Lakers News

[irvinehomeowner]

How have the Celts bounced back to prominence so quickly (and they have a top pick next year)?

Two words: No Kobe

It's not quite as simple as "No kobe"  What Boston did was absolutely fleece the Nets in what may go down as one of the most lopsided trades of all time with an all time bad GM in Billy King.  So you need a Billy King to rebuild quickly.  That fool put no protections on those 1st round picks. 

"The Brooklyn Nets have acquired Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and D.J. White from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans and three first round draft picks (2014, 2016 and 2018), as well as the right to swap first round picks in 2017, Nets General Manager Billy King has announced"

So what the Celtics did value assets over loyalty.  They traded away their face of their franchise in Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett and looked toward the future.  Lakers did the opposite and valued Kobe's past achievements and rewarded him for it and let him retire a Laker.  So you can just say "no kobe" and expect us to suddenly do better.  Which is ironic as well because Kobe's general terrible play the last few years netted us a lot of nice assets in Russell/Ingram in the draft lol.  Looking back, I probably still keep Kobe those last few years.  As a diehard fan, I would've thrown a fit if I saw a headline "Kobe traded to _____ for x player and this pick" even if it improved our future chances. 

In Hindsight, we could've rebuilt much better with Kobe still on the roster.  Few things that come to mind, we should've kept Ariza and just paid the man instead of getting Metta World.  We so desperately need 3 & D and he's thriving in Houston.  Isiah Thomas verbally said he wanted to be a Laker many times but he didn't sign him and his asking price for a trade was low.  We could've rolled the dice on a Harrison barnes instead of Mozgov/Deng contracts.  You also can't forget "Basketball reasons" which would've gotten us at the minimum chris paul with the assumed Dwight howard following.  So it's not just "no kobe" it's really lots of more complicated reasons why we are where we are.

But looking ahead, we got the #2 pick in a stacked draft.  Hope the lakers do their due diligence in workouts and don't shy away from a non Lonzo ball pick.  If we can find a gem, you draft him (looking back on Porzingis vs Russell).  We have a non too shabby core of Russell/Clarkson/Ingram/Randle/Zubac and we just need to build on it.  Hope we don't trade young players for a Paul George and just wait for him to come in 2018 instead. 

Heh... took the bait... spoken like a true Kobe fan.

I don't mind that the Lakers were loyal to Kobe, but no one wanted to play with him. He didn't make other players better... he needed better players to be here (and who could put up with him) to win.

I like how you mention the CP3 trade... do you really think that would have worked? CP3 and Kobe on the same team? And everyone forgets that the the Lakers would have lost Gasol in that trade... who is one of the biggest reason why Lakers were able to win their last championships in the first place.

Loyalty aside, if I wanted the Lakers to get back to prominence sooner than later, I would have let Kobe go. And yes, they should have done things like sign IT2 and not do those stupid Moz/Deng contracts. So maybe the two words should be "Jim Buss". But again, they did get Randle/Clarkson/Nance/Russell/Ingram. But I don't put too much into that, because top draft picks (esp #2s) are sort of no brainers (although most of the last 16 #2 picks haven't been very good).

[LakerWishHatOn] We do some 3-team trade with Boston and Indiana where we get IT2 and PG13.

#KobeHater

 

[eyephone]

Lavar Ball guaranteed the Lakers will make the playoffs next year with Lonzo on the team.

I don't know about that. He chocked against Kentucky. 10 points

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Lavar Ball guaranteed the Lakers will make the playoffs next year with Lonzo on the team.

Did he "speak it into existence"?

Didn't he also say UCLA was going to the Final Four?

But given the way Lavar mojo'd the lottery, the Lakers should just sign Lonzo so we can see the Warriors kill the Lakers in the 1-8 first round of the playoffs next season.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Not exactly. George wants to be a Lakers and cousins wanted to get a deal to LA as well.

Screenshot or this is just LakerWishing.

Don't Laker fans think every superstar wants to come to LA?

 

[jmoney74]

Not exactly. George wants to be a Lakers and cousins wanted to get a deal to LA as well.

Screenshot or this is just LakerWishing.

Don't Laker fans think every superstar wants to come to LA?

Lol well only way you would believe is if he tweeted it out.

He's an LA kid and adores Kobe. Kimmel was grilling him and he didn't even deny it. Obviously the obstacle is that the pacers can pay him much more.

Cousins tried to make a trade. Rumored kings wanted Ingram so no deal.

Would be fun to get Lakers back in the mix. For now, fun to see Durant lose to leGoat again.

 

[eyephone]

Mark my words - lonzo ball is over-rated. I hope the lakers take De'Aron fox from Kentucky.  That guy is an elite athlete. Very fast. Ball couldn't guard him. Then I thought it was a bitch move that the balls came out and said he pulled his hamstring early in the Kentucky game.

