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Lakers Fast Break wrote a new post
Read MoreA short-handed Lakers team falls to the Pheonix Suns today 114-104. Join us as the lakerholics.com crew of LakerTom and Gerald are here to talk about the game and how the teams in LA are now looking up at more than one team in the Western Conference.
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Lakers Fast Break wrote a new post
Read MoreMarc Gasol is out tonight because of health and safety protocols, the Lakers say.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 2, 2021
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Dang, just when Marc started to play well. So who’s going to start at the 5? Has to be Trezz.
PG: Schroder
SG: Kuzma please
SF: LeBron
PF: Morris
CE: Harrell
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreThe Brooklyn Nets’ Superstar Big 3 has raised the bar and upped the ante for what’s needed to win the NBA championship and may ultimately force both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers to pursue a third superstar.
Make no mistake, the Los Angeles Lakers’ and Clippers’ front offices not only view the Nets as their likely opponent should they make the Finals but also as the biggest challenge and obstacle to their winning the championship. The Utah Jazz may dominate the regular season but the NBA playoffs have always been about superstars and the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving are the greatest Superstar Big 3 ever assembled.
Lakers’ and Clippers’ fans can hope the Nets won’t be able to build a quality supporting cast, won’t have enough time to jell, or won’t be able to defend but the reality when it comes to superstars is three is greater than two. We’ve already seen in the regular season how losing one of their superstars to injury or pandemic contract tracing impacted the Lakers or Clippers far more than it did the Nets. Now imagine that happening during the playoffs.
The Brooklyn Nets’ Superstar Big 3 is going to transform the midseason trading period into an arms race like the NBA has never seen before as both the Lakers and Clippers will be actively chasing that elusive third superstar. Superstars duos like the Lakers’ LeBron James and Anthony Davis or the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard and Paul George may no longer be enough to win the championship now that the Nets boast a legitimate Superstar Big 3.
There are also other potential competing teams who understand that they need major upgrades to their lineups in the form of star or superstar players just to remain in second tier right below Lakers, Clippers, and Nets. The Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors will also be looking for a star or superstar player to upgrade their rosters to compete with tier 1 teams.
In a perfect world, the Lakers and Clippers would both love a center as the third superstar to complement their current two superstar while the Lakers need a volume 3-point shooting guard and the Clippers a true point guard. Unfortunately, neither the Lakers or the Clippers have the draft picks that are often essential when trading for a superstar player so they’re both going to have to get creative to outbid the second tier teams for a third superstar.
But the Lakers and Clippers do have multiple proven high quality role players under team friendly contracts that could be appealing to teams that opt to become sellers and trade a star or superstar as the deadline nears. Whether they can find a trade partner and deal is uncertain but both understand the Nets have jumped ahead of them in terms of superstars and they may be challenged to keep their championship windows open.
So who are the stars and superstars who could be on the move before the March 24th trade deadline? And which ones would have enough impact to qualify as the needed third superstar to give the Lakers or Clippers a Big 3?Here are the top candidates who make the most sense as third superstars for the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, ranked according to what it would take in the form of trading chips for the Lakers or Clippers to acquire them:
1. BRADLEY BEAL, WASHINGTON WIZARDS SHOOTING GUARD
Bradley would be the perfect candidate to level the playing field between the Lakers and Clippers versus the Nets. Unfortunately, it’s doubtful Beal will be available or either Los Angeles team has the chips to pull off a deal.
2. ZACH LAVINE, CHICAGO BULLS SHOOTING GUARD
Zach would also be a perfect candidate as the third superstar to go with LeBron and AD or Kawhi and PG. Like Beal, it’s doubtful the Lakers or Clippers could outbid what tier 2 teams could offer to pull off a trade.
3. KRISTAPS PORZINGIS, DALLAS MAVERICKS CENTER
Kristaps would also be a great fit on the Lakers or the Clippers and an elite upgrade at both ends over Marc Gasol or Serge Ibaka. If the Mavs decide to move Porzingis, he would be the perfect third superstar for the Lakers.
4. KYLE LOWRY, TORONTO RAPTORS POINT GUARD
While the Raptors are struggling, Kyle has been enjoying a great year and would immediately close the superstar gap between the Lakers or Clippers and the Nets. He would be the perfect third superstar for the Clippers.
5. VICTOR OLADIPO, HOUSTON ROCKETS SHOOTING GUARD
Victor might be the most attainable trade option as a third superstar for the Lakers or Clippers because of the injury and free agency concerns. He’s a better roster fit on the Lakers than the Clippers because of position.
6. NIKOLA VUCEVIC, ORLANDO MAGIC CENTER
Nikola is the wild card third superstar option for the Lakers and Clippers because the Magic have not shopped him despite their losing record and it’s likely they would want draft picks neither LA team has in a trade for him.
There are a multitude of minor tweaks the Lakers and Clippers can make to try and close the current gap between them and the Nets but they may find themselves competing with each other and the Nets for the same players. Should the Lakers and Clippers be unable to land one of the above six superstars, they will then have to settle for less impactful moves such as upgrading role players or picking up someone from the waiver wire.
