Not trying to give you a hard time but you you haven't offered an alternative to what the Lakers are currently doing. I get that you don't want to resign LeBron but what alternative do we have? We are over the cap, this allows us to resign our current players but LeBron and Russell leaving free agency then we cannot replace them. We just lose them for nothing.
The best we can do is hope for young players to progress (Hood Schino, Christie), get a better coach and maybe consolidate mid-sized salaries and draft picks for a fringe All-Star player.
What does your ideal Lakers offseason look like?
I have said my alternative for about a year now.
2020 was great (obviously) and I wanted them to go all in for another 2021 run. My belief being the clock was ticking on Bron and we didn't have years to waste.
And now we've wasted 4 years.
In 2021 we thought AD would take over and be #1.
In 2022 we thought AD would take over and be #1.
In 2023 we thought AD would take over and be #1.
In 2024 we thought AD would take over and be #1.
I'm good on seeing the same season over again in 2025.
Make a move NOW rather than wait til it's too late.
Can't trade Bron now, right? He wouldn't have a high value with his contract + mileage.
So move AD BEFORE we get to that point. A year early? Maybe. We don't know, given his injury history.
This year he did A LOT to repair that concern. So his value now, in theory, should be higher than it was last year.
Get what you can get. Couple young guys + expirings + picks. Best deal you can find.
Honest Convo with Bron. He can stay. Or, if he chooses to chase ring, we can help facilitate that. But let him have the choice. (In theory, trading AD would basically make the decision for him I would imagine) But don't make it messy. Don't Woj or Shams info thru the media. Keep it quiet, private.
Get back under the tax. Reset your payroll.
Develop your youth and try to add more picks as you can. But also be available for the next (in their prime) star(s).
Get new coach that you empower for multiple years with no Klutch hangin over their head. If we fire Ham, this will be Bron's 4th coach in LA.