The season in review. what did we learn?

[RingsDontLie]

Ingram: Will be a superstar. If we trade him I will not be a laker fan any more. It would be such a colossal mistake I couldn't watch another game.

Russell: Untouchable in a trade. Great skillset, great shooting ability, will be that modern nba scoring guard with great vision. If we trade Russell, I'd be very upset.

Randle: Still like his game as he brings depth to this team with his versatility, rebounding, and getting in people's heads. He doesn't need to be a star to be a critical piece from what I see. But he's the guy I'd put on the block for a trade if it can land us a real star.

Clarkson: Untouchable in a trade. He's too valuable to trade. I like his contract, great productivity and good attitude too. Again, he'll bring great depth and versatility to this team, especially off the bench.

Larry Nance: Solid player, could be a starter but not on this team. Would explore trading so that he can reach his potential with another team. Lakers will just hold him back.

Luke: Good coach so far, can't complain. I like his approach, he's a good communicator and can relate to these guys. Benching Mozgov/Deng was also smart. He got Ingram a lot of playing time, and Ingram has made a huge leap.

Magic Johnson: I thought trading Lou was smart for the Houston 1st, and a top 3 pick.

Zubac: Skilled big man, but needs more work. Think it's too early to trade him. Just keep developing him.

I'm starting to think Butler is a good move now too if we are set on just really developing these players. Butler doesn't seem too bent on contending. If we get Paul George were gonna have to lose Randle and a top pick I gather. If we get Butler though, I think there wouldn't be too much pressure to rise to prominence, and we might eventually be contenders as D'angelo, Ingram, and another guy becomes a star.

[DEEP3CL]

Things I realized....

Ingram will be our best player in 3 years hands down

Russell as a point guard is over...he's a 2 but his defense will have to get better for that spot for us to win

We have too many holes and this offseason won't cover all of them

Randle/ Nance have to get better on the jumper to fully run Luke's offense...they don't have to be 3 ball shooters but they have to develop hitting from distance more consistently.

We need decent experience players, youth doesn't win titles and we have to at some point turn the corner to get free agents.We can't keep playing for lotto picks.

[Duke4life831]

I know before the start of the year, I got the feeling that many felt Russell was going to be the guy the team was built around and Ingram as the #2. Im curious if thats how many still feel. I know Ingram had a real rough start to the year but did he show enough at the end to make people feel like he is now THE guy.

From the outside looking in, I really like your young pieces. I think Russell fits best as a SG but I really like the young talent you guys have with him, Ingram, Randle, Nance, Zubac and Clarkson. I still think Ball would be a perfect fit and would really help you guys.

[DEEP3CL]

I know before the start of the year, I got the feeling that many felt Russell was going to be the guy the team was built around and Ingram as the #2. Im curious if thats how many still feel. I know Ingram had a real rough start to the year but did he show enough at the end to make people feel like he is now THE guy.

From the outside looking in, I really like your young pieces. I think Russell fits best as a SG but I really like the young talent you guys have with him, Ingram, Randle, Nance, Zubac and Clarkson. I still think Ball would be a perfect fit and would really help you guys.

The young core is good but needs some seasoning before we can compete. It's clear to many here now that Russell is a 2 and him off the ball gives the team an added advantage because he can pass with creativity. But we need a lead guard that can just deliver the ball...and if that's Lonzo Ball that makes it all the better.

In terms of Ingram, as I stated in my post he will be our best player in 3 years max. He got so better at reading defenses, knowing where the help defender was coming from and not wasting movement just to score.

[Duke4life831]

I know before the start of the year, I got the feeling that many felt Russell was going to be the guy the team was built around and Ingram as the #2. Im curious if thats how many still feel. I know Ingram had a real rough start to the year but did he show enough at the end to make people feel like he is now THE guy.

From the outside looking in, I really like your young pieces. I think Russell fits best as a SG but I really like the young talent you guys have with him, Ingram, Randle, Nance, Zubac and Clarkson. I still think Ball would be a perfect fit and would really help you guys.