Other candidates include the Hawks’ John Collins, Nuggets’ Michael Porter, Jr., Rockets PJ Tucker and Eric Gordon, Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick, Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan or LaMarcus Aldridge, or Bulls’ Lauri Markkanen. Possible targets also include Magic’s Mo Bamba, Khem Birch, or Evan Fournier, Thunder’s George Hill and Trevor Ariza, Kings’ Buddy Hield and Nemanja Bjelica, Pistons’ Wayne Ellington, or Hornets’ Devonte Graham.
The only thing certain is the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers will need to make moves before the March 34th trade deadline if they want to be able to match up against the Nets’ Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving.
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I think our team beats their team. I still don’t have the Nets coming out of the EC, anyhow. Who they got gonna stop Embiid? KD isn’t the KD of yore and may never be again. The Nets are not the measuring stick of today’s NBA.
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I can think of a couple trios better than BKN: Kareem Magic Worthy, Curry Thompson Durant. Nets need to earn some bling before we make room at the table.
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Then, of course, there is defense to discuss…BKN has a long way to go at that end of the court.
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Any team with LeBron and AD always will have a chance but it’s easy to discount the Nets after the way the Lakers played last night but that Warriors team is not anything close to their championship teams and acting like a Nets team with three legitimate superstars is naivete at its hometown greatest.
Also the idea that KD is not the KD of old is silly. He is playing like he never had an Achilles problem. Harden is focusing on playing the point, and Kyrie still has the best handle in the game. There’s also no way the inconsistent 76ers are going to be able to handle the Nets and they’re going to make moves to get better before the deadline. Just as the Lakers will do. And the Clippers. And the Sixers.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Clippers land Kyle Lowry or the Nets land Drummond, which is why Rob Pelinka needs to do everything he can do to land a third star for the Lakers. This is not last season when the Lakers top competition is going to shoot themselves in the foot. Well, maybe the Clippers will. LOL. But the Nets are for real and the firepower they have is going to be formidable in the playoffs, which are always dominated by superstars. The problem is we’re always going to be playing 2 against 3 or 1 against 2 superstars. Lakers need a third star. Otherwise, we go into the Finals as the underdog.
Pelinka is not going to stand pat this month just like he didn’t last offseason and 6 quarters of great basketball doesn’t erase the major problems the Lakers have with being able to keep up with great 3-point shooting teams like the Nets, Clippers, and Jazz. Lakers will be pulling out all stops to find a third star and volume 3-point shooters. Who wins the trade deadline could be the team to win the championship this season.
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Like I said, don’t even have the Nets coming outta the East…
Lowry on the Clippers worries me more than Drummond on the Nets where he will be relegated to ‘rebound my miss dude!’ status.
KD has played in a little over 1/2 their games but yes otherwise looks good, we’ll see how that bears out. FWIW he’s shooting the three atone of the worst %’s of his career.
Pretty sure that signing J.R. SMith and Dion Waiters while scraping ‘Kieff off the waiver heap is about as close to standing pat as you get in the NBA… That sums up the toallity of our mid-season moves last year. Read it for yourself: https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2020_transactions.html
Our team is our 3rd supser star and we’d have to gut it, and what future we have left, in pursuit of Lowry. The better option, by far, would be Drummond should he end up accepting a buyout or Blake Griffin, same. Lowry is an URFA this summer and the potential of a 1/2 season rental at the expense of a championship core is a legit worry.
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I’ve never said to gut the team to get a third superstar. Nor does it have to be a superstar per se. There are several ‘impact’ players who could make the Lakers dramatically better.
I’m always amazed at how it’s the glass half empty guys who never want to make bold moves. Seems contradictory that they’re the ones who want to ‘stand pat’ and go to battle with the players we have.
Like it or not, Lakers will make changes and hopefully they will be major ones. Highly doubtful Lakers will be able to get anything of real value from the buyout market this year.
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It’s not that I’m in opposition to a move just don’t see Rob pulling the table cloth off the table out from under the glasses and plates. I think a move like the one where we acquire Wayne Ellington or D-Graham are within the scope of reality. Don’t see us having the assets, or be willing to ship out, all it would take to land Lowry. If Drummond or Griffin become available via buy out those are both very. very attractive to me, especially Drummond, but he’ll be wanting a wink and nod about a re-up and the problem with guys who are waived/bought out is I don’t believe any rights carry over after that. Could be wrong on that one, tho.
Griffin is an interesting notion to me, as well. I could honestly see him starting over Gasol. But he’s tough down low, a solid rebounder, better passer than advertised and can hit the three. The main issue there is my personal distaste of the man but I found it within myself to (kind of) cheer for Matt Barnes as a Laker so…
I think that, if a move is to be made, the smart way to approach is to get it done over the break, preferably in time for whomever is coming over to get in a practice or two before we reboot for the 2nd half. Otherwise the new player(s) will be forced to learn on the fly and as we saw this portion of the schedule has even less down time between games. Going to be interesting.
