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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreIt’s going to be ‘Game Over’ when the Los Angeles Lakers unleash ‘Monster Ball’ — their long, lethal, bully ball version of small ball — on the rest of the league with Westbrook at the one, James at the four, and Davis at the five.
It took Russell Westbrook meeting with LeBron James and Anthony Davis two weeks before free agency but the Lakers appear to be ready to embrace an enhanced version of the small ball lineup that won the championship. That they traded for Russell Westbrook is a clear sign LeBron James is finally ready to give up being the Lakers’ point guard and Anthony Davis is finally ready to jetisone his objections and accept playing small ball center.
While some doubters and naysayers still predict Vogel will still start Gasol or Howard at center, those with inside info like L.A. Times’ reporter Brad Turner are now reporting James and Davis will start at the four and the five. Rob may be the GM and Frank the coach but the NBA is a superstars’ league and the reason the Lakers are finally going to embrace small ball is the same reason they resisted it before: because that’s what their superstars want.
For a Lakers team that spent two years aggressively reducing the time Davis spent playing the five, the idea of finally joining the modern NBA and embracing small ball with LeBron at the four and AD at the five is exciting.
A Monster Ball Lakers lineup with Westbrook at the one, elite volume 3-point shooters at the two and three, James at the four, and Davis at the five could be the biggest and baddest, fastest and quickest small ball lineup ever.
The NBA got its first taste of the Los Angeles Lakers’ unique version of small ball when they won their 17th championship led by 6′ 9,” 250 lbs LeBron James playing the four and 6′ 10,” 250 lbs Anthony Davis playing the five. James and Davis not only dominated offensively — dropping dunks, raining threes, dishing dimes — but also defensively — making steals, blocking shots, guarding and shutting down the opposing team’s leading scorer.
The Lakers’ bubble version of small ball was probably the best since prime Golden State Warriors’ ‘Death Lineup.’ Unlike the Dubs’ small ball lineup, the Lakers played their version of small ball over half the time in the playoffs. Now it looks like Russ, LeBron, and AD have sold the Lakers on a version of small ball that’s even faster and more physical than we saw in the bubble. One ignited and fueled by Russell Westbrooks’s unstoppable engine.
It’s no secret the Lakers want to return to the small ball style and physicality that won them a championship. The addition of Russell Westbrook was all about the vision he, LeBron, and AD had for Lakers playing Monster Ball.
So why should the Lakers’ version of small ball be called Monster Ball? It’s because the NBA has never seen a small ball lineup that has the pure speed and raw physicality that Russ, LeBron, and AD bring when playing small.
Speed kills and the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook because no point guard embodies speed the way he does. The Lakers want to run, which is why they traded for Russ and will move LeBron to the four and AD to the five. There’s no way the Lakers are going to slow down their starting lineup by playing slow footed Marc Gasol at the five. Lakers want to take advantage of the speed of their Superstar Big Three and dominate teams in transition.
Physicality is the second component of the Lakers Monster Ball attack. The Lakers sorely missed the bully ball antics and freakish physicality of Dwight Howard last season. Bringing Howard back was one of Pelinka’s priorities. With three of the league’s most physical superstars in Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers don’t have to sacrifice size or physicality like other teams do when they opt to go small.
Whether on offense or defense, the Lakers’ Monster Ball lineup with Russ at the one, LeBron at the four, and AD at the five is a superstar fueled and turbo charged version of small ball the likes of which the NBA’s never seen.
We knew the Lakers faced a daunting challenge when free agency started because they didn’t have cap space and had to use their only tradeable contracts — Kuzma, Caldwell-Pope, and Harrell — to trade for Westbrook.
Rather than run it back with last year’s players, the Lakers decided to completely turnover their roster, bringing back only Talen Horton-Tucker to join LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Mark Gasol, and Russell Westbrook. They added Kendrick Nunn via the MLE and Kent Bazemore, Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington, Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, and Dwight Howard on minimum contracts and Joel Ayayi and Austin Reaves on two-way deals.