De'Aron Fox the next John Wall. (Boom)
Btw - John Wall went to Kentucky also

Magic and Rob Pelinka went to the Kentucky and UCLA game.
http://www.espn.com/blog/collegebas...entuckys-freshmen-upstage-the-lonzo-ball-show

 

[SoclosetoIrvine]

I like how you mention the CP3 trade... do you really think that would have worked? CP3 and Kobe on the same team? And everyone forgets that the the Lakers would have lost Gasol in that trade... who is one of the biggest reason why Lakers were able to win their last championships in the first place.

#KobeHater

I truly think we would've won with cp3 and Kobe.  I think Cp3 is probably the 1 guy in the league that Kobe would've trusted 100% and let him run the show.  Plus they are all so competitive that they would've made it work.  Yeah Kobe is very intense so probably a good percentage of players wouldn't want to play with Kobe but Cp3 would've one of the few that would match his intensity I think.  Others in the same mold would be Garnett/Duncan/Metta World peace type who love kobe.  The type that don't like Kobe are the Shaq/Dwight type who are more easy going.  Don't forget that Dwight was coming as a follow up deal for Bynum so Cp3/Kobe/Dwight+ shooters in my opinion was a contender for sure.  Dwight would've been much better with a cp3 on the team.  I honestly think cp3/kobe/Dwight team would've been just as good as the kobe/pau/odom teams that won the back 2 back.  Oh well no point in beating a dead horse lol.  Odom fell off a cliff too apparently on the news of the trade and it rapidly started our rebuild. 

Not exactly. George wants to be a Lakers and cousins wanted to get a deal to LA as well.

Screenshot or this is just LakerWishing.

Don't Laker fans think every superstar wants to come to LA?

Lol well only way you would believe is if he tweeted it out.

He's an LA kid and adores Kobe. Kimmel was grilling him and he didn't even deny it. Obviously the obstacle is that the pacers can pay him much more.

Cousins tried to make a trade. Rumored kings wanted Ingram so no deal.

Would be fun to get Lakers back in the mix. For now, fun to see Durant lose to leGoat again.

Yes the Kings deal was widely reported and verified later on.  Essentially if you were a Cousins guy, blame Mitch/Jim Buss on that one.  Later reported said that the Pelicans and the Vlade Divac had already met face to face many times to discuss that deal.  During all star weekend they met again.  They were already in deep talks until Mitch decided it was right to give them a call so they essentially started the convo it's "ingram or no deal" since the Kings GM had a thing for buddy hield that he wanted no less than ingram since he was already committed to Pelicans.  If he had a few extra days, maybe they could've started lower and built up.  He's a big believer in the set rules, for example it's often noted that he's infamous for not calling any free agent before the free agency period begins.  Free agents are like us, they want to know where there is a guaranteed interest and deal waiting.  They don't want to wait until midnight to begin talks.  I know Gm's talking with free agents is tampering but other players talking to free agents isn't.  It was often reported that the warriors players were texting Durant after their loss and recruited him for months.  Also Eric Gordon to the Rockets was also Harden constantly texting him etc.

All is not loss as Cousins is a free agent.  But we might be screwed anyway by the Mozgov/Deng signing as he's going to want a Max and we might not have it as the cap didn't go as high as expected.  Mitch/Jim screw us again lol

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I dunno... I remember how everyone was saying that LeMarcus Aldridge wanted to be a Laker, Carmelo wanted to be a Laker, Kevin Durant wanted to be a Laker (Steven A Smith where are you?)... ESPN was even talking about Gordon Hayward for a while... and Mozgov and Deng never said that... yet here they are.

 

[jmoney74]

I like how you mention the CP3 trade... do you really think that would have worked? CP3 and Kobe on the same team? And everyone forgets that the the Lakers would have lost Gasol in that trade... who is one of the biggest reason why Lakers were able to win their last championships in the first place.

#KobeHater

I truly think we would've won with cp3 and Kobe.  I think Cp3 is probably the 1 guy in the league that Kobe would've trusted 100% and let him run the show.  Plus they are all so competitive that they would've made it work.  Yeah Kobe is very intense so probably a good percentage of players wouldn't want to play with Kobe but Cp3 would've one of the few that would match his intensity I think.  Others in the same mold would be Garnett/Duncan/Metta World peace type who love kobe.  The type that don't like Kobe are the Shaq/Dwight type who are more easy going.  Don't forget that Dwight was coming as a follow up deal for Bynum so Cp3/Kobe/Dwight+ shooters in my opinion was a contender for sure.  Dwight would've been much better with a cp3 on the team.  I honestly think cp3/kobe/Dwight team would've been just as good as the kobe/pau/odom teams that won the back 2 back.  Oh well no point in beating a dead horse lol.  Odom fell off a cliff too apparently on the news of the trade and it rapidly started our rebuild. 

Not exactly. George wants to be a Lakers and cousins wanted to get a deal to LA as well.

Screenshot or this is just LakerWishing.

Don't Laker fans think every superstar wants to come to LA?

Lol well only way you would believe is if he tweeted it out.

He's an LA kid and adores Kobe. Kimmel was grilling him and he didn't even deny it. Obviously the obstacle is that the pacers can pay him much more.

Cousins tried to make a trade. Rumored kings wanted Ingram so no deal.

