Lakers News

[jmoney74]

I like the Lou Williams signing. Can we ditch Nick Young now?

define "we"...  i thought you are a clipper fan and kobe hater. 

Clipper and Lakers fan... Kobe hater.

Looks like the Clippers are now the doo-doo team in LA when it comes to signing FAs, Lou is better than Pierce, Hibbert is a starting center (although a trade) and Bass a decent big... Clips still haven't found a DJ replacement.

not really comparable.  LAC has practically no cap space to offer FA, so its understandably hard to attract one.  Lakers has tons of cap space but can only attract second tier talents.

How so?  they just offered DJ the max. 

DJ is not even close to being worth the max.  I can shoot free throws better than him.  I would have offered him $10-11 at the max.

come on now.. it's like real estate.. it's worth as much as someone is willing to pay.. which was a few teams. 

 

[jmoney74]

I think Okafor is going to be fine.  He will be a starting level center with a very good offensive post up game.  I do, however, feel Russell will have a bigger impact on our franchise. 

 

[jerometl]

Personally, I think it's a dumb move. I don't think Dallas has a better chance at winning than the Clips and he lost out on money, but oh well. I wish he had more loyalty to the team that stuck with him.

I don't really blame DJ.  He was sold by the Dallas promise.  At this point in his career, he wants recognition and searching for this true potential rather than winning.  If he stays, he will always be behind Paul and Griffin and potentially has hit ceiling on his career growth. In Dallas, he has room to improve and can be a  first or second option after the Dirk era if he improves his offensive skills. If he does significantly improve, the extra money Clipper is offering will be negligible in hindsight with better contract after the current deal ends.

?I was basically just telling him that we want you,? said Parsons, who organized a dinner with Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki, owner Mark Cuban, Jordan and himself at a swanky sushi restaurant in Malibu for the second free agency started Tuesday night. ?You?re our priority. We believe that you can be a 20 and 15 a night kind of guy. We think that you are the best center in the NBA, and we think that there?s no other place better than Dallas [to prove it].
?With coach [Rick] Carlisle?s system, adding guys like me and Wes and Dirk, savvy older veteran point guards like J.J. [Barea] and Devin [Harris] and Raymond [Felton] all around you, we can make you the best player possible that you can be. I think that was the biggest thing that he wanted, and I think he saw that the opportunity was here.

?I think he?s a perennial All-Star. I think he?s the most athletic, best defending, finishing lob threat in the NBA. He has a chance to be the best center in the NBA the next 10 years.?

 

[The Motor Court Company]

Lakers trading for Taj Gibson?

Randle is now a stretch 4?http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...-first-practice-los-angeles-lakers-broken-leg

if they can get rid of Swaggy P, the addition of Lou Williams, Russell, Hibbert, Gibson and the return of Randle, Kobe, and continuing improvement from Clarkson, addition by subtraction of Lin, Boozer and Wes Johnson, the Lakers may sniff playoffs next year

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I don't really blame DJ.  He was sold by the Dallas promise.  At this point in his career, he wants recognition and searching for this true potential rather than winning.  If he stays, he will always be behind Paul and Griffin and potentially has hit ceiling on his career growth. In Dallas, he has room to improve and can be a  first or second option after the Dirk era if he improves his offensive skills. If he does significantly improve, the extra money Clipper is offering will be negligible in hindsight with better contract after the current deal ends.

I thought it was all about the rings... ie winning?

That's short-sighted... I still think being with an LA team (Lakers or Clippers) is more lucrative on that basis alone than other teams (old school thinking but still has legs).

Other than Dirk and Kidd, does anyone remember any Maverick "super" stars?

At least he put in the 3rd year option, so he can move again if it doesn't pan out. But he should have just done that in LA, take the max 5, put in a 3rd year option in case he doesn't "shine" enough here.

Bleh.

 

[jmoney74]

Lakers trading for Taj Gibson?

Randle is now a stretch 4?http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...-first-practice-los-angeles-lakers-broken-leg

if they can get rid of Swaggy P, the addition of Lou Williams, Russell, Hibbert, Gibson and the return of Randle, Kobe, and continuing improvement from Clarkson, addition by subtraction of Lin, Boozer and Wes Johnson, the Lakers may sniff playoffs next year

it would be nice if they can just get to exciting basketball.  Remember when Magic retired.. we had a lul for a season or two.  Then we drafted Eddie Jones and picked up Ceballos.. that was a pretty good team.  Not great but they competed against any team. 

