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Seen him in Vegas getting bent off 1942
**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by licensed to ball,
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Jerry West patrolling Crypto Arena with the pocket rocket
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Logo not having it
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White man favorite words lol
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for decades!
which is mindboggling why someone would be so up in arms over the years that coaches would be fired after bad seasons.
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Isn’t Jerry acting right now just how they portray him? 
darthska
Staff member
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BEEN saying.Isn’t Jerry acting right now just how they portray him?
"I am not the unreasonable grouch with a temper they show me to be! I'm going to the SUPREME COURT!"STRONG 'unreasonable grouch with a temper' energy, Logo.
-foe
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Lakers’ offseason roster: Who should be back, who shouldn’t and what holes to fill
Big changes are coming for the Lakers this offseason after arguably the most disappointing season in franchise history.
By 2022-23 opening night, they will have a new head coach and, for the fourth straight season, a brand-new supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
With over half their roster hitting free agency — the Lakers will have between seven to 12 free agents, depending on player and team options — they have several important decisions to make about the team’s direction and identity.
Let’s take stock of which Lakers players are under contract for next season, which players should return, which players could be back, which players the team should move on from and where the roster’s holes are.
Projected players under contract
James, Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker are the only players officially under contract for next season.
Russell Westbrook will almost certainly pick up his $47.1 million player option. Kendrick Nunn said during his exit interview he was planning on picking up his $5.3 million player option after missing the entire season. Expect those two to be Lakers at the beginning of free agency.
The Lakers also hold team options for Austin Reaves, Stanley Johnson and Wenyen Gabriel. Given each player’s contributions last season and the Lakers’ limited means of improving their roster, Los Angeles will likely retain all three.
Projected depth chart
This is a rough projection, with the obvious addendum that multiple players can play multiple positions (Davis can play power forward, James can play any position, Johnson can play either forward spot, Gabriel can play center, etc.).
The Lakers’ plan entering this season was to start Davis at center and James at power forward — their best respective positions in 2022 — and that’s the projected starting alignment once again.
The Lakers, unsurprisingly, have needs just about everywhere else.
Their greatest need from a skill standpoint is clearly shooting, as this is a subpar collection of 3-point shooters. James and Nunn are the only two above-average 3-point shooters on the roster. That’s a recipe for disaster for a modern NBA offense.
As for positions, assuming the Lakers trade Westbrook, they’ll need a starting-level point guard replacement (and would likely get one back in the trade). They’ll also need to add at least one non-Davis center, a better starting-level small forward, and versatile depth and size in the backcourt and on the wings.
With limited trade assets and financial resources, they’ll have to upgrade the roster via a potential Westbrook trade, a separate deal with Horton-Tucker/Nunn, their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, the taxpayer mid-level exception and a slew of veteran’s minimum contracts.
Who should return?
James, Davis, Reaves, Johnson, Gabriel
The only two untouchables for the Lakers are James and Davis. They can move any other player in an attempt to upgrade the roster. Everything the Lakers do from a roster construction perspective should be about maximizing the fit around their two superstars.
Reaves’, Johnson’s and Gabriel’s contracts are cheap and team-friendly. It would be foolish not to keep them. Ideally, the Lakers can bolster their depth and feature those three players less than they did last season (though Reaves and Johnson have the potential to grow into more valuable roles if they can progress as spot-up shooters and secondary playmakers).
Who could return?
Malik Monk, Horton-Tucker, Nunn, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, D.J. Augustin
This list is so long because the Lakers’ team-building approach could go in a variety of ways. They’ve been somewhat unpredictable the past few offseasons. It’s unlikely most of these players are back, of course, but odds are at least a couple of them will return.
Monk is the Lakers’ top free agent. Despite their notable quest to acquire him at previous trade deadlines and their palpable satisfaction with his breakout season, there are two roadblocks to Monk staying in Los Angeles.
The first issue is the most money the Lakers can offer him is their taxpayer mid-level exception (approximately $6.3 million annually). While there’s a chance that’s enough to re-sign Monk, he’s going to command leaguewide interest and could earn a multi-year contract as high as $10 million annually.
The second issue is the Lakers have greater needs elsewhere on the roster, with the team coveting more size, length and athleticism on the wing. Monk is undersized for a shooting guard and is still a defensive liability despite his improvement on that end under former head coach Frank Vogel.