Pelinka did a fabulous job building a championship roster by surrounding Westbrook, James, and Davis with elite volume 3-point shooters like Nunn, Ellington, and Monk and proven quality defenders like Howard and Ariza. The result is a roster filled with talented veteran players who complement the Lakers’ Superstar Big Three and are great fits for their run-and-gun small ball offense and trapping, doubling, and rotating aggressive team defense.
The Lakers’ Monster Ball lineup will redefine what playing small means. It’s the ultimate small ball lineup and perfect system to take advantage of speed and physicality of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.
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So true. Now, only if we can get another bruising forward as collateral. Me thinking the market is drying out fast.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreThe Lakers are on the verge of making a mega mistake. After missing an opportunity to turn Alex Caruso into a trading chip, it looks like the Lakers are going to make the same mistake by letting Dennis Schroder walk.
While Rob Pelinka has done a great job finding shooters after trading for Russell Westbrook, he has put the Lakers at risk of being handcuffed by a lack of viable trading chips at the midseason deadline and next summer. With Talen Horton-Tucker’s $10 million and Kendrick Nunn’s $5 contracts as their only trading chips greater then the minimum salary, the Lakers desperately need to convert Dennis Schroder into a viable trading chip.
If they allow Schroder to walk for nothing like Caruso, the Lakers will only have THT’s and Nunn’s plus eight minimum salary contracts to use to make a trade to upgrade the roster or fill a roster hole at the midseason deadline. Since Horton-Tucker and Nunn are keepers, the Lakers will essentially enter the trade deadline and next summer with no ability to make a major trade unless they’re able to transform Dennis Schroder into a viable trading chip.
It’s probably too late to do anytbing at this point about allowing Caruso to walk without even getting a trade exception back but that’s a mistake the Lakers just cannot make with Schroder regardless of the luxury taxes. Schroder would give the Lakers the viable trading chip they need at the deadline. They could trade him to another team to fill a major need or trade him into another team’s cap space to avoid paying the luxury taxes.
The Lakers’ $189 million in projected luxury taxes for next season now just ranks 6th in the league behind the Warriors’ $362 million leads, Nets’ $306 million, Clippers’ $300 million, Bucks $200 million, and Jazz’ $192 million. With the NBA headed towards an explosion of teams willing to pay luxury taxes, the Lakers need to rethink how much they were willing to pay to build a championship roster because the bar has now been officially raised.
Imagine the difference between the Lakers having a $10 million tradeable contract or trade exception from re-signing or trade-and-signing Dennis Schroder versus having to trade THT or Nunn to improve the roster.
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It still appears as though the Caruso transaction has not been submitted to the league yet and is not official. I’m hoping this means the Lakers are working in the background to get a trade exception for at least $4 to $5 million. Being able bring in a player making that much would give the Lakers another better than minimum player who would be a perfect trading chip to maybe pair with a couple of minimum players to fill a need or upgrade a position. At any rate, the trade has not been formally announced so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Same with the Schroder situation. If Dennis’ head is still in a good place, I wouldn’t mind giving him a $10 million contract as our back up point guard. It’s really his best role and he would keep his Bird rights, which is critical for a player trying to remake himself after a disappointing season. In the end, is there a better place for Dennis to redeem his brand than the Lakers? We need a backup point guard. Dennis needs his Bird rights and redemption. And he would give us a nice $10 million trading chip at the deadline to go with Caruso’s $4-5 million. We would have two assets to trade where we otherwise might have nothing.
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Did you hear he signed with Chicago after he heard we were trying to trade he and Gasol to Minnesota. Rob’s grade has dropped to a C- for me, only good thing is the Russ trade and the Nunn signing. Kudos to Caruso for taking his career by the reigns and walking away from the Rob Pelinka dumpster fire. AC would have never agreed to go to the dook show that is Minnesota, he’s not a money-grubbing dope like Dennis and just wants to win which is why he fit in so well here. This has gotten pretty embarrassing outside of the quality vet minimums and Nunn signing.
