2017 NBA Free Agency | Pg: 9 Magic prefers 2018 class more than 2017

[TylersLakers]

It doesn't look like there's an official thread for this, so I figured I may as well get it started as the dark days of the tank are upon us and pretty soon there will be a month with absolutely nothing to talk about until we figure out our draft position on May 16th.

Kevin Ding reports that the Lakers would be interested in Blake Griffin. Can anyone see this happening? How would we shape the roster to make it work? He's pretty much just a more athletic version of Julius Randle with a developed jumper.

That Griffin would also stay and reap the biggest payday he can seems likely, too—in theory. But more and more people around the league believe he would be open to a fresh start—perhaps with the Lakers or the Boston Celtics, who have coveted Griffin for years and would offer a new chance to win. The most intriguing fit might be if he were to go home to Oklahoma to join Russell Westbrook and the Thunder, but his interests in the entertainment industry make staying in Los Angeles a priority.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2699554-after-all-their-progress-the-clippers-are-a-franchise-at-a-dangerous-crossroads

[Landsberger]

Griffin's game relies so much on his athleticism and he always seems to be banged up in some way. Does that get better or worse going forward. He's never really been a go to guy in the clutch at the end of games either. We have one shot and I'm not sure I'd do a max contract for 5 years with him.

[TylersLakers]

This could potentially happen:

PG- Ball/Russell/
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Griffin/Nance/
C- Zubac

Could that have a window for a Championship?

[Penberthy]

This could potentially happen:

PG- Ball/Russell/
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Griffin/Nance/
C- Zubac

Could that have a window for a Championship?

Might as well go all the way and put Boogie in there.

[DNP-Old]

This could potentially happen:

PG- Ball/Russell/
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Griffin/Nance/
C- Zubac

Could that have a window for a Championship?

If everyone stays healthy, maybe 3-4 years down the road they might crack open the window.

[TylersLakers]

This could potentially happen:

PG- Ball/Russell/
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Griffin/Nance/
C- Zubac

Could that have a window for a Championship?

Might as well go all the way and put Boogie in there.

Cap wise that probably wouldn't work unless we managed to trade Deng AND Mozgov without using any sort of a stretch provision.

[Michael Lucky]

This could potentially happen:

PG- Ball/Russell/
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Griffin/Nance/
C- Zubac

Could that have a window for a Championship?

You aren't getting George by just trading Randle. Come on now.

[TylersLakers]

This could potentially happen:

PG- Ball/Russell/
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Griffin/Nance/
C- Zubac

Could that have a window for a Championship?

You aren't getting George by just trading Randle. Come on now.

Free agency.

[KingLakers]

I don't don't want to start my own thread so here it is. My best case scenario for the Lakers this summer is this.
1. Lakers get #1 draft Ball
2. In draft night trade Lakers trade Clarkson,Ingram, Randle the pick from Houston for Paul George
3. Sign Amir Johnson to replace Randle. Sign Shabazz Mohammed to take over Clarksons spot.
4. Sign Shaun Livingston as the backup PG/mentor for Ball
I doubt they can get rid of the Deng and Mozgov deals so they'll probably still be Lakers until at least the 2018 trade deadline. And fill out the rest of the roster with Nwaba and the second round pick. So the team will look like this.
PG. Ball, Livingston
SG. Russell, Muhammad, Nwaba
SF. George, Deng, Brewer
PF. Amir, Nance, Robinson
C. Mozgov, Zubac, Black
Can't say if that teams a contender but it's definitely a lot better probably a playoff team.