It’s certainly possible the Lakers strike out on their top wing targets and re-sign Monk, but the more likely scenario is he signs a bigger deal for a larger role elsewhere and the Lakers sign a bigger wing with their taxpayer MLE.
Horton-Tucker and Nunn are listed here and not in the “Who should return?” section because they are the Lakers’ only two midsized contracts. It’s unclear how much value they each have — both players’ trade values took considerable hits in 2021-22 — but if the Lakers are to strike a trade this summer, it will likely include one or both players.
Anthony sounded like someone who had played his last game as a Laker during his exit interview, but his offensive success as a Laker, close friendship with James and love of Los Angeles might be enough to keep him with the purple and gold. The soon-to-be 38-year-old is unlikely to have a similar role next season, and that could be an issue.
Howard has some value as a rebounding and rim-protecting third-string center, but he’s no longer an every-night option. The same could be said for Augustin as a backup/third-string point guard.
Who shouldn’t return?
Westbrook, Avery Bradley, Wayne Ellington, Kent Bazemore
The Westbrook dilemma is straightforward. He has regressed and hasn’t accepted his limitations. His fit alongside James and Davis was always awkward in theory — and it was even worse in reality.
It’s unclear how Westbrook’s style of play can translate to winning basketball in 2022. He can put up big triple-double-esque numbers on a lottery or low-level East playoff team, but even that might be ambitious after the way he looked as a Laker. The Lakers need to move on and trade him this offseason.
Bradley was one of the scapegoats of the season. He’s passable in a limited role, but Vogel’s insistence on starting and closing games with him exposed the defensive-minded guard’s weaknesses. Opposing defenses treat him like a non-threat. His on-ball defense is solid but overrated, and he’s a minus elsewhere defensively.
He’s a shooting guard who’s the size of a point guard, making him a tricky fit for some backcourt mates. The Lakers need more size, length and athleticism on the wing, anyway.
Ellington and Bazemore, the two original candidates to start at shooting guard, were largely ineffective and are nearing the ends of their careers. The Lakers could fill out the back end of their roster with better players.
Big changes are coming for the Lakers this offseason after arguably the most disappointing season in franchise history.
By 2022-23 opening night, they will have a new head coach and, for the fourth straight season, a brand-new supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
With over half their roster hitting free agency — the Lakers will have between seven to 12 free agents, depending on player and team options — they have several important decisions to make about the team’s direction and identity.
Let’s take stock of which Lakers players are under contract for next season, which players should return, which players could be back, which players the team should move on from and where the roster’s holes are.
Projected players under contract
James, Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker are the only players officially under contract for next season.
Russell Westbrook will almost certainly pick up his $47.1 million player option. Kendrick Nunn said during his exit interview he was planning on picking up his $5.3 million player option after missing the entire season. Expect those two to be Lakers at the beginning of free agency.
The Lakers also hold team options for Austin Reaves, Stanley Johnson and Wenyen Gabriel. Given each player’s contributions last season and the Lakers’ limited means of improving their roster, Los Angeles will likely retain all three.
Projected depth chart
This is a rough projection, with the obvious addendum that multiple players can play multiple positions (Davis can play power forward, James can play any position, Johnson can play either forward spot, Gabriel can play center, etc.).
The Lakers’ plan entering this season was to start Davis at center and James at power forward — their best respective positions in 2022 — and that’s the projected starting alignment once again.
The Lakers, unsurprisingly, have needs just about everywhere else.
Their greatest need from a skill standpoint is clearly shooting, as this is a subpar collection of 3-point shooters. James and Nunn are the only two above-average 3-point shooters on the roster. That’s a recipe for disaster for a modern NBA offense.
As for positions, assuming the Lakers trade Westbrook, they’ll need a starting-level point guard replacement (and would likely get one back in the trade). They’ll also need to add at least one non-Davis center, a better starting-level small forward, and versatile depth and size in the backcourt and on the wings.
With limited trade assets and financial resources, they’ll have to upgrade the roster via a potential Westbrook trade, a separate deal with Horton-Tucker/Nunn, their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, the taxpayer mid-level exception and a slew of veteran’s minimum contracts.
Who should return?
James, Davis, Reaves, Johnson, Gabriel
The only two untouchables for the Lakers are James and Davis. They can move any other player in an attempt to upgrade the roster. Everything the Lakers do from a roster construction perspective should be about maximizing the fit around their two superstars.