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I would agree that I don’t see the kind of move where a big part of the roster changes but I could see a three for one move where we upgraded our rim protections, volume 3-point shooting, or wing defense with ‘star’ role player. But no, I don’t see us making a move for a legitimate superstar, although an Oladipo or Porzingis at a bargain price might be a remote possibility.
Ellington or Graham would fit my ‘star’ at a role criteria and give us a volume 3-point shooting upgrade. Not a big fan of bringing in Drummond or Griffin. Feel the same as you about Griffin but, yes, I did root for Matt Barnes like you.
I think you’re right about the timing being best to make a trade over the break but some teams probably want to wait until the last minute to make sure they’re selling or buying.
Most players signed this offseason like KCP will be available this week so we might see some move. Would be great to bring in new players now when we have some practices to integrate them.
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Also I don’t think one person has used the last game or so as a reason as to why the Lakers would beat the Nets in a 7 game series. It comes down to the fact that we are the better defensive team, have the better and more cohesive talent and better role-players.
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Aloha Tom, First I do not believe that we have the assets to land an impact player. We went all in on AD and we have to live with that. The good news is neither the Nets or the Clippers are better off then us when it comes to assets that a team would want for a star player. I also think that my bar is set higher then yours when it comes to superstars. Beal is the only player you mentioned that I consider a superstar. I think the arms race will boil down to who becomes available during buy out season and who gets them. The Lakers are in good shape to land a top buyout player. Unless the Nets can land a couple of quality defenders in the buyout market. I don’t worry about them. In the playoffs defense rules. I the Nets are not that good on that side of the ball. If you look back at all the championship teams with great firepower they all could defend as well. You always are eager to trade Dennis but he is a real candidate for one of the all NBA defensive teams and can break down the oppositions defense plus he can get you 20 on any given night. What I would like to see the Lakers do is get players like Kuz and KCP more shots. You can’t be a scorer in this league if you are getting like 5, 6 shots a game. The same problem would exist for a 3rd star as well. The offense will still revolve around LeBron and AD. On any given night you can get 20 from Kuz, Tez and Dennis, if the coaches look to get more guys involved in the offense. During our bad steak I listened to Stu complain all game about lack of ball movement and the shot clock winding down before we got into our offense. The last few games we have cranked up the defense and the ball has been moving. That’s how we will win number18.
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Aloha, Michael,
I certainly agree we don’t have the trading chips to land a Beal or LaVine but I do think we have enough quality pieces to trade for a Porzingis, Lowry, or Oladipo and still have a solid 8 or 9 player roation not counting what we might be able to get from the buyout market.
As I said, we don’t necessarily need a third superstar. An All-Star could be the answer or a key player who could fill a great need the way Rondo did in the playoffs last season. I think there are several key ‘impact’ players we could pursue and I’m betting the Lakers’ front office feels the same way.
This is not last season and the Clippers or Jazz are going to be a lot tougher matchups than the Nuggets in the conference finals and the Nets or Sixers a more daunting match than the overrated Miami Heat. Lakers need to get better and, no disrespect, but anybody who thinks differently is naively wrong.
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The Lakers will certainly have the better defensive team but we’ve seen that defense without good 3-point shooting is often not enough to win, especially this season.
One thing for sure is whomever we play in the Finals, be it the KD, Kyrie, and Harden Nets or the Embiid, Simmons, and Lowry 76ers, it ain’t going to be the cakewalk we had last year against the Miami Heat.
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6 games? Not really a cake walk. Miami has already surged back into 5th place. They’re dangerous when they’re healthy and they ain’t been healthy all year. #neverdoubtJimmyB
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My thinking is that your thoughts on the three are for the most part correct. I would like to see us taking smarter threes, let the makes be our guide and if we cut down on turnovers that’s fewer gifted possessions. Clean up those things and this team as is is tough to beat in 7. I’m hoping that the ASB sees Frank add some offensive wrinkles to our flow, get KCP another 3 FGA/game (from anywhere, doesn’t have to be three, get him curling toward the rim w/Bron/AD on the weak side and Gasol in the HP, have him play with a lob threat he had great synergy w/Dwight on lobs last season…so many things that could be done). I’m not sure ratchetting up the attempts is the only solution but there’s no denying that when we make our threes it opens up the floor so much more. As they say: gotta take ’em to make ’em.
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The problem with the Lakers and 3-point shooting actually does come down to taking more shots. We take around 30 and allow around 30 and make around 10 and allow around 10, which makes it almost impossible to generate a good differential. Sometimes, we can dominate the PIP to make up for losing the 3-point line but almost every time we lose, it’s because of the math.
Fixing that math with the current roster won’t work. You can run plays to get more takes and increase your makes but in the end, there are guys who shoot a few threes and guys who shoot a lot of threes. We need one or two of the latter if we want to even the playing field.
I see that as our greatest priority but not our only one as we approach the trade deadline. I think there’s going to be a lot of moves by a lot of teams this midseason. Just hope Rob gets a chance to make a move or two to really help us. This is going to be a tougher gauntlet than last year in the bubble. But then that’s why it’s so hard to repeat.
