Are the lakers underrated?

[Bob8]

Are you telling us that LaRavia + Smart + Ayton are worse than DFS, especially knowing that Lakers had to play small ball most of the time against Wolves, because Hayes was unplayable?

And yes, if you play small ball nonstop players like DFS are crucial, hopefully that will change with Ayton.

Laravia is JAG, Smart and Ayton haven't been impactful since 2022, both had their teams give up on them.
I understand the case for optimism, but it's just that, optimism, according to last year performance I would have kept DFS and added a center with the TPMLE, I wouldn't have gone this path.

I would have gone the route of dumping another 11m+ contract and retain DFS - his deal with the Rockets is basically a two year deal when looking at guaranteed money, so not bad - and still add the same guys but dump Vando/Kleber/Vincent to have access to the MLE.

I would imagine that those expiring 11 mio contracts can be pretty valuable in potential trade around trade deadline.

[Sixers in 4]

The Lakers are setting themselves up for Giannis and better things after Lebron.

Not saying they are underrated they'll still be dangerous especially if Luka commits himself but they are sort of inbetween.

[tsherkin]

The Lakers are setting themselves up for Giannis and better things after Lebron.

Giannis has two more years under contract and then a player's option. I don't really think he's on the table for LA.

[TheGeneral99]

They are.

This team looked really good after getting Doncic last year.

They added Ayton, who despite his faults, will fill a major hole for them at the center spot.

Smart, if healthy, is a great fit alongside Luka and Lebron who can do the dirty work defensively, hit the open 3 and take pressure away.

Even without Lebron it's a top 8 seed in my opinion, and if Lebron can play at the same level he did last year, they should be top 4.

[Sixers in 4]

The Lakers are setting themselves up for Giannis and better things after Lebron.

Giannis has two more years under contract and then a player's option. I don't really think he's on the table for LA.

One year away from free agency he'll control the process whatever team he wants to sign to he'll be able to force his way there especially if they have cap space next year.

But we will see I guess. I think it's sort of the worst kept secret considering the Lakers cap situation and all the expirings after two years.

[xinxin]

If they have a good regular season, I have them ranking 4th or 5th in the tough west.

Thats no mean feat,


Too many unknowns with the new lineup. So I don’t think anyone is underestimating them.


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[tsherkin]

One year away from free agency he'll control the process whatever team he wants to sign to he'll be able to force his way there especially if they have cap space next year.

But we will see I guess. I think it's sort of the worst kept secret considering the Lakers cap situation and all the expirings after two years.

Yeah, I mean, I'm sure they are going to try. I just don't see it succeeding. Maybe I'm wrong and LA will bag an older, fading superstar... but it's also worth remembering that Giannis will be into his mid 30s by the time he leaves Milwaukee unless he chooses to force a trade... and if LA has to trade for him, they're pretty hard-up at the moment with lack of meaningful assets.

[HMFFL]

Lebron will make $52m this season. Why should I take the Lakers serious when the Buss family didn't? They made Bronny and Lebron their priority.

Mark Walter will fix things as the new owner but I don't expect much from the current roster. It will take time.

They didn't even respect their rookie last season that scored a high of 37 points in a game last season and 9 rebounds.

[Ball so hard]

There’s literally no scenario I can think of in which DFS + scraps is better than Ayton + Smart + Laravia. IMO the Lakers’ biggest need was a center that’s at least playable. Hayes is a 3rd string center that had no business starting. Playing DFS as a center is not a recipe for success. I’m not convinced the Lakers would beat any playoff team in a series with a 6’7 center. Would DFS + Brolo, DFS + Horford, DFS + Capela be better? The only one that’s debatable is DFS + Capela. However, I do not like the Lakers’ odds of signing Capela assuming Hou missed out on DFS.

[bledredwine]

Any team with a prime Luka should be contenders.

It depends which Luka shows up and if Lebron is still serviceable.

[tsherkin]

Any team with a prime Luka should be contenders.

Well that's obviously untrue.

No single player can guarantee a team will be contenders. We've learned that lesson over and over and over again, decade after decade after decade. You need the team to be all together for that to happen, and to be pretty solid to even get close.

[bledredwine]

Any team with a prime Luka should be contenders.

Well that's obviously untrue.

No single player can guarantee a team will be contenders. We've learned that lesson over and over and over again, decade after decade after decade. You need the team to be all together for that to happen, and to be pretty solid to even get close.

Sure, but the Lakers should be solid enough. Between Rui, Austin, Ayton, Hayes, that should be plenty to be a threat.

[tsherkin]

Sure, but the Lakers should be solid enough. Between Rui, Austin, Ayton, Hayes, that should be plenty to be a threat.

I mean, no. That isn't a title-contending team at all. The only reason they are in any kind of discussion right now is the hope that Lebron can produce enough as the #2 that they'll be in good shape in the playoffs.

[mademan]

A little underrated. A top 5 player, top 15ish, top 50ish should be a contender. But they have poor depth and all of these best players of theirs are bad defenders (for short spurts, Lebron is still a very capable defender though). Hard to win when your 40mpg backcourt in the playoffs are both defensive targets.