[Princeinrevolt]

I don't don't want to start my own thread so here it is. My best case scenario for the Lakers this summer is this.
1. Lakers get #1 draft Ball
2. In draft night trade Lakers trade Clarkson,Ingram, Randle the pick from Houston for Paul George
3. Sign Amir Johnson to replace Randle. Sign Shabazz Mohammed to take over Clarksons spot.
4. Sign Shaun Livingston as the backup PG/mentor for Ball
I doubt they can get rid of the Deng and Mozgov deals so they'll probably still be Lakers until at least the 2018 trade deadline. And fill out the rest of the roster with Nwaba and the second round pick. So the team will look like this.
PG. Ball, Livingston
SG. Russell, Muhammad, Nwaba
SF. George, Deng, Brewer
PF. Amir, Nance, Robinson
C. Mozgov, Zubac, Black
Can't say if that teams a contender but it's definitely a lot better probably a playoff team.

That is a really bad trade for us tbh. (2)

[KingLakers]

I just figured since the lakers wont give up their pick for george they have to give up ingram minimum probably clarkson. Randle was an idea they do have a nice bigman indiana. Maybe just throwing in brewer or nance might work

[Princeinrevolt]

I just figured since the lakers wont give up their pick for george they have to give up ingram minimum probably clarkson. Randle was an idea they do have a nice bigman indiana. Maybe just throwing in brewer or nance might work

He is on a 1 year contract, we can't give them almost all our young guys.

[TylersLakers]

I don't don't want to start my own thread so here it is. My best case scenario for the Lakers this summer is this.
1. Lakers get #1 draft Ball
2. In draft night trade Lakers trade Clarkson,Ingram, Randle the pick from Houston for Paul George
3. Sign Amir Johnson to replace Randle. Sign Shabazz Mohammed to take over Clarksons spot.
4. Sign Shaun Livingston as the backup PG/mentor for Ball
I doubt they can get rid of the Deng and Mozgov deals so they'll probably still be Lakers until at least the 2018 trade deadline. And fill out the rest of the roster with Nwaba and the second round pick. So the team will look like this.
PG. Ball, Livingston
SG. Russell, Muhammad, Nwaba
SF. George, Deng, Brewer
PF. Amir, Nance, Robinson
C. Mozgov, Zubac, Black
Can't say if that teams a contender but it's definitely a lot better probably a playoff team.

I like your signings. The trade for George is giving up a bit too much however.

I would give Indiana a few different proposals:

1) Clarkson/Randle/Brewer/Houston 1st for George, Jefferson

2) Ingram/Moz/Brewer/Houston 1st for George, Jefferson

3) Top 3 Pick/Deng/Mozgov/Houston 1st for George, Jefferson, Stuckey

[LakersSoul]

Why jump for PG and give up key assets? We do what N.O. did with Cousins but even more desperate. We wait until the next trade deadline, then PGs value will be cut by 1/3 at least. No team would touch him with his declaration to come to LA (keep feed the media this story). Then we can get him for peanuts. We offer a future top 10 protected 1st, 2nd rounder, Randle and fillers. If no, then a month later and closer to the trading deadline, we offer top 10 protected 1st rounder, 2nd rounder (maybe 2), Black and fillers without Randle. We can use Randle down the road to trade for another star to play alongside PG. We squeeze Bird and get PG for peanuts or for free over the summer. This is how I would play PG and Bird situation.

If Indiana doesnt improve drastically, PG is gone. Its that simple and I dont see them improving. They are barely holding on to a playoff spot right now and .500 record. There are no key FAs this summer and Indiana is too tight with the budget to add too much salary. Teague is also a FA this summer and I dont think Bird will match whoever decides to pay him 14-16+ million per year that he will get. PG will see Indiana letting Teague go for a rookie replacement. He will not want to wait for any youth movement in Indiana.

PG in LA by 2018 summer.

[Ballerhogger]

This could potentially happen:

PG- Ball/Russell/
SG- Ingram
SF- George
PF- Griffin/Nance/
C- Zubac

Could that have a window for a Championship?

No , russell needs to play SG or be traded or be bench player. Keep clarkson or trade him if Russell is staying . As he should. Do what with Randle? Move him to the pacers? I like Zubac in 2 more years. I wouldnt trade for paul quite yet.

[danfantastk32]

I don't think you guys are looking at the money aspect here.

