At this point the Lakers are playing for next year, which is smart. They have LeBron committed for multiple years, something Cleveland was never able to do, and they’re more than willing to continue to let their young core continue to develop. I know most of you didn’t watch the Lakers last year, but they were way more competitive than people will give them credit for - split season series with the Celtics, 76ers, Cavs, Rockets, and took GS to OT multiple times. Now you add LeBron and some veterans to help that development, and they should be able to get to the playoffs this year.
Then, all these deals are for one year, so they again have a max slot next year, where they can then sign Kawhi (or Klay Thompson) or any number of free agents outright without giving up assets. This isn’t a “let’s win the championship right away” thing like LeBron’s last 2 moves, but clearly a longer-term outlook.
3DS: 2981-5304-3227
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At this point the Lakers are playing for next year, which is smart. They have LeBron committed for multiple years, something Cleveland was never able to do, and they’re more than willing to continue to let their young core continue to develop. I know most of you didn’t watch the Lakers last year, but they were way more competitive than people will give them credit for - split season series with the Celtics, 76ers, Cavs, Rockets, and took GS to OT multiple times. Now you add LeBron and some veterans to help that development, and they should be able to get to the playoffs this year.
Then, all these deals are for one year, so they again have a max slot next year, where they can then sign Kawhi (or Klay Thompson) or any number of free agents outright without giving up assets. This isn’t a “let’s win the championship right away” thing like LeBron’s last 2 moves, but clearly a longer-term outlook.
Seems like an odd play to punt the 1st year of 3 you'll for sure have LeBron for. But maybe they're playing 4D chess and they'll snag enough dudes to counter Houston and GS
At this point the Lakers are playing for next year, which is smart. They have LeBron committed for multiple years, something Cleveland was never able to do, and they’re more than willing to continue to let their young core continue to develop. I know most of you didn’t watch the Lakers last year, but they were way more competitive than people will give them credit for - split season series with the Celtics, 76ers, Cavs, Rockets, and took GS to OT multiple times. Now you add LeBron and some veterans to help that development, and they should be able to get to the playoffs this year.
Then, all these deals are for one year, so they again have a max slot next year, where they can then sign Kawhi (or Klay Thompson) or any number of free agents outright without giving up assets. This isn’t a “let’s win the championship right away” thing like LeBron’s last 2 moves, but clearly a longer-term outlook.
Seems like an odd play to punt the 1st year of 3 you'll for sure have LeBron for. But maybe they're playing 4D chess and they'll snag enough dudes to counter Houston and GS
It's clearly a move revolving around GS. The Lakers are assuming the cap situation becomes untenable for the Warriors soon, either making it so they don't end up with much of a bench, or that they can swoop in and grab someone (probably Klay but KD keeps getting thrown out there) with their extra money. To go further, it'll be easier to move Luol Deng's contract next year when its an expiring deal, thus freeing up more money.
But again, the Lakers last year improved by 9 games despite having the vast majority of their minutes played by guys under the age of 24 (the only consistent rotation piece over that age was Brooke Lopez). It's not unreasonable to assume that improvement continues going forward.
At this point the Lakers are playing for next year, which is smart. They have LeBron committed for multiple years, something Cleveland was never able to do, and they’re more than willing to continue to let their young core continue to develop. I know most of you didn’t watch the Lakers last year, but they were way more competitive than people will give them credit for - split season series with the Celtics, 76ers, Cavs, Rockets, and took GS to OT multiple times. Now you add LeBron and some veterans to help that development, and they should be able to get to the playoffs this year.
Then, all these deals are for one year, so they again have a max slot next year, where they can then sign Kawhi (or Klay Thompson) or any number of free agents outright without giving up assets. This isn’t a “let’s win the championship right away” thing like LeBron’s last 2 moves, but clearly a longer-term outlook.
100% correct and it's frustrating how many people are acting as if this current roster is them in immediate win-now mode. The big second act comes next year when they stretch Deng and can sign Kawhi without giving up Ingram, Kuzma, or even Lonzo. Gutting their young core for an asset who wants to be on their team and they can sign outright next year makes no sense, it removes a large portion of the basketball incentive LeBron had for going to LA in the first place.
