Smart Moves vs. Risky Gambles

I have to say I saw this going down 3 different ways and not minding any of them.

1) Could have kept both Mo and Malik, seen what a full camp and a more established role could have done and have two nice-sized deals to use at what is sure to be a wild and wacky trading deadline this season.

2) Package Mo and Malik and a multitude of draft picks, swaps, or even young players in a trade for an instant impact player. One assumes Rob and Co. did their due diligence on this one, kicked many tires on many trades, and came away unimpressed with the return.

3) Let then expire and rock free agency in a way only the Lakers can! I would have been fine with any of the above moves but I like this one best because it indicates what I think is a very important lesson learned: valuing continuity.

I’m thinking back to what LeBron said about teams who beat us having more chemistry, being together longer, and us not having that extra something to fall back on. This is showing that the Lakers are building an actual NBA team and not just assembling talent. Any player we bring in with the exceptions or cap space we use can be traded as well as Malik and Mo could have been with the bonus being if we don’t trade them then we’ll start to build that chemistry The King was yearning for.

As always team health will be the biggest factor but these subtle organizational choices give me a little more hope. Nice to see us continuing to pursue smart moves.