Future FA Targets

[LALifer49]

I don't know if there is a thread for this sort of thing already, but I'm interested in hearing what you guys envision for the future of this team. The way I see it, we have a solid core with Randle, Dlo, Ingram, Nance, Zubac if he pans out, and maybe Clarkson (don't know if we can pay them all) who all fit very nicely together. This core will be good enough to make us competitive and get us to the playoffs, but I think we are one nice signing away from contending in a few years.

That being said, we should plan for which FA we want to target, and I think that the best choice is Demarcus Cousins.

Cousins is a fa in 2018. If we signed him, he'd be in his prime, and our lineup would be so well rounded. While I know he has attitude problems, he has been in Sacto his whole career, that is a terrible environment, especially for som1 with his temperament. If he was on the team this year I'd be worried about how he'd impact the young core and a rookie headcoach. But in a couple years the core wont be as young, and will have had a few years of chemistry and culture to build upon, and Walton will have gained some experience as well. I think Walton would be an ideal coach for dealing with this type of player. He is very personable, learned from Phil Jackson who had to deal with Rodman, Kobe/Shaq, Ron Artest etc., was very close with Draymond Green, and has already done a great job with Nick Young. As for Cousins, one thing he does not lack is passion for the game/competitiveness, and I think that can be channeled positively in the right environment; he displayed a willingness to work hard and play within the system during international play. I think the addition of Cousins to our core would put us over the top and allow us to contend for chips again.

I also don't really see any better fa options than Cousins. Griffin is injury prone and redundant with Randle, I also think Cousins is better than him. There are no other big men fa that really compare or can touch his versatile skillset. As for guard/forward fa, I think we are pretty set at most of those positions provided our picks pan out, while center would remain a weakness for us. I love Paul George as much as the next guy (probably more) but what would our lineup be? Dlo Clarkson(or som1else) Pgeorge Ingram Randle? Ok that sounds awesome actually lol, but too small ball reliant.

SOOO agree/disagree? What FA(s) do you think we should be looking to acquire?

**Also imagine how nasty the Randle/Boogie frontcourt would be lol

[Vae Victus]

Sign Blake Griffin next offseason with our just perfectly leftover max cap space if possible. Can always trade Randle for help at other positions, or use him as sweetener to dump Deng to open up cap space. Randle is Blake Lite, if Randle plays well the rest of the season his trade value only goes up. Might as well grab a young for sure star piece in Blake right now.

To sign Cousins or George in 2018 means we whiffed in 2017 FA AND we gotta dump Mozgov and Deng for expirings or cap space. Mozgov MIGHT be able to co-exist with Cousin (like the current Koufos/Cousins FC) but Deng cannot co-exist with George and Ingram. Deng being a 18 mil reserve will destroy whatever trade value he has and make dumping him even more impossible, unless the latest CBA negotiation goes every team a free amnesty cut. Not to mention we gotta re-sign Randle who if he keeps improving will likely require a 17-22 mil a year deal himself to retain.

The logistics of acquiring star talent will be MUCH easier in 2017 FA, come 2018 FA it'll be nigh on impossible unless the FO pulls some miracles out of their ass.

[LALifer49]

Sign Blake Griffin next offseason with our just perfectly leftover max cap space if possible. Can always trade Randle for help at other positions, or use him as sweetener to dump Deng to open up cap space. Randle is Blake Lite, if Randle plays well the rest of the season his trade value only goes up. Might as well grab a young for sure star piece in Blake right now.

To sign Cousins or George in 2018 means we whiffed in 2017 FA AND we gotta dump Mozgov and Deng for expirings or cap space. Mozgov MIGHT be able to co-exist with Cousin (like the current Koufos/Cousins FC) but Deng cannot co-exist with George and Ingram. Deng being a 18 mil reserve will destroy whatever trade value he has and make dumping him even more impossible, unless the latest CBA negotiation goes every team a free amnesty cut. Not to mention we gotta re-sign Randle who if he keeps improving will likely require a 17-22 mil a year deal himself to retain.

The logistics of acquiring star talent will be MUCH easier in 2017 FA, come 2018 FA it'll be nigh on impossible unless the FO pulls some miracles out of their ass.

