Stanley Johnson signs 2yr deal

[Kilroy]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265569/Stanley-Johnson-Lakers-Agree-To-Two-Year-Deal

Am I the only one who read that and was like "Why?"

I mean, from what I saw in the few games I saw him in, he wasn't a complete disaster, but he also didn't seem to do anything more than way, end of the bench material, either...

I guess I just thought we were going to either trade all assets and look to fill out the roster from the buyout market... I didn't see us investing in any marginal talent right now.

Even if we trade everyone we've been rumored to put on the table, Stanley Johnson doesn't seem like that big of a priority.

[Slava]

It’s guaranteed for the reminder of the season and I believe the next season is non guaranteed. So he’ll be playing for a roster spot in training camp.

[TheHartBreakKid]

I don't mind this. He's shown that he could have an impact defensively and I don't see any wings with his defensive ability being available in the buy out market. We have Bazemore, DJ, and Ellington who could easily be dropped if there is anyone intriguing in the buy out market.

[Kilroy]

I don't mind this. He's shown that he could have an impact defensively and I don't see any wings with his defensive ability being available in the buy out market. We have Bazemore, DJ, and Ellington who could easily be dropped if there is anyone intriguing in the buy out market.

Would we really drop Ellington though?... He's got one of the quickest release 3s I've seen and he's reasonably deadly with it... I'd be looking to bury him in the roster and hope no one noticed.
Also, Johnson is I think, correctly labeled as a PF... He may be wing sized, but I don't see wing ability from him... He's a small-ball PF, who doesn't really have stretch 4 chops...

I got no problem with Johnson... I just don't understand the timing. But whatever... Not much else we could do right now.

[euphorbus]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265569/Stanley-Johnson-Lakers-Agree-To-Two-Year-Deal

Am I the only one who read that and was like "Why?"

I mean, from what I saw in the few games I saw him in, he wasn't a complete disaster, but he also didn't seem to do anything more than way, end of the bench material, either...

Among rotation players, Stanley is #2 in TS%, #2 in NetRtg, and #3 in +- per 36 minutes (the appropriate comparator). He is also #4 in FG%.

[TheHartBreakKid]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265569/Stanley-Johnson-Lakers-Agree-To-Two-Year-Deal

Am I the only one who read that and was like "Why?"

I mean, from what I saw in the few games I saw him in, he wasn't a complete disaster, but he also didn't seem to do anything more than way, end of the bench material, either...

Among rotation players, Stanley is #2 in TS%, #2 in NetRtg, and #3 in +- per 36 minutes (the appropriate comparator). He is also #4 in FG%.

We are also 7-3 in the games in which Stanley has played atleast 20 minutes. One of those losses was the xmas game where he, imo, was the reason we made a late comeback, and the other 2 losses have been competitive losses against good teams on the road (Miami and Memphis).


Timing is a little weird as Kilroy said but I think Stanley played well enough to get a rest of the season contract by another team if we let him go....also the second year being not guaranteed could mean that we have another rotation guy next season signed for cheap if we want it.

[TheHartBreakKid]

I don't mind this. He's shown that he could have an impact defensively and I don't see any wings with his defensive ability being available in the buy out market. We have Bazemore, DJ, and Ellington who could easily be dropped if there is anyone intriguing in the buy out market.

Would we really drop Ellington though?... He's got one of the quickest release 3s I've seen and he's reasonably deadly with it... I'd be looking to bury him in the roster and hope no one noticed.
Also, Johnson is I think, correctly labeled as a PF... He may be wing sized, but I don't see wing ability from him... He's a small-ball PF, who doesn't really have stretch 4 chops...

I got no problem with Johnson... I just don't understand the timing. But whatever... Not much else we could do right now.

Yeah I would probably prefer to drop Bazemore or DJ if we have to drop someone.....DJ won't be in the rotation unless 2 of AD, Lebron, and Dwight are hurt. Bazemore doesn't provide the shooting or defense needed in the guard spots, and doesn't have the size that Ariza has for spot minutes in the front court.

As you said, Stanley is a small ball 4 ideally...which is exactly what we need. In 2020 we had our best success going small, which I believe is still the case for our current team. A rotation that doesn't include Dwight or DJ would need atleast 3 players who could be a small ball 4....in 2020 we had Lebron, Kuz, and Morris. Right now we only have Lebron/Melo in that role, and possibly Ariza. The thing is that while Ariza/Melo can play next to AD in a small ball lineup, a Lebron/Ariza or Lebron/Melo front court is really vulnerable on the defensive end when it comes to size and interior defense. Johnson's real value comes with his ability to play that role.

