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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
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![Profile picture of humanomaly]()
Vanderbilt is very overpaid non-shooter…his defense is overrated. Put him in a package for a 3rd star…(retain Hachimura, Reaves and kiss and make up with DLO). Maybe even put Vanderbilt into a trade package that moves the Lakers 2nd round pick up higher, just in case someone wants to draft Bronny just to hold the Lakers hostage or something.
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
The formula for shooting more threes is not that complicated. Lakers now take 31.8 3PA pg. JJ would like them to be top-5, so let’s just say that’s 40 3PA pg. How do we get there?
It starts with making sure that everybody is a two-way player. Every one does not have to be elite but they have to fit and compete. That’s why I’m assuming DLO is gone although there are scenarios where he opts in or we re-sign him.
Last season, Lakers took 31.8 3PA pg, including 22.2 from starters, or 70%. To take 40 3PA pg, Laker will need starters to take 28 3PA pg.
Having a backcourt in DJM and BB that take 15.2 3PA pg is a good start. Playing off the ball, LeBron will increase from 5 to 7 or 8 3PA pg. Now we’re up to 23 3PA pg. leaving just 4.7 more attempts to come from small forward and center.
While you need the players who can shoot volume threes for that style to work, you also need to run specific offensive plays to create more open 3-point shots. Look for Lakers to be among the league leaders in fast break points and pace.
Lakers will also continue to focus on PIP and FTM differentials while they strive to eliminate their negative 3PM differential. That’s why it will be important to find a bigger 3&D wing to fill out the starting lineup. Somebody with size who can play all 3 front court positions.
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
If the Lakers trade for Dejounte Murray, they should do it before July when his extension kicks in.
If they acquire him this month, the salary-matching requirement for the Lakers would be significantly less. That would also allow the Hawks to take back fewer salaries. https://t.co/P6c633UQ5O
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 23, 2024
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![Profile picture of Michael H]()
Aloha Tom, the flaw in your thinking is that guys will duplicate what they did prior to the coming to the Lakers. Wood, Beasley, Danny Green, Ellington and Dennis would all say you might be wrong. Why not increase the number of 3’s with a few plays with guys that have proven they can shoot in LA. For instance. Murray shot 36% from 3 on 7 attempts. It was a great year for him. One wonders if he reverts back to his 34% career stats. Austin shot .367 on 5 3’s. Let’s give Austin one more a game. As a starter Rui shot 43% from 3 on 4 attempts. Let’s give Rui 2 more a game. DLO shot 41% on 7 attempts. Let’s give him 1 more. LeBron was 40% on 5 let’s give him 1 more. Right there you have 5 extra attempts a game. Make sure you have a couple of shooters for the bench. Prince was .397 on 4.5 attempts. He was great off the bench. We can offer him mini MLE money so I would like him back. The point is we have guys we know can shoot in LA. A different offensive approach should bring the number of 3’s up.
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![Profile picture of humanomaly]()
Sometimes I stop to think about 3 point shooting percentages…say one player shoots 33% and another player shoots 38%…that’s only a difference of 5 makes out of hundred….
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![Profile picture of therealhtj]()
It’s so cute how you still think the trade machine means something to the other team involved in the trade at your advanced age.
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
https://x.com/LakerTom/status/1804890088276660425
1. Dejounte Murray
Lakers get:
-Dejounte MurrayHawks get:
-Austin Reaves
-Rui Hachimura
-2029 First Round Pick2. Deni Avdija
Lakers get:
-Deni AvdijaWizards get:
-Jarred Vanderbilt
-Christian Wood
-2024 First Round Pick
-2031 First Round Pick3. Dorian Finney-Smith
Lakers get:
-Dorian Finney-SmithNets get:
-Jalen Hood-Schifino
-Gabe Vincent
-Two Future Second Rounders![Profile Photo]()
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
Push come to shove, I would take all three of these trades.
Murray, Addija, and Finney-Smith would be three upgrades.
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![Profile picture of Michael H]()
The Hawks made it clear last year that they did not want DLO. And rightfully so. He doesn’t make sense for that team. You would need a third team with a player or players that the Hawks want.
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![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
Not sure what makes the Hawks pull the trigger on this.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
https://x.com/LakerTom/status/1804563663174640112
“Internally, though, players had lost faith in Ham — too much experimentation, too many opponents’ runs swelled without triggering Ham to call timeouts, too many questions about his strategy and adjustments,” wrote Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.
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![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
Here’s the thing though. While this was also true of the fan base the fact is that a stronger organization wouldn’t let the employees get the manager fired.
Now what happens if JJ is slow to adapt, change or adjust? What if players whine about the rotation? About a defensive assignment? The list goes on.
If Rob was better at his job so very much would be different.