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For some reason I always tend to find Michael, Jamie and I on the same corner. I am not a big fan of trades at this time of the season when all we can do is to maximize what we already have if nothing is broken. As Michael said, we should explore giving Kuzma, KCP and other players extra shots to boost the overall team’s chances at ball movement rather than depending heavily on just 1-2 punches from LeBron and AD. Dennis is certainly filling that role as a third star already.
Bringing in a third superstar is tempting, and that superstar may need more touches to be effective. Not that I wouldn’t want the team loaded with superstars, but it could also backfire when it comes to chemistry. Think of the team from the mid 2000s with Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Gary Payton despite some injuries being to blame.
Our biggest problem remains our poor shooting and turnovers.
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Like I said above, the better answer may not be a third ‘superstar’ but a ‘star’ player at a specific role, be it protecting the rim or splashing volume threes or elite defense on the wing.
However, I don’t think the team as it is structured right now is good enough to repeat even though they may be better than last year’s championship team. Bottom line, the competition is going to be much better this season, especially if the Nets, Clippers, and Sixers make moves to get even better at the trade deadline.
Lakers are in a win now mode and Rob Pelinka is going to looking for ways to dramatically upgrade the team. We won’t make a trade just to make a trade but if the right opportunity arises, he will take advantage of it. There will be some major changes.
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Agreed, I’ll take smaller moves over a big splash at this point. But as I often say: it’s the NBA and you never know what’s coming next!
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreThe champion Los Angeles Lakers may have rediscovered their swarming championship team defense in the second half last night as they blitzed Damian Lillard and shut down the Portland Trail Blazers in a 102–93 win.
Besides ending a season longest 4-game losing streak, the win showed the Lakers were still capable of playing the caliber of defense that won their 17th championship despite missing their defensive anchor Anthony Davis. That was something NBA pundits had started to question as the Lakers had lost 5 of the 6 games without Anthony Davis while posting an 18th ranked defensive rating of 112.8 and watching their #1 defensive rating decline.
Buoyed by the return of point guard Dennis Schroder, the Lakers finally displayed the attacking and trapping defense that was the trademark of last season’s championship run in the bubble and had been MIA this season. After struggling to contain Lillard in the first half as he exploded for 24 points, the Lakers tightened their doubles and blitzes in a second half and held Dame to 11 points and the Trail Blazers as a team to just 36 points.
It was the kind of dominating second half defense the Lakers unleashed on high-powered scorers like James Harden, Nikola Jokic, Jimmy Butler, and the same Damian Lillard during their elite championship run in the bubble. Noteworthy, it was also the kind of defensive performance that had earned the Lakers’ the #1 defensive rating all season long but had been completely missing during their last 10 games which included 5 losses and 3 OT wins.
The Lakers defensive rating last night was a stellar 98.9 for the game and 78.3 for the second half. The performance lowered their leading defensive rating to 105.8 and extended their lead over second place Jazz to 1.5 points. Last night’s defensive performance also ended a 10-game streak where the Lakers defensive rating had declined to a 10th rated 109.4 and a 6-game stretch without Anthony Davis were it declined to an 18th rated 112.8.
While the Blazers were missing key players, last night’s performance was by far the Lakers’ best defensive game without AD and showed their ‘attack dog’ swarming, doubling, rotating team defense was not dependent on him. One of the keys to the Lakers’ great defense was LeBron James assuming Anthony Davis’ role and responsibility as the team’s defensive anchor with 10 rebounds, 5 deflections, 4 steals, 3 blocks, and 1 drawn charge.
It’s easy to forget what a major part of the Lakers’ defensive dominance in the playoffs was LeBron James’ elite individual defense, where he matched Anthony Davis’ 1.2 steals and his 0.9 blocks per game was team second best. Last night was a reminder 36-year old LeBron James can still dominate at both ends of the court when needed. James’ mantra has always been to do whatever the Lakers need to . Last night, it was dominant defense.
As a team, the Lakers grabbed 37 defensive rebounds, deflected 19 passes, made 9 steals, and blocked 7 shots with the aggressive swarming ‘attack dog’ defense that dominated as the Lakers won 16 of their 21 playoff games. They held the Blazers to 19 points in the third quarter and 17 in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a dominant 18 minute stretch covering the third quarter and first six minutes of the fourth when they allowed just 23 points
The Lakers’ defensive heroics were teamwide. Caruso had 6 deflections, 6 defensive rebounds, and 2 steals. Schroder had 5 deflections, 3 defensive rebounds, and 1 steal. Horton-Tucker had 5 defensive boards and 2 blocks. Kuzma had 6 defensive boards, Harrell had 4 defensive boards, 1 block, and 1 charge drawn, Morris had 1 deflection, 3 defensive boards, and 1 steal, KCP had 2 deflections and 1 steal. Gasol had 1 defensive board and 1 block.
