Aloha
Looking at all the possible trade partners and returns from different articles I really don’t see a game changer . Yes with health we would be better but at best we maybe 4th or 5th in the west.
My first reaction to giving up draft picks to OKC was no way. But after thinking about it, it maybe no worse than some of those he other options. First it could net us the best player.
That could be Malik Monk. I had a lot of frustration with Franks coaching this year but his inability to get Malik more involved was at the top list. At don’t know how many time I wrote about Maliki not getting shots. At 24 he still has a very high ceiling and could be a solid 3rd option or 2nd when LeBron or AD rest.
If we did do that trade I would try to include Kendrich Williams, a solid 3 and d forward, along with Favors. I would waive and stretch Favors 10 mil. He really is no longer worth it. And it would only amount to 3 mil a few years on the books. So we would be at about 103 mil including Williams. We could use 10 to 12 to sign Malik. We could even back load it, if needed. The beauty here is we could still use the full 10 mil MLE and the 4 mil bi annual. It would hard cap us but we have enough cheap contracts in Reeves, Stanley and Gabriel to fill out a roster.
Now I don’t know what Ricky Rubio’s recovery is looking like but if he is ready for the season we could use some of that money on him. I would also look at bringing back Damien Jones as a back up center.
The tax apron is 149 mil. Using the full MLE and Bi annual and signing Malik it would leave us 22 mil to fill out 3 to 4 slots. There will be tight money this summer so some talent will trickle down. We wouldn’t need to fill all the remaining slots with min players. We could sign a couple at say 5 mil. To 7 mil. This summers tight money could land a couple of solid role players at that rate.
Would these moves make us contenders? Probably not, Our players would have to take big steps for that to happen. Of course they would need to do the same with any of the other trades as well.
Excellent post, Michael. There is a lot to like about OKC as a trading partner if we don’t connect with Hornets or Pacers. As you pointed out, the route is not straight forward but it does provide a path to keep Monk and have tools to fill out the starting lineup and roster with better players than we could get for the minimum. And that, I agree, is a big point in favor of this route.
I also agree you’re right that we probably wouldn’t be a championship team but I think that’s the outcome of any of the various trades being discussed because LeBron and AD have to prove they can stay on the floor. Otherwise, all the season is about is where is the pick we traded away going to land.
Pincus also listed this as what he thought was most likely to happen. My big worry is going this route will require Pelinka and the front office to make a series of smart moves whereas pulling off a trade with the Hornets or Pacers is likely to be a one-shot deal. Hornets and Pacers are easy deals to make compared to the OKC deal but I agree it’s a viable option.
Anyway, Lakers have multiple options and I’m confident we will find one of them that the front office and Klutch can agree upon so we can move forward. Lakers will have solid options to rebuild this summer.
In terms of desirability, I doubt the Lakers would go this route unless they had no better option. It doesn’t have the pizazz or big names the Lakers could need to get LeBron to jump aboard. And, as I said, it will require some smart follow-up moves to execute this option.
Thanks Tom, no one really knows what will happen. i asked myself of the players named who do i like best. I thought probably the Pacers deal. but i i started to think about it. Brogdon is better than a guy like Rubio because of his shooting. Ricky is also a good defender and a better play maker than Brogdon. and Malik is a better player than Buddy across the board, he still has star upside and could be a 20+ scorer with a coach that actually has an offense. so the back court would be a wash at best. its the additional cap space that made the OKC deal for me. we could have a much better collection of role players than another group of minimum salary guys. for me that makes it a better deal. of course you are right, Rob would have to still make the right moves but I would roll the dice on that.
Injuries and all I would take a flyer on Rubio. Has great skill, defense and is big for a PG.
i agree Jamie.
Heard a Dame for Westy deal?
I wouldn’t hold my breath, DJ. It’d be awesome and amazing all in one but I don’t see that one happening. Maybe if we had better draft picks to offer, maybe, but as it stands a lot of teams can do a lot better.
Understand that, but does Dame wanna win a Ring? Not going to be Portland, that ship is going down.
may not win a ring with the Lakers either without a better supporting cast.
True, but 17 and counting, lol.