[zimpy27]

It's a good deal, he brings hustle and defense. On offense he picks shots well, takes very few and sets a lot of screens.

Nunn, Westbrook, SJ, LeBron, Davis should be the starting lineup when all healthy.

[Beethoven]

Happy we committed. Good for him.

[mighty_duck]

It's a good deal, he brings hustle and defense. On offense he picks shots well, takes very few and sets a lot of screens.

Nunn, Westbrook, SJ, LeBron, Davis should be the starting lineup when all healthy.

While really good on defense, I worry about the 3pt shooting on that squad.
As it is, lineups with only one above average 3pt shooter (e.g. Bradley + LBJ/WB/SJ/AD, or replace THT with SJ/AD) have problems scoring efficiently. The paint gets clogged, help defenders come in on drives, and people who shouldn't be shooting 3's chuck up clunkers.

[TylersLakers]

I'm happy we have the flexibility to keep him going forward. He's not a perfect player. He shouldn't be a player in your 8 man rotation in the playoffs. With that said.. he's better than every forward on our roster not named LeBron and AD.

We'll make a deal closer to the deadline where we do a 2-for-1 and that'll open up a buyout spot.

Trading Bazemore, DJ, 2 2nd round picks for Kenrich Williams would be my goal. Open up a roster spot for a potential player like Thad Young.

[MAMBAEMD]

It's a good move.
The second year isn't guaranteed so they can let him go after this season.
They do need his length to guard the likes of Kawhi, PG, Morris, Crowder, and Luka in the West.

This is a safe signing.

[zimpy27]

It's a good deal, he brings hustle and defense. On offense he picks shots well, takes very few and sets a lot of screens.

Nunn, Westbrook, SJ, LeBron, Davis should be the starting lineup when all healthy.

While really good on defense, I worry about the 3pt shooting on that squad.
As it is, lineups with only one above average 3pt shooter (e.g. Bradley + LBJ/WB/SJ/AD, or replace THT with SJ/AD) have problems scoring efficiently. The paint gets clogged, help defenders come in on drives, and people who shouldn't be shooting 3's chuck up clunkers.

My counter is that the championship Lakers team had terrible spacing. They had a great defense though.

[mighty_duck]

My counter is that the championship Lakers team had terrible spacing. They had a great defense though.

Fair point.
I'd say
1. The run to the finals was pretty magical. People were shooting out of their minds in the playoffs- LBJ shot 37%, AD 38%, Playoff Rondo 40%, Morris 42%. Relying on magic is a dangerous proposition.
2. Between those guys and KCP and D Green (who underperformed, but still provided gravity), Lakers had pretty good shooters on at all times.

Admittedly, Vogel is in a bind - this year we have too many 3 OR D players. Pick your poison, I suppose.

[zimpy27]

My counter is that the championship Lakers team had terrible spacing. They had a great defense though.

Fair point.
I'd say
1. The run to the finals was pretty magical. People were shooting out of their minds in the playoffs- LBJ shot 37%, AD 38%, Playoff Rondo 40%, Morris 42%. Relying on magic is a dangerous proposition.
2. Between those guys and KCP and D Green (who underperformed, but still provided gravity), Lakers had pretty good shooters on at all times.

Admittedly, Vogel is in a bind - this year we have too many 3 OR D players. Pick your poison, I suppose.

The run wasn't that magical. Lakers shot 34.9% from 3 in the 19-20 season and then shot 35.4% in the 2020 playoffs.

A few players shot well which you highlighted but a few also shot poorly. The actual outcome was that if they shot 34.9% in the playoff they would have made 3 less 3s, which is 9 total points less over the entire playoffs.

Do you think Lakers lose the championship if they have 9 less points over the 21 games they played in the playoffs? That's 0.4 points per game less.


I personally never understood the drive for 3 shooters over defenders. Lakers seemed obsessed with it last offseason. The base should be defense for each player and then after that they look for other things they can do.

[stan francisco]

Welcome, Stanley!!!

We’ve needed a junk yard dawg wing or three since Kuz, KCP, AC left. We have lots of minutes to offer you.