Individual player defensive ratings were also stellar for the game. Top defensive ratings for the game were 78.3 by Montrezl Harrell, followed by 87.3 by LeBron James, 91.2 by Talen Horton-Tucker, 94.9 by Alex Caruso. Markieff Morris posted 97.8, Wes Matthew 100.0, Kyle Kuzma’s 104.4, and Dennis Schroder 104.9. The only Lakers with subpar ratings last night were Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with 112.2 and Marc Gasol with 120.0.
The Lakers have three games before the All-Star break: Warriors on Sunday, Suns next Tuesday, and Kings next Wednesday. If they can play the same level of defense as last night, they’ll have a good chance to win all three.
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One the big things that jumped out from the stats from last night’s big defensive win was the performance of the Lakers two centers. Montrezl Harrell posted a team best 78.3 defensive rating while Marc Gasol posted a team worst 120.0 defensive rating. Harrell also posted a team best +22 Plus/Minus rating while Gasol posted a team worst -9 Plus/Minus rating.
What makes these numbers jump out is the swarming, trapping, blitzing style of defense the Lakers played last night, with or without AD, is what won the game last night and won the championship last playoffs, which thus begs the question of how does Marc Gasol fit into the Lakers defensive plans going forward. Yes, he has size and savvy but in a defense where mobility, speed, quickness, and athleticism are requisite, Marc is a dinosaur, a square peg when a round peg is needed.
There is no question this Lakers team needs to play this style of defense to win whether AD is in the lineup or not. They need the aggressive, proactive attitude and transition opportunities that it brings. RJ said it best last night when he observed that the Lakers are the best team in the league in playing this doubling, trapping, and rotating style of defense. It forces teams out of their normal offense and energizes the Lakers at both ends of the court. So the question is what does that say for the future of Marc Gasol on this Lakers team?
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The issue I see with relegating Marc Gasol to the bench is that he, along with Morris, do not bring energy. They aren’t fleet of foot and that means our second unit will be very slow. Trezz of the bench is instant energy and he plays well with both Caruso and THT. Essentially there isn’t a clear cut replacement until AD comes back at which point we can better stagger everyone’s minutes.
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In many ways, LeBron was playing the four most of this game, acting like Frank described as the Lakers’ middle linebacker, deflecting and intersepting passes and blocking shots to initiate fast breaks and getting to the rim over and over.
Having a player with the savvy and skillset to truly do whatever the team needs to win is what makes LeBron the ultimate unicorn in today’s game. No other player has the diverse and unique ability to channel what the team needs on any given night. Tonight, LeBron took over defensively and we saw the results. Sure didn’t look tired or washed or in need of rest tonight. Still going to be the regular season MVP but tonight’s performance was reminiscent of his Finals MVP performances.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreWhile it’s highly unlikely Rob Pelinka would consider risking an extreme makeover of a defending NBA championship team, you could easily argue LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the team’s only untouchable players.
You could also suggest the Brooklyn Nets with their Big Three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden have raised the bar and upped the stakes for what it’s going to take to win the 2020-21 NBA championship. Throw in the league leading Utah Jazz, crosstown Los Angeles Clippers, resurgent Phoenix Suns, and physical Philadelphia 76ers and suddenly the idea of the Lakers needing an extreme makeover doesn’t seem so silly.
A makeover could be just what the Lakers need as they’re mired in a 4-game losing streak without superstar center Anthony Davis for the next three weeks and with their once top five 3-point shooting now last in the league. The Lakers supposedly deep and talented roster was flawed. Anthony Davis’ unfortunate injury loss and Dennis Schroder’s untimely contact tracing loss have exposed the Lakers’ lack of capable rim protectors and shot creators.
So where does Rob Pelinka start? The Lakers need volume 3-point shooting, a modern center who can protect both the rim and perimeter, and dynamic guards and wings who can create quality shots for themselves and others. Pelinka won’t find players with those skills and talents on the waiver wire so they have to be willing to trade core members of their championship team if they want to fill the holes in their roster and repeat as champs.
Here are two trades that together would solve all of the team’s pressing roster needs and comprise an extreme makeover to transform the current struggling Los Angeles Lakers roster into the championship favorite:
- TRADE FOR CENTER KRISTAPS PORZINGIS
The Dallas Mavericks have apparently become disenchanted with 25-year old 7,’ 4″ 240 lb center Kristaps Porzingis and have been testing the waters with teams to see what they might be able to get back for him in a trade.
The above trade would immediately upgrade the Mavericks’ depth and talent and give superstar point guard Luka Doncic a trio of talented young starter or rotation players who can score the ball and defend at a high level. Caldwell-Pope or Kuzma, both on favorable 3-year deals, would be strong candidates to start at shooting guard and small forward while Harrell, who’s a free agent, would be an instant offense option off the bench.
The Lakers would get the perfect modern two-way stretch five center in Kristaps Porzingis to play alongside superstar Anthony Davis and give Los Angeles the third star they need to match Brooklyn Superstar Big Three. Porzingis is averaging 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 29.9 minutes per game while shooting 47.3/35.2/80.5%. Most importantly, Kristaps is volume 3-point shooter who averages 6.4 threes per game.
While Porzingis averages 1.6 blocks per game, his defensive rating has been extremely poor and the Mavs’ defense is much better without him on the floor, which is why Dallas no longer believes he is the right fit next to Luka. Playing for a defensive coaching guru like Vogel and alongside an elite defender like Davis could be the perfect situation to redeem Porzingis’ defensive chops and take advantage of his 7′ 4′ height and 7′ 6″ wingspan.
The Lakers are giving up a pair of proven championship contributors in Caldwell-Pope and Kuzma and the reining 6MOY in Harrell but they’re also getting the perfect young modern center to complement LeBron and AD.
2. TRADE FOR POINT GUARD DEVONTE GRAHAM
With LaMelo Ball now the Hornets’ point guard of the future Terry Rozier enjoying a career season, the Hornets can afford to move Devonte Graham to land a potential future superstar in 20-year old Talen Horton-Tucker.
The above trade gives the Hornets the equivalent of a top five draft pick in the uniquely talented 20-year old Talen Horton-Tucker, who forced his way into the championship Lakers’ rotation and has legit superstar potential. Talen will be heavily pursued next summer as a restricted free agent but the Hornets will have his early Bird and Arenas rights, which will let them match any offer and limit his first two years’ salary to the league average.
A 3-year veteran, Devonte Graham is the perfect starting backcourt mate to pair with Dennis Schroder. His ability to create shots for himself and others along with his volume 3-point shooting are exactly what the Lakers need. Devonte’s averaging 13.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 32.8 minutes per game. His strength is his playmaking and 3-point shooting. He takes 8.1 threes per game, 11th most in the league, and shoots 34.7%.
A starting backcourt of Schroder and Graham would give the Lakers two lightning quick guards who can create plays for themselves or teammates. They’d turbo charge the Lakers’ offense when LeBron was not on the floor. The biggest benefit would be the Lakers ability to stagger their minutes like Vogel does LeBron’s and AD’s minutes to enable the team to always have a dynamic point guard and superstar on the court all 48 minutes.
While they give up 20-year old budding superstar Talen Horton-Tucker to acquire 25-year old point guard Devonte Graham, the move would give the Lakers’ offense the dynamic shooting, playmaking, and scoring it needs.
The Lakers have experienced first hand just how valuable Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder are to the team. The goal of the above two trades was to duplicate the skillsets and talents that make AD and Dennis so valuable. While giving up Caldwell-Pope, Kuzma, Harrell, and Horton-Tucker is a huge price to pay, Porzingis and Graham make the Lakers a more dangerous team and give them a stronger starting lineup and more diverse bench.
LAKERS DEPTH CHART
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PG: SCHRODER, Caruso
SG: GRAHAM, Matthews
SF: JAMES, McKinnie
PF: DAVIS, Morris, Dudley
CE: PORZINGIS, GasolThe Lakers still have four proven starter quality reserves in Caruso, Matthews, Morris, and Gasol who can fill minutes and create lineups to match anything contending teams might come up with to challenge them. They also have four open roster spots for a third point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and center for possible buyout candidates like Isaiah Thomas, Wayne Ellington, Trevor Ariza, and Dewayne Dedmon.
The Lakers’ new starting lineup could be the best offensive and defensive lineup in the league, with two new volume 3-point shooters, two lightning quick point guards, and a pair of modern 2-way centers to protect the rim.
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The big question is would the Mavs really trade Porzingis to the Lakers for KCP, Kuzma, and Harrell? There defense is much better when Willie Cauley-Stein is at the five and they’re struggling despite great play from Luka. And defense is what they need. It comes down to whether they’re better with KP or with KCP, Kuzma, and Harrell. They’re a team that wants to win now so they’re not necessarily looking for picks as much as players to make Luka better. I think the Lakers offer could be enough but I wouldn’t hesitate to include Caruso if needed.
I was a big fan of the Lakers drafting Kristaps back in 2015 even though I loved D’Angelo Russell. I remember that workout that he had where he looked like the best shooting big man in the world. So if there’s a chance in hell the Lakers can land him, I would go all in on it. He’s worth it on offense alone and playing next to AD would either inspire him on defense or cover for him. You can’t teach the size and length he has. He would be the perfect front court mate for Anthony Davis. And I think Frank could transform him into a great shot blocking center.
What jumped out at me when I wrote the article is that the combination of Porzingis and Graham is a doppelganger for Davis and Schroder in many ways. A modern center and point guard. We saw how valuable Anthony and Dennis were while they were out of action. That’s just emphasizes how valuable Kristaps and Devonte could be as additions to the Lakers.
While I love the offense and defense that KCP and Kuzma bring to the table and the energy and scoring Harrell brings, they’re all still role players. And we all know what a THT stan I am but Porzingis and Graham are both high volume, high percentage 3-point shooters, which is exactly what the Lakers need.
Imagine a starting lineup with a Schroder and Graham backcourt and Davis and Porzingis front court surrounding LeBron James! That’s a lineup that can handle the Nets’ superstar Big Three. And that’s the challenge facing Rob Pelinka right now. This is not last year and last year’s championship Lakers squad, even with the tweaks made this offseason, is not good enough to win this season. That’s why the Lakers need an extreme makeover to repeat and win their 18th NBA championship.