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![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
I’m not saying Darvin was anything more than he was, a first time coach learning on the job.
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![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
But the Lakers have just set themselves up for the exact same issues and pratfalls with this hire. They (Rob) learn extremely slowly, or not at all. Here’s hoping for the best but I, for one, won’t be too surprised if this has more valleys than peaks.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
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LakerTom wrote a new post
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The trade actually works as far as matching salaries, which becomes much easier with a multiple team trade rather than a two-team trade. Lakers get Murray and LaVine but keep Reaves and Christie. Give up Rui, Vando, DLO, Gabe, Cam, and JHS. Big gamble but a lot to like too. https://t.co/d57g1MDluv pic.twitter.com/jZwMnm1eWR
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 22, 2024
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
A Dejounte Murray and Zach LaVine backcourt could be pretty exciting if they can stay healthy. Great size and athleticism. Major upgrade from Reaves and Russell.
I would give up 2029 and 2031 first round picks and keep #17 pick and use it for a versatile modern two-way center like DaRon Holmes. This would allow the Lakers to copy Celtics and have five guys on court who can shoot and switch on everything.
With a starting lineup of Murray, LaVine, James, Holmes, and Davis, Lakers could simply switch everything. That would eliminate LeBron chasing wings around screens when he plays the 3. Teams don’t try to get LeBron to switch because he can handle scorers one-on-one. Just don’t want to wear him out chasing around screens.
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![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
Not gonna lie, I have a reeeeeeeal hard time seeing this one come to pass.
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
https://x.com/LakerTom/status/1804552314658930996
There will come a time in the not-so-distant future when LeBron James will no longer drive up the court and slam down the ball into the basket. The man is 39 years old and will be 40 by end of the year. Hence, one can assume that he will play for another two or three years at the most. Four NBA titles and the scoring record later, he is not yet the GOAT in the eyes of many. But it is possible that new Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick could change that narrative.
LeBron James is squarely in the GOAT conversation. However, fans of Michael Jordan argue that James does not have the NBA Finals records or the no. of titles that Jordan has. They also cite the Defensive Player of the Year award as a distinguishing factor. That award though, has made the front pages off late, as reports have questioned the authenticity of the statistics which helped Jordan win.
There is also an argument that most of the teams LeBron James led to the NBA Finals in the earlier part of his career legitimately could not compete for the NBA title. That itself has pushed his GOAT candidacy back. He kept on trying until his patience ran out, forcing him to jump to the Miami Heat.
Two wins there, a third back in his hometown of Cleveland, and one in Los Angeles later, ‘The King’ is firmly in the GOAT conversation. But he has to get over the title hump. JJ Redick will have to work out how to help his podcast mate sign off as the undisputed greatest ever.
Unlock the team’s potential to help LeBron James get rest
There is no athlete in the current NBA who is as conditioned as the all-time leading scorer. That being said, one cannot stop the natural progression of human life. Keeping that in mind, the first order on JJ Redick’s list should be to restrict LeBron James’ minutes. Easier said than done when all the superstar wants to do is win.
Former head coach Darvin Ham had a similar agenda before the start of last season. But James, who can spot problems a mile away, knew early on that he needs to play more than the limit to win games. He went on to play for an average of 35 minutes per game last season. A workload that prompted many analysts to warn James of potential burnout come playoff time.
More importantly, they pointed the finger at the roster, asking younger players to do more. That would be the second order of business Redick will need to address as soon as possible. He has to develop or to put it in better words, unlock some scoring and decision making from the younger stars. Redick needs to build their game up so that they are good enough to handle the load during the regular season.
After fixing all that, he needs to help Anthony Davis play smarter. Last year was one of the best years of the superstar big man’s career. But even then, he was throttled towards the end of games after running himself to the ground with his efforts in the first three quarters. Davis is the man they should turn to in the fourth quarter. And again, for that to happen, the younger players will have to balance the load.
Get Rajon Rondo or another quality assistant on board
To help with that game management, JJ Redick should seek a quality assistant. Someone who has a reputation of demanding the best from the players on the team. A person who is not afraid to point out a lack of effort and also ensure that the focus is on the goal at all times.
That someone could be Rajon Rondo. LeBron James, for one, has nothing but high praise for his former teammate.
He mentioned during a conversation with Redick on their podcast, Mind the Game, that Rondo is the ultimate competitor. As a player he knew how to manage his energy and shot selection. At the same time, he could dissect the opposition and tap into their weakness. James has also suggested that Rondo could be great as a coach. Therefore, JJ Redick should immediately look to hire the former Los Angeles Lakers star to be by his side.
Most assistant coaches toe the line when it comes to pointing out their head coach’s mistakes. But JJ Redick has no prior coaching experience. Rajon Rondo will help his head coach look at things from a different perspective. Having another set of eyes, especially one who is a student of the game, could help both of them be better.
