Denzel Valentine

[Eric Bieniemy]

He's a shooter who can pass and handle.

They should keep him.

Lakers need to stop being cheap.

He looks like an upgrade over Ellington and Tucker.

[Slava]

It’s not about being cheap, its more about finding roster spots. You cannot cut Tucker, when he is making the 4th most money on the team. You cannot cut Collison, while he is the only back up PG after the Rondo trade. DeAndre will most likely be let go to keep Stanley Johnson. Ellington is a much better shooter at a higher volume than Valentine.

Our roster is filled with smaller 2 guards like Monk, Reaves and potentially Nunn to come.

Only person out is Bazemore. At that point, its a coin toss between him and Valentine and I think Bazemore will be cut as well when a trade happens or if a better option emerges on the buy out market.

[thebigbird]

He shoots 36% from 3 for his career on 3.9 attempts. Not horrible, not elite. The last position the Lakers need is a 6’4 guard. They already have a million of them on the roster. They’re in need of wings. Valentine doesn’t help with that, so he gets cut so they can sign a wing.

[Dr Aki]

Valentine's contract is partially guaranteed

He's a sure fire waive because the Lakers value the money savings over waiving someone with a guaranteed contract

It's that simple

[Kilroy]

My thought is if you truly believed you had a shot at the title this season, you wouldn't trade Rondo, and he wouldn't want to be traded...
That was a white flag move... So who cares what they do with Valentine... It makes more sense to save the money at this point.

[Dr Aki]

My thought is if you truly believed you had a shot at the title this season, you wouldn't trade Rondo, and he wouldn't want to be traded...
That was a white flag move... So who cares what they do with Valentine... It makes more sense to save the money at this point.

Can't get playoff Rondo if you don't make the playoffs

[Eric Bieniemy]

It’s not about being cheap, its more about finding roster spots. You cannot cut Tucker, when he is making the 4th most money on the team. You cannot cut Collison, while he is the only back up PG after the Rondo trade. DeAndre will most likely be let go to keep Stanley Johnson. Ellington is a much better shooter at a higher volume than Valentine.

Our roster is filled with smaller 2 guards like Monk, Reaves and potentially Nunn to come.

Only person out is Bazemore. At that point, its a coin toss between him and Valentine and I think Bazemore will be cut as well when a trade happens or if a better option emerges on the buy out market.

The notion of cutting Tucker is ridiculous. He's a horrible fit though, so he may have to be benched until he can learn to earn his minutes, like Bradley, by playing defense. In the meantime, with a more capable wing on the roster in Valentine who, like Reaves, can dribble, drive, pass and shoot, Tucker should be third-string until he beats other guys out, especially Bradley.

Also, Reaves, Valentine, and Tucker can all play PG, along with Westbrook and James. Losing Rondo doesn't automatically make Collision a fixture at backup PG. They have many guys who can play that position, including Valentine.

Valentine is closer to 6'6 than he is to 6'4. He's as tall as Reaves, bugger than Monk, Nunn, Ellington, Collison, and Bradley. Reaves and Valentine are all big enough to guard SGs and SFs. He's not a small guard at all.

With Jordan and Bazemore eventually being cut (we agree on that) there is room for Valentine. He has proven to be much more well-rounded than Ellington and he's taller and longer to boot. He can help this team with his unique skillset. He has great offensive role-player potential, the ryoe of player who would look really good playing with stars.

Cut Bazemore and Jordan. Keep Valentine, Johnson, and Collison, for now, and figure it out as you go, money be damned. If Ellington, Collison, and Tucker are better than Valentine let them earn it. For this team and what they need, Valentine is better, and the Lakers would definitely be considered cheap, as usual, if they don't give him a shot:

Nunn - Reaves - Collison
Monk - Bradley or Tucker
James - Ariza or Johnson
Westbrook - Davis - Howard
Anthony - Valentine - Ellington

[TylersLakers]

He’ll be waived and they’ll sign Stanley Johnson to a roster spot.

The question becomes DJ and if he survives for Collison.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Can they waive him then immediately resign him? Probably not doable, right?

[Eric Bieniemy]

I'm not sure how many folks here claiming this is not a money decision are looking at the roster.

Essentially they are choosing Jordan or Bazemore over Valentine. We all know Jordan is worthless, only exacerbated by James' strong play at center, and Bazemore is simply not as good as Valentine. Valentine is the superior shooter, ballhandler, and passer. They are also the same size height and length, while Bazemore defends better.

The only reason they are cutting him is because of the money. Period. They want the flexibility to cut Bazemore at a later date without having to pay him guaranteed money next year (Valentine next year will make about 2 million by the way, before taxes).

So once again the Lakers are choosing cost-cutting over potential improvement to this roster. You all can try to dismiss it all you want. The fact of the matter is that they have room for Johnson and Collison and one more guy if they cut Bazemore (with Jordan gone as well).

Can you all say in good faith that Bazemore is better than Valentine? Who would you rather have taking a late-game three when it mattered the most?

Do a little research on his game. He could really, really help if he's healthy. He's a better fit than Bazemore, Tucker, Collison, and Ellington. With the exception of Tucker, only one has guaranteed money for next year (Valentine).

This move is 100% superficial, all about money, and zero to do with actual quality of roster construction. Pelinka is making this his pattern. No one will accuse him of being a visionary, that's for sure.