Rumor: Team Has Inquired About Jennings & Monroe

[dockingsched]

Brandon Jennings is an expiring contract next yr. Hes actually not that bad of a target. If we go back to mid December when the pistons were struggling and Jennings wasn't playing that well, it wouldn't be too surprising to have a team call to inquire if they're interested in dumping his deal. What if the lakers called to see if they could get him for Nash's contract and nothing more?

What if that trade happened and now Jennings is playing out of his mind like he is now on the lakers instead of the pistons? His value is increased, lakers have him locked up for next yr at a decent 8 mil deal and have a better chance of attracting a FA this summer if that's their plan.

If they strike out and can't then acquire a big FA, they can either trade him for assets, let him go in the summer of 2016 and have your entire cap again, or extend him in 2016 with bird rights if he's earned it.

If he would've kept playing awful oh well, didn't cost you much and you probably weren't going to sign anyone this summer anyway so having him on the books doesn't hurt so much. All part of the gamble that teams have to take when they're trying to go from pretender to contender.

[Gerald3Wallace]

Lol at anyone saying Monroe is trash.

That dude is legit.

[LApwnd]

All part of the gamble that teams have to take when they're trying to go from pretender to contender.

you playing to lose then if Jennings is the gamble.....he's always been a chucker and even with the recent run Det has had, he's still sub 40% this season , just like his career. and just like the laws of avg he will regress back to his means once this hot streak is over. Gambling on Jennings is like doubling down with a 12 while the dealer has a 10 showing.

[Michael Lucky]

See, you can't say that with that level of certainty, because we all have limited information about the market... We're ALWAYS selling and we're ALWAYS buying, it just depends on the deal that pops up.
As Doc pointed out, there are drawbacks and benefits for keeping the pick this year vs giving it up and getting the one next year, etc... That's the way it always is.
The team is always trying to find that perfect combination of events that leads to improvement.

That said, I would say that selling right now is probably more likely given how difficult it is to complete one trade much less the multiple it would take to turn this team into something worth loosing the pick over. But that doesn't mean we don't look at every possible option to acquire players either...

I don't like delaying on acquiring a potential asset especially in a draft that looks relatively good to most atm. Not to mention there's no guarantee we'd be worst next year. If anything we'd likely be better even if not by much considering there's be added pressure on the FO to improve the team.

[dockingsched]

All part of the gamble that teams have to take when they're trying to go from pretender to contender.

you playing to lose then if Jennings is the gamble.....he's always been a chucker and even with the recent run Det has had, he's still sub 40% this season , just like his career. and just like the laws of avg he will regress back to his means once this hot streak is over. Gambling on Jennings is like doubling down with a 12 while the dealer has a 10 showing.

I don't necessarily disagree with this, just think it's important that we as fans don't overreact to specific names we hear in trade rumors.

Aside from trying to find teams that will give the lakers value for whatever players are currently on the roster, the lakers will most likely be seeking out two additional types of trades.

The first one of those will be trying to use their cap space to absorb contracts for a small fee in the form of some assets.

The second type of trade is one where they try to find undervalued players and acquire them with the goal of increasing their value for whatever end goal. This one can be a bit tricky cause a lot of these targets will seem like there's no hope to increase their value. That's just how it has to be or else they wouldn't be attainable for peanuts.

All of these trades must be evaluated under priority number one which is maintaining cap flexibility.

A Jennings trade actually falls into all three categories. He plays on a team potentially looking to dump a contract, he's talented enough to provide some potential increased return on your investment, and his context expires next summer helping the team maintain cap flexibility.

[dockingsched]

See, you can't say that with that level of certainty, because we all have limited information about the market... We're ALWAYS selling and we're ALWAYS buying, it just depends on the deal that pops up.
As Doc pointed out, there are drawbacks and benefits for keeping the pick this year vs giving it up and getting the one next year, etc... That's the way it always is.
The team is always trying to find that perfect combination of events that leads to improvement.

That said, I would say that selling right now is probably more likely given how difficult it is to complete one trade much less the multiple it would take to turn this team into something worth loosing the pick over. But that doesn't mean we don't look at every possible option to acquire players either...

I don't like delaying on acquiring a potential asset especially in a draft that looks relatively good to most atm. Not to mention there's no guarantee we'd be worst next year. If anything we'd likely be better even if not by much considering there's be added pressure on the FO to improve the team.

Being worse next yr is entirely in the front office's control so if they lose their pick this yr there's no reason to anticipate the lakers being unable to maximize their pick next year.