The young core is good but needs some seasoning before we can compete. It's clear to many here now that Russell is a 2 and him off the ball gives the team an added advantage because he can pass with creativity. But we need a lead guard that can just deliver the ball...and if that's Lonzo Ball that makes it all the better.

In terms of Ingram, as I stated in my post he will be our best player in 3 years max. He got so better at reading defenses, knowing where the help defender was coming from and not wasting movement just to score.

Ya I think Ball fits what you guys need like a glove. I never looked at Russell as a PG so I think getting a true PG and forcing Russell over to the 2 is best for the team and Russell. And ya I dont think you guys are going to make the playoffs next year, I think the year after that is a good hope on when to start competing for a playoff spot. Your core will still be in their early and mid twenties by then.

Ya reading this thread it looks like many people are seeing Ingram as the star for this team going forward. It seems like he had a year similar to his year at Duke. Pretty rough start and didnt look comfortable at the start, but towards the end really started to show he belongs and showed his great potential.

[tugs]

Russell and Clarkson are very good "playmakers": for others and for their own offense. Definitely not "pass first". As others have mentioned​ already, a true PG will definitely do wonders for the offense. DLo at SG, JC as the Harden-type 6th man. Yep, I went there.

Nance, Nwaba, Zubac, Ennis, Black are the guys that just plays the right way and know their capacities. TRob to an extent, though he tends to overdribble. I would like to have them all back for the long run.

Randle is still lost and can't find his niche. Unlike JC and DLo, he still doesn't seem to get how he can be effective off ball, though he had a lot of improvement from his 3 and to him crashing the boards. Those are "conscious" plays and I appreciate he worked on those areas of his game.

Zubac will be our all around, high IQ center for years to come. A big that can dominate inside (score and defend), and is a willing passer for open teammates. Perfect fit for the likes of DLo, JC, Randle, and BI.

And speaking of BI, man, I was a bit of a skeptic before but he WILL be the face of this franchise.

We are so blessed to have 5 potential superstars but I'd be ecstatic if they'd finally mesh together and play for what's in front of the jersey and not just what's on the back.

I haven't been this excited for the new season.

[DEEP3CL]

And ya I dont think you guys are going to make the playoffs next year, I think the year after that is a good hope on when to start competing for a playoff spot. Your core will still be in their early and mid twenties by then.

It's not definitive that they can't make the playoffs next season. I see the demise of two teams already in the making. I can see them hunting for the 8th seed barring no injuries and maybe even a higher seed if they can make a trade. We'll have a chance at free agents in 2018. Teams like Memphis and Dallas will be another year older and their windows are closing quickly. Then teams like Denver, Sacramento, Phoenix and the Lakers are younger....two of them will bypass the old ones soon, that's automatic and will happen.

[Princeinrevolt]

I don't understand why people want Russell as a Sg. That hurts our team more than it helps it. If D'angelo is a Sg, he will be defended by players his size, so he will never have an advantage on offense. Then also defensively our team will be horrible, because D'angelo is too slow and too weak to defend shooting guards, and we won't have a lockdown perimeter player.

I know you guys don't want him to be the point guard because he averages only 4.8 assists, even if its in only 28 minutes. His per 36 is 6 apg, and that is extremely good considering he has no shooters on the floor with him. I'd rather trade D'angelo than have him play Sg. He just has way more advantages when he plays Pg. And he is a good playmaker, his teammates just can't make shots.

There are barely any teams that are contenders that have a "true point guard", maybe just the Wizards, and Clippers. If you call them contenders anyways. D'angelo can be a championship caliber point guard with two way players around him. Also the biggest reason I want D'angelo at the Pg position is because I know Brandon Ingram is going to be a superstar. Ingram will be more ball dominant as he gets older, and we can't add another player that needs the ball in his hands. D'angelo is good enough in that he could be on-ball and off-ball, and that is why he is a perfect player next to a superstar player, or Brandon Ingram (or if we can sign him Paul George). If we add another Pg, and KEEP D-Lo as the Sg, we can't be a championship-winning team. We would not have enough defense in our starting lineup. Our center would have to be Rudy Gobert, our Pf would have to be Draymond Green, and that still might not be enough to be a top defensive team.

