2018 Free Agents

[Landsberger]

Marc Stein
✔
@ESPNSteinLine

Does Magic Johnson have another trade in store in his debut week? ESPN sources say his Lakers are seeking a second-round pick for Nick Young
2:29 PM - 23 Feb 2017


Not bait just truth. We are moving into the youth movement and Lou was available. If Lou is going then Young is a no-brainer. There were no takers for a 2nd rounder. That is Young's value. Teams could sign him for 3/21-24 but wont trade their draft pick when they know he will be a FA this summer.

Right now, Young is taking the 3rd most shots in the roster. Those 10.5 shots will need to be given to Dlo, Randle, Ingram and Zubac.

Or the guards that come this summer could be taking those shots if we trade Clarkson and let him go. Point is that we need at least 5 guards on the team and Russell/Brewer would be it. I think it's very plausible that he stays unless we can get 2 guards in FA and one at least in the draft. Any starting 2 guard will shoot at least 8 times given average minutes. I'm not sure the math will be zero for the guard next to Russell and 10.5 more shots for that group of 4.

[Pointgod]

We need to pick up more assets this off season to make a trade for a disgruntled superstar early in the season ala Demarcus Cousins trade. Frankly if we manage to land a top 3 pick, Russell, Randle, Clarkson, Nance should all be on the table for more draft picks. Using our young guys to get rid of Deng or Mozgov is just going to leave a completed depleted team when it comes time to make a push for George(if he's even an option at that point). Maintaining cap space this off season is essential, better to use it as a dumping spot for one year contracts with a pick or assets attached.
An ideal situation would be to have an all star, Ingram, top 3 pick and some vets heading into 2018 free agency.

[larry14r]

We need to pick up more assets this off season to make a trade for a disgruntled superstar early in the season ala Demarcus Cousins trade. Frankly if we manage to land a top 3 pick, Russell, Randle, Clarkson, Nance should all be on the table for more draft picks. Using our young guys to get rid of Deng or Mozgov is just going to leave a completed depleted team when it comes time to make a push for George(if he's even an option at that point). Maintaining cap space this off season is essential, better to use it as a dumping spot for one year contracts with a pick or assets attached.
An ideal situation would be to have an all star, Ingram, top 3 pick and some vets heading into 2018 free agency.

Easier side than done because teams will target the top 3 pick, and Ingram before anyone else on our team.

[Pointgod]

We need to pick up more assets this off season to make a trade for a disgruntled superstar early in the season ala Demarcus Cousins trade. Frankly if we manage to land a top 3 pick, Russell, Randle, Clarkson, Nance should all be on the table for more draft picks. Using our young guys to get rid of Deng or Mozgov is just going to leave a completed depleted team when it comes time to make a push for George(if he's even an option at that point). Maintaining cap space this off season is essential, better to use it as a dumping spot for one year contracts with a pick or assets attached.
An ideal situation would be to have an all star, Ingram, top 3 pick and some vets heading into 2018 free agency.

Easier side than done because teams will target the top 3 pick, and Ingram before anyone else on our team.

That's the ideal situation, but we've seen crazier deals that didn't require teams giving up a ton of assets. We'all have our 2019 pick back and if we could get additional picks from a player like Clarkson, Nance or using our cap space to take on assets. If you're talking about getting Cousins or Butler then yeah we might have to move Ingram or our #3 but just getting an all star on the team is key. That all star will dictate how much we give up.

[larry14r]

We need to pick up more assets this off season to make a trade for a disgruntled superstar early in the season ala Demarcus Cousins trade. Frankly if we manage to land a top 3 pick, Russell, Randle, Clarkson, Nance should all be on the table for more draft picks. Using our young guys to get rid of Deng or Mozgov is just going to leave a completed depleted team when it comes time to make a push for George(if he's even an option at that point). Maintaining cap space this off season is essential, better to use it as a dumping spot for one year contracts with a pick or assets attached.
An ideal situation would be to have an all star, Ingram, top 3 pick and some vets heading into 2018 free agency.

Easier side than done because teams will target the top 3 pick, and Ingram before anyone else on our team.

That's the ideal situation, but we've seen crazier deals that didn't require teams giving up a ton of assets. We'all have our 2019 pick back and if we could get additional picks from a player like Clarkson, Nance or using our cap space to take on assets. If you're talking about getting Cousins or Butler then yeah we might have to move Ingram or our #3 but just getting an all star on the team is key. That all star will dictate how much we give up.