If by any chance the two-time champion does not take up on the offer, JJ Redick should look at adding someone with experience. Scott Brooks and Stan Van Gundy come to the mind who can help Redick in crucial moments. All that being said, whoever ends up as his assistant, the rookie head coach will have to use all his basketball knowledge to figure out how to handle some of the Los Angeles Lakers’ prime competitors.
JJ Redick has to solve the Denver Nuggets problem
No team in the league has a better record against the Los Angeles Lakers than the Denver Nuggets as of late. All throughout Darvin Ham’s tenure, the Nuggets have posted a 12-1 record against them. It would have been 12-0 if not for a spirited push by an exhausted LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Game 4 of this year’s Western Conference first round playoff series.
Beating them convincingly will be the first measure of progress for the young head coach. Solving the Nuggets problem itself will not only bring respect, but also help them down the stretch. Often known as the Lakers’ Kryptonite, the 2023 title holders play championship winning basketball. Winning over them means the Lakers could win over anyone in the league.
Similarly, JJ Redick will also have to use his knowledge of the game to dissect the likes of the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings—two other Western Conference teams who have given LeBron James and Co. a hard time. But those wins will come if all the above is taken care of.
LeBron James needs a sustained winning formula. Only then can he hope to win at least another NBA title or two before he retires as the greatest ever. If JJ Redick can solve these puzzles and help win titles along the way, no one can deny LeBron James from being the undisputed GOAT.
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LeBron deciding to do podcasts with JJ will eventually emerge as one of the greatest moves of the player empowerment era. No question, LeBron choreographed the rise of JJ Redick as the Lakers next great head coach.
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![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
lol, like we’re just gonna ignore his public text in support of Dan Hurley and his overt appreciation of his ability as an in-game tactician? Ok….
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![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
Absurd.
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
https://x.com/LakerTom/status/1804537987512107111
Although the allure of instant gratification is ingrained into their approach to roster building, the Lakers could benefit from a more patient path forward, starting with retaining their 2024 NBA Draft first round pick.
1. A poor free-agent class
2. The cost of making a trade
3. At some point, the future has to be considered![Profile Photo]()
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
I would add that this draft is especially deep in center prospects in the second half of the first round and the player value of the pick is greater than the trade value of the pick. Lakers should keep the pick and use it on a center who can grow from backup to starter down the road.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
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JJ: “I saw a great stat today that came across my timeline. Teams that make more threes in these playoffs are so far 27-9. Teams that attempt more threes, just attempt more threes are 27-8. … All I’m saying is I think three-point shooting is pretty important.”
‘Bron: “I’m…— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) June 22, 2024
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
This pretty much answers any question about what JJ thinks about how to unleash Anthony Davis. Surround him with volume 3-point shooters. Lakers going to join the Celtics and Mavs and start taking 40 threes and making 15 per game. This was part of JJ’s pitch on how to best utilize Anthony Davis. Have to modernize the offense and embrace the 3-point revolution.
Look for LeBron James to start playing the role of spot up 3-point shooter. Even look for Anthony Davis to take his share of threes. JJ wants focus to be on creating space and making it impossible for teams to double AD because of our 3-point shooting.
The quick interest in Dejounte Murray could also be due to JJ since DJM takes 7 3PA pg just like D’Angelo Russell. Lakers need to find way to take 10 more threes per game to jump from 31 to 40 3PA pg.
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
Lakers should resist trading Austin Reaves as part of package for Dejounte Murray but AR should not be a deal breaker. If Hawks demand AR, we need to then get Bogdanovic to replace him in our starting lineup. That's only deal where I would give up Reaves for Murray. More vol 3PA. https://t.co/5UVcz8lKTc
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 22, 2024
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![Profile picture of therealhtj]()
I plan to unleash my Rhino on my enemies. But much like the Lakers 3-point shooting, I have no rhino to unleash.
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
Mike Garcia lists three players he thinks Lakers are looking at at #17. Daron Holmes is the top pick for Garcia. Really loves him. Holmes also has same agent as Reaves and Castleton. Also listed Christan DeSilva, Devin Carter. Also liked Ron Holland, Jalen Tyson.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
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![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
The Lakers should send Hachimura, Hood-Schifino, unprotected 2031 first round pick, and 2030 first round pick swap to the Hawks for Dejounte Murray to become their third star next to superstars James and Davis.https://t.co/X7M7WUNvzp pic.twitter.com/J3l4CmfBmC
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 21, 2024
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![Profile picture of DJ2KB24]()
Well, JJ it is and we roll with it. Ya think CP will sign low fort us?
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![Profile picture of therealhtj]()
Cool. Still requires the Hawks to accept what pittance the Lakers can offer.
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