A perfect lineup for us would be:

Pg: D'angelo Russell (Can be a great scorer, On-Ball/Off-ball player; Can defend when motivated)
Sg: 3&D typer player (Example: Avery Bradley)
Sf: Superstar Type player (Hopefully Ingram/Paul George)
Pf: 3 Point Shooter & can switch on to perimeter players from time to time (Could be Ingram if he gains some weight, and we get Paul George; Also Randle has shown flashes that he can do it one day, but right now he is not consistent enough, and definitely needs to work on it some more this offseason)
C: Rim Protector (Example: Gobert/Deandre/Bogut/Willie Cauley-Stein)

^Thats a championship team, we don't need a team full of superstars, we just need a full team that can defend, shoot, and a superstar that can close the game for us.

[ALL HAIL]

I don't understand why people want Russell as a Sg. That hurts our team more than it helps it. If D'angelo is a Sg, he will be defended by players his size, so he will never have an advantage on offense. Then also defensively our team will be horrible, because D'angelo is too slow and too weak to defend shooting guards, and we won't have a lockdown perimeter player.

I know you guys don't want him to be the point guard because he averages only 4.8 assists, even if its in only 28 minutes. His per 36 is 6 apg, and that is extremely good considering he has no shooters on the floor with him. I'd rather trade D'angelo than have him play Sg. He just has way more advantages when he plays Pg. And he is a good playmaker, his teammates just can't make shots.

There are barely any teams that are contenders that have a "true point guard", maybe just the Wizards, and Clippers. If you call them contenders anyways. D'angelo can be a championship caliber point guard with two way players around him. Also the biggest reason I want D'angelo at the Pg position is because I know Brandon Ingram is going to be a superstar. Ingram will be more ball dominant as he gets older, and we can't add another player that needs the ball in his hands. D'angelo is good enough in that he could be on-ball and off-ball, and that is why he is a perfect player next to a superstar player, or Brandon Ingram (or if we can sign him Paul George). If we add another Pg, and KEEP D-Lo as the Sg, we can't be a championship-winning team. We would not have enough defense in our starting lineup. Our center would have to be Rudy Gobert, our Pf would have to be Draymond Green, and that still might not be enough to be a top defensive team.

A perfect lineup for us would be:

Pg: D'angelo Russell (Can be a great scorer, On-Ball/Off-ball player; Can defend when motivated)
Sg: 3&D typer player (Example: Avery Bradley)
Sf: Superstar Type player (Hopefully Ingram/Paul George)
Pf: 3 Point Shooter & can switch on to perimeter players from time to time (Could be Ingram if he gains some weight, and we get Paul George; Also Randle has shown flashes that he can do it one day, but right now he is not consistent enough, and definitely needs to work on it some more this offseason)
C: Rim Protector (Example: Gobert/Deandre/Bogut/Willie Cauley-Stein)

^Thats a championship team, we don't need a team full of superstars, we just need a full team that can defend, shoot, and a superstar that can close the game for us.

On eighty percent of the teams in the league, Russell would be guarding the opposing two-guard if his backcourt mate was Avery Bradley. He can defend twos better than ones, IMO.

[tugs]

Would rather have Russell defend SGs of his size than speedy PGs.

[Princeinrevolt]

On eighty percent of the teams in the league, Russell would be guarding the opposing two-guard if his backcourt mate was Avery Bradley. He can defend twos better than ones, IMO.

From all that I typed up, you're just going to say that? haha.

But seriously though, even if D'angelo Russell will be guarding the Sg position if Avery Bradley comes. At least we have Avery to be a lockdown defender to defend the Point guard position. So D'angelo doesn't look as lost out there guarding the Sg position. If we had another pg and D-Lo playing at the same time, then we're just going to be a bad defensive team.
Avery was also just an example, I hope Josh Jackson can be our 3&D shooting guard, even though I think he'll be much more than just a 3 point shooter and a defender in the future.

[Princeinrevolt]

Would rather have Russell defend SGs of his size than speedy PGs.

I'd only want that if we had a lockdown defender to guard the point guards, if we had Lonzo Ball for example guarding point guards, we'll be even worse to be honest.