Would be fun to get Lakers back in the mix. For now, fun to see Durant lose to leGoat again.

Yes the Kings deal was widely reported and verified later on.  Essentially if you were a Cousins guy, blame Mitch/Jim Buss on that one.  Later reported said that the Pelicans and the Vlade Divac had already met face to face many times to discuss that deal.  During all star weekend they met again.  They were already in deep talks until Mitch decided it was right to give them a call so they essentially started the convo it's "ingram or no deal" since the Kings GM had a thing for buddy hield that he wanted no less than ingram since he was already committed to Pelicans.  If he had a few extra days, maybe they could've started lower and built up.  He's a big believer in the set rules, for example it's often noted that he's infamous for not calling any free agent before the free agency period begins.  Free agents are like us, they want to know where there is a guaranteed interest and deal waiting.  They don't want to wait until midnight to begin talks.  I know Gm's talking with free agents is tampering but other players talking to free agents isn't.  It was often reported that the warriors players were texting Durant after their loss and recruited him for months.  Also Eric Gordon to the Rockets was also Harden constantly texting him etc.

All is not loss as Cousins is a free agent.  But we might be screwed anyway by the Mozgov/Deng signing as he's going to want a Max and we might not have it as the cap didn't go as high as expected.  Mitch/Jim screw us again lol

yup, the mone will be an issue.  those contracts are horrid! 

 

[jmoney74]

I dunno... I remember how everyone was saying that LeMarcus Aldridge wanted to be a Laker, Carmelo wanted to be a Laker, Kevin Durant wanted to be a Laker (Steven A Smith where are you?)... and Mozgov and Deng never said that... yet here they are.

well like anything, you can take one voice to be all voice.  Fans will say anything.  LeMarcus never said or hinted he wanted to be a Laker.. nor did KD.  Melo was actually deciding but NYC is his home and they money was there.  Most LA fans didn't want Melo anyways. 

In this day an age, even if players desire to come its hard to turn down the tens of millions they will walk away from with the new CBA. 

 

[jmoney74]

I dunno... I remember how everyone was saying that LeMarcus Aldridge wanted to be a Laker, Carmelo wanted to be a Laker, Kevin Durant wanted to be a Laker (Steven A Smith where are you?)... ESPN was even talking about Gordon Hayward for a while... and Mozgov and Deng never said that... yet here they are.

didn't SAS say he wanted to come to LA... errr Clippers?  I think it made more sense for KD to go to the clips or Boston to make them instant contenders.. instead, he got scared and joined the guys that beat him up. 

 

[irvinehomeowner]

LeMarcus never said or hinted he wanted to be a Laker.. nor did KD.

Don't mess with Steven A, he's going to look in your eye straight through the camera.

In this day an age, even if players desire to come its hard to turn down the tens of millions they will walk away from with the new CBA. 

A smart player would know that whatever they don't make in their contract, they will surely make up for in endorsements as a Laker.

Sure, you don't have to be in LA to sign big deals, but I do think that the number of opportunities is much higher and more lucrative than a Cracker Barrel billboard in Memphis.

Only problem is everyone wants a ring... and you either ride the GSTrain or the LebronTrain. Or just be angry like Westbrook.

 

[jmoney74]

Not sure if there has been a luckier champ team like GS. That will all change once curry re ups his contract. He's going  to get lit up by Kyrie though.

 

[jmoney74]

Magic already stated all big time FAs will stay with their teams this year. All eyes on next year.  I like this. If Ball lives up to his pick then there can be momentum.

Adrian Wojnarowski: [Lakers] are pretty confident and have a great deal of belief that they?re in position to get Paul George in 2018. 16 mins ago ? via Yahoo! Sports

 

[jmoney74]

Paul George didnt get all nba team.. less 30M he can get from Pacers.  Things looking better for la la land next year. 

 

[irvinehomeowner]

So would you sign and trade for PG13 now or just hope for FA where you don't have to give up any assets?

Does Indiana have any first round picks?

 

[qwerty]

IHO - I think you overestimate how much endorsement money these guys would get in LA. None are really marketable. So I do think it wil be harder for some of these guys to leave because  they are leaving a lot of money on the table

 

[jmoney74]

So would you sign and trade for PG13 now or just hope for FA where you don't have to give up any assets?

Does Indiana have any first round picks?

I'd wait for the year.

 

[Perspective]

Paul George misses out on All-NBA teams, makes it easier for Lakers to acquire him
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2017/5/18/15657064/la-lakers-free-agency-trade-paul-george-all-nba-selections-contract-designated-player-extension

 

[irvinehomeowner]

IHO - I think you overestimate how much endorsement money these guys would get in LA. None are really marketable. So I do think it wil be harder for some of these guys to leave because  they are leaving a lot of money on the table

True. But it depends on the player.

Like KD can get endorsements anywhere so it's not that big of a deal.

But PG (who already does commercials) could get higher profile/money endorsements in LA than in Indianapolis.

Especially now that Kobe is retired, LA needs a centerpiece... although with the hype machine that Lavar creates, it could just be Lonzo.

The last name alone is marketing genius.