If Dwight bolts.... tank?

[DEEP3CL]

i wasn't taking a shot at you. My point was when every single scout there is are saying the same thing. I tend to side with them first.

ML....what you're reading or vewing is the favorable scouting report. There is also the reports on what his weakness are. One being him not having exceptional range on his jumper. I don't care what these nut hug'in scouts say most work for colleges trying to get him. But some scouts have gave the real on him too. His other weakness is his limited passing ability. Most of these guys glorify just the scoing aspect. A real player to me is one that can do it all. This is why I didn't get too excited about the time Wiggins went up against Parker.

ESPN overhyped how he out played Paker just because he out scored him, I'm like so what. Parker is the better all around player than Wiggins in my opinion.

[Dr Aki]

we don't tank

[AI]

Tanking is something that this organization does NOT do. Are people forgetting that LA is the prime free agent destination? I thought it was clear that this team builds through free agency and trades as opposed through drafts.

Either way, don't expect this organization to tank. Especially with the Clippers gaining some strength, Lakers brass would never put themselves in a position to lose "fans" to them, regardless if Dwight stays or not.

[Optms]

We aren't attracting any top free agents anytime soon, so what would it hurt to tank for one season?

Every once a while there comes a long a HS stud (Lebron, Shaq, Oden) who leave you in awe by their physical dominance. If one of these once in a generational talents where waiting to enter the draft, the Lakers would be stupid not to consider tanking given the context of where the franchise is right now.

The problem here is Wiggins isn't a once in a generational talent. There ARE really great prospects coming up through so the odds of one of them breaking out to be the next superstar tier ala Durant is very high.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Lakers tank. If there were ever a time to do it, it would have to be next season. The problem is convincing Kobe of it. For that reason I don't think it happens.

[richboy]

Arguing about Wiggins is irrelevant. If the Lakers don't have Dwight they are in long term trouble. Getting a high pick is the best way out of it. If your going to be bad next years draft is the one to be bad in. You don't want to be bad in a draft like this year.

I don't think this team should tank. I think signing Dwight is the most important thing. You be lucky to get anybody in the draft as good as Dwight. If he does leave the Lakers are pretty much in the most difficult spot they have been in a very long time. No assets. No young talent. Unlikely free agent destination for the top guys in 2014. You lose Dwight your going to be bad. You can come back with Gasol and just be mediocre. But right now there is no Shaq about to be a free agent that they can just wait on. Kobe Bryant came into the league when people were still afraid to take HS kids. You don't get a Kobe like player anymore unless your drafting in the top 5.

[MAMBAEMD]

No way we tank.
It would be a huge PR disaster for us.
Boston has hockey and football. Tanking for the C's is not as noticeable as it is for the Lakers.
We will do everything we can to reload.

[CBB_Fan]

Also I'm tried of hearing about Wiggins. The kid plays his high school basketball in Canada. Sorry but he hasn't faced top notch prep talent in my opinion. Plus I've seen the kid play......not that impressed. He's a gunner that won't be able to gun like that in the pros. Especially once defenses figure him out.

Couple of things:

1. Wiggins plays for Huntington Prep, out of West Virginia. Not in Canada. He's played against good talent, including Julius Randle. When he played Randle, the #1 PF and great player in his own right, he destroyed him. The guy couldn't score with Wiggins on him (took the assignment despite the difference in position), and Randle could not stop Wiggins; it got bad enough that Randle's coach pulled him and only put him back in the game when Wiggins was on the bench.

2. Reiterating point one, he's played against and with good talent. He's played against the #1 PF in this class, the #1 C in this class, the #2 PG in 2014, the #1 C in 2015, and numerous others. He's also competed in all of the major All-American games. Saying he hasn't played top prep talent is simply wrong; no one played more prep talent than he did.

3. Referring to him as a gunner doesn't match the descriptions I've heard from scouts. He doesn't really rely on his shot at all, and if anything tends to get complacent at times. Comparing him to Lebron, he has the same freakishly high athleticism, but has trades Lebron's raw power for a slightly quicker jump and first step. He is better shot than Lebron did at that stage, but Lebron was a far better passer (and the difference between Lebron's early shooting and Wiggins isn't that great).

