Luol Deng is ...

[ROballer]

Stop putting Calderon's name in rotation scenarios

The guy DIDN'T EVEN PLAY FOR SPAIN IN MOST OLYMPIC TOURNAMENT GAMES...like at all
He was the 3rd stringer, behind Ricky and Chacho

Sergio Rodriguez >>>>>>>>>>> Jose Calderon in this present state ...that should tell you a lot

A guy who doesn't even crack the rotation of his national team shouldn't see meaningful minutes on an NBA roster

He is a garbage guy, a guy who gives an advice here and there to the young guys, and gets to play only when somebody is hurt

[ROballer]

I honestly go berserk when some dudes pencil Russell at 32 mins a game or less, just to give some **** scrubs some burn
I mean seriously, this guy is our best player...you want your best player to be on the court as much as possible, I thought that was common sense

34 yr Kobe played 38 mins a game...let's sit Russell's ass on the bench for 1,5 quarters, as a 20 yr old, he'll surely tire

Sophomore seasons for PG's

Curry 34 mpg
Paul 37 mpg
Wall 36 mpg
Westbrook 34 mpg
Rose 37 mpg
Irving 35 mpg


Should I add other positions as well? For the team's best player?Yeah right

We suck...in order to COMPETE, you play him until his wheels fall off, and then when they do...you play him some more
If D'Angelo doesn't hover around 38 mins a game on this roster, something is seriously wrong
We need some Thibodeau mentality on this team...that guy knows his ****
He'd probably play Deng 40 mins a game tho'

[ALL HAIL]

To be fair, All Hail never said Deng is better than Green. He said he was the closest to Green.

And I would say it's a fair discussion and AH shouldn't be blasted at all. I would love for Deng to start at PF next to Ingram, but then you're sending Randle to the bench and for his development, I'm not sure that's the greatest. And yes, he still gets the same minutes, but does it do anything to his confidence or how effective his game is? That's the million dollar question.

PG: D'Angelo Russell [22]/ Clarkson [12]/ Calderon [14]
SG: Jordan Clarkson [22]/ Russell [10]/ Williams [16]
SF: Brandon Ingram [26]/ Nance [12]/ Deng [10]
PF: Luol Deng [14]/ Randle [22]/ Nance [10]
C: Timofey Mozgov [24]/ Randle [10]/ Jianlian [14]

I could see this line-up working, however I don't think it will be initially. We'll go with Deng as a starter at SF to start the season and Ingram coming off the bench.

Yep.

I really, really like Deng as a player. But, that being said, because of the presence of Randle, I probably would've convinced myself to pass on him (Deng) in free agency.

That would've been a mistake though.

Deng is the Lakers best player. If he gets minutes to begin games at his more natural PF position, look for Deng to give this team 16-18 a game.

Randle's better than Ingram right now, and I'm usually the poster boy for bringing teenagers along slowly, but with Ingram, they really, really need another shooter in that starting lineup. He'll be a role player -- like Grant Hill on Duke his freshman year.

If Randle wants to start, he'll have to learn how to play defense and shoot better than Deng -- a tall task.

Deng is just the better player right now. Randle will have to learn to snatch that starting PF from Deng. It's unfair to even expect that, but Deng at PF makes this team very, very deep (in the frontcourt) as a result.

As long as Randle finishes games, Luke Walton seems like the type of guy to be able to make a situation like this work. The key, again, is giving Randle massive opportunity to finish games. If he's in there at the end, communicated to, and given a role, I think Randle handles it just fine.

Also,moving Clarkson to the bench as well (with Randle), could act as a tremendous buffer for the kid's (Randle's) ego ... in addition to benefitting the team.

[dockingsched]

To be fair, All Hail never said Deng is better than Green. He said he was the closest to Green.

And I would say it's a fair discussion and AH shouldn't be blasted at all. I would love for Deng to start at PF next to Ingram, but then you're sending Randle to the bench and for his development, I'm not sure that's the greatest. And yes, he still gets the same minutes, but does it do anything to his confidence or how effective his game is? That's the million dollar question.

