Aloha,
Well we won number 17!!!. I think this year will go down as the greatest Championship run in NBA history. While very good teams like the Bucks and Clippers wilted in the bubble, the Lakers seemed to get stronger with every round.
First I love this team. The old adage if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it applies to this team. I remember the Lakers let most of their supporting cast walk after the 2010 championship. That left them with a thin roster. And it seemed like we ran out of gas in the 4th quarter of ever game in the Dallas series. By the way Dallas blew up their roster that year and haven’t played for another championship since. A move Cuban still regrets to this day. So I’m hoping we can bring most of these guys back. We don’t have a lot to work with so I believe most of the moves will be around the edges. But here are a few things I believe we won’t see.
1. Trading for a star.
First we lack the assets to do that. While Kuz is developing into a nice all around role player, I’m not sure of how other teams view his upside. Alex is a guy every team would want on their team but not worthy of trading a star for. Beside their combined salaries are only around 5 mil, which brings up the 2nd problem. Salary matching. Both KCP and Rondo are opting out. Avery out played his 5 mil and will probably follow. What we have left in tradable contracts won’t add up to a star. Especially someone like CP3 and his 40mil. Which is a blessing because trading half a championship team for one guy would have been a disaster. Plus our 27th pick in the draft isn’t much better then a high 2nd rounder.
2. If we do make a trade it won’t be for a point guard like some of articles I read. Besides LBJ is the best point guard in the world. And led us to a ring. If we do make a trade it will be for a position of need. If Rondo decides not to resign we might take a look at guys like Augustine or Teague on vet minimums.
3. Whether it’s through a trade or free agency whoever we bring in will have to be able to defend at a high level. This team was built with a defense first blue print. We hired a defense first coach and we won a championship. If you are going to play for Frank you better defend. Tom posted an article and I have read others on trading for Buddy Heild. There is a reason he lost his starting job with the Kings. If you recall Luke is a defense first coach. The first two weeks of training camp is all defensive drills. He shares this philosophy with Frank. Buddy is a flat out bad defender. Again, defense wins Championships.
4. The myth of the 3rd option. My question is this. Where are shots coming from for a consistent 3rd scorer. The offense runs through AD, one of the most potent scorers in the league. And will be even better. LeBron is our 2nd option, again one of the best scorers in the league. LBJ isn’t going to hunt for that 3rd guy. He looks for the open man. And when AD plays the 5 we have 5 guys on the floor capable of knocking down a shot. Now we aren’t always consistent but they are good enough to be honored at all times. We did set a record for made 3’s in a finals. Many wanted to see Kuz become that 3rd guy. But he just doesn’t get enough shots. Most of his points are based on cutting and running the floor.
One last time, defense win rings!!!! For next year I would like to see us keep as much of our back court rotation as possible. It was the best defensive rotation in the playoffs and that was with out Avery. He brings an additional element with his ability to guard the small quick guards of the league. I think we might of only lost one playoff game with Avery. I would also like to retain Morris and I think it’s important to keep at least one banging big on the team to get past Denver and a couple of other teams with physical centers.
We are positioned to repeat next year. We finished the season 3rd in defense. But we played in the west. If we had been in the East playing all those weak teams for times a year we would be number one. It would not have been close. Why Fix what ain’t broke?
I understand your point, but Kuz has been a let down, at least for what I’d hoped for. Green getting older,so I wouldn’t mind getting Buddy.
Aloha, Michael.
Excellent take. I’m pretty much in agreement with you on the need to retain the core that won this championship, which means besides LeBron and AD, KCP, Rondo, AC, Morris, Howard, and Bradley. But doing that will cost us our MLE, which means we won’t be able to add anybody via free agency other than minimum contracts. That’s OK with me because we can’t let KCP, Rondo, Morris, or Howard walk. They were too valuable and you don’t want them to end up on the Warriors or a competing team.
That means the only way you can improve the roster and fill holes is via a trade. I think you underestimate the value of Kuzma at a talent and Green and McGee as veterans with championship experience and, especially in the middle of a pandemic, expiring contracts. Lakers can take back mltiple year contracts in a trade and there will be small market teams looking to cut their future payrolls. I actually think the CP3 idea could happen and there are other options.
Where we disagree is I think we MUST get better to repeat and have a chance to threepeat. The Warriors, Clippers, Nuggets, Celtics, 76ers, and Bucks are all going to be making big moves to catch up and pass us. And there’s no guarantee LeBron won’t start to decline. We need to be in a WIN NOW mode. We will make trade for sure, hopefully in the offseason but by the trade deadline for sure. JMHO.
Thanks for this great post, Michael. I have noticed that you and I are always on the same boat when it comes to the make up of Lakers roaster.
For a team that came together for the first time to start the season and embarking on a defensive journey that will eventually propell them to the top of the Western Conference, the idea of rushing to make changes to the roaster just right after they won a championsip is frivolous. In fact, keeping the team intact would be more fruitfull and tangible as it will allow for more keenness, continuity and a well polished defensive acumen.
Dynasties are built on continuity and if this team comes back together as is, they will be more potent and dangerous. The team is just about to start feeling the hunger for more championships and they have just scratched the surface. Therefore, I am not in favor of any wholesale changes or trades that will compromise the versatility and size of the team. I will certainly look to add one or two sharp shooters if they fell on our lap without tearing down the team, and that will do it for me. I totally agree with you.