 

[bones]

i thought he left bc be hated CP3.  Must be an LA theme.
Also, he was 90/10 clips before parsons got involved in recruiting.

 

[Bullsback]

Lakers trading for Taj Gibson?

Randle is now a stretch 4?http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...-first-practice-los-angeles-lakers-broken-leg

if they can get rid of Swaggy P, the addition of Lou Williams, Russell, Hibbert, Gibson and the return of Randle, Kobe, and continuing improvement from Clarkson, addition by subtraction of Lin, Boozer and Wes Johnson, the Lakers may sniff playoffs next year

Taj to the Lakers would be news to me. While he might be available, unless Lakers have a young, athletic wing that is good that they would part with, Taj isn't getting moved. Bulls has long liked taj a lot so while his name always comes up, their is a reason he hasn't been moved. 

 

[Bullsback]

i thought he left bc be hated CP3.  Must be an LA theme.
Also, he was 90/10 clips before parsons got involved in recruiting.

I think it was probably 50% Parsons and 50% (if not more) CP3. All of it is probably different if the Clips don't completely choke away their 3-1 lead against Memphis.  The Mavs did what the Lakers should have done.

Lakers should have never wasted time on anyone but DeAndre. DeAndre was the one piece who was a very good long-term fit for their future plans. Athletic big who can defend and is in my opinion underrated.  His deal (when you consider what Robin Lopez and others are getting) is extremely cap friendly (especially with the projected significant increases in the cap in the next 2 years) and he is the exact type of guy that you could get your star to play with. You might actually sell Durant a year from now if Russell is looking like a good point guard, you have DeAndre as an athletic big who is a monster on the glass (and a great shot blocker) and hopefully Randle develops.

Now the Lakers, at least didn't totally jack up future flexibility but they don't exactly have much to sell someone like KD so I will officially go on record as saying their is zero chance KD comes to the Lakers (outside of Randle and Russell both going nuts and being all stars). 

 

[Irvinecommuter]

Lakers trading for Taj Gibson?

Randle is now a stretch 4?http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...-first-practice-los-angeles-lakers-broken-leg

if they can get rid of Swaggy P, the addition of Lou Williams, Russell, Hibbert, Gibson and the return of Randle, Kobe, and continuing improvement from Clarkson, addition by subtraction of Lin, Boozer and Wes Johnson, the Lakers may sniff playoffs next year

You are dreaming.  Warriors, Spurs, Mavs, Houston, NO, and Memphis are locks.  Clippers and Trailblazers got worse but Suns and OKC will get better.  Lakers are 10th or 11th best team in the West at best.

 

[The Motor Court Company]

Portland? they lost 4 of their starting 5 from beginning of last season. They will not make the playoffs.

Dallas? Dirk has been in the league for almost as long as Kobe and he has not suffered any major injuries and missed too many games. It won't surprise me 2015-2016 season could be the year when Dirk's body finally breaks down. the upgrade from Chandler to DJ may not offset the departure of Monta Ellis, who arguably was their best player last season.

I will give you OKC if they stay healthy.

For PHX I am not sure their improvement is as much as the Lakers.

Minnesota will be a wild card however.

So if everything turns out for the Lakers, there is a good chance they can within the fighting distance for the 8th playoff spot in the West.

SAS, GSW, HOU, MEM, NO, LAC, OKC are the 7 locks. The last spot is up for grabs between DAL, PHX, LAL and MIN.

Lakers trading for Taj Gibson?

Randle is now a stretch 4?http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...-first-practice-los-angeles-lakers-broken-leg

if they can get rid of Swaggy P, the addition of Lou Williams, Russell, Hibbert, Gibson and the return of Randle, Kobe, and continuing improvement from Clarkson, addition by subtraction of Lin, Boozer and Wes Johnson, the Lakers may sniff playoffs next year

You are dreaming.  Warriors, Spurs, Mavs, Houston, NO, and Memphis are locks.  Clippers and Trailblazers got worse but Suns and OKC will get better.  Lakers are 10th or 11th best team in the West at best.

 

[bones]

So what do laker fans want for this upcoming season?  Try and get into the playoffs as an 8 seed or tank & get a top 3 pick. Which would give you guys a better chance at getting KD? 

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Well, it's not like the Lakers "76er" tanked last year.