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Not giving up Trez unless Beal is involved. Porzzy is ALWAYS hurt. When you look at the names of those guys, we got nuttin, but AD and LBJ. The rest are just average players at best. Again KCP and Schrow equal salaries with Beal. Toss in either Kuz or Pick. Cap doesn’t matter. We only at $121 Mil next year and you need to explain why Warriors and Nets can be at $164? They don’t care about the Cap penalty. No to low fruit. Nets are the Favs.
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You need to get realistic, Dave. The Wizards are not going to trade Beal for less than a package involving another superstar or multiple first round draft picks, neither of which we have to offer. Beal would require a package like we paid for AD.
Porzingis gives us the rim protector and elite volume 3-point shooter we need. He’s a gamble defensively, which is why the Mavs might be willing to trade him for an upgrade starter in KCP and Kuzma at the 2 and 3 and a 6MOY in Harrell to come off the bench.
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I getcha, but no one is beating Nets if they are healthy. How many games has Porzzy played in the last 3 years? He is out with back issues tonite.
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48 of 82
57 of 72
17 of 31So, yes, he’s not been very durable the last 3 years and he’s still not fully recovered from his last knee injury, which is one reason his defense with the Mavs has not been good: 119.5 this season vs 109.3 last season. With the Knicks, it was 104.6, then 106.4, and finally 106.7 – all very good.
But that’s why he might be available and taking a gamble on a player like Kristaps is the only way we’re going to get a third potential star to go with LeBron and AD. Guy is still averaging 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game and shooting 35.2% on 6.4 3-point attempts per game.
One thing I agree with you is the Lakers as presently constructed are not going to be able to beat the Nets in the Finals even if they make it there unless they add a third star and some volume 3-point shooters. PERIOD! The Nets, Clippers, and Jazz have all dramatically improved their 3-point shooting. We need to make moves to match or fall behind.
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And he missed a full season I think. If Lowery is healthy, I’d take him though. Even a WCS or NN as well if cheap and expirering?
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I’d love Lowry and would be happy to get WCS or NN but they don’t help our 3-point shooting and don’t appear to be available.
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Dave, Lakers can go over the cap, like the Warriors and Nets, in two situations only:
1. Make a trade where they are allowed to bring back 125% of what they send out. For example, send out $25M for Porzingis who costs $30M. Only works if you are not hard capped, which the Lakers are because of using the NT MLE and BAE.
2. Give a raise to a player for whom they own Bird rights, which they could do if they traded for Porzingis or Oladipo, for example. That’s why the only way for the Laker to get a third superstar is to trade for them before giving them a raise rather than signing them in free agency.
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Yes, but we could if they would. We give them KCP and Scho plus Kuz and Pick. Look you guys, I want what I want, lol!
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lol, I know Deej. You want All Stars at every position AND off the bench. lol
S’all good. A dream, but all good.
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TRADE FOR CENTER KRISTAPS PORZINGIS
The Lakers are giving up a pair of proven championship contributors in Caldwell-Pope and Kuzma and the reining 6MOY in Harrell but they’re also getting the perfect young modern center to complement LeBron and AD.https://t.co/s7fPbKTLky pic.twitter.com/8u5SBfzoAV
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) February 26, 2021
TRADE FOR POINT GUARD DEVONTE GRAHAM
While they give up 20-year old budding superstar Talen Horton-Tucker to acquire 25-year old point guard Devonte Graham, the move would give the Lakers’ offense the dynamic shooting, playmaking, and scoring it needs.https://t.co/s7fPbKTLky pic.twitter.com/O7AuNqQgzw
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) February 26, 2021
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The Work Out tape KP didn’t have the injury issues the real KP has. There is something to be said for durability and availability. We already have a knick-knack injury player in AD. I like the DG deal, I’d be in favor of that. As much as I enjoy seeing THT develop and progress I’m not sure how many growing pains this Laker squad can endure.
I’m not as concerned as many seem to be about Brooklyn. I don’t think they’re the measuring stick of the NBA, in all honesty. This is the regular season and they’re doing well, not astoundingly well, just well. KD looks more fragile than in season’s past, Kyrie is still Kyrie and Harden wilts under the brightest spotlights. I don’t see why those things have changed just because they’re all on the same team now. Can they defend at a playoff level of intensity? I’m not sure that they can. I have Philly coming out of the East since the season kicked off and I don’t see a reason to change that opinion.
I’m looking at this a little differently in that I am assuming the following things:
-We’re still trying to extend Schroder (the house has nothing to do with it, Cali property is a good buy. Even out in Tarzana) which will eat into what cap space we have next season (not too much).
-Since we used the NTPMLE to sign Trezz (which is why we cannot in any circumstances go over the cap, DJ) we’ll be exploring the waiver wire (hello Damion Jones) we’re not going to be bringing in high-priced talent simply because it means we’re shipping out too much of our core team.
