Aloha,
After watching last nights game, I’m not sure what we can do to turn the organization around for another run at a ring. Yes AD just got back and LeBron was playing hurt. Still looking at the big picture, I really don’t see any trades that can elevate us to contender status this summer, even with good health. Our assets are just to limited.
Is it time to move on from LeBron. Probably but I don’t see it happening. The biggest problem with LeBron is if we extend him he will be earning close to 50 mil moving forward. With AD the 2 will be earning around 95 mil. So even when Russ falls off the books it doesn’t leave a lot of room to build a solid supporting group. And LeBron has become a liability on the defensive end. It was telling when the Lakers were guarding BI with Russ. And when Russ sat AD guarded him. For those calling for a trade for another center, I ask you, who will guard the 3? LeBrons value on defense now is being able to sit back and play free safety. Frank had LeBron guarding the Least dangerous offensive player. But even Hayes back doored him for 2 layups.
Even the most optimistic trade scenarios will not make us better then the Suns, Griz, Warriors, Nuggets and the Clippers. Heck if they can stay healthy the Clippers might win it all next year.
So first I think we should not use a draft pick just to dump Russ. I would rather bring him back then waste an asset that will do nothing to improve our chance. As far as I’m concerned we should not trade any of our 1st round picks unless it can return a foundational player for the next several years.
I would also see what we could get for AD, that won’t happen either but he could replenish some assets that could help us rebuild in the future.
I think Russ probably would like to leave as much as we want him to. I would give him permission to hunt for a new deal. Even if it’s say 10 mil a year for 2 years. Perhaps he would agree to a buyout of 30 mil, that would be easier to stretch.
I guess I’m pessimistic but when looking at all the names you see that might be available. It wouldn’t be enough. John Wall is Westbrook without as much athleticism left. Gordon will be 34. He is hurt again but at least played 56 games. He managed a total of 56 over the previous 2 years. Wood, a decent PF but not a game changer. Brogdon and Buddy. Nice upgrade but not going to get us past some of the other teams.
My fear is we will make more dumb moves that will set us back even further. If we are lucky enough to keep Malik, we could continue to develop the young guys and then pick up a couple of non washed free agents, with health we could at least be competitive. Then we can see what we can do in free agency the following year. I would rather be decent with a future, than waste more of the future on a team that will not seriously contend.
Aloha, Michael,
Most Lakers fans at this point have lost confidence in the Lakers’ ownership, front office, coaching staff, and players, including superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It’s fun to imagine the Lakers selling the franchise to a billionaire who brings in an elite professional head of basketball operations, who establishes a vision for the organization and hires a proven head coach to execute it.
We all realistically know none of that is going to happen. Instead, Rob Pelinka is once again going to make the final decision after pushing and pulling from the rest of the Lakers stakeholders, including Kurt and Linda and Magic Johnson. The best we can hope for is Rob and all the other participants in the Westbrook decision now understand why it was a mistake to trade for Russ. We don’t need a third superstar. We need legitimate championship starting quality 3&D players with size to fit and complement superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
I’m optimistic the Lakers will be successful moving Russ and our two first round draft picks for two or three upgrades to our starting lineup. Westbrook’s $47 million expiring contract is clearly a desirable trade asset for many NBA teams. The Pacers, Rockets, Knicks, and other NBA teams who want to move players on long-term contracts to save money and clear up cap space view Westbrook as a valuable financial opportunity to reduce future expenses and increase flexibility.
There’s no question LeBron is better suited to play the four than the three but I still believe the direction the Lakers should take this summer is to pursue Myles Turner or Christian Wood, modern centers who can shoot threes and block shots. It could very well work out that Turner plays the five, James the four, and Davis the three. We know Anthony can defend all five positions at all three levels. It would be in many ways a return to the roots that won us the championship but with the ability to play big or small on steroids with each position super-sized.
I’ve become convinced watching this Lakers team and the latest versions of LeBron and Anthony that we need to get bigger. Right now, the Lakers are too small at every single position. We won our 17th championship by being a big team playing a bruising bully-ball style of small-ball-on-steroids that overpowered opponents. I would like to see us return to that kind of roster construction this summer with a focus on trading for a modern center who stretches the floor on offense, protects the rim on defense, and allows us to go super big or small.