Going to be hard to be a bottom 3 team and even though, could end up losing the pick if the Ping Pong gods hate you (aka NY style).

I think the fans just want a competitive team, hope Kobe doesn't get another injury and that they don't get blown out by the Clips too often.

 

[The Motor Court Company]

assuming next years cap space allows Lakers to sign 2 to 3 max contracts, a high pick is not as important as the development of Clarkson, Russell and Randle. If Durant has an issue with Westbrook, the Lakers can pitch a young nucleus (assuming they are good) + max offers to Durant and let's say Noah.

A starting lineup of 3 young stud players + 1 super star + 1 solid all star + adequate bench (like 6th man of the year Lou Williams) the Lakers can instantly become contenders.

Well, it's not like the Lakers "76er" tanked last year.

Going to be hard to be a bottom 3 team and even though, could end up losing the pick if the Ping Pong gods hate you (aka NY style).

I think the fans just want a competitive team, hope Kobe doesn't get another injury and that they don't get blown out by the Clips too often.

 

[eyephone]

I would stay away from Durant. (Foot injury)

 

[irvinehomeowner]

So is there upside to Upshaw? Can he be yaliu's big man?

 

[eyephone]

So is there upside to Upshaw? Can he be yaliu's big man?

Undrafted. He got released in college?
But I heard he is a beast. (Good shot blocker)

I hear people compare him to that center at Miami, I fort his name. (Lazy to look up)

 

[The Motor Court Company]

Hassan Blackside is Upshaw's upside

So is there upside to Upshaw? Can he be yaliu's big man?

Undrafted. He got released in college?
But I heard he is a beast. (Good shot blocker)

I hear people compare him to that center at Miami, I fort his name. (Lazy to look up)

 

[Irvinecommuter]

Portland? they lost 4 of their starting 5 from beginning of last season. They will not make the playoffs.

Dallas? Dirk has been in the league for almost as long as Kobe and he has not suffered any major injuries and missed too many games. It won't surprise me 2015-2016 season could be the year when Dirk's body finally breaks down. the upgrade from Chandler to DJ may not offset the departure of Monta Ellis, who arguably was their best player last season.

I will give you OKC if they stay healthy.

For PHX I am not sure their improvement is as much as the Lakers.

Minnesota will be a wild card however.

So if everything turns out for the Lakers, there is a good chance they can within the fighting distance for the 8th playoff spot in the West.

SAS, GSW, HOU, MEM, NO, LAC, OKC are the 7 locks. The last spot is up for grabs between DAL, PHX, LAL and MIN.

Lakers trading for Taj Gibson?

Randle is now a stretch 4?http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...-first-practice-los-angeles-lakers-broken-leg

if they can get rid of Swaggy P, the addition of Lou Williams, Russell, Hibbert, Gibson and the return of Randle, Kobe, and continuing improvement from Clarkson, addition by subtraction of Lin, Boozer and Wes Johnson, the Lakers may sniff playoffs next year

You are dreaming.  Warriors, Spurs, Mavs, Houston, NO, and Memphis are locks.  Clippers and Trailblazers got worse but Suns and OKC will get better.  Lakers are 10th or 11th best team in the West at best.

You're dreaming...my favorite (the best IMO) NBA writer Zach Lowe describes the Lakers' offseason as follows:

Los Angeles Lakers: This team will not battle its way into the playoff race, and it flat-out embarrassed itself in blowing a meeting with Aldridge before scheduling a face-saver two days later. They should have tried harder to retain Ed Davis, though every team that spends time with Davis grumbles about his low motor, nonexistent range, and terrible foul shooting.

Brandon Bass is a workable Davis replacement, and the Lakers got Lou Williams at a below-market deal that will age well (and function as a trade asset). Reviving Roy Hibbert is a fine way to use leftover cap space, and he?ll provide resistance at the rim for an otherwise overmatched group who barely bothered to try on defense last season.

The Lakers are waiting out Bryant?s extension. Laugh at their tarnished brand if you want, but these guys still get meetings with everyone. Aldridge had serious interest in them when free agency started, per several sources, and the Lakers will eventually learn from three straight summers of unrequited free-agency love. In the meantime, swallow another awful season, develop all the fun young guys, and give yourselves at least a chance of being bad enough to keep the top-three protected pick you owe Philadelphia.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-free-agency-winners-and-losers/

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Finally someone meme'd the Lakers' free agent quest: