OFFICIAL GENERAL FREE AGENCY/TRADE THREAD

[laker50]

Note that AD did not not even make the NBA third team.
He is not a difference maker.
AD is easy to neutralize for his game is inside where they will surround him with double teams.

And trading possible all stars in Ingram or Lonzo for him may not be smart.
Maybe one of them yes. But not the whole core.

The Lakers are finding a max FA away. And some clutch shooters.

[LakerMindLA]

[venturalakersfan]

Why we don’t like it, no accounting for cap holds.
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RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.

[Bard207]

[24Legend007]

Butler, Lopez, and Mcgee

Lonzo/Caruso
Butler/Hart
BI/Stephenson
Bron/Wagner
Lopez/Mcgee

And you still have the pick. We need some shooting still. My bad Kuz at the 4. BI off the bench

[dcarter4kobe]

[LKA]

[Sentient Meat]

[Big Game James]

[venturalakersfan]

[Car54]

[LKA]

[Sentient Meat]

[The Lebrons]

[LakerMindLA]

[Car54]

[Inspector Gadget]

Here is how I see the chances of FAs coming.. playing out

Butler - 50%

Irving - 30%

Kemba - 15%

Kawhi - 5%

Klay - 0%

KD - 0.1%

[nzahir]

[venturalakersfan]

[venturalakersfan]

[Yong]

[LakerMindLA]

[Robster8989]

[MIMLaker]

Said it before, saying it again - we need to build a TEAM and not just get a MAX and scraps. We need to grab guys 1-2 who will be ideal next to LeBron, and 1-2 guys who can help us after he retires. My plan is this:


(1) Brook Lopez – Throw a 3-year deal at him for $24-$28M total. He’s only making $3.3M right now, so bring him home with a ton of apologies and get our stretch-big to free space for LeBron and keep opposing bigs from doubling on him. Start the offer to Lopez at around $3-yr/$20M, figure as high as 3-yr/$27M total if needed.

Backup option? Dewayne Dedmon. A little more expensive than Brook at the moment, but we really need an affordable stretch big to maximize LBJ. Vucevic ($12.75M last year) is too expensive.

(2) Darren Collison – Started at PG for Vogel back in Indiana, shoots 38-40% from 3 and 80%+ FTs. A bit overpaid in Indy at $10M right now, but offer him a 3-year, LBJ-era deal since he's only had 1-2 year deals his whole career. Like Lopes, start him at 3-yr/$20M, but go up to 3-yr/$27M max to get Lonzo a real PG mentor who can defend AND SHOOT.

Backup option? Seth Curry. Dude’s a shooter, plain and simple. He’s earned a good mid-level deal, but make him a 4-year deal since he's younger than Collison at slightly less to start ($6M a year) and could sitck around post-LBJ.


(3) Julius Randle. Yeah, I said it. This team needs an enforcer, and guys who can throw down 19 and 9 don’t grow on trees, and he can be a post-LBJ era guy after LBJ's current deal is up. Vogel can maximize him on D, and he and Brook can balance each other well at both ends. Give him the 4-year, $50-60M we should have done last year, rather than waste it on KCP and Lance, for crying out loud.

If he signs for $12-13M to start he's a bargain, and if Lopez and Collison both came in around $7.5M a year to start, then we could sign Bullock via his $4.7M cap hold and have Bird rights as needed.

Backup option? Al-Farouq Aminu ($7M with Portland last year) or Bobby Portis ($2.5M with Washington). Portis has better range, Aminu has more toughness and playoff experience. Would offer less than for Randle, but a 3-year $25M for either of them would be a great deal. Figure Portland would definitely fight for Aminu to build off this year.


(4) Reggie Bullock Another post-LBJ future signing. Good size and shooting, even though eh had some trouble adjusting this year after trade deadline. Good BI insurance in terms of SF depth. Sign him for 4 years around $25M total, whether via Bird rights or exception or cap space.

Backup option? Again, Seth Curry would be quality back-court depth. Would have no problem bringing his shooting and Steph-lite combo-guard skills aboard at a reasonable rate for a good semi-long-term deal, either in place of of or along with Bullock.


(5) Draft Pick: DeAndre Hunter He's the most NBA-ready, plug-and-play guy right now outside the Top 3. Defensive versatility and seemingly reliable kick-out shooting, with good fundamental, scrapper play. Give me a rotation with him and Randle and Ingram and Lonzo and we'd have defense for days. OR, put him, Collison, Lopez, and Bullock or Curry on the floor and you've FINALLY got a 4-shooter lineup around LBJ.

I'd gladly go into the season with this lineup over any involving another MAX-level guy.

C -
Lopez - Starter for spacing and to allow change of pace with Randle
Randle - Small-ball, rebounding, and switching D
Wagner - Hustle and shooting

PF -
Randle - Starts over Kuz for rebounding and to balance Lopez on boards and D quickness.
Kuz - Starter-level scorer off bench, pace booster on O off bench

SF -
LeBron - Duh.
Ingram - Still coming back from injury, most likely sixth man.
Hunter - 3 and D off bench
Bullock - Outside gunner as needed

SG -
Bullock - Until Hart proves healthy, pencil Bullock's range and size here.
Hart - Would gladly start him if his health and shot both return, but has to be proven.

PG -
Ball - Put-up or shut-up. Has to be a significant asset on both ends. Still believe that he can.
Collison - Solid backup, and has enough shooting and D cred to allow Lonzo to play off-ball in spurts.
Caruso - Earned the full-season spot, IMO. Hustle and guts off the bench.

[venturalakersfan]

Agree that we should build a team. I thought we were moving in that direction a few years ago but then Jeanie happened.
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RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.