Agreed, in order to acquire a big fa in 2018, we will need to have dumped one of either Deng or Mozgov. I think we might be able to accomplish this if we throw in Clarkson and maybe another piece, hate to use Clarkson as trade bait but if it can get rid of one of those contracts and clear up 28.5-30.5 million in capspace (before subtracting for whatever piece we take in the trade), could be for the greater good. The good thing about 2018 is that though we'll have to resign Randle, we wont have had to resign Dlo or nance yet so we should still have sufficient space if we can rid ourselves of one of the bad contracts.

The problem I have with signing Blake is that while I agree he is better than Randle, he is injury prone and we would be upgrading at a position we already have a good piece in rather than addressing an area of weakness. With Griffin we improve on the whole, but if we could manage to snag Cousins in 2018 I think the overall outlook of the team is much brighter. I also see us as a destination Cousins would be very willing to come to, so the only thing hindering us from signing him is the cap space issue, which would hopefully be resolved if we could dump one of the Deng/Mozgov contracts next season.

[larry14r]

Sign Blake Griffin next offseason with our just perfectly leftover max cap space if possible. Can always trade Randle for help at other positions, or use him as sweetener to dump Deng to open up cap space. Randle is Blake Lite, if Randle plays well the rest of the season his trade value only goes up. Might as well grab a young for sure star piece in Blake right now.

To sign Cousins or George in 2018 means we whiffed in 2017 FA AND we gotta dump Mozgov and Deng for expirings or cap space. Mozgov MIGHT be able to co-exist with Cousin (like the current Koufos/Cousins FC) but Deng cannot co-exist with George and Ingram. Deng being a 18 mil reserve will destroy whatever trade value he has and make dumping him even more impossible, unless the latest CBA negotiation goes every team a free amnesty cut. Not to mention we gotta re-sign Randle who if he keeps improving will likely require a 17-22 mil a year deal himself to retain.

The logistics of acquiring star talent will be MUCH easier in 2017 FA, come 2018 FA it'll be nigh on impossible unless the FO pulls some miracles out of their ass.

I wouldn't bother trying to Blake Griffin because the Clippers will re sign him in the first minute of free agency.

[Vae Victus]

I don't think Blake and CP3 will resign if they have another disappointing 2nd round knockout. That team is capped out with no ability to improve. Why stick around when they can go look for greener pastures. Just my opinion of course.

Hayward is my 2nd choice if he improves his 3pt shooting.

If I whiff on those two I go for 1+1 2nd year TO deals or trade for players on expiring deals and prep for a 2018 FA run.

I explore what a Deng + Randle package can fetch.

[LALifer49]

I don't think Blake and CP3 will resign if they have another disappointing 2nd round knockout. That team is capped out with no ability to improve. Why stick around when they can go look for greener pastures. Just my opinion of course.

Hayward is my 2nd choice if he improves his 3pt shooting.

If I whiff on those two I go for 1+1 2nd year TO deals or trade for players on expiring deals and prep for a 2018 FA run.

I explore what a Deng + Randle package can fetch.

So I take it you're not too high on randle or don't see him as part of our future core? If we signed Hayward and traded randle/deng who are our bigs in the future? Or who would you hope to acquire with that package? And is Hayward that good? Not sold on him at all

[Vae Victus]

Personally I'm not high Randle. I don't feel like he has the tools to be a long term keeper. He might just prove me wrong though.

If we get Hayward, I prolly won't as aggressively shop Randle, but Hayward REALLY has to show me something (good D plus high 3pt%) before I decide to commit all in on him. Deng obviously needs to go somehow regardless, which is the toughest part of everything.

[yanuary]

Its difficult question because :
Our 2018 FA depends on 2017 FA
Our 2017 FA depends on our situation after trade deadline and our results and youngs develop.
our trade deadline moves depends on our results and youngs develop.

So i think i have to wait few or more games to response.

[PKABOOICU]

Ibaka can be a great addition to our system. Id pay KCP and Terrence Jones too.

[Vae Victus]

KCP is a RFA and seems like DET is intent on keeping him. Also he's not enough of a talent to want to clog our cap with.

