Lakers source: "No light at the end of the tunnel" for 'untradeable' Westbrook. "Has to figure it out."

[Landsberger]

he still needs to be involved and be a threat.

A threat to who?...

[chefy]

reality is we're going to need westbrook to have a shot at the ship.


i highly doubt we're gonna be able to trade him.

[Kilroy]

reality is we're going to need westbrook to have a shot at the ship.


i highly doubt we're gonna be able to trade him.

Yeah... It's kind of interesting how LeBrons injury coincides with calls to dump Westbrook, and maybe a potential trade target in NY emerging...

Now, not having another volume scorer next to AD, would seem like suicide...

That said, if we could dump Westbrook and land Randle, I'd still do it... I think Randle/AD might work out nicely.

[Reflexx]

Bring back Mike D'antoni.

[Kilroy]

Bring back Mike D'antoni.

Lord give me strength...

[Reflexx]

Bring back Mike D'antoni.

Lord give me strength...

It may not technically be strength, but he did bring you Westbrook.

[Kilroy]

Bring back Mike D'antoni.

Lord give me strength...

It may not technically be strength, but he did bring you Westbrook.

Like getting an STD... So the way to cure the STD, is to get another, worse STD?

[zimpy27]

This time with LeBron out is going to be helpful.

Vogel has time to find Westbrook led lineups that work. Based on the season so farm the best Westbrook led lineup is:
Bradley, Westbrook, Melo, Davis with either Monk or THT. Both lineups have a net rating above +10 in 100 total minutes.

Just run that lineup for the 12 minutes that LeBron sits in the playoffs.

[zimpy27]

reality is we're going to need westbrook to have a shot at the ship.


i highly doubt we're gonna be able to trade him.

Yeah... It's kind of interesting how LeBrons injury coincides with calls to dump Westbrook, and maybe a potential trade target in NY emerging...

Now, not having another volume scorer next to AD, would seem like suicide...

That said, if we could dump Westbrook and land Randle, I'd still do it... I think Randle/AD might work out nicely.

Would you part with Monk and/or Reaves in a deal for Randle?

[Kilroy]

reality is we're going to need westbrook to have a shot at the ship.


i highly doubt we're gonna be able to trade him.

Yeah... It's kind of interesting how LeBrons injury coincides with calls to dump Westbrook, and maybe a potential trade target in NY emerging...

Now, not having another volume scorer next to AD, would seem like suicide...

That said, if we could dump Westbrook and land Randle, I'd still do it... I think Randle/AD might work out nicely.

Would you part with Monk and/or Reaves in a deal for Randle?

I like THT, Monk and Reaves... I wouldn't want to trade any of them in a deal for Randle in a vacuum... But in a deal that gets rid of Westbrook and allows us to get a young player of Randle's caliber in return? Any and all of them would be on the table...

To be clear... I loved Randle when he was here, but I think THT has more upside... But that's not really the point... It'd be about getting rid of Westbrook and his contract...

[zimpy27]

Yeah... It's kind of interesting how LeBrons injury coincides with calls to dump Westbrook, and maybe a potential trade target in NY emerging...

Now, not having another volume scorer next to AD, would seem like suicide...

That said, if we could dump Westbrook and land Randle, I'd still do it... I think Randle/AD might work out nicely.

Would you part with Monk and/or Reaves in a deal for Randle?

I like THT, Monk and Reaves... I wouldn't want to trade any of them in a deal for Randle in a vacuum... But in a deal that gets rid of Westbrook and allows us to get a young player of Randle's caliber in return? Any and all of them would be on the table...

To be clear... I loved Randle when he was here, but I think THT has more upside... But that's not really the point... It'd be about getting rid of Westbrook and his contract...

THT has upside. My main concern is that the reason he fell to the second round was because he had major questions over ever developing a reliable perimeter jumper.. and he hasn't made strides to prove that wrong imo.

Anyway, I think there's no way the Lakers can keep Monk if they don't move Westbrook. Lakers have to get under the hardcap to be able to offer a full MLE next season.

So in a way I think Monk is a good piece to add to Westbrook unless Lakers can get an expiring back.

[zimpy27]

New report suggest that Knicks want to move Fournier, Burks, Noel and Kemba so that they can get their young guys more minutes.

To me that sounds like they want to make a consolidation trade and those 4 guys have a combined salary that is exactly equal to Westbrook. Furthermore, Knicks are under the luxury tax so Lakers could add 11m worth of contracts to the Knicks on top and save a bundle of money..

Would Lakers be happy with that package?

I think this team fits, I don't see an obvious spot for Monk and Kemba together though, I think Lakers choose one.
Bradley, Burks, Fournier, LeBron, Davis -- Kemba-or-Monk, Reaves, THT, Melo, Noel

Might make sense to trade Westbrook, Monk, Bazemore, Jordan to the Knicks since Lakers are unlikely to be able to afford Monk next season and they don't have bird rights whereas Knicks can give the Full MLE of 42/4.

[Ball so hard]

New report suggest that Knicks want to move Fournier, Burks, Noel and Kemba so that they can get their young guys more minutes.

To me that sounds like they want to make a consolidation trade and those 4 guys have a combined salary that is exactly equal to Westbrook. Furthermore, Knicks are under the luxury tax so Lakers could add 11m worth of contracts to the Knicks on top and save a bundle of money..

Would Lakers be happy with that package?

I think this team fits, I don't see an obvious spot for Monk and Kemba together though, I think Lakers choose one.
Bradley, Burks, Fournier, LeBron, Davis -- Kemba-or-Monk, Reaves, THT, Melo, Noel

Might make sense to trade Westbrook, Monk, Bazemore, Jordan to the Knicks since Lakers are unlikely to be able to afford Monk next season and they don't have bird rights whereas Knicks can give the Full MLE of 42/4.