4. Furthering point #3, quite a few great players match your description as players that the NBA defenses would "figure out." Jordan was supposed to be contained once defenders realized he was a bad three point shooter; he improved his 3PT shot. Kobe was an athlete with no perimeter; he improved. Lebron was a raw athlete without a jumper; he was highly efficient everywhere but from the FT line this season. The point is that many freak athletes come in without a well-rounded game, and the great ones adapt before they lose their athleticism.

[DEEP3CL]

Also I'm tried of hearing about Wiggins. The kid plays his high school basketball in Canada. Sorry but he hasn't faced top notch prep talent in my opinion. Plus I've seen the kid play......not that impressed. He's a gunner that won't be able to gun like that in the pros. Especially once defenses figure him out.

Couple of things:

1. Wiggins plays for Huntington Prep, out of West Virginia. Not in Canada. He's played against good talent, including Julius Randle. When he played Randle, the #1 PF and great player in his own right, he destroyed him. The guy couldn't score with Wiggins on him (took the assignment despite the difference in position), and Randle could not stop Wiggins; it got bad enough that Randle's coach pulled him and only put him back in the game when Wiggins was on the bench.

2. Reiterating point one, he's played against and with good talent. He's played against the #1 PF in this class, the #1 C in this class, the #2 PG in 2014, the #1 C in 2015, and numerous others. He's also competed in all of the major All-American games. Saying he hasn't played top prep talent is simply wrong; no one played more prep talent than he did.

3. Referring to him as a gunner doesn't match the descriptions I've heard from scouts. He doesn't really rely on his shot at all, and if anything tends to get complacent at times. Comparing him to Lebron, he has the same freakishly high athleticism, but has trades Lebron's raw power for a slightly quicker jump and first step. He is better shot than Lebron did at that stage, but Lebron was a far better passer (and the difference between Lebron's early shooting and Wiggins isn't that great).

4. Furthering point #3, quite a few great players match your description as players that the NBA defenses would "figure out." Jordan was supposed to be contained once defenders realized he was a bad three point shooter; he improved his 3PT shot. Kobe was an athlete with no perimeter; he improved. Lebron was a raw athlete without a jumper; he was highly efficient everywhere but from the FT line this season. The point is that many freak athletes come in without a well-rounded game, and the great ones adapt before they lose their athleticism.

I can respect the post. Secondly when I said he played in Canada I should have mentioned that it was at the start of his high school career.

But like I said and will stand by it.....everything you pinpointed in your post was about glorifing his offense. Ok so he by your account had one decent defensive game against a supposedly a highly ranked C. For one thing centers in high school are rarely developed.

Lastly like I mentioned.....how many games did he play west of the Missisippi River?
It's a lot of real talent here on the west coast and the kid hasn't even tested himself on this side at all.

[76ersxMVP]

Steve Nash says no to tanking! Kobe says no to tanking. Pau Gasol says no tanking.

[The Skyhook]

Steve Nash says no to tanking! Kobe says no to tanking. Pau Gasol says no tanking.

We barely made the playoffs last year and that was with Dwight. Now Kobe is coming off of an injury and everyone will be a year older.

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't make the playoffs this year. This team is just beat up.

[Sedale Threatt]

It's not about tanking for one guy. It's about recognizing that this team as currently composed has zero chance to win the championship, and starting the long re-build to get back to that position. If that netted Wiggins in the process, that would be great. But more than that, it's about clearing out the roster out and getting our cap situation back in order. There isn't anybody on the team, including Kobe, that I'd keep longer than we're contractually obligated. Any other approach is just delaying the inevitable. Don't peel the band-aid -- rip it off.

[PandGneverfold]

Getting rid of Kobe even at this stage of his career is crazy to me. Give this team health and a competent coach and I like our chances.

[Sedale Threatt]

At what? Getting beat in the first round again?

[dAdo dA dEvil]

why tank when you can try ..?

[Altered_Beast]

tanking =/= first overall pick

kobe also wont allow his team to tank. hed rather get amputated than stoop to that level. lakers arent the cavs