Lakers are definitely pinching pennies (insert mongoslade “remember………” post here again) and it’s going to backfire. This is not win now mode, this is “win now if it doesn’t cost too too much and we don’t have to overpay like those billionaires are gonna do and we can show everyone we’re not like New Jersey!” mode. Russ: good trade. After that? Nothing to crow about. Coming around to the realHTJ’s opinion that this bunch of geriatrics won’t get past the 2nd round on defensive issue alone.
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Dennis has 3 choices and not a single one is straight re-signing here to back Russ up. You think LeBron or AD wants a “not all in on this team” guy on the roster like a Dennis? Nope. The bridge has been burned, willfully and stupidly and the Lakers aren’t reaching back across. Hard for me to see the Lakers adding anything more than another vet min deal at this point. They’re pinching pennies and betting Frank can re-create Bubble Magic. This defense won’t be anywhere near as effective as that one. I think the road will be rough if Dwight wants that parade. So, while I don’t see Dennis landing here I don’t see a long list of S&T options. Mainly the question comes down to who wants a backup level who makes demands and has outlandish expectations. There’s. Reason why Reggie Jackson is so thankful he’s making $11 mil the next 2 years. At any rate both parties need to help one another and find livable middle ground. I think the real issue facing the Lakers is that if money is all Dennis wants he can find it overseas and hole to find warmer free agent waters next summer.
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FWIW the 3 choices are stay in the NBA for a lot less money, stay in the NBA for less role, play overseas and get decent to good money and probably the role he wants…but in Turkey or wherever.
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The Celtics are said not to want to be hard capped. So he is looking at the mini mid level there. Might find a little more money if he doesn’t mind coming off the bench somewhere but I’m thinking not more then 10 mil at this point. I would also be surprised to see him back.
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If his head were in the right place, I’d give him $11 million to backup Russ.
We DO need a backup point guard and he’s worth more than $11 million.
And he bould be the perfect trading chip at the deadline or we dump him to avoid the tax.
And Dennis keeps his Brid Rights.
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Tom, while I mostly agree with the opinions of everyone on this topic, I think your idea of bringing back Dennis as a backup point guard stood out to me the most. I believe Rob and Dennis’s agents are working out something behind closed doors. But your take on Dennis should be given high consideration if it were for me. Dennis as a backup point guard is a win-win situation for both parties and a good way for Dennis to redeem himself. There is no better place to do that better than in L.A. and I am pretty confident something palatable to both parties could be used. As for Dennis, this might
resemble a case where the beggar can’t choose.
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It’s a shame too if he had just played nice, I wouldn’t mind having him as a back up. It’s not a crime to over value yourself but the chatter is that his people were not even in touch with the Lakers while everything was coming down. That’s stupid and disrespectful. Perhaps the Lakers could have worked out something for him before it was too late if he had just cooperated.
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Yeah, it appears it’s too late but he wants to keep his Bird Rights and the mini-MLE would be humbling.
I’m hoping we work something out where he comes back for a fair price with the understanding he comes off the bench and we’ll try to find the right place for him before the deadline.
$11 million, just $1 million over the full MLE should be a fair price. We DO need a backup point guard. Maybe Dennis is ready to take that role again?
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreThe Lakers were confronted with pro basketball’s version of Sophies’ choice: the mercurial ‘difference-making playmaker’ or the lethal sharp shooter who took more threes than any player not named Steph Curry?
After negotiating with both the Sacramento Kings for Buddy Hield and the Washington Wizards for Russell Westbrook, the Lakers made a last minute decision to go with the mercurial playmaker over the lethal 3-point shooter. But there are whispers around the league the Lakers may have been simply setting the stage to expand the parameters of the Russell Westbrook trade to include other players and teams with a goal of still landing Buddy Hield.
In fact, you could argue giving up almost all of your trading chips for a max contract point guard who can’t shoot the three would be idiotic unless the Lakers had a plan to expand the trade to include Buddy Hield or a shooter.
WHY THE WESTBROOK TRADE COULD BE EXPANDED
Because the trade can’t be finalized until after the August 6 free agent moratorium begin, the Lakers still have time and opportunity to expand the trade to enable them to land both Russell Westbrook and Buddy Hield.