Reaves’, Johnson’s and Gabriel’s contracts are cheap and team-friendly. It would be foolish not to keep them. Ideally, the Lakers can bolster their depth and feature those three players less than they did last season (though Reaves and Johnson have the potential to grow into more valuable roles if they can progress as spot-up shooters and secondary playmakers).
Who could return?
Malik Monk, Horton-Tucker, Nunn, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, D.J. Augustin
This list is so long because the Lakers’ team-building approach could go in a variety of ways. They’ve been somewhat unpredictable the past few offseasons. It’s unlikely most of these players are back, of course, but odds are at least a couple of them will return.
Monk is the Lakers’ top free agent. Despite their notable quest to acquire him at previous trade deadlines and their palpable satisfaction with his breakout season, there are two roadblocks to Monk staying in Los Angeles.
The first issue is the most money the Lakers can offer him is their taxpayer mid-level exception (approximately $6.3 million annually). While there’s a chance that’s enough to re-sign Monk, he’s going to command leaguewide interest and could earn a multi-year contract as high as $10 million annually.
The second issue is the Lakers have greater needs elsewhere on the roster, with the team coveting more size, length and athleticism on the wing. Monk is undersized for a shooting guard and is still a defensive liability despite his improvement on that end under former head coach Frank Vogel.
It’s certainly possible the Lakers strike out on their top wing targets and re-sign Monk, but the more likely scenario is he signs a bigger deal for a larger role elsewhere and the Lakers sign a bigger wing with their taxpayer MLE.
Horton-Tucker and Nunn are listed here and not in the “Who should return?” section because they are the Lakers’ only two midsized contracts. It’s unclear how much value they each have — both players’ trade values took considerable hits in 2021-22 — but if the Lakers are to strike a trade this summer, it will likely include one or both players.
Anthony sounded like someone who had played his last game as a Laker during his exit interview, but his offensive success as a Laker, close friendship with James and love of Los Angeles might be enough to keep him with the purple and gold. The soon-to-be 38-year-old is unlikely to have a similar role next season, and that could be an issue.
Howard has some value as a rebounding and rim-protecting third-string center, but he’s no longer an every-night option. The same could be said for Augustin as a backup/third-string point guard.
Who shouldn’t return?
Westbrook, Avery Bradley, Wayne Ellington, Kent Bazemore
The Westbrook dilemma is straightforward. He has regressed and hasn’t accepted his limitations. His fit alongside James and Davis was always awkward in theory — and it was even worse in reality.
It’s unclear how Westbrook’s style of play can translate to winning basketball in 2022. He can put up big triple-double-esque numbers on a lottery or low-level East playoff team, but even that might be ambitious after the way he looked as a Laker. The Lakers need to move on and trade him this offseason.
Bradley was one of the scapegoats of the season. He’s passable in a limited role, but Vogel’s insistence on starting and closing games with him exposed the defensive-minded guard’s weaknesses. Opposing defenses treat him like a non-threat. His on-ball defense is solid but overrated, and he’s a minus elsewhere defensively.
He’s a shooting guard who’s the size of a point guard, making him a tricky fit for some backcourt mates. The Lakers need more size, length and athleticism on the wing, anyway.
Ellington and Bazemore, the two original candidates to start at shooting guard, were largely ineffective and are nearing the ends of their careers. The Lakers could fill out the back end of their roster with better players.
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Bron needs to run point and stop BS'ing
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let Mac run and fly
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Jeanie gotta divert money from player health to the head coach.
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Long Live Judy 
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Trainers catching the rap??
Nasty undertakings from the FO.
Nasty undertakings from the FO.
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Like coaches, trainers don’t matter.
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Add trainers to the list of scapegoats
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MVP
getting ppl fired on their day off
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Just a sweat suit…
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There's so much drama and instability going on in the Lakers FO and so many questions about AD'S durability that AD can't take it to no more so looks like he’s going to trade in his jersey for the suit and clipboard
Sike
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That guy coached my HS rival. **** Mayfair.
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I was never too fond of Mayfair. From what I recall they sucked back in the early to mid 90s. One of my buddies from way back in high school coached Josh Childress at Mayfair, which was the only time I remember that they started being able to compete with the other top programs in the Long Beach-Lakewood area
You went to one these high schools?
Norwalk
Bellflower
Gahr
Lakewood
John Glenn
Cabrillo
Artesia
St. Anthony