PG: D'Angelo Russell [22]/ Clarkson [12]/ Calderon [14]
SG: Jordan Clarkson [22]/ Russell [10]/ Williams [16]
SF: Brandon Ingram [26]/ Nance [12]/ Deng [10]
PF: Luol Deng [14]/ Randle [22]/ Nance [10]
C: Timofey Mozgov [24]/ Randle [10]/ Jianlian [14]

I could see this line-up working, however I don't think it will be initially. We'll go with Deng as a starter at SF to start the season and Ingram coming off the bench.

I doubt nance gets 12 minutes at SF all season much less per game. There is no way Nance is getting pushed to sf for that huge chunk of time just so Yi can play 14 mpg at center. I can't even wrap my head around such a possibility.

[Mirjalovic]

lol Randle at 22 mpg.

i dont see the urgency to play Deng at 4. Nance and Randle is basically the definition of small ball PF/C. Fast/Athletic and relatively skilled for their position (ball handling skills for Randle and shooting/jumping ability for Nance). It's doesn't need a SF to be a PF to become small ball, but quick/athletic PFs with some distinctive advantages too

[SlimShady83]

I honestly go berserk when some dudes pencil Russell at 32 mins a game or less, just to give some **** scrubs some burn
I mean seriously, this guy is our best player...you want your best player to be on the court as much as possible, I thought that was common sense
:

Clarkson is our best player and after this season he'll prove everyone wrong. Clarkson is my boy this year, not Lou LOL on that one. I still love lou, but Clarkson has won me over, he is our best player by a mile - just wait a season to see how it turns out, heck wait until allstar break when Clarkson is only one on the allstar team:)

Let's go Clarkson!

Edit: last year I was saying there's my boy Lou at lot, mostly because I got it from a movie, can't remember which movie right now < a little tipsy.

[stan francisco]

Luol Deng is Luol Deng. His story is pretty incredible. Great team personality. Humble, hard worker, calming presence, high character.

I think all of those things are vitally important so I agree with the signing.

He's no Draymond Green. The guy eventually filling that role for us in the office would be Nance, I think.

[No-Man]

a PF

and wait, you know what, Ingram is a PF also, and Nance is a Center, Randle if he ever has a future is as a 3rd big, Zubac, Mozgov, Black and Yi are all Centers too.

Russell-Huertas-Calderon
Clarkson-Williams
Brown-Young
Deng-Randle-Ingram
Mozgov-Nance-Black-Zubac

This is the reality positionally wise of the roster.

[Penberthy]

Top 5 SF in the west

[WVlakerfan]

I was thinking about this signing today and because Deng does have a lot of miles on his body and the fact that this is going to be his last big pay day. Do you think the front office brought up the idea to reduce his minutes to extend his career. He may not be able to keep up with 3s for 35 mins a game but can he keep up for 25 .

Edit.

[chefy12]

<3

[danfantastk32]

With the money shelled out, I think it's fair to expect to see at the very least 25min pg for Deng and Mozgov. Remember...Luke said Mozgov fits his plans exactly. So I think both guys will prob be closer to 30min.

Russell, Randle, Clarkson. Prob north of 30 Minutes as well. You expect Nance and Ingram to get time. These 5 are our future.

I think the rest will be fighting for scraps. Luke's not worried about playoffs. The bulk of free minutes will be going to young guys, not towards getting W's. Injuries will be the other players biggest window of opportunity. Sadly, there are always injuries.....so you can bet some guys will see time.

This is not how I'd do it, btw.....but what I realistically see happening. T-Black, Young, Williams will get low priority (I think Williams will get some early run....and if he impresses, he will prob get more time than the others) and I think the other 85 big men we signed this offseason will prob get no time. If they are even on the team when it's all said and done.

Calderon and Huertas will be on call if Russell/Clarkson get hurt, or if we're up/down by 30.

[Kilroy]

Too $hort