Lakers interested in Iman Shumpert/Tyson Chandler?

[Kilroy]

Yeah, that was a pejorative you... Wasn't directing that post at anyone in particular.

[ak7]

This is exactly what I was afraid of by re-upping Kobe, and forcing us to pursue the charade of contention: little better than lateral moves, staving off the rebuild process for no real reward. How much better does this make us? Five wins? Second-round playoff fodder under absolutely ideal circumstances? What's the point?

I could not have said it better myself. One thing I've noticed with Lakers fans these days is they are very short sighted - they see a possible trade that we win in value, but don't look at the big picture. This isn't just trading Gasol for any combination of Chandler, Shumpert and JR Smith, but this move may also be them trading Joel Embiid or another mid to late lottery player for first or second round playoff fodder.

The ship for a rebuild sailed when we gave up every other 1st round pick until 2019.. Trading for/signing the best players we can get to give us a shot to make a run in the next 2 seasons is the only way to go from the position we're in.

Can you tell me the last time the Lakers were interested in being a treadmill 8 seed? Because that's exactly what will happen if Gasol is traded for Chandler/Shumpert. AND that's assuming Chandler plays even at 90% of what he used to be.

[Kilroy]

Frankly, Kobe's play and contract are a bigger factor in whether or not we get Chandler or Shumpert or some combination of the 2... Chandler and Shumpert are role players at best... You add them to a treadmill 8th seed core and you might get over the hump to the finals.
But we have no core other than Kobe, and he's not playing a whole lot better than a role-player himself right now.
I'm just a fan, and frankly not a very engaged fan this season... So I have a fraction of the information the FO has... But if I'm running the Lakers, I wait as long as possible to evaluate Kobe's recovery before I trade Pau (Capspace) Gasol... That is unless someone makes an offer we can't refuse...
Like say Melo demands a trade to LA and NY actually wants to accommodate him... You may hate Melo, but you pull a Pau for Melo trade every single damn time...
Or if Rondo becomes available...
There may be a few other pipe dream but possible deals out there too... But unless it's a clear cut trade for a future core player, I think you hold onto Pau for the financial savings, unless it becomes clear Kobe is going to be as effective as he has been recently.