There’s a viable argument Rob Pelinka and Tommy Sheppard have agreed in advance to allow either team to expand the trade. Washington already has done this by trading the #22 pick in the draft to Indiana for Aaron Holiday. The obvious tell that this might be the case was the Wizards announcing to their fans that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a keeper but Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell wouldn’t be part of the team’s roster on opening day.
Remember Kuzma and Harrell were the players the Sacramento Kings had tentatively agreed to accept in trade for prodigious 3-point shooter Buddy Hield. Coincidence or not, that opens the door for LA to expand the trade. The way this transaction is happening reminds me of how Pelinka, Griffin, and Sheppard managed the AD deal, which ended up being a three-team trade helping the Lakers could clear cap space to pursue Kawhi Leonard.
The Lakers have multiple options to try and expand the Russell Westbrook trade to include Buddy Hield. While accomplishing that will take some salary cap magic, it’s what multiple-team trades were designed to do.
CAN THE LAKERS AFFORD TO ACQURE BUDDY HIELD?
Aside from the logistic challenges acquiring Buddy, the question may be can the Lakers afford him? Everybody is assuming the Lakers are all-in on paying whatever they have to win since they traded for Russell Westbrook.
The problem is the total cost of going all-in could be prohibitive. Re-signing THT and Caruso, using the MLE, and paying Buddy Hield would result in $180 million in salary, $160 million in tax, and $340 million total payroll. Realistically, that’s way too much to pay in salary and taxes. The Lakers will have to chose between paying for a prodigious shooter like Buddy Hield or trustworthy role players like THT, Caruso, and a player for the MLE.
If the Lakers were to fill out the rest of their roster with minimum salary players, they would have $145.1 million in salaries and $13.7 million in taxes for a total payroll of $158.8 million, which would already exceed many teams. Adding Hield would cost $166.2 in salaries, $83.5 million in taxes, for a payroll of $249.7 million. Adding THT. Caruso, and MLE would cost $160.0 million in salaries and $57.8 million in taxes for a payroll of $217.8 million.
Ultimately, the Lakers may be forced to choose between adding a needed lethal shooter like Buddy Hield to give them the 3-point shooting they need or bringing back Horon-Tucker and Caruso and using the taxpayer MLE.
HOW DO LAKERS LAND RUSS AND BUDDY?
Once the Lakers accept that they have to choose between Hield and the Horton-Tucker, Caruso, and MLE trio of role players, they will have three pathways or options to expand the Westbrook trade to include Buddy.
These three options will depend upon Rob Pelinka and the Lakers being creative in finding teams willing to receive free agents like THT and Caruso in sign-and-trades that will hard cap the receiving team for the rest of season. Talen Horton-Tucker and Alex Caruso are projected to receive offers close to $10 million each so together they bring back $20 million per year in tradeable contracts the Lakers could use to expand the Westbrook trade.
The Lakers’s first option is to convince the Washington Wizards to accept a sign-and-trade for Dennis Schroder in lieu of Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell so the Lakers can send them to the Kings in return for Buddy Hield. The Lakers could offer to replace Kuzma and Harrell with THT and Caruso, two younger players who would be better fits on the the Wizards roster or worth more as trading chips in other deals to upgrade their roster.
The second option is for the Lakers to find a third team without cap space to sign Schroder in free agency but who are willing to sign-and-trade for him. Fortunately, there are a few teams in that situation who need a point guard. The key would be to swap Schroder for a player or pair of players whom the Kings would accept in trade for Hield or whom the Wizards would accept in lieu of Kuzma and Harrell in the deal for Russell Westbrook.
The Lakers’ third option is to find a team who’s interested in sign-and-trading for Horton-Tucker and Caruso and willing to give the Lakers one or two players they could flip to the Wizards in place of Kuzma and Harrell. This could be the Lakers most likely option to expanding the Westbrook trade to include Hield. Both Horton-Tucker and Caruso should be attractive sign-and-trade pieces for teams looking for defense or a potential future star.
Overall, the Lakers should be able to find a way to use Horton-Tucker and Caruso to expand the Russell Westbrook trade to include Buddy Hield and land both the mercurial playmaker and the lethal 3-point shooter.
