Kupchak: Kobe not Obstacle to Lakers Rebuild

Post #21 » by **Slava** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:03 am

trustykilo wrote:Stay delusional, Lakers front office.

What's so delusional about saying that Lakers will not mortgage cap space to appease Kobe? I mean anyone with English as their first language could read that article and not end up with the word delusion on their mind. If he had said we are contending next season, that'd be delusional.

kaiballz · Post #22 » by **kaiballz** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:46 am

If kobe accepts a lower contract like what timmy D for the spurs, i don't see why it won't be a positive. The man still has great bball iq and remains one of the great vets for the game. If he agrees to a 5-6m deal for chasing his final ring, lakers can probably get a couple of superstars around him.

Post #23 » by **LLcoleJ** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:53 am

kaiballz wrote:If kobe accepts a lower contract like what timmy D for the spurs, i don't see why it won't be a positive. The man still has great bball iq and remains one of the great vets for the game. If he agrees to a 5-6m deal for chasing his final ring, lakers can probably get a couple of superstars around him.

Basically, what Kup is saying and most fans believe. Is that Kobe is not going to be an issue or obstacle moving past his last year. The Lakers are not obliged or won't look to extend him at all. If Kobe wants to play with the Lakers beyond next season then OK. But it's not going to be part of the long term plans. Meaning they are not going to pay him big salaries any more.

FO knows this, Laker fans know this and Kobe probably does too. Kobe will most likely retire after next season IMO.

RIPskaterdude · Post #24 » by **RIPskaterdude** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:57 am

Tarik Black wrote:
jbk1234 wrote:
Tarik Black wrote:
Top 5 protected.

So it's top 5 protected in 2015-16?

Correct in 16 and 17 it would got to top 3 status and in 18 it goes unprotected if not conveyed. But the focus right now is on the upcoming draft with possibly 2 first round pics and ample cap space. All hope is not lost by focusing on what a pic might be a year and half out. Shoot it might be conveyed this year the balls don't drop the right way.

It's only top 5 protected in the upcoming lottery, then top 3, top 3, unprotected

Optms · Post #25 » by **Optms** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:58 am

Tarik Black wrote:
kaiballz wrote:If kobe accepts a lower contract like what timmy D for the spurs, i don't see why it won't be a positive. The man still has great bball iq and remains one of the great vets for the game. If he agrees to a 5-6m deal for chasing his final ring, lakers can probably get a couple of superstars around him.

Basically, what Kup is saying and most fans believe. Is that Kobe is not going to be an issue or obstacle moving past his last year. The Lakers are not obliged or won't look to extend him at all. If Kobe wants to play with the Lakers beyond next season then OK. But it's not going to be part of the long term plans. Meaning they are not going to pay him big salaries any more.

FO knows this, Laker fans know this and Kobe probably does too. Kobe will most likely retire after next season IMO.

The injuries are starting to pile up and its not going to get any better. Pretty safe bet Kobe understands he's almost at the end of the tunnel. No need to drag out any more seasons on a deteriorating body. Next year will definitely be his last.

Post #26 » by **jbk1234** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:00 am

RIPskaterdude wrote:
Tarik Black wrote:
jbk1234 wrote:
So it's top 5 protected in 2015-16?

Correct in 16 and 17 it would got to top 3 status and in 18 it goes unprotected if not conveyed. But the focus right now is on the upcoming draft with possibly 2 first round pics and ample cap space. All hope is not lost by focusing on what a pic might be a year and half out. Shoot it might be conveyed this year the balls don't drop the right way.

It's only top 5 protected in the upcoming lottery, then top 3, top 3, unprotected

This is what I thought. That's why I don't see the Lakers tanking again next year.

Post #27 » by **LLcoleJ** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:27 am

RIPskaterdude wrote:
Tarik Black wrote:
jbk1234 wrote:
So it's top 5 protected in 2015-16?

Correct in 16 and 17 it would got to top 3 status and in 18 it goes unprotected if not conveyed. But the focus right now is on the upcoming draft with possibly 2 first round pics and ample cap space. All hope is not lost by focusing on what a pic might be a year and half out. Shoot it might be conveyed this year the balls don't drop the right way.

It's only top 5 protected in the upcoming lottery, then top 3, top 3, unprotected

Which is what I said. ^^ see what you quoted.

That being said, if the Lakers are concerned with the 2016 draft status that would mean they got in the top 5 of this years draft. Which along with last years lottery pic, this seasons possibly 2 and ample cap space that is their best case scenario plan of building with young guys and vets.

RIPskaterdude · Post #28 » by **RIPskaterdude** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 5:43 am

Tarik Black wrote:
RIPskaterdude wrote:
Tarik Black wrote:
Correct in 16 and 17 it would got to top 3 status and in 18 it goes unprotected if not conveyed. But the focus right now is on the upcoming draft with possibly 2 first round pics and ample cap space. All hope is not lost by focusing on what a pic might be a year and half out. Shoot it might be conveyed this year the balls don't drop the right way.

It's only top 5 protected in the upcoming lottery, then top 3, top 3, unprotected

Which is what I said. ^^ see what you quoted.

That being said, if the Lakers are concerned with the 2016 draft status that would mean they got in the top 5 of this years draft. Which along with last years lottery pic, this seasons possibly 2 and ample cap space that is their best case scenario plan of building with young guys and vets.

Yeah but it's not top 5 protected in 15-16, just 14-15 (this season)

JazzMatt13 · Post #29 » by **JazzMatt13** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 5:47 am

Isn't most their salary going into players who aren't playing because of old age or injury?