Gutting their young core for an asset who wants to be on their team and they can sign outright next year makes no sense
Where have I heard this before
PG re-signing in OKC was a wildly irrational move. I think all of the free agents in the known universe being considered as good as in Los Angeles for the past 5 years has been absurd as fuck, but LeBron with a long-term contract on the team changes the dynamics considerably. Not to say they won't change again if Kawhi ends up in any number of other basketball situations.
The Lakers actually have a path to be competitive in two years, and that path does not involve overpaying for Kawhi this season.
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What even
EDIT: It's 1 year/$9 million per BR
LeBron turned on hard mode
The Lakers do know you don't win anything for signing the most players, right?
bold play by la here.
Lebron went from playing with 1 major knucklehead to 3 plus Lavar Ball.
so he goes to the Lakers in the west with an objectively worse lineup
Like, he must clearly not give a shit anymore
The millions of dollars and not having to work in Cleveland probably makes it easier.
pleasepaypreacher.net
However, they got rid of Randle which is a negative.
The last trade will be for Gregg Popovich.
pleasepaypreacher.net
Then, all these deals are for one year, so they again have a max slot next year, where they can then sign Kawhi (or Klay Thompson) or any number of free agents outright without giving up assets. This isn’t a “let’s win the championship right away” thing like LeBron’s last 2 moves, but clearly a longer-term outlook.
3DS: 2981-5304-3227
The player is Lonzo. You can't trade a dad.
Seems like an odd play to punt the 1st year of 3 you'll for sure have LeBron for. But maybe they're playing 4D chess and they'll snag enough dudes to counter Houston and GS
They really ought to try though
It's clearly a move revolving around GS. The Lakers are assuming the cap situation becomes untenable for the Warriors soon, either making it so they don't end up with much of a bench, or that they can swoop in and grab someone (probably Klay but KD keeps getting thrown out there) with their extra money. To go further, it'll be easier to move Luol Deng's contract next year when its an expiring deal, thus freeing up more money.
But again, the Lakers last year improved by 9 games despite having the vast majority of their minutes played by guys under the age of 24 (the only consistent rotation piece over that age was Brooke Lopez). It's not unreasonable to assume that improvement continues going forward.
3DS: 2981-5304-3227
The Lakers literally traded Clarkson and Nance to the Cavs just to free up the cap space to sign LeBron, and those two are awful.
The Lakers roster without LeBron is clearly better than the Cavs roster without him, and I'm not sure how that is even a debate.
3DS: 2981-5304-3227
Calling him Lavar is the joke because he has way too much of a hand in his kids' careers.
If they somehow manage to get Boogie back I'll have to root for them.
Blazers let Ed Davis go for 4.4 million, missed out on Hezonja to the Knicks, and signed Stauskas to the minimum.
So, not great!
Nance could get better but Clarkson is legit terrible.
100% correct and it's frustrating how many people are acting as if this current roster is them in immediate win-now mode. The big second act comes next year when they stretch Deng and can sign Kawhi without giving up Ingram, Kuzma, or even Lonzo. Gutting their young core for an asset who wants to be on their team and they can sign outright next year makes no sense, it removes a large portion of the basketball incentive LeBron had for going to LA in the first place.
Something else is coming.
On one hand...summer league
On the other, Trae Young is going to be a Jonny Flynn level bust.
Boogie is coming off the bench.
To spell Holiday.
Point Boogie
Seth that is
Where have I heard this before
PG re-signing in OKC was a wildly irrational move. I think all of the free agents in the known universe being considered as good as in Los Angeles for the past 5 years has been absurd as fuck, but LeBron with a long-term contract on the team changes the dynamics considerably. Not to say they won't change again if Kawhi ends up in any number of other basketball situations.
The Lakers actually have a path to be competitive in two years, and that path does not involve overpaying for Kawhi this season.
What the fuck.