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

[pmatic]

Is it a pick swap with the Pels this year or do we owe them outright?

It's outright, but the Hawks own it now from the Dejounte Murray trade.

 

[pmatic]

Rockets won, but otherwise a good night for the Lakers. Clippers, Kings and Pelicans lose.

 

[atlsfinest]

 

[grittyman]

I think what’s going to slowly happen and has started to is Rui, Max and JHS will be the ones who facilitate those moves. One would hope Gabe but I don’t think we’ll be so lucky.

I’m not out on Gabe.

Gotta make some shots obviously, but I think his competitiveness on the defensive end is something this team really needs… of course if you can upgrade the backup guard position then all that goes out the window

 

[Maximus Meridius]

Look like he outta shape too. Damn.

 

[Brosizzlew30.23]

Rui has gone away from that first few game stretch.

Gotta get him playing more physical and going after rebounds.

Has one of the easiest shot selections from 3 in the league. So being physical will open up the other parts of the game.

But the first 4 games, really good. Last 5, really bad.

If he’s not rebounding, can’t really start him just because of the profile of rebounders 1-3 in the starting lineup. The one issue is, nobody to play in that spot.

Only problem is….

Rebounding isn’t his game. He’s just not a physical player and I don’t think he has that mindset either.

Which is why I’ve never been a fan of Rui in the starting lineup. He’s not what the Lakers need alongside Bron and AD cause defense is not his game

 

[essential1]

I’m not out on Gabe.

Gotta make some shots obviously, but I think his competitiveness on the defensive end is something this team really needs… of course if you can upgrade the backup guard position then all that goes out the window

I think they’ve found that answer.

Only answer is finding the wedge between Austin and DLo’s individual 30 minutes. Which was the answer years running.

Maybe Cam can be that guy, but I think we know where that goes.

I’m only out because this is who Gabe has been as a player. Outside a playoff run blip.
Could be useful but like said, gotta not be a total dunce when that ball gets to him.
(Or this is a result of just too small of a slice of pie on the Lakers for him. But a bigger slice at least offensively doesn’t yield crazy results).

 

[grittyman]

 

[essential1]

2 weeks away from being 2 weeks away.

 

[MIKE LOWERY]

Realistically, what is Christian Wood doing in 2024 to help them?



I guess his shooting ability paired with Hayes gives Bron/AD more rest, but he can also go off the rails pretty quickly.

 

[pmatic]

Not sure Wood is a nightly rotation player, but I don't mind him as a depth piece.

 

[sohi 23]

I think you really only play 1 of wood or hayes depending on the matchup.

 

[Los Angeles]

Im still confused on vando’s injury

 

[CP1708]

Im still confused on vando’s injury

I've seen Amputees get back faster than Vando.

DeMar Hamlin died, took a year off, and came back while Vando out with his sore foot.

 

[SORIANOTRON]

I've seen enough of Rui now to know its gonna be feast or famine...

which ISNT a bad thing....

you get guys who just float out there with no meaningful impact....cam, gabe, max

and then you get a guy like Rui....who can take over games for stretches or completely disappear.

He does play hard though which I like, good things happen when you play hard. He does get tunnel vision but I'd rather him have TV than to be PASSIVE.

But for a #3-5 option he is very solid.

Cant hold him to the same standards as a #1-2 option

 

[CP1708]

Odom was similar. Triple-double on Tuesday, 4/6/2 on Thursday.

As a 1-2 you were dead. As a 3-4-5 you were fine.

 

[Lizakers]

Gonna take wood 2-3 weeks to get in rhythm to his prime 8 points 2 rebounds average

 

[grittyman]

“Soon”….

 

[pmatic]

 

[grittyman]

But for a #3-5 option he is very solid.

A guy who you can’t even rely on to play hard every night is “very solid”?

Thats a pretty low bar to set for this dude

 

[mrdieselfuel09]

Dude got pink eye

 

[SORIANOTRON]

A guy who you can’t even rely on to play hard every night is “very solid”?

Thats a pretty low bar to set for this dude

Yea he's very solid

shoot the 3 ball well, can hit open shots.

Can get his own bucket on the block.

Competes on D

can go off for 20+ ppg

I'm not sure how you're comparing him, but I hope its not to All-stars.

Not sure how good you expect a 3-4 option to be but it most certainly wont be all-star, all NBA level

 

[grittyman]

Yea he's very solid

shoot the 3 ball well, can hit open shots.

Can get his own bucket on the block.

Competes on D

can go off for 20+ ppg

I'm not sure how your comparing him, but I hope its not to All-stars.

Not sure how good you expect a 3-4 option to be but it most certainly wont be all-star, all NBA level

I wasn’t comparing him to anyone…

Most of your points are about what he can do on offense… and that’s fine, he is an inconsistent offensive player that can give you 20 or 2 on any given night.

Players 3-5 are generally role players… here all the ways that those type of guys can contribute to winning and also how I think Rui checks those boxes.

Rebounding? No
Defense? No
Playmaking? No
Shotmaking? Sometimes
Hustle/motor? No

Not sure if I’ve ever heard anyone say that Rui plays hard before… maybe tries (too) hard to score at times but that’s about it.

We can agree to disagree here