Free Agency: Dwight, Ellington, Ariza, Melo, Monk, Baze sign

[BEazy]

Man I’ve never seen such backlash of a player that’s only 33 years old. You would think we brought back Andrew Bynum or something. I think DJ will have renewed energy because he knows his role unlike with the Nets. If Pau had trouble dealing with MDA style basketball just imagine a guy like DJ. I have a feeling DJ will have guys eating their words soon enough.

Kinda reminds me of the backlash Dwight got when we signed him on his 2nd stint with us.

[tugs]

People have been really hard on these "old guys" but experience is being undervalued here. These "has beens" know how to win and, at this point in their respective careers, they would settle for any role as long as they get that championship

[SK21209]

Maybe I’m missing something, but why does signing DJ mean Gasol is likely gone? DJ got DNPs to finish last season with the Nets and that’s what he should get on this team. He should be a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency, fourth option at center behind AD, Gasol and Dwight. His only role should be to be Dwight in case Dwight is hurt. If he’s here to replace Gasol, I hate the signing. If he’s here to be an emergency option behind Gasol, Dwight and AD I love it.

[dAdo dA dEvil]

DJ signing is an insurance move incase Marc leaves. As of now with Marc on the team I think it's an OK move because I really want another big for insurance. If Marc leaves there will be another roster spot so we just need to sign another big, preferably a younger one who can rebound and play D.

[TylersLakers]

For a third or fourth option at C, I think this is a good signing.

He’s not going to play lots. If Dwight ever gets hurt, Jordan slides into those minutes.

The 9 man rotation will be

Westbrook, Bron, AD, Bazemore, THT, Nunn, Melo, Dwight, Ellington.

I’m also convinced AD is starting at the 5 now. Just makes too much sense.

[NBAWestFan]

I not sure what to think of the Lakers these days.

One year there is this set of guys. Next year most contracts are up and then there is another set of guys.

This year some of the guys from the year before come back and then some pretty old all stars.
I like Nunn, THT AD for the long term. The rest of the old guys I'm sure how long they will be good or have contract.

It looks like the Nets and Lakers are stacked but that does not guarantee a title. Heat, Bucks Warriors might be tough.

I will have to seem them play and then I can decide how I feel.

[Beethoven]

Nah we're winnin the title this year.

[Gavin_TDThree]

Watch on YouTube

[tamaraw08]

Not a few fans here wouldn't stop crying that this team suffered on defense a lot when they lost JMG and Howard, ignoring the fact that the Lakers were STILL no 1 best in DRTG last season. I am not saying Marc was the main reason, but I strongly believed they did it with several defensive minded perimeter guys like KCP, Matthews, Caruso to execute Vogel's system.
Lakers didn't get eliminated bec they missed JMG and Howards IMO, they lost bec AD was injured. Having rim protectors would help a lot, don't get me wrong, but I am intrigued on how Frank would play these guys esp when they are forced to switch to shooters.

[Danny Darko]

Read on Twitter

[BEazy]

Sign DJ and Ennis, trade Gasol, and call it a offseason.

[LAKESHOW]

DeAndre Jordan? Cmon man, we can get a better big from the Local Park and Rec

[tamaraw08]

DeAndre Jordan? Cmon man, we can get a better big from the Local Park and Rec

They just traded Marc Gasol for Memphis, and for Grizz Front Office to agree to absorb his contract, they had to trade their precious 2nd rounder and cash.
I posted on the General Board questioning IF Jeannie has started to cut corners and save Money and I got crucified for it.
Now they lose their best 3pt shooting Center who can help stretch the floor and spot and pass to open teammates for a Vet Min who basically duplicates what Howard does.

Taking into account Gasol’s $2.69MM salary and the accompanying luxury-tax penalty, Wojnarowski estimates that L.A. will recoup about $10MM. The Lakers will have 13 players on guaranteed contracts once the deal is finalized, leaving two spots open on the 15-man roster, though the club may only fill one of them for the start of the regular season.