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Buddy Hield or Talen Horton-Tucker, Alex Caruso, and MLE?
Lethal 3-point shooter or trusted low scoring bench players?
$249.7 million total payroll or $217.8 million total payroll?Would the Lakers sacrifice THT and Caruso for Buddy Hield? That is the question because it seems doubtful the Lakers would be willing to pay the $180 million in salary, $160 million in tax, and $340 million total payroll it would take to be able to do both. As profitable and committed to winning as the Lakers have historically been, going all-in like this is probably too much even for Jeanie Buss to commit to.
The question then is are the Lakers willing to even go as high as $166.2 in salaries, $83.5 million in taxes, for a payroll of $249.7 million to land Buddy Hield when the cost to keep THT, Caruso, and the MLE would be $160.0 million in salaries and $57.8 million in taxes for a payroll of $217.8 million. That too is doubtful. I could easily see the Lakers deciding $83.5 million in taxes was too much despite Jeanie’s saying they would pay what they need to do to win.
The question then is how do the Lakers get enough shooting. The problem they have is not that they can’t get several players for less who are high percentage 3-point shooters. The issue is they need one or two players who are high volume 3-point shooter. Guys like THT and Caruso, who only take 2 to 4 threes per game are not the answer. The Lakers need players like Hield who take 10 threes per game.
The Lakers may tell themselves that defense and physicality won them the championship in the bubble and adding Westbrook to that team should be enough to win a championship even without upgrading their 3-point shooting. I hope that’s not what they decide, but I am worried that may be what happens. That risks turning the Westbrook trade into a disaster rather than an opportunity. We’ll find out tomorrow whether or not the Lakers go all-in to land Westbrook and Hield.
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Aloha Tom
I’m sure Alex is dying to play for the Kings. And what if THT doesn’t want to play for the Kings and signs an offer sheet with another team. We can match but then we couldn’t trade him till December. While you can make deals work on paper, reality is much harder to make happen. As the musical chairs are being set up at PG I think its going to be easier to find a team willing to take on Dennis in a sign and trade because its looking like there will be a couple of teams left without a chair.
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No Lakers player other than maybe Kuz wants to be traded but it’s still a business and millions of dollars can ease the pain of having to take off your Lakers jersey.
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Yes but S&T’s require the players’ acquiesce. The key piece that this article kind of ignores is the fact that players basically leave the Kings when they can minute one. They’re a terrible organization, Luke is on the hot seat (even with his contract picked up) and the Kings a re super-guard heavy. You can’t force a S&T on THT or AC to places they don’t want to play, players under contract I don’t believe have that luxury, they can be included.
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LMAO. Jeez, I never realized that sign-and-trades required the players’ approval or that no player in the worls is willing to go to the Kings. Thanks for educating me on those points. Try opening your minds instead of negatively reacting to everthing. Talk about confirmation bias.
Seriously, I laid out numerous options how the Lakers can still get Buddy Hield and the salary cap numbers say the only way it’s going to happen is if the Laker are willing to pay the tax and sacrifice Alex and THT. If they’re willing to do that, they can find a way to trade for Buddy.
Funny how you want to keep Alex and THT even if it means we don’t have any money for shooters. You’re crazy if you think a bunch of vet minimum and role player guys like Alex and THT who don’t even average a made three per game is going to give the Lakers what Buddy Hields 4 makes and 10 takes per game would give us.
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Would you want to go to Sacramento?
AM I wrong in that the rules require a player not under contract to consent to a a S&T? Sheeeeeesh…They have guards up the wazoo, even when/if they trade Buddy. As I’ve said on podcasts, here and on FB I don’t see a way we get Buddy. Simple as that.
Dude, these are simple disagreements, man. Come on…it is a blog, right?
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And, yes, I do want to keep (and expect we will) Alex but am on the fence about THT. Feel free to use your own words and stopping yours into my mouth. Please and thanks.