Either way we'll still be behind the Warriors in the west.

[Pointgod]

Easier side than done because teams will target the top 3 pick, and Ingram before anyone else on our team.

That's the ideal situation, but we've seen crazier deals that didn't require teams giving up a ton of assets. We'all have our 2019 pick back and if we could get additional picks from a player like Clarkson, Nance or using our cap space to take on assets. If you're talking about getting Cousins or Butler then yeah we might have to move Ingram or our #3 but just getting an all star on the team is key. That all star will dictate how much we give up.

Either way we'll still be behind the Warriors in the west.

There is no magic bullet that will put us ahead of the Warriors or even most of the top teams in the West. But it would put us in a better position to build a contender and attract George if that's our goal in 2018. It's also better than doing nothing and just waiting for our young guys to maybe turn into all stars.

[larry14r]

That's the ideal situation, but we've seen crazier deals that didn't require teams giving up a ton of assets. We'all have our 2019 pick back and if we could get additional picks from a player like Clarkson, Nance or using our cap space to take on assets. If you're talking about getting Cousins or Butler then yeah we might have to move Ingram or our #3 but just getting an all star on the team is key. That all star will dictate how much we give up.

Either way we'll still be behind the Warriors in the west.

There is no magic bullet that will put us ahead of the Warriors or even most of the top teams in the West. But it would put us in a better position to build a contender and attract George if that's our goal in 2018. It's also better than doing nothing and just waiting for our young guys to maybe turn into all stars.

Or be our sporting cast because the CBA will make it hard for us to get all stars in free agent.

[Ballerhogger]

Paul george will be our goal still. Unless we get Fultz and he goes crazy.

[larry14r]

Paul george will be our goal still. Unless we get Fultz and he goes crazy.

Without an extension in place there is no way the Lakers make that trade.

[BEazy]

These rookies will be on a cheap contract. Get Fultz/Ball/Jackson, the Houston pick,PG, and maybe a mid tier borderline all star player since Moz and Deng are freaking immovable objects.

[Fresh360Waves]

There is no second star.

George will eat all available cap space including the space we open up by stretching Deng or Mozgov. We don't even have the MLE because we would be renouncing it for pure cap space. Then when Deng and Mozgov's contracts come off the books, we'd have extended Randle, and D'lo and we'd still have no cap space.

Not unless we're able to dump Deng and Mozgov prior to August 31st 2018.

If you're living in lalaland thinking another star will come to our team for peanuts, well I'm going to ask if you can do simple math

I sent this from a potato using a penny and strips of copper attached to an antenna and half a coke can

He's 100% correct and that's what the article talks about. To gain cap space after 2018, we'd have to trade Clarkson and Deng or not re-sign Randle.

The 2018 summer is our last year to keep the free agent hope alive.

Those Mozgov and Deng contracts were completely brutal and I knew it from Minute #1. Sad that the majority of the board knew this and not the Lakers FO.

Yepp.

I still remember the tweet Wok sent out at 12:08 or whatever saying we were closing in on a deal with Mozgov. Mozgov is so bad that I didn't even know he was a free agent this summer.

Honestly though, I thought we would give out a huge contract to Noah. I didn't envision Deng wanting to sign here, figured he would want to go get a ring. Guess that tells you a lot about a person, $72 million dollars for old man Deng.

Rob is genius, he'll find a way to get rid of Deng and Mozgov for nothing. My ideas..

Deng+Clarkson to Wolves. We all know the history of Thibs/Deng together. This would add a vet on the wing, which they really need. It will also add another young player that could help pick up the production from Lavine after his ACL injury. We could take back Jordan Hill and then waive him or move him to another team. Wolves should have plenty of cap space this summer, I'd say this is a great deal for them.

Mozgov + Randle + Rockets 1st to the Nets: Net's are rebuilding after Danny Ainge robbed them for years to come. This deal works out for the nets as they add another young player (randle) and then another draft pick to help them rebuild.

I like the thinking of your trades. We'd have to throw in a 1st for sure for the Wolves to even consider the trade. Even then, not sure. As far as Mozgov/Randle trade, not sure if the Nets would do that either especially considering Randle is due for an extension soon. I'm sure the Nets want to figure out what their core will be before shelling out big money to players.