[bonita_the_frog]

I think something is not adding up, there's a very good chance the lakers will contend for the #1 spot.
Probably it's because of the LeBron drama, but if Luka is '24 Luka (and that's in SGA's tier, maybe even Jokic's) I don't see why they shouldn't be near the top.
Well, I understand the question marks, but I think they are not big limitations if Luka is Luka again.
Maybe not enough to win the West (the lack of wing defense is probably my biggest concern), unless something else goes right, but I would put the floor into mid 50s win.
Assuming Luka is back, of course.

Ayton
Rui
LeBron
Reaves
Smart
Vanderbilt
Vincent
LaRavia
Knecht

The Lakers aren't athletic enough, and they don't have enough defense to cover for Doncic.

Doncic made the NBA Finals because Dallas had the best defense in the NBA during the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs.
So i don't rate Doncic as much of a difference-maker in this Lakers team, because his lack of defensive ability will cancel out his offensive ability.
And Ayton is the opposite type of player compared to what Doncic had in Dallas...

And this a long-term issue, because Houston and OKC are so young (even though Durant isn't young, he's more efficient than ever and unlikely to average less than 25ppg in the next 4 years) and will only get better.

So i don't see the Lakers ever competing for the #1 or #2, and probably won't be top 3 anytime soon either... Houston, OKC, Denver... and Dallas will join them when Kyrie Irving returns.

And Minnesota just beat the Lakers 4-1, so can't even be sure the Lakers will top Minnesota who are quite young and athletic.
Clippers will probably also be above the Lakers... now that Clips have depth to defeat the usual injuries.

[NZB2323]

They made some good moves, but Lebron is in his 40s and I’m not sure how far their defense can take them in the playoffs.

[madskillz8]

With 40 yo Lebron and the tension between his camp and Lakers FO, I rank them as 7-10. Moreover, as he plays best when he plays with passion, the peak Luka also means we'll likely be seeing the best of Luka the whiner. I can already see Lebron and Luka taking turns on leaving Lakers 4-on-5.

Hot take: Cut Lebron (and maybe trade for Derozan as a 6th man microwave scorer). Replace Lebron's starter minutes with LaRavia and make it sure it is Luka's team already, they would be better, as high as 5. It is still not a better team than 24 Mavs, but hey, they are not going to NBA finals with or without Lebron.

[tsherkin]

Hot take: Cut Lebron and trade for Derozan as a 6th man microwave scorer. Replace Lebron's starter minutes with LaRavia and make it sure it is Luka's team already, they would be better, as high as 5. It is still not a better team than 24 Mavs, but hey, they are not going to NBA finals with or without Lebron.

DeRozan would be a spectacular downgrade as a scoring threat compared to Lebron in efficiency and floor geometry, as well as secondary playmaking. And Laravia does nothing but hit C+S 3s.

That's some hot take, lol.

[madskillz8]

Hot take: Cut Lebron and trade for Derozan as a 6th man microwave scorer. Replace Lebron's starter minutes with LaRavia and make it sure it is Luka's team already, they would be better, as high as 5. It is still not a better team than 24 Mavs, but hey, they are not going to NBA finals with or without Lebron.

DeRozan would be a spectacular downgrade as a scoring threat compared to Lebron in efficiency and floor geometry, as well as secondary playmaking. And Laravia does nothing but hit C+S 3s.

That's some hot take, lol.

Well, the hot take part is basically LaRavia, I think he would be very valuable in Luka ball as a 5th starter. Addition by substraction, considering the potential drama and tension between Lebron and not only Lakers but also Luka. After all, I expect the Staples Center's spotlights will be all over Luka by the choice of the Lakers, and we have yet to see how Lebron will handle being the non-primary option for the first time.

However, looking at Lakers roster without Lebron, they badly need someone who can create his own shot. As a Kings fans, Derozan is definitely a lazy choice, but I think his value for Lakers as a microwave scorer would be better than the price they need to pay, 2 bags of potato chips. (And I know Lakers cant find matching salaries etc, the idea is basically LaRavia as a starter and some scorer who can create - to replace Lebron and give Luka the keys in a drama free environment)

[tsherkin]

Well, the hot take part is basically LaRavia, I think he would be very valuable in Luka ball as a 5th starter. Addition by substraction, considering the potential drama and tension between Lebron and not only Lakers but also Luka. After all, I expect the Staples Center's spotlights will be all over Luka by the choice of the Lakers, and we have yet to see how Lebron will handle being the non-primary option for the first time.

There's utility to set shooters, sure, but they're gonna need more than just that to replace Lebron. Keep in mind, you're talking about a guy coming off a 24/8/8 season, who was a good 3pt shooter and posted 60.4% TS (which is just shy of +3% rTS). You cannot replace that with DeRozan, nor with LaRavia. You definitely take a hit. And DeRozan is also pretty much a waste of skin on defense, and Lebron (even at his age) is not, which is another consideration. And you lose even more heavily from a playmaking standpoint. And even Demar is gonna be 36 this upcoming season, and is himself in visible decline.