[DNP-Old]

DeAndre Jordan? Cmon man, we can get a better big from the Local Park and Rec

They just traded Marc Gasol for Memphis, and for Grizz Front Office to agree to absorb his contract, they had to trade their precious 2nd rounder and cash.
I posted on the General Board questioning IF Jeannie has started to cut corners and save Money and I got crucified for it.
Now they lose their best 3pt shooting Center who can help stretch the floor and spot and pass to open teammates for a Vet Min who basically duplicates what Howard does.

Taking into account Gasol’s $2.69MM salary and the accompanying luxury-tax penalty, Wojnarowski estimates that L.A. will recoup about $10MM. The Lakers will have 13 players on guaranteed contracts once the deal is finalized, leaving two spots open on the 15-man roster, though the club may only fill one of them for the start of the regular season.

Jordan costs LAL the exact same amount as Gasol. Gasol was also on a minimum contract. This trade is a way to get him his money without paying the tax.

[Ball so hard]

Heck of a career for Marc. I wish him all the best. I don't think we'll miss him much. Seems people quickly forget how ineffective he was which led to his playing sparingly. Many thought the coaching staff was wrong for not playing him more; I disagree. For the record I do not think DJ is any good at this point in his career. I do expect AD to play center. I also expect a heavy dose of small ball lineups. I expect DJ to pick up DNPs similar to Gasol last season.

[scoobs07]

Heck of a career for Marc. I wish him all the best. I don't think we'll miss him much. Seems people quickly forget how ineffective he was which led to his playing sparingly. Many thought the coaching staff was wrong for not playing him more; I disagree. For the record I do not think DJ is any good at this point in his career. I do expect AD to play center. I also expect a heavy dose of small ball lineups. I expect DJ to pick up DNPs similar to Gasol last season.

Potential Rotation:

PF-James (32) Anthony (16)
SF-Ariza (24) THT (24)
C-Davis (32) Howard (16)
PG-Westbrook (32) Rondo (16)
SG-Nunn (32) Ellington (16)

[LAKESHOW]

Okay, at this point. I'm down to putting Anthony at the 5. Older. Stronger. But can force 5s to guard him out to the perimeter. But those particular games, adjust with length

[tugs]

Hey if Batum can play small ball 5, Melo can

[ROballer]

Okay, at this point. I'm down to putting Anthony at the 5. Older. Stronger. But can force 5s to guard him out to the perimeter. But those particular games, adjust with length

No need to overthink it. Melo will play at the 4 if we do it logically and start Davis.

I see people still saying both Jordan and Howard will play, which doesn't make any sense IMO. Those are minutes that can be more valuable distributed to our plethora of wings, which are way better and more impactful players than Jordan at this point.
One or two will not play already because we are stacked, now you're going to take away more minutes from them?

If Jordan plays, Ariza/Anthony/THT/Monk/Bazemore/Ellington lose minutes because Davis and Lebron slide down a spot each in the lineup.

If Jordan doesn't play, it's easy. Davis starts at C and Lebron at PF. Howard backs up Davis straight up and with Davis and Lebron not playing PF and SF respectively, it opens up more minutes for the players mentioned above.

I don't see the infatuation with Davis not playing C or as few minutes as possible there. He said he'd do it for months now. Both he and Lebron are on record saying they will play PF and C now with Westbrook on board, Vogel is on record saying we will try to play at a faster pace to accomodate Westbrook's game(essentially saying the same thing, Lebron/Davis frontcourt).

What's the issue here? Is it Davis' health? Because AFAIK, he's injury prone and missed a ton of games more seasons than not while playing at PF. I don't think the position is a factor here, it's just the way he's built.

The C position is almost dead, there's almost nobody in the league who can inflict damage and punish him in the paint. And there's no C in the league who can guard him at the other end.

[loveshaq786]

Hey if Batum can play small ball 5, Melo can

Batum>>> melo ...on defense