**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins

[geno90221]

Now I’m wondering was the injury when he planted his foot prior to jumping or the mild mid-air ankle sprain? Maybe tore something when he planted? Weird

He’s

 

[lovehateself]

I know Latinas with more heart than AD

some def got more dawg in em

 

[pmatic]

Hollinger:

Let’s talk about the Lakers first, since they’ve been so prominent in seeking out deals that parlay fungible expiring contracts and their first-round picks in 2027 and/or 2029 into help for the present moment. Davis’ injury strikes me as yet another data point that the Lakers absolutely, positively should not throw any draft capital at trying to salvage this season and let it circle the drain on its own.

While the Lakers have no tanking incentive due to a pick swap with New Orleans from the Davis trade, they also don’t need to burn through future picks just so they can finish ninth instead of 12th. Realistically, there is no trade that can replace Davis, and they weren’t exactly burning through the league with him.

While I’m sure the Lakers can talk themselves into puncher’s-chance scenarios if they can get into the Play-In healthy and add pieces next to Davis and LeBron James, history says that teams outside the top three seeds have little chance of making the NBA Finals. The Lakers, at this point, have virtually no chance of a top three seed. Most projection systems aren’t even bullish about their chances of making the Play-In.

What the Lakers could do, on the other hand, is set up a trade to build their team for next year … and if it incidentally pushes them forward this year too, that’s fine. Trading for players under contract beyond this season, in particular, should be the focus of any deal involving the future picks.

I’m immediately drawn, for instance, to the idea of the Lakers trading Russell Westbrook and at least one of the picks to Washington for Bradley Beal. Beal is one of the few star players who can easily fit in as a third option next to James and Davis yet is good enough to take over as the lead operator when James is off the court. Moving him to L.A. also seems like one of the few options that would save Washington from a disastrous no-trade clause in Beal’s generous five-year, $251 million deal. It would let the Wizards re-sign Kyle Kuzma without going into the luxury tax and likely leave enough cap room to ink another starter-caliber player too.

If Beal isn’t available because the Wizards are all-in for the eight seed for a 43rd consecutive year, other choices represent similar versions of this — the Bulls’ Zach LaVine, for instance. The larger point is that the Lakers don’t have to play this card at all come February and shouldn’t feel pressure to do so just to salvage a season that may not be salvageable.

The idea is fine in theory, but absolutely no to Beal and LaVine.

 

[geno90221]

some def got more dawg in em

Raw Dawg

 

[DLF]

Hollinger:

The idea is fine in theory, but absolutely no to Beal and LaVine.

I don’t agree with “models suggest lakers will barely make the play in if healthy” or “they are virtually out of the running for a top 3 seed”

This sorry *** team was 2 free throws away from 7th seed and 1 buzzer beater from 6th seed with 2 games behind the nuggets for 3rd.


You can almost throw out the first 5-6 games of the season for stat/projection counting.

 

[storm2006]

Hollinger:

The idea is fine in theory, but absolutely no to Beal and LaVine.

John Hollinger sees the vision Why no to Beal and LaVine? Had no idea Zach is having such a cheeks season by his standards

 

[pmatic]

John Hollinger sees the vision Why no to Beal and LaVine? Had no idea Zach is having such a cheeks season by his standards

Both of their contracts suck. Don't need a chucking $40M guard next to AD and Bron.

 

[DLF]

I’d be ecstatic for Beal.

 

[geno90221]

Both of their contracts suck. Don't need a chucking $40M guard next to AD and Bron.

Both aren’t the same
Beal> Zach

 

[MVP]

This season is over. Holligber's idea isn't the worst, those 2 guys in theory could bridge the gap but we're basically in the same team building framework as now.

 

[pdino]

Both Beal and lavine just signed their 5-year contracts this year. Big commitment locking in Beal until he's 33+ in 2027

 

[DLF]

Beal is too much of a coward to go to ownership and force his way to LA.
I think he’s too content on just collecting his check and having an early vacation.

Guess that mentality saves us from him though.

 

[atlsfinest]

With Beal, We would be signing up for another All-Star player making a ton of money with an alarming injury history. Like you guys have mentioned, h Bradley Beal is already breaking down physically and he's not even 30. I don't want to be paying him $60M when he's 33 and playing half of the season.

Bradley Beal became one of the worst contracts in the league the moment he signed the contract. The Lakers have terrible organization building. We're stuck in the LeBron, superteam era mindset of "get star players and everything else will figure itself out". This is an outdated mindset from a decade ago and most good teams have moved on. None of the top teams in the league are superstar top heavy anymore.

 

[pmatic]

The two young players the team can keep around are natural SGs.

 

[darthska]

I know Latinas with more heart than AD

¡Aye dios mio!



-foe

 

[storm2006]

We're stuck in the LeBron, superteam era mindset of "get star players and everything else will figure itself out". This is an outdated mindset from a decade ago and most good teams have moved on. None of the top teams in the league are superstar top heavy anymore.

I swear I was just thinking about this over weekend I was mainly reminiscing over the transition. IMO that Superteam era started with the Cs in '08 and ended with the Cavs in '16 ('18 if you want to count the two years after when the Cavs still made the Finals). Right now the recipe is basically 2 AS level players and balance...which the Lakers had but gave up for Rust

 

[CP1708]

With the way this scouting dept ID's talent, I look forward to when we have a bunch of picks again and no stars to cater too, and we grow a squad full of kids again that will bring 1-2 stars in organically instead of forcibly. Need the next wave to attract Luka and Zion to team up.

 

[darthska]

With the way this scouting dept ID's talent, I look forward to when we have a bunch of picks again and no stars to cater too, and we grow a squad full of kids again that will bring 1-2 stars in organically instead of forcibly. Need the next wave to attract Luka and Zion to team up.

This sounds ridiculous

And valid.

At time same time.

-foe

 

[goldmember]

ADs body just cant handle it. Dude might retire just before he hits 30

 

[grittyman]

This sounds ridiculous

And valid.

At time same time.

-foe

You mean like 2016?

But when the kids are here don’t forget plenty of people will say they suck and want to get rid of them ASAP lol

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

Team will hold ground while AD is out and make a push when he gets back. Yall give up too easy

 

[tupac003]

No Bron or AR tonight.

No Book for the Suns.

 

[Lizakers]

Gonna get ugly tonight

 

[akajae]

No Bron or AR tonight.

No Book for the Suns.

No Bron No AD No AR No Book No watch

 

[pmatic]

Gabriel should be back since he's not listed on the injury report, so there's that.