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The big question is where are the Lakers at with respect to luxury taxes. Are they willing to pay $160M in taxes and $340M in payroll to get Hield and keep THT and Caruso? It’s not impossible they may decide they can’t afford Hield or even Caruso and just keep THT because of Klutch. We still don’t know where the front office is and what the walk away figure is for luxury taxes.
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This should be a decision between shooting or no shooting but it’s looking more and more like it may be a decision over how much taxes the Lakers are willing to pay. They can get Hield if they want but it could cost them THT and Caruso. I say go for it. I’m sure you say THT and Caruso are more valuable. But that’s whay we have a blog.
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Honestly if there is a trade for Buddy, it will happen in December. Because of the Arenas rule, teams can’t offer more then the Lakers for THT in the first year but they can back load in the 2nd and third. So really you can’t buy THT with a contract over market value. And Caruso too, how much are the kings willing to pay Alex over market value to land him, especially since there will be other teams interested. The Kings are probably 30th in desirable landing spots in the league. Both Alex and THT will have offers from better franchises. One other thing how badly would the Kings want them? Think they would pay Alex 12 mil or more to out bid other teams? I just don’t see a realistic way to make a trade for Buddy unless we can get a desirable piece in a trade for Dennis.
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One last point, the Kings need help on the front line. That’s what Kuz and Harrell were appealing. The Kings have good young guards. Would they use a big trade piece like Buddy for 2 more guards?
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The Arenas rule says teams can load the 3rd and 4th years, not the 2nd and 3rd.
Lakers just need to find a buyer who will give them enough for THT and Caruso that the Wizard will accept in lieu of Kuz and Trezz.
Doesn’t have to be the Kings. Just a team to give them enough to get the Wizards to take instead of Kuz and Trezz.
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Kuz maybe on his way to the Nets in a Dinwiddie trade. Still a chance the Knicks may try for Dinwiddie but all the chatter seems to be leaning towards the Nets.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreHeading into the 2021 NBA Draft, there’s an emerging possibility DeMar DeRozan could end up being the ‘difference-making playmaker’ the Lakers need to move LeBron James to the four and Anthony Davis to the five.
While known mostly for his elite midrange game and reluctance to shoot the three, DeRozan has evolved into an elite playmaker with the Spurs the last three years, averaging 6.9 assists on 2.0 turnovers per game last season. Posting the 10th most assists per game and 11th best assists-to-turnovers ratio by a guard, DeMar may have catapulted himself into consideration for the ‘difference-making playmaker’ the Lakers need to win next season.
Pairing DeMar DeRozan with a volume 3-point shooter like Buddy Hield could give the Lakers the midrange specialist they need to close games and the high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter they need for spacing. DeMar DeRozan as primary playmaker and Buddy Hield as main floor spacer should enable the Lakers to build a dynamic championship starting lineup with LeBron James to the four and Anthony Davis to the five.
The Lakers are optimistically hoping DeMar would agree to sign for the $9.5 million non-taxpayer MLE but chances are they would have to work out a sign-and-trade with the Spurs to be able to actually acquire DeRozan. John Hollinger is projected DeRozan’s value on the free agent market to be $16 million so the Lakers would probably have to give him a 3-year deal starting at around $15 million per year to get him to agree to a sign-and-trade.
Fitting Hield and DeRozan under the $142.9 million hard cap will be a challenge but could be the Los Angeles Lakers best option for upgrading their starting lineup and odds of winning their 18th NBA championship.
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Trying to add DeMar DeRozan and Buddy Hield to the Lakers starting lineup would make them odds on favorites to win the championship next season.
DeRozan would not only give the Lakers the ‘difference-making playmaker’ they covet but also a deadeye midrange jump shooter who can get a high percentage shot to close out those tough games in the playoffs.
Hield’s high volume/percentage 3-point shooting would help the Lakers turn around their negative 3-point differential and prevent teams from packing the paint against LeBron and AD.
It would be perfect if DeMar was willing to sign for the $9.5 million full MLE but most likely the Lakers will have to sign-and-trade him for around $15 million, which would make it a challenge filling out the rest of the roster.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreThere’s no former Lakers’ player who is more polarizing or misunderstood than Lonzo Ball, who was drafted #2 overall by Los Angeles back in 2017 where he played his first two seasons before being traded to New Orleans.