Ibaka is REALLY slowing down physically and his defense has fallen off a cliff. Rumors abound that he's lied about his age and thus we're seeing a typical early 30s physical breakdown of a player. Personally i wouldnt go near him as he's a big "name" player that wont live up his to deal. Not mention we already have Randle/Nance.

Jones is a nice player who's got a solid all around game, just dont see him able to get any PT with our current squad.

We have solid talent all throughout the lineup, its more important for us to figure a way to consolidate it and combine a few pieces into singular but greater pieces. Always hard to trade 4 quarters into a dollar.

[Up-And-Coming]

I think Russell is more of a shooting guard and would love if the Lakers can get Chris Paul. Would also love to sign Gordon Hayward although I don't think he would leave Utah. As usual, I don't foresee the Lakers signing an all-star caliber player but would be happy if we can keep our young core and sign a JJ Redick, or Patty Mills/Shaun Livingston type player.

[Princeinrevolt]

I think Russell is more of a shooting guard and would love if the Lakers can get Chris Paul. Would also love to sign Gordon Hayward although I don't think he would leave Utah. As usual, I don't foresee the Lakers signing an all-star caliber player but would be happy if we can keep our young core and sign a JJ Redick, or Patty Mills/Shaun Livingston type player.

Russell is definitely fit more to be a point guard tbh... He is such a great passer, and has very good vision... I just wish his teammates would make some shots lol... But if we keep winning I am not complaining... Chris Paul won't come here btw, and we shouldnt want him... too old... Hayward has a better chance to come here... And would be a very good fit... We dont need a patty mills or Shaun L., we have a good backup PG/SG in Lou and Clarkson... JJ reddick would be a good signing but we cant pay him too much money, but he will probably demand it so.. pass... We need a two way SG to be truly great (that is not too old)...


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[Edrees]

Nobody 30 or over should be on our radar. that means chris paul. we would be stuck into a long term contract and only have 2-3 years of contention until they get too old. the exception would be Kevin Durant or a mega superstar like that that can still play as a contender.

Chris Paul isn't good enough to be contending as the Alpha on the team, once he's 34-35.

[Vae Victus]

Aye, CP3 will ideally be looking for a max deal on a contender. Since no contender will have that much cap space he needs to figure out what he wants to sacrifice, money or chances for championships.

If he just wants the money he'll just max himself out with the Clippers. Blake will then have to decide whether he thinks another year of past prime CP3 and not much help from the rest of the roster is worth sticking around. The Clippers are truly in do or die mode this season.

[One Love]

KD ladies... GS will come up short & he will be the scapegoat & lead our young guns to the promise land... Alright, low probability, I think our next superstar will be in a trade from a team that is struggling, like Wall (Washington), Rose (NY) or possibly George (Indiana)... We have the pieces to be opportunistic...

Lakeshow Baby...

[Vae Victus]

Wall and Rose are NOT superstars. Wall is a very good young PG, but we already have that slot filled with our own up and comer. Rose is completely washed up athletically and hasnt built up his other skills enough to compensate. George is also a fine player but i dont think he moves the needle enough on his lonesome and he'll be blocking Ingram whom we dont know where he ends up. Not to mention Deng's bad contract that needs to either be part of the deal or dumped elsewhere somehow.

If we do trade for top notch talent, it would most likely be for Cousins and Mozgov will somehow be involved.

[meetbishop]

I think we should be looking at free agent signings than trades.

[Landsberger]

Wall and Rose are NOT superstars. Wall is a very good young PG, but we already have that slot filled with our own up and comer. Rose is completely washed up athletically and hasnt built up his other skills enough to compensate. George is also a fine player but i dont think he moves the needle enough on his lonesome and he'll be blocking Ingram whom we dont know where he ends up. Not to mention Deng's bad contract that needs to either be part of the deal or dumped elsewhere somehow.

If we do trade for top notch talent, it would most likely be for Cousins and Mozgov will somehow be involved.

If I could swap out Russell for Wall I'd do it in a second. Wall plays both ends very well.

[MelosSoreWrist]

The Deng signing was so unnecessary. It will limit what the Lakers can do next offseason.

[SashaTheMachine]

Would love to get a bigger wing that can shoot...Hayward. Oh man that would be ideal, especially at 6'8, he can handle the ball as well.

D'lo, Hayward, Ingram would be a lot of length for our guys on the wing.