Kevin Ding: Lakers could trade Top 5 pick and Randle

[Kilroy]

I can't imagine them missing the POs. They aren't going to do it by playing 1gm above 500 ball, but I think it's going to eventually be a shootout between Dallas and OKC for #8 and OKC will eventually get it. Dallas is freefalling IMO and there's something wrong with that team fundamentally.

All that said, if they don't make it... And maybe even if they do and underachieve, I think they may have to choose between Durant and Westbrook... They'll choose Durant, and look for a trade for Westbrook... Not sure where he'll go, but I doubt we get him, unless we have some other pieces in place first. Both those guys are hungry as hell for a championship.

[TyCobb]

Step 1: Trade Nick Young and Ryan Kelly to the Denver Nuggets for Randy Foye, Darrell Arthur, and 2nd round pick
Step 2: Land #4 pick in 2015 NBA Draft
Step 3: Trade #4 pick + Julius Randle for Michael-Carter Williams and 2016 1st Round Pick Unprotected
Step 4: Sign C Marc Gasol and PF LaMarcus Aldridge

PG MCW, Clarkson
SG Kobe, 2nd RP
SF FA min
PF Aldridge
C Gasol

2016...

PG MCW
SG Clarkson
SF Durant
PF Aldridge
C Gasol

[BEazy]

I want to see what Julius has. He has very unique skills for a PF. The thing is you can pair Randle up with a C or a fast paced PG and he can make it work because he can bang in the paint or run with the fast paced PG. I really hope Julius is untouchable...

[LApwnd]

Step 1: Trade Nick Young and Ryan Kelly to the Denver Nuggets for Randy Foye, Darrell Arthur, and 2nd round pick
Step 2: Land #4 pick in 2015 NBA Draft
Step 3: Trade #4 pick + Julius Randle for Michael-Carter Williams and 2016 1st Round Pick Unprotected
Step 4: Sign C Marc Gasol and PF LaMarcus Aldridge

PG MCW, Clarkson
SG Kobe, 2nd RP
SF FA min
PF Aldridge
C Gasol

2016...

PG MCW
SG Clarkson
SF Durant
PF Aldridge
C Gasol

how can you afford option 4? when both players will probablay command 20mill+ each?

[TyCobb]

Step 1: Trade Nick Young and Ryan Kelly to the Denver Nuggets for Randy Foye, Darrell Arthur, and 2nd round pick
Step 2: Land #4 pick in 2015 NBA Draft
Step 3: Trade #4 pick + Julius Randle for Michael-Carter Williams and 2016 1st Round Pick Unprotected
Step 4: Sign C Marc Gasol and PF LaMarcus Aldridge

PG MCW, Clarkson
SG Kobe, 2nd RP
SF FA min
PF Aldridge
C Gasol

2016...

PG MCW
SG Clarkson
SF Durant
PF Aldridge
C Gasol

how can you afford option 4? when both players will probablay command 20mill+ each?

You can't, which is why the thread title ain't happening.

[madmaxmedia]

I think Mitch probably has a better outlook than the rest of the league on what Julius can eventually develop into (even with his drastically short season.) We would only package him in a trade if they were getting cold feet about his future, if in their brief look he was not what they thought they drafted. And that seems pretty unlikely.

I am starting to conclude this whole "trade everything for picks and cap space to land a superstar" strategy is somewhat foolish. You're basically accepting mediocrity for at least a couple of years (well not just accepting but deliberately going for more), for some magic beans that may or may not grow into anything. The Lakers this year were sort of stuck anyway, I'm more talking about the strategy in general.

My point is not that the Lakers should overpay for mediocre talent, or not manage cap space. But if there are no Durants or Gasols to be found next offseason, I think they pursue the next tier and build towards at least a 50-win type team, even if it eliminates the dream of signing LeBron James and Kevin Durant in a single offseason. You'll need some luck perhaps to get beyond a first or second round exit potential, but worst case scenario at least you are competitive. In either case (go for broke or go for competence) you're going to need to get lucky to build a true contender anyway.

The Lakers have had a few contender runs in the last 20 years. None required going back to square 1 and getting rid of everything in order to land a top 2 or 3 pick. Sure they have had some things go their way (by combination of skill and luck), but because they have generally fielded competitive teams they were typically 1 piece (big or not) away from getting back in it- which can happen to anybody at anytime, and not 3 or 4 pieces (much less likely to happen no matter how many draft picks you try to land.)