I like the framework of your proposal a lot. I think it makes sense for both sides.

[Reflexx]

Lord give me strength...

It may not technically be strength, but he did bring you Westbrook.

Like getting an STD... So the way to cure the STD, is to get another, worse STD?

I really don't get why people think D'Antoni is a bad coach. He's a damn good coach when he has players that fit his system, like most good coaches.

The Lakers currently have personnel that would fit well with his style of play.

Hell, I'd give Gilbert Arenas a shot at coaching this team.

[Ball so hard]

It may not technically be strength, but he did bring you Westbrook.

Like getting an STD... So the way to cure the STD, is to get another, worse STD?

I really don't get why people think D'Antoni is a bad coach. He's a damn good coach when he has players that fit his system, like most good coaches.

The Lakers currently have personnel that would fit well with his style of play.

Hell, I'd give Gilbert Arenas a shot at coaching this team.

D’Antoni is a genius on offensive. True pioneer of what modern NBA has become.

[Kilroy]

Like getting an STD... So the way to cure the STD, is to get another, worse STD?

I really don't get why people think D'Antoni is a bad coach. He's a damn good coach when he has players that fit his system, like most good coaches.

The Lakers currently have personnel that would fit well with his style of play.

Hell, I'd give Gilbert Arenas a shot at coaching this team.

D’Antoni is a genius on offensive. True pioneer of what modern NBA has become.

MDA's best teams were led by Prime Steve Nash and James Harden... A football coach would look like an offensive genius running those teams... Not only that, his whole thing is to let his Vet Star players do their things, and rides them until the wheels fall off.

[Reflexx]

I have a feeling that a D'antoni team with Westbrook, LeBron, and Davis would do okay.

[stan francisco]

I have a feeling that a D'antoni team with Westbrook, LeBron, and Davis would do okay.

No-D Antoni?

I have a feeling he will never ever coach here again.

[Ball so hard]

I really don't get why people think D'Antoni is a bad coach. He's a damn good coach when he has players that fit his system, like most good coaches.

The Lakers currently have personnel that would fit well with his style of play.

Hell, I'd give Gilbert Arenas a shot at coaching this team.

D’Antoni is a genius on offensive. True pioneer of what modern NBA has become.

MDA's best teams were led by Prime Steve Nash and James Harden... A football coach would look like an offensive genius running those teams... Not only that, his whole thing is to let his Vet Star players do their things, and rides them until the wheels fall off.

I guess you’d say the same thing about Kerr who’s had the luxury of having two of the greatest shooters of all time playing for him. For the record I’m not a D’antoni guy. However, the guy’s vision and success on offense is undeniable. Kobe once called him an offensive genius. I’d think someone as keen to varying intricacies of the game would know what he’s talking about in this regard.

Of course he has some shortcomings as a coach.

“We have a great relationship,” said Bryant after morning shoot around. “The offense that was installed for our Team USA, we won two gold medals. It was an offense that was flexible — I was open and it kept everyone involved. It worked pretty well. — He’s an offensive genius”

[danfantastk32]

I guess you’d say the same thing about Kerr who’s had the luxury of having two of the greatest shooters of all time playing for him. For the record I’m not a D’antoni guy. However, the guy’s vision and success on offense is undeniable. Kobe once called him an offensive genius. I’d think someone as keen to varying intricacies of the game would know what he’s talking about in this regard.

Kerr's got a couple rings though. He at least sealed the deal.

Seems to me, that he read the numbers on 3-point shooting, and saw that it was indeed a better offense. I'm not sure what else you would call "Genius" about his offense. He was a pioneer in that department, and certainly left his mark, but I think he's a little overrated on his offense, as well as overrated as a "bad defense" guy. He doesn't emphasize defense, but he has other coaches, and it's not like he doesn't want players to play D.

Does anyone think Kerr "coached" Draymond to play D? I think that is 100% Draymond DNA...nothing to do with coaching. Now Kerr does get his TEAM to play D. He also comes up with ways to hide the fact that they have prob one of the worst defenders in the league out there, and they manage to still be quite good defensively. And in a few times....that has been the difference. Just like it was the difference (the other way) a couple times for D'antoni.

D'antoni's big issue....is we've seen his act, and it get's awfully close. But then he just can't change. Whatever it is...there's that little morph that a team needs (usually some better D) and he's unable to get there. Over and over.

To his defense....I do think they were the best team in 06-07, whatever it was when Horry shouldered Nash. What happened afterwards never made a lick of sense....and quite honestly has never been enforced to even SLIGHTLY that steep since (nor before). I think the Suns were truly robbed that series, and they shoulda won a title. I also think D'antoni got a raw deal here. He "bumped" Phil out of the way....and never had a chance after. To be compared to Phil is unfair in itself....but to be compared to this mythical "what Phil woulda done" is gonna be nothing but a disaster. That team (much like this team) was fatally flawed. Dwight was never 100%, and the idea that Nash and Kobe would compliment each other was a joke. Kobe said all the right things throughout camp/preseason, and then just dominated the ball, like he always did. Nash was stuck hovering around the 3, where he was pretty much useless (or riding the pine in a suit....he did a ton of that). Kobe is Kobe....was always gonna be Kobe. For better or for worse. Sticking an old-ass Nash on our squad was stupid.

But then D'antoni did rely way too heavily on Kobe. Partly because Kobe would have it no other way, let's be honest. Partly because there was this insane pressure / hate from the get go with Mike, because he wasn't Phil. But also partly because that's what Mike does. He rides his star into the ground, and it seems to always come up short.

So like him or not....I don't think he's terrible, but he's definitely the absolute wrong person to coach the twilight years of Lebron.