With the news that Christian Wood and Jaxon Hayes are opting in on very cheap/cap friendly deals I think we need to look almost exclusively at wings and big, mobile guards under 87 years old. That takes Klay and CP3 out of the mix. With the Lakers extending Castleton the 2 way QO it shows they intend to keep him unless another team actually offers him a contract (and maybe even they choose to match it). At the very least it looks like they did the young man a solid by guaranteeing him a raise if someone else wants him.
AD, Jax and Wood, LeBron and Vando are enough big bodies. Between the 4 there’s enough good, shooting and skill to compete in the regular season. If we have the ponies for LM from Utah or KO from Toronto I’d be cool with that, I’d also be cool trading one if Wood or Jax along with Rui to Chicago for Vucevic.
But then we have to use the MLE, should it be available, on a wing. Kinda doubt Tobias Harris will come for the full MLE but we could slot DeMar DeRozan at the 3 (doubt he’d be happy coming off the bench, at least to start the season but who knows…insert wish for a coach who has done this before and understands how to talk to vets properly…) but that still trends toward old and under-sized. Grant looks too pricey given his impact in winning but there’s an argument that it’s his situation and not specifically him. Still, not sure we have the ponies for that race.
So here’s a list, in no particular order, of wings under 35 who can contribute on both ends that could be had for the MLE (IMO):
-Precious Achiuwa
-Tobias Harris (this one is a stretch in logic honestly)
-Kelly Oubre (personal top choice)
-Saddiq Bay
-Naji Marshall (could challenge for a starting spot honestly)
Staying away from the Covington’s and Hayward’s as my hope is we get younger and not older and that we focus as much in defense as much as shooting.
Now if LeBron has a list of players he’ll reduce salary for that changes a lot.
It’s funny to me that all the click bait guys seem to think the Lakers need offense and it’s all about shooters. The Lakers were 6th in scoring and I believe 7th in 3 point shooting percentage. Now we didn’t take enough 3’d but I think JJ will fix that. We need to improve our defense. I like Marshall as well. But I don’t think he’s a name that LeBron will take a pay cut for. If Vando and Vincent are healthy that will help. Since he barely played, fans tend to forget that Vincent is a highly regarded on ball defender. We didn’t sign him for his offense although he was a capable offensive player during the Heats playoff run last year. Biggest problem for the Lakers is it’s a weak free agent class and solid 2 way players are expensive.
Spot on. It’s always perplexing to me as well when folks say “All we need is a coupla 3&D guys” as if there’s a buncha these guys just sitting around the parking lot at Home Depot waiting to be picked up. Quality guys like this are rare and 2 of the better ones (Murray & Bridges) are already off the board.
I wouldn’t mind seeing KCP coming back either. Lebron might take that big pay cut for a fellow Klutch brother.
Agreed, makes the starting guard spot a small quandary but a welcome one.