Walmart · Post #30 » by **Walmart** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:01 am

Lakers/Sixers play each other twice in late March, that should be an epic tank down.

That said the draft lottery is rigged so the Lakers will probably end up with the number one pick regardless where they stand at the end of the season.

Bubstubbler · Post #31 » by **Bubstubbler** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:04 am

Not too big of a stretch for the Lakers to end up with the 4th worst record this year, get pushed to #6 in the draft by getting jumped by a couple of teams who get lucky with the ping pong balls, and have that pick go to Philly this year.

getitdone323 · Post #32 » by **getitdone323** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:39 am

Walmart wrote:Lakers/Sixers play each other twice in late March, that should be an epic tank down.

That said the draft lottery is rigged so the Lakers will probably end up with the number one pick regardless where they stand at the end of the season.

They were in a similar position last year, yet they ended up with the 7th pick...

some haters have so much hate they cannot think clearly

Walmart · Post #33 » by **Walmart** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:42 am

getitdone323 wrote:
Walmart wrote:Lakers/Sixers play each other twice in late March, that should be an epic tank down.

That said the draft lottery is rigged so the Lakers will probably end up with the number one pick regardless where they stand at the end of the season.

They were in a similar position last year, yet they ended up with the 7th pick...

some haters have so much hate they cannot think clearly

Oy the lack of any reading comprehension. Where did you get me hating the Lakers from reading that post?

lakersin4 · Post #34 » by **lakersin4** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:36 am

Yeah I don't believe this for a second. Maybe the part about not bringing in old veterans to try to win for 1 year, but they're 100% going to have to throw $ at free agents. It makes absolutely no sense not to.

Assuming they finish low enough to keep the top 5 pick, it only has top 3 protection next year. You can have the worst record in the league, it doesn't matter, unless you're 1 of the 3 teams that wins the lottery, you aren't getting a top 3 pick.

So after giving up the pick next season, we owe Orlando a top 5 protected pick 2 years from whenever we give up the pick we traded to the Suns. So you'd get a top 5 pick this year, pick goes to Philly next year, get to keep the pick the next year, then give up the pick to Orlando. How exactly do you rebuild through the draft with 2 of your next 4 1st rounders already gone? You don't.

I do agree with the idea of not signing old veterans though. If I'm Mitch the top 3 players to make offers to are Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, Brandon Knight. Of course you have to give Monroe consideration. I'd then be looking hard at some lower tier young FA's like Middleton & Biyombo. Then if you go after older FA's, it should be guys that won't get the max like Wes Matthews.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Suns trade Bledsoe instead of letting Knight walk. After they miss the playoffs again this year I think they'll have a hard time accepting having 2 PG's making the max or close to it. The rebuilding move would be to keep the younger guy with less injury risk, & get young assets for Bledsoe. The Lakers were also said to be interested in Lawson, who will probably still want out this offseason. He's not exactly young, but with the cap friendly contract he's on you can afford to roll those dice.

Throwing max contracts at Dragic or Rondo to attempt to win in a very short window would most likely end very poorly. But you can go out & spend money in FA on young players that are positives both immediately & long term. If it doesn't look like the team is close to being a contender, keep developing the young core of Randle/top 5 pick/Clarkson/Hou pick. If it looks like they're a veteran or 2 away from contending, then you entertain trading some of those young guys for the piece you need.

No matter what, Kobe is expiring the following year, so you'll have flexibility to add on again. Then the cap is expected to make a huge jump. You're potentially looking at 3 years in a row of being able to land a major FA. Building through the draft with picks you don't have is pure nonsense when you have options like that.

They_Them_Hatin · Post #35 » by **They_Them_Hatin** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:57 pm

I think Kobe should sit out the rest of the year and relax his body and let them tank for a top 3 pick . Rushing back from a gruesome injury at his age to finish at max 12th in the west and loose the a top 8 pick doesn't make since.

Pointgod · Post #36 » by **Pointgod** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:07 pm

Bubstubbler wrote:Not too big of a stretch for the Lakers to end up with the 4th worst record this year, get pushed to #6 in the draft by getting jumped by a couple of teams who get lucky with the ping pong balls, and have that pick go to Philly this year.

.

It's a huge stretch. When was the last time 2 teams jumped into the top 5? It's safe to say the Lakers have nothing to worry about if the finish at least 4th

The Realist · Post #37 » by **The Realist** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:13 pm

getitdone323 wrote:FInally a non-lakers fan with a brain.

No offense intended, but this made me chortle.

Pointgod · Post #38 » by **Pointgod** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 4:01 pm

BDSF1994 wrote:He probably isn't a real obstacle if they're planning on rebuilding the right way through the draft and smart free agent signings (not another teams star player).

True. But this logic is counter to everything the Lakers management has been doing.

Michael Lucky · Post #39 » by **Michael Lucky** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 4:14 pm

He only has one year left on his contract, so no he's no longer an obstacle in the rebuilding process.

Post #40 » by **LLcoleJ** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:06 pm

RIPskaterdude wrote:
Tarik Black wrote:
RIPskaterdude wrote:
It's only top 5 protected in the upcoming lottery, then top 3, top 3, unprotected

Which is what I said. ^^ see what you quoted.

That being said, if the Lakers are concerned with the 2016 draft status that would mean they got in the top 5 of this years draft. Which along with last years lottery pic, this seasons possibly 2 and ample cap space that is their best case scenario plan of building with young guys and vets.

Yeah but it's not top 5 protected in 15-16, just 14-15 (this season)