to be tough.

[dAdo dA dEvil]

I don't think this team is already set. I said we need another back-up or 3rd string C and maybe another 3&D wing. But the optimist in me says we'll be champs.

[SlimShady83]

I don't think this team is already set. I said we need another back-up or 3rd string C and maybe another 3&D wing. But the optimist in me says we'll be champs.

I do agree it's just going to be tough to do, maybe Port can help us with Williams/Thybulle, because we getting injury prone Williams, Thybulle comes with it , we'll see. I'll update if a trade happens b4 the season

[Bob8]

https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a65488151/luka-doncic-body-transformation/

[xinxin]

4th or 5th in the regular season.

We need wings and front court help.

Other western teams have giants..


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[danfantastk32]

I don't know if I believe in all that "infinite universes" thing.........but if true, you'd have to search long and hard to find a universe where the Lakers win the title this year.

We did get a center. I decent one at that. That's gonna help. If (if if if) Smart can come back and show his level of play from 4-5 years ago, then I guess you could call this team a "contender". But you gotta see Lebron maintain a high level at 41....Luca's gotta bring it, the bench needs to bring it, Smart shows his younger self, and Ayton balls. We get all those things....then I put them in the conversation. But honestly, I see OKC coming back even better. The league right now is full of fluff and garbage teams. We'll look good throughout the regular season. But don't watch our record...watch our record against the top 5-6 teams. That's gonna tell you if we're real or not.

Barring an injury that throws it all out the window, I think we'll be a better team than last year, and should actually be decent competition against a good team in the post-season.....instead of getting rolled like last few years. But ultimately, I think we'll lose to any of those top 4-5 legit teams in the league.

[stan francisco]

Rob will make more moves before February deadline.

With the current roster, see lineup below in sig. For reasons of balancing offense with defense.

Determining factors if you ask me:
• Will we get MVP Luka or fat Luka?
• Will DA live up to his potential?
• Can Bron stay healthy?
• Will Knecht, LaRavia and Mañon have breakout years?
• Will Reaves and Luka play defense?
• Will JJ inquire to learn from his older and more experienced staff? He needs a breakout year.


If all of that plays out our way, we can take it all. My guess is that we can get to the WCF. A healthy Rockets or Oklahoma or Denver will be tough.

[Danny Darko]

Rob will make more moves before February deadline.

With the current roster, see lineup below in sig. For reasons of balancing offense with defense.

Determining factors if you ask me:
• Will we get MVP Luka or fat Luka?
• Will DA live up to his potential?
• Can Bron stay healthy?
• Will Knecht, LaRavia and Mañon have breakout years?
• Will Reaves and Luka play defense?
• Will JJ inquire to learn from his older and more experienced staff? He needs a breakout year.


If all of that plays out our way, we can take it all. My guess is that we can get to the WCF. A healthy Rockets or Oklahoma or Denver will be tough.

we're getting skinny Luka according to this