There's no $$ for free-agent signings. If this team does nothing, it will be 11-players deep and about $84 in salary (that includes Houston pick at around $2.5 mil) That gives us $18 to the cap. If we do get the Lotto pick...your only playing with about $10mil.

Couple of things: Randle comes up next year. Russell, Nance, Zubac come up in 2.

Some people love Russell...some guys like Randle...some like Ingram. I don't care who you pick.....but pick one of them, and ship him, and our Houston pick off to whoever will take either Deng/Mozgov. We HAVE to get rid of one of those, if we're gonna think about being a player in FA.

Do the math.....we're gonna have to let at least one of our young guys (like one of the good ones) go even if we don't sign anyone. If we don't get our lotto pick, we might be able to keep Randle and Russell. Prob would lose Nance or Zubac (unless they don't pan out, and we can get them cheap....but then who cares).

And that's with Young walking....Brewer Walking...Tarik walking.

[danfantastk32]

If we signed Griffin...he's gonna want $30mil.

Ok, so $30 + $47 (deng/moz/Clarkson) + $30 (Brewer, Tarik, Russell, Ingram, Randle) = $107 (in the luxury). About $5-6 mil for Zubac, Nance, Nwaba our Houston pick, and your at $113.

I don't think you even CAN sign Griffin without shedding salary first.

[TylersLakers]

If we signed Griffin...he's gonna want $30mil.

Ok, so $30 + $47 (deng/moz/Clarkson) + $30 (Brewer, Tarik, Russell, Ingram, Randle) = $107 (in the luxury). About $5-6 mil for Zubac, Nance, Nwaba our Houston pick, and your at $113.

I don't think you even CAN sign Griffin without shedding salary first.

Declining Tarik's option and stretching one of Deng/Mozgov would give us around $36M in space.

[danfantastk32]

Declining Tarik's option and stretching one of Deng/Mozgov would give us around $36M in space.

Tarik doesnt have an option according to hoopshype. If he does....that's $6 off the books.

Stretching Mozgov free's up about $10 mil (Your paying for 7 years though....you do realize this).

So that takes you from $113 to $97. Ok.....so your 5mil under the cap. You at least theoretically COULD sign Griffin. And I would say that by stretching Mozgov, you could prob resign Zubac in two years, assuming he wasn't a total beast. If he wanted more than $20 mil...you prob couldn't do it.

I think my point still stands. If you wanna go stretching these guys for 7 years......yeah you COULD sign Griffin. But your still gonna lose almost all the youth, when their contracts come up....and your gonna have a total piece of crap team.

We need to worry about shedding some $$ before we worry about free-agents

[danfantastk32]

By the way......this is all stuff that Griffin's agent would explain to him. He might be able to come here, but he's coming to a 21-22 win team that will be capped by his arrival. Griffin wouldn't come here if it was just gonna be him.

Do I think he leaked this so PG's camp could hear about other interest? Very possible. Send the message to both PG and to Magic that if things can happen....he'd be interested.

But in that scenario.....the Lakers will have move Deng/Moz and Clarkson. Get all that off the books.

I personally don't care for Griffin....but if you could convince him to hang 1 year for PG to arrive. And you somehow traded Ingram and Nance with Moz to a team....and then Randle/Clarkson/Houston pick with Deng....maybe take a 1-2 year contract back, then I'd be intrigued.

Lotto-pick/Russell/PG/Griffin/Zubac It's fairly legit. I'd want to check for pulses on some of the guys who made those deals with us....but I don't think anything there is stupid-unreal.

$30 for Griffin - $30 for PG - $25 for Russell - $20 for Zubac - $7 for our lotto pick. We wont have much of a bench at all, but if that starting 5 all rose to the occasion I think you'd be a contender the 2nd year of PG's contrac. Lotto-pick would be in his 3rd year, Zubac his 4th, Russell his 5th. That seems realistic.

But like I said...it starts with moving those guys, and freeing up the salary. Until then, there's very little we can do