Over hyped by Magic Johnson and the LA media and hounded by his father LaVar Ball’s antics, Lonzo Ball spent a good portion of his two seasons with the Lakers fighting injuries and trying to live up to inflated expectations. But being exiled to New Orleans via the Anthony Davis trade allowed Lonzo the time and opportunity to work on honing his game, especially his 3-point and free throw shooting and overall decision making as a point guard.
Now that it appears the Pelicans are committed to pursuing Kyle Lowry as their starting point guard going forward, here are ten reasons why Lonzo Ball is the perfect point guard for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers:
1. EXCEPTIONAL BASKETBALL IQ
One of intangible LeBron and the Lakers value is basketball IQ. Lonzo’s greatest talent is his vision and anticipation at both ends of the court. Like Caruso, Lonzo does the little things that don’t show in the box score.
2. ELITE VOLUME 3-POINT SHOOTER
The Lakers need volume 3-point shooters. After shooting just 31.5% on 5.3 attempts per game his two years with the Lakers, Lonzo shot an impressive 37.6% from deep on 7.2 attempts per game in two years with the Pelicans.
3. SAVVY AND VERSATILE DEFENDER
At 6′ 6″ with a 6′ 7″ wingspan, Lonzo has all the instincts and tools to be an elite defender who can guard ones, twos, and threes and provide defensive savvy and versatility that few NBA point guards are capable of doing.
4. GIFTED PASSER AND PLAYMAKER
From high school to UCLA to the Lakers and then the Pelicans, Lonzo has always been a ready made playmaking highlight reel. While he still needs to improve his P&R passing, Lonzo is an elite outlet and lob playmaker.
5. BALL NEVER STOPS OR STICKS
With LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the lineup, the Lakers don’t really want a ball dominant point guard. Lonzo is a great fit because the ball doesn’t stop when it gets to him. Lonzo’s elite at moving the basketball.
6. EXPERIENCE PLAYING WITH LEBRON
While Lonzo struggled at times during his 2-year stint in LA, he had a great relationship with LeBron James, who always respected his game and knew and understood the pressures Lonzo faced with all of the media hype.
7. FAMILIAR WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS OF LA
You hear Lakers fans and media always talking about how players struggle to play or shoot as well in LA as other cities because of the bright lights. Lonzo has been here before and that will help him adjust to playing in LA.
8. GREAT UPSIDE AT 22-YEARS OLD
Just 22-years old with 4 years of NBA experience, Lonzo has already shown he is nowhere near the player he has the potential to become. He needs to learn to run pick-and-rolls and to attack the basket with drives and floaters.
9. REASONABLE SALARY AND BIRD RIGHTS
With Kyle Lowry, Dennis Schroder, and Spencer Dinwiddie now demanding much of the attention and $30 million per year, the Lakers may have an opportunity to sign-and-trade Lonzo for $20 to $22 million per year.
10. MEMBER OF KLUTCH SPORTS’ FAMILY
Don’t disregard how important being a Klutch Sports client could be to Lonzo Ball ending up on the Lakers. Rich Paul and Rob Pelinka already have an impressive track record at directing Klutch talent to the Lakers.
This is going to be one of the most dynamic offseasons in NBA history. The Play-In Tournament has suddenly transformed a leauge that used to be split fairly evenly between sellers and buyers. Now it’s like everybody’s a buyer.
The Lakers want to reduce the workload on 36-year old LeBron by acquiring a ‘difference-making playmaker’ so James can move to the four and Davis to the five. Lonzo’s 7 assists and 7 attempted threes per game are a pefect fit. The Lakers don’t need a ball-dominant point guard like CP3 or Russ. They need a point guard who can quickly get the ball in the right player’s hands, take and make a high volume of threes to create spacing, and play defense.