[danfantastk32]

On eighty percent of the teams in the league, Russell would be guarding the opposing two-guard if his backcourt mate was Avery Bradley. He can defend twos better than ones, IMO.

From all that I typed up, you're just going to say that? haha.

But seriously though, even if D'angelo Russell will be guarding the Sg position if Avery Bradley comes. At least we have Avery to be a lockdown defender to defend the Point guard position. So D'angelo doesn't look as lost out there guarding the Sg position. If we had another pg and D-Lo playing at the same time, then we're just going to be a bad defensive team.
Avery was also just an example, I hope Josh Jackson can be our 3&D shooting guard, even though I think he'll be much more than just a 3 point shooter and a defender in the future.

I was gonna reply to the long post...but I'll just throw it down here. I pretty much agree with what Hail said. I'd like to see us get a shooting PG, and have Russell play at the 2...but there would be considerable overlap. I just think Russell will be quicker than most 2's....while he's quite slower than most PG's. He'll defend 2's better, and give opposing 2's fits. I think he'd capitalize on 'catch-and-shoot' plays...while also being able to put the ball on the floor and create.

If (crossing fingers) we do get someone like Ball...and he lives up to expectations, one thing the Lakers will be really strong in is "play-makers". Think about it. Russell, Ball, Ingram, Clarkson, Randle (lesser extent) can all put the ball on the floor and make plays....read defenses. That's pretty nice.

Anyhow...that's how I see it. I just think he'd be more productive as a 2. I hear what your saying on his assists. 6-assists per 36 is not very much IMO....but I get that this team is a growing infant. It's not all his fault.

[Princeinrevolt]

I was gonna reply to the long post...but I'll just throw it down here. I pretty much agree with what Hail said. I'd like to see us get a shooting PG, and have Russell play at the 2...but there would be considerable overlap. I just think Russell will be quicker than most 2's....while he's quite slower than most PG's. He'll defend 2's better, and give opposing 2's fits. I think he'd capitalize on 'catch-and-shoot' plays...while also being able to put the ball on the floor and create.

If (crossing fingers) we do get someone like Ball...and he lives up to expectations, one thing the Lakers will be really strong in is "play-makers". Think about it. Russell, Ball, Ingram, Clarkson, Randle (lesser extent) can all put the ball on the floor and make plays....read defenses. That's pretty nice.

Anyhow...that's how I see it. I just think he'd be more productive as a 2. I hear what your saying on his assists. 6-assists per 36 is not very much IMO....but I get that this team is a growing infant. It's not all his fault.

We're basically arguing about what we want this team to focus on more: I'm choosing defense, you're choosing offense. Simple as that.

Lonzo Ball is a normal player to me, nothing special. A great spot up shooter, amazing transition player, plays within the offense, not a good defender, and is supposedly a GREAT passer, but he was surrounded by amazing shooters in UCLA so its much easier to seem like a playmaking wizard in that situation.

To me 6 assists per 36 with no shooters is like 8-11 assists with great shooters. Get D'angelo Russell some shooters, and you will see the playmaking wizardry that he is capable of doing, on top of that he could be a great scorer. And if we do get Lonzo Ball, and we don't add any shooter, he will 100 percent struggle in playmaking.

[danfantastk32]

Russell : He's our future SG/PG, he's going to be special once he learns to be consistent.

Ingram : A future superstar, untouchable.

Zubac : Already better than Mozgov/Black/Robinson at age 20. Our future back-up, perhaps starting center.

Randle : Still can't go right or finish right, we need to trade him while he has value. He has his nights, but those are few and in between.

Clarkson : Up and down, wouldn't mind trading him. He's peaked at age 25 for the most part.

Deng: Trash, this was predictable. Now we're more than likely going to see him retire here. Meta and Brewer are much better than Deng.

Mozgov : As figured, trash signing. Our rookie center and minimum contract player Robinson are much better than him. He's another play who is going to retire here sadly.

Robinson : Bring him back

I like the idea of Russell as SG personally, but I think he would be ok as PG with a stronger team around him. The Westbrooks and stuff are gonna zip by him like he's standing still....but let's be honest: who stops Westbrook?

