If plan A and B fails what about plan C and D?

[Kupchak9]

If PG and Lebron don't come, I would be content with going all-in on DMC. He gets overlooked way too much.

[mcscotty]

Alvin Gentry runs a very similar system to Luke and Kerr. DMC can't cut it in an uptempo offense. Lonzo and and Boogie are like oil and water.

[Kilroy]

Alvin Gentry runs a very similar system to Luke and Kerr. DMC can't cut it in an uptempo offense. Lonzo and and Boogie are like oil and water.

Yeah without seeing it on the court, I honestly can't see Cousins being a good fit. That said, if the goal is "Two Max Guys" and LeBron is off the table, Cousins is the other FA out there that I'd be willing to Max out... Honestly, I was hoping PG would take a pay cut... Not really that into maxing him out in all honesty.

[HoopsMalone]

Getting rid of Deng should be Plan A.

Here's an idea. Atlanta is notoriously cheap and in a rebuilding year. How about Deng, 2nd rd pick, and $3M for Plumlee/Bellinelli. Plum/Belly make $19m combined so Atlanta really nets $4 million. That's real money. And they get a high 2nd round pick they can add cheap talent or sell for $3 million. Again, that's real money. The key is Bellinelli is expiring so instead of being left with Deng's $36M remaining you only have Plumlee for 2/$25 on the books now.

Next you try to flip Plumlee for an expiring deal. Someone like the Nets who are rebuilding anyway could offer expiring Trevor Booker with some combo of Acy, Harris, and Kilpatrick. You'd have to throw in some type of sweetners. Basically some combination of Zubac, Nance, Bryant, picks, or cash...

There's a lot of teams not doing so well financially so I think the ones who can't win many games anyway would appreciate some Dollar Bucks and 2nd rd picks that allow them to acquire cheap talent. Sure no one wants Plumlee but they have to spend up to the floor anyway so why not... the only problem is free agents will be relatively cheap to acquire next year so they might be too stuck on the idea of adding guys at seemingly good contracts

[TJM217]

If plan A and B fail don't sign Deng and Mozgav. Do 1 year deals and let's hit a home run next offseason.

Eventually the Lakers and cap space
Will prevail. Have patience.

This is what I would do. I would maintain cap space which alot of teams will be scrambling for in a year or two.

[BBBKobe]

Plan A:

Trade by deadline for Anthony Davis.

Why on earth would they trade him? Because by February he'll hate Boogie's influence on the locker room so much that he'll demand a trade.

A package around Lopez, Randle, Clarkson, Deng, picks should be competitive.

Then sign LBJ next offseason.


Plan B:

Trade by deadline for Anthony Davis.

Why on earth would they trade him? Because by February he'll hate Boogie's influence on the locker room so much that he'll demand a trade.

A package around Lopez, Randle, Clarkson, Deng, picks should be competitive.

Then sign LBJ next offseason.


Plan C:

Trade by deadline for Anthony Davis.

Why on earth would they trade him? Because by February he'll hate Boogie's influence on the locker room so much that he'll demand a trade.

A package around Lopez, Randle, Clarkson, Deng, picks should be competitive.

Then sign LBJ next offseason.


Plan D: See plan A-C

I hope you're joking. There's no way the Pelicans FO will accept any of those trade proposals. They would want Ingram, Zo, and Kuzma plus picks. No one is taking Deng without Zo or Ingram attached.


Rob has been very clear of our plans. He wants us to have cap space next summer for two max slots. This can only occur if we get rid of two of the three out of Randle, Clarkson, or Deng. Our main plan right now should be getting rid of Deng. Deng's contract is a cancer and waiving him next summer would not be ideal either. We might have to lose Nance + Kuzma and picks to get rid of Deng.

Clarkson should be easy to move come summer time. Someone will need a bench scorer, we'll need to move him to bring on two max players.

Randle needs traded for a late 1st, but that will probably not happen. Magic seems obsessed with them for some reason, I see the Lakers offering him next summer if we strike out.

Plan A- Move Deng / Clarkson / Randle
Plan B - Look to sign PG, Cousins, Lebron, Lebron and friends, something along that.

[The Skyhook]

DeMarcus Cousins and one of Lebron/George was always the plan A I wanted. if the Pelicans flop theres a possibility Cousins bolts.

[iQon]

I don't think we have any realistic plans involving PG13 anymore... wouldn't hold my breath for LeBron, either.

I think our Plan A should focus on the success of BI, Lonzo, and Kuz. They are our present and future. Plan B should hope that we can get some productivity out of our other young guys.

Plan C... hope Magic successfully swindled Clarkson with the "Sixth Man of the Year challenge" and he plays out of his mind. If we could just generate a pick out of him, or Randle, it would be huge.

[Pointgod]

Plan A should be to clear out both Deng and Clarkson's contracts and move Randle for a pick. Then focus on George/Cousins/LeBron enticing them with the possibility of pairing up with another. Do whatever we need to do to clear cap space, I would hate to miss out on 2 free agents because we didn't have the flexibility to bring supporting talent.

Plan B. If we miss out on free agents we're still fine. Not a lot of teams will have cap space so we should be able to sign some starting quality players for below market value.

[TylersLakers]

Paul George and Cousins would be my plan A. More so than LeBron and PG.

If LeBron re-signs as well as George, Cousins and Avery Bradley are my hope. Then keep Deng another year.

[Pointgod]

Paul George and Cousins would be my plan A. More so than LeBron and PG.

If LeBron re-signs as well as George, Cousins and Avery Bradley are my hope. Then keep Deng another year.

No way we can sign all 3 without getting rid of Deng, Clarkson and Randle. We can only sign one max free agent as it stands right now.

[TylersLakers]

Paul George and Cousins would be my plan A. More so than LeBron and PG.

If LeBron re-signs as well as George, Cousins and Avery Bradley are my hope. Then keep Deng another year.

No way we can sign all 3 without getting rid of Deng, Clarkson and Randle. We can only sign one max free agent as it stands right now.

With no Clarkson, we could sign Cousins and Bradley. You are correct, there's no way we could get 3 unless Deng and Randle are gone.

[RingsDontLie]

Lebron isn't coming. We need to go after Paul George and Cousins, and hope ingram, Kuzma, or ball emerge as real stars this season. Traditionally we win when one of our draft picks emerges as a star, not from just getting a big player through a trade.

I think Paul George is better in the half court set any way. So slowing it down with Cousins will be fine.

[Landsberger]

Magic was very sullen on the Lakers in the near term the other night when interviewed by ESPN. Much different than his views at Summer League. He even let it out that we may not win as many games as last year. He downplayed our record and was focusing on development over wins.

I agree for the most part. This team could be very bad. Scoring consistently will be an issue as will our defense.

Larger question is: Will anyone of the rumored top guys want to come here if we do end up winning 25 games?

[Kilroy]

If Ball's everything he's supposed to be, I think we'll be fine... I think Lopez will feast once Ball figures out how to feed him... I think Randle and Lopez compliment each other well and can feed off each other. I think Ingram will eventually find his shot, but if he doesn't, we can swap in Kuzma... KCP isn't here for offense but he'll contribute some points... Maybe averaging around 8-10...

And I think Ball will be more of a scoring threat in his first year than full Magic mode...

I think once they stop messing around with the lineups and figure out some basic rotations, and guys get used to each other... Things will start to fall in place...

I think the playoffs are and were always an absolute pipe dream... But I have no doubt we'll be better than last season...

And Magic just needs to stop putting himself in the position to have to answer those kind of questions... He's the Pres and he sounds like one of us half the time... Time to start acting like you been there...