Lonzo Ball may not be the old school ball-dominant point guard but he has the potential to become the prototype future modern NBA point guard and is the perfect point guard for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
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With Kyle Lowry wanting $30 million per year for three years and Russell Westbrook throwing the Lakes into luxury tax hell, I’m starting to like the option of signing-and-trading for Lonzo Ball as the Lakers best option for a ‘difference-making playmaker.’
I love Lonzo’s 7 assists and 7 attempted threes per game plus his defensive savvy and versatility. He needs to improve his pick-and-roll playmaking and his ability to attack and finish at the rim, but he’s already shown a great ability to adjust and adapt with how he has improved his 3-point and free throw shooting. That bodes well for Lonzo being able to become an All-Star point guard down the road.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the upcoming point guard musical chairs dance that’s coming up starting on Thursday. With the Pels looking to land Lowry, teams chasing Simmons, the shadow of Westbrook lurking, Lonzo could end up being the surprise point guard for the Lakers. I think he might be our best overall option.
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#10 is the biggest reason why this isn’t outlandish. I think the Pelicans are gearing up to retain Lonzo, not trade for Lowry but who knows.
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Also, I’d be fine with Lonzo coming back to LA but I also feel like that’s unlikely, as well. The brothers who have made it in the NBA have done well away from home. Coincidence? Maybe, but maybe there’s something to playing with less pressure and not more.
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I watched an interview where a valid point was made. They said for years people have been trying to pair a true point guard with LeBron but it’s usually been a secondary ball handler like a shooting guard. In essence LeBron is the point guard and probably always will be. In this context I wouldn’t mind Lonzo. He’s great on the break. In the half court LeBron could handle the half court offense. I wouldn’t have Lonzo run the 2nd unit. While Alex isn’t a wizard with the ball he runs the half court better. You might even have THT run the 2nd unit. He handles the ball well and is a much better finisher at the rim. You could even look into bringing in Bledsoe if he gets bought out, which he probably will. Could sign him to minimum deal.
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Aloha, Michael,
There’s a reason why the Lakers want to acquire a ‘difference-making playmaker’ to play the one so they can move LeBron to the four and you can bet your life that LeBron James is part of that decision.
Fans don’t realize how much effort it takes to play point guard vs. playing off the ball. That’s why LeBron doesn’t bring the ball up the court and it’s why the Lakers want LeBron to play more off the ball this season. He’s 36 years old and has now sufferred a season ending injury in 2 of the last 3 seasons. The Lakers need to preserve as much of LeBron as they can and having him play off the ball at the four is a smart way to do that.
If the Lakers can bring in an elite playmaker, then we may see LeBron become more of a scorer than playmaker. As good as James is as a playmaker, the reality is he is probably better as a scorer. Think of how Rondo at the one and LeBron at the four worked during the Bubble Championship. The 36-year old version of LeBron could average 30 points per game next season with a Lowry, Westbrook, Ball, or DeRozan at the one.
As for Caruso, there’s no way he’s in the rotation at point guard. He’s a turnover waiting to happen. He averages 2.8 turnover per game in just 21 minutes. THT is a much better ball handler and playmaker but neither of them are capable of taking over the one so LeBron can play the four.
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I still believe the meeting between Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis (and Jared Dudley) was the most important event to happen for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. It was not only the meeting that set the stage for the Lakers home run move to sign Russ but also for the decision to go small with Russ at the one and LeBron and AD moving to the four and five to create a Monster Ball version of small ball.
That meeting by Russ, LeBron, and AD was the only thing that could have changed the direction of the Lakers heading into this offseason. After a disastrous injury plagued year where both LeBron and AD got hurt and the Lakers swung and miss on rent-a-centers Marc Gaol, Montrezl Harrell, and Andre Drummond, it was the Lakers superstars – not their front office or coaching staff – who finally got it right and committed the team to small ball.
Had that meeting not happened, I’m sure we would have seen Frank Vogel starting Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, or Andre Drummond at center when next season starts. But since the NBA is a superstars’ league, it will be Russ, LeBron, and Anthony who will decide how the Lakers are going to play, not Frank and not Rob. That’s why the Lakers are going to start LeBron at the four and AD at the five and the Lakers are going to win their 18th NBA championship this season.