I to am huge on Ingram. The package is so clearly there. He had a rough first year, but I think so much of that was his weight. Watching the way he plays...I actually hope he doesn't bulk up too much. I think he'll be a better player if he stays "whispy". Especially if he want's to attack. He just needs a good 25-30 pounds of additional muscle (not alot for a 6'9" frame) to help with the stamina/and be able to exert SOME will on opposing players. These 240-pound guys are just boulders compared to a 190-pound frame. I think too much energy is being expelled before a shot even goes up. But that will get fixed soon enough. I agree with Deep on this one....he's gonna be the best player on this team (current players at least) in a couple. I mentioned in in another post....I don't make the trade for Paul George for this reason. I think Ingram will be as good as him in 2-3 years.

I'd like to see Randle turn out good. But this is year 3. He's gotta start adding elements to his game. No more "bull in a china-shop" charging end to end. It's nice twice a game in the right moments.....but it's not winning basketball.

[danfantastk32]

We're basically arguing about what we want this team to focus on more: I'm choosing defense, you're choosing offense. Simple as that.

I think Russell will be a better 2-defender myself, but I agree with your statement over-all. Defense is not something I care too much about. Please don't twist that into "i dont care about defense at all" ....but I think as long as your decent....spend the time/money/effort on offense in todays NBA

[Princeinrevolt]

We're basically arguing about what we want this team to focus on more: I'm choosing defense, you're choosing offense. Simple as that.

I think Russell will be a better 2-defender myself, but I agree with your statement over-all. Defense is not something I care too much about. Please don't twist that into "i dont care about defense at all" ....but I think as long as your decent....spend the time/money/effort on offense in todays NBA

It's not about if Russell is a better 2-defender, its about if the 1-defender is actually a good defender. Lonzo Ball is not a good defender, so it really doesn't matter if Russell is a better 2-defender. You know what I mean?

[danfantastk32]

We're basically arguing about what we want this team to focus on more: I'm choosing defense, you're choosing offense. Simple as that.

I think Russell will be a better 2-defender myself, but I agree with your statement over-all. Defense is not something I care too much about. Please don't twist that into "i dont care about defense at all" ....but I think as long as your decent....spend the time/money/effort on offense in todays NBA

It's not about if Russell is a better 2-defender, its about if the 1-defender is actually a good defender. Lonzo Ball is not a good defender, so it really doesn't matter if Russell is a better 2-defender. You know what I mean?

I hear it....defense is not my end game here. To be honest, none of the top-5 point guards can be stopped....and none of them really do alot of stopping. Hence my semi-lack of regard for D.

There was a time....but I haven't seen a "good defensive team" in about 10 years. The rules make it almost impossible now. Just put out effort...and make good rotations. That's enough for me. =0)

[Laker_Kid]

i learned that BI's nickname among the guys is "Tiny"


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[Landsberger]

I learned that we are still a very long way away. I'm not seeing anyone currently that looks like a top 2 or even 3 player on a very good team. I discount some of the last 1/3 of this season. Good stats on bad teams is nearly a constant and the last 2/3 of the season we were very bad.

I did like what I was seeing from Ingram toward the end of the season. I still don't see a dominant scorer in him but his shot did come around. Zubac was a huge surprise for the team considering his draft position. His combination of fundamentals and skill along with NBA size is pretty unique. Above that his attitude and approach to being a youngster in a professional league was very refreshing.

Nance is a bull dog of a player however this is a double edged sword in that he looks to be banged up constantly.

Randle's progress was disappointing. Still lacks fundamentals necessary in many ways. His decision time is soon approaching and I'm not sure I'd pay market price for him going forward. At least not before we get our next true star on board.

Luke as a coach showed that he's a rookie in many ways. Hopefully he molds his schemes to the player over trying to mold the players to his schemes. Line up consistently is a good thing Luke!

The FO drama was a distraction and unfortunately I think it's just beginning. I'm not sold on Magic in a player evaluation role however I'm holding out hope the Magic that wanted Kareem, Worthy, NVE and EJ all traded has evolved beyond his pettiness in his other Laker stints. There is a very short list of mega NBA stars translating that into running teams.