-The Lakers will struggle to retain the services of Trezz next season.All of that being true-ish (all indicators point to the Lakers continuing to extend Schroder rather than let him hit FA, Trezz will likely command a higher salary than we’ll be comfortable paying and we did in fact trigger the hard cap with our off season moves).
The players who will be made available will have warts. Either they’re recovering from devastating sport injuries (Oladipo, Porzingis), have issues with behavior in a team structure or in general (Beasley, who might not even be available), or are priced higher than their actual impact (easily 1/4 of the NBA). Furthermore some guys who we bring in won’t have the role on our team they enjoy now. Not everyone is Kyle Kuzma who was willing to sacrifice a greater role and a bigger spot light for a chance at rings.
Lastly there’s something nobody is talking about in terms of how it affects free agency and the trade market. The playin tourney. There are more ways to get into the playoffs than ever before. So even if you’re sitting at 9 or 10 (especially in the Eastern conference) you’re feeling pretty decent about your team and will be less willing to blow it up. Certainly less willing to trade with the defending NBA champs whose GM was an agent and you want to beat him so bad you can taste it. The playin trickles down to affect everything because if you can get into the playoffs you have shot at doing some damage, pulling off an upset and redefining your narrative. That’s attractive in a way that doesn’t speak to stats or salary cap.
So, to all of the above, I think the move we saw today (picking up Damion Jones) could be a precursor to a Trezz trade, maybe one that includes THT, AC or KCP but I kinda doubt it. Trezz and THT will be the most difficult to keep on the roster after this season so I won’t be surprised if they end up as center pieces to a move ROb makes.
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I hope you’re right about the Nets but superstars are what count in the playoffs and the Nets have three legit superstars, realistically maybe the best Big Three in NBA history. I do agree KD may be fragile, Harden not clutch, and Kyrie, well, just Kyrie. But if they’re healthy and on fire, it almost doesn’t matter who else they have.
I’m a big proponent of this is going to be a much tougher road to the championship than last season and the Clippers, Jazz, and Nets make the road a rough gauntlet to get there. All three are top five teams in 3-point differential. To me, it’s clear. The Lakers need to get a lot better or they won’t make it past the Clippers. Seriously, without a major trade, I worry about a 2nd round departure.
I do agree with your logic on Trezz and THT being likely trade assets. There’s probably no way we keep Trezz because we won’t have any cap space and he’s worth more than the MLE. THT has great potential but right now we need shooting more than potential. I also think KCP is the other major trade asset, although his struggles have hurt his trade value.
I do think KCP, Kuzma, and Trezz are a great haul for the Mavs for Porzingis and, like you said, the only way we’re going to get an impact player back is to gamble. Right now, the worse bet is to stand pat or make minor moves because that just dooms us to an early exit. Can’t waste a rare LeBron year to go fishing and not even make the Finals, which is what are fate looks like right now.
So we need to gamble on Porzingis, Oladipo, Lowry, or some player who has the talent and fit to elevate this team to a level over the Clippers, Jazz, and Nets. Right now, 4th or 5th in the power rankings is where the Lakers belong. That deep bench was very overrated and has been exposed. Time to be bold, not hesitant. Can’t win with the 3-point shooting we have right now. Or with the roster we have right now. Lakers need major trade to get better. Otherwise, we risk becoming this year’s version of the Clippers.
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“I do think KCP, Kuzma, and Trezz are a great haul for the Mavs for Porzingis and, like you said, the only way we’re going to get an impact player back is to gamble.”
I think that’s a great haul for the Mavs. We’re shipping out a lot more production than we’re bringing back and whatever bench we had will be gone. In the compressed season (of which there is still a considerable way to go) we won’t have much to fall back on. Injuries or COVID could totally decimate the team and leave us relying on Cacock or Kostas. That’s quite the gamble, IMO. Not sure Rob is feeling that hot at the roulette wheel.
Most of all it feels like you’re trading away the majority of our best small ball line up for a guy who will sit in the 4th in favor of AD at the 5. That’s where I, of all people, feel like this weakens us the most is in the non-traditional big man line up. There’s no doubting KP’s skill and shooting but I readily question both his defense and durability.
I think your DG trade makes the most sense. Make that move and explore the Trezz, maybe Trezz and KCP market for an impact player. If you move those 2 guys you’re clearing the way for DG (or THT should he stick past the TD) and Morris. Morris, to me, feels like the kind of guy who just doesn’t know what to do with a small role. Maybe he thinks too highly of himself, struggles to find a groove in limited minutes…I don’t know.
So far it’s been a really quiet trade market but there’s still about a month to go.
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Good points, Jamie. It will be interesting to see what Rob ends up doing. So far, I have to say I think he’s done a great job putting the team together and has usually been a step ahead on most of his moves and has taken advantage of opportunities when they’ve been there. There’s obviously so much as an insider that we never know about, deals discussed and rejected, etc. Thanks for the great conversations. They’re what make Lakerholics a great place for Lakers fans. Looking forward to good game tonight. Hope to see you on the podcast.
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