Aloha
Normally this is the time of year that I kind of tune out the NBA. Most everything is settled by now and we are just waiting for training camp.
Not this year. The Lakers still are holding onto a couple of roster spots and it has me checking everyday.
At this point we go a solid 12 deep. We are the deepest team in the league and I believe we will use all 12 guys because of our collective age. So those last couple of spots aren’t exactly crucial but they are intriguing. The Lakers maybe waiting for the the buy outs. And while they maybe privy to inside league scuttle butt that we haven’t heard, it could be dangerous waiting because the few remaining quality guys won’t be on the market much longer.
For me I would rank a big physical wing as our number one need. We don’t have much depth there. I like Ennis here and I’m a bit surprised that no one has scooped him up yet. He might be holding out for a piece of a remaining MLE. I looked at a few of the other wings we have shown interest in but I would bring back Mckinnie over them.
I see PF with the ability to play some small ball 5 as our 2nd greatest need. AD is our only small ball 5. With LeBron, Davis and Melo our only PF although Ariza can probably play there. Milsap would be the best solution and it shouldn’t really matter if Marc decides to retire or not we need Marc’s size on the roster as well. The thing about Milsap is you read a lot of writers suggesting Milsap but there really haven’t been a lot of chatter about interest from the Lakers. You hear the Warriors and a couple other teams. If the Lakers can’t land Milsap, I would take a flyer on a young guy with upside like Marques Criss. He has shown real potential at times and perhaps we could develop him at the end of the bench. Harry Giles is another young big we might be able to develop if he can ever stay healthy.
The last spot is back up PG. and I’m really not that concerned there. Nunn will get most of his minutes at PG. I see him playing with LeBron when Westbrook sits. It would be similar to how Bradley was playing the point on D but was a secondary ball handler on offense. And THT can also play the point so I’m not that concerned. I guess IT for scoring but Im not sure he would want to come here for a small role where he can’t re-establish his value. Same goes for Collison. We can always call Reeves up in a emergency. I would definitely add a wing and a PF before a PG.
Aloha, Michael.
Great post. I agree 100% with your position that our greatest need is for a physical wing defender, another stretch 4 who could play small ball five, and a backup point guard.
How about Paul Milsap for both the physical wing defender and small ball five and Rajon Rondo as the backup point guard? Those would be two additions that would really help.
I also like that neither of them would compete for minutes at the two or three, where all of our volume 3-point shooters play. Finally, both additions would also give us defensive options who could eat up minutes to keep LeBron and AD front court fresh.
I wouldn’t even mind the Lakers targeting superstar minutes to be no greater than 30 per game. If we have the depth, then let everybody play and use limiting minutes as our form of load management to keep Bron, Brow, and Russ healtny and rested.
Milsap and Rondo and keep one spot open.
I’d go with any of your suggestions but like Criss the most, should the Warriors grab Millsap. I also like the guys LT mentioned who are both incredibly under 30 which I feel like this roster needs a little more of. While I agree with your notion that we will use a lot of the roster in the regular season it’s doubtful we have an active rotation of 14 guys so a young guy to develop isn’t the worst idea. Since I happen to think that we will both ekkp an open roster spot going into the season so as to be active all the way to the end of the buy out season and keep Gasol on the roster that leaves just two spots to fill. The only player I’d go to 15 now for would be Rondo, just to have him active and ready to play in the playoffs.
I agree with every comment here. In an 82 game season, we have to be wise in how we use our superstars. Remember those back-to-back games? Another big wing and power forward couldn’t be the worst thing in the world. The one thing that Michael made clear is that if we wait too long it might be too late to get anything in the market.
We need to remember that most guys or gals need PT tp perform at their peak. Minutes for who and when?