Also I've seen several comments about pressure on the front office, I don't think that should be part of the conversation. If the lakers lose their pick, no amount of pressure is going to make them sign players at the expense of the pick for the sole purpose of appeasing these outside forces.

[LApwnd]

just my personal feelings but I don't forsee mgmt. doing anything this trade deadline....we don't have the assets to acquire talents, we don't seem to want to add salary in order to obtain picks so we can keep this mantra of max flexibility every off season, and we haven't done anything of importance once we learned of Nash/Randle injuries other then bring in dleague journeymen just to fill the void.

[dockingsched]

just my personal feelings but I don't forsee mgmt. doing anything this trade deadline....we don't have the assets to acquire talents, we don't seem to want to add salary in order to obtain picks so we can keep this mantra of max flexibility every off season, and we haven't done anything of importance once we learned of Nash/Randle injuries other then bring in dleague journeymen just to fill the void.

I agree that the team probably won't do anything, which is a lot better than doing something they'll regret.

I'd just point out though that id reserve some of your criticisms about the lakers using their cap to acquire assets. They did that exact thing this past summer. They were able to both pursue the tier one free agents available and then acquire a first round pick when those FAs signed elsewhere. Couldn't have played it much better.

[Michael Lucky]

See, you can't say that with that level of certainty, because we all have limited information about the market... We're ALWAYS selling and we're ALWAYS buying, it just depends on the deal that pops up.
As Doc pointed out, there are drawbacks and benefits for keeping the pick this year vs giving it up and getting the one next year, etc... That's the way it always is.
The team is always trying to find that perfect combination of events that leads to improvement.

That said, I would say that selling right now is probably more likely given how difficult it is to complete one trade much less the multiple it would take to turn this team into something worth loosing the pick over. But that doesn't mean we don't look at every possible option to acquire players either...

I don't like delaying on acquiring a potential asset especially in a draft that looks relatively good to most atm. Not to mention there's no guarantee we'd be worst next year. If anything we'd likely be better even if not by much considering there's be added pressure on the FO to improve the team.

Being worse next yr is entirely in the front office's control so if they lose their pick this yr there's no reason to anticipate the lakers being unable to maximize their pick next year.

Also I've seen several comments about pressure on the front office, I don't think that should be part of the conversation. If the lakers lose their pick, no amount of pressure is going to make them sign players at the expense of the pick for the sole purpose of appeasing these outside forces.

The reason wouldn't be the pick. It would be having gone through another season of terrible basketball with another immediately looming. Besides,I'm not that ready to believe that the FO would ever commit themselves to tanking or letting the roster be bad in order to get better until I actually see moves that imply just that. As for appeasing fans, i'm not as optimistic either considering they brought in very recognizable names for the casual fans to watch in Boozer and Lin this off-season. Not saying the FO was expecting these guys to help push the team to a great record but overall it seems like we're more interested in marketing and protecting the brand than maximizing the assets we could get with being bad.

[dockingsched]

I think a lot of the fan appeasing moves the lakers have done have been very well calculated and did not jeopardize any long term plans the lakers have for their rebuild.

[Shazayum]

If you can get Monroe, fine, but I mean neither of these players move the needle that much, if at all. I'd rather stand pat to be honest with you.

[TARIQ]

I'm all in for Monroe and I also wouldnt mind Jennings.

[ChokeFasncists]

DET beat the Raptors, wow!

I guess they're not breaking the team up anymore. They could make the playoffs! It's the East!

They are only 2 games out.

What despair it is to be in the West!

And they're talking about moving the top team in the East to the West?
Junior League?

[Mamba Mentality]

With the way the Pistons have been playing since Josh Smith's departure, they're not going to trade anyone. Even if it's for a franchise player like Sacre.

[DEEP3CL]

Lol at anyone saying Monroe is trash.

That dude is legit.

Basically G3W, anybody saying that is mentally challenged basketball wise. I've been preaching about Monroe for the last two years.

[Han Solo]

Jennings and Monroe have both been great since Josh Smith departed.. Doubt Detroit is looking to deal anyone right now though.

[Pointgod]

Anyone that wouldn't want Monroe is a moron. Lakers have a shocking lack of assets. Monroe on this team would be an asset. I'd rather pay him than waste 15 million resigning the likes of Lin, Johnson and Davis. Jennings I'm not sold on, I think he's been great since Josh Smith left, but that's strictly in Stan's system.