NEW GENERAL FREE AGENCY/TRADE THREAD

[wolfpaclaker]

Lakers may just feel they need to develop players. 25 and under on their roster

Center: Hayes 24 (Could give a team 15 minutes as a token starter or 1st big off the bench)
Guard: Christie 21 (Could give a team sharpshooting& some D for 20 minutes)
Wing: Knecht 23 (Could give a team 15 minutes of sharpshooting off the bench)
Guard: Hood-Schfino 21 (Could give a team 15 minutes off the bench, possible G league)
Wing: Reddish 24 (Could give a team 15 minutes as a defensive player)
Guard: Bronny 19 (G League this year, may play in injury situations, blow outs)
Forward: Lewis 21 (G league, may get PT if he develops a 3 point shot)

The Lakers have about 7 players they could develop in their 14 roster spots before Lebron. I know it feels weird almost like a re-build situation looking at those names, but I think Lebron/AD/Reaves/Rui will keep you competitive (And DLO). And you're now hoping some of those players develop.

If you really buy in that some of those guys have talent, then it's a worthwhile project/task to take on. If you look at last year, most of the league and our fans were high on this roster. They thought it was a top 5 WC roster.

Most of the player agents even, felt Ham was the issue. With Redick, it seems the players may feel they have another shot.

[wolfpaclaker]

One of the issues for Pelinka.

To move on from these guaranteed deals, he needs to likely give some draft assets. Dallas gave up SRPs. I believe THJ was salary dumped to DET. They also gave up a few SRPs to Detroit. Then I believe they gave up one SRP in the Klay deal (not confirmed).

Pelinka is talking player development, and then he goes out and starts dumping future assets, future players he can develop? I don't feel that makes sense.

I actually don't mind that they are keeping their younger players, even though they have limited upside and are not lottery level talent.

If you're operating under a stance that you need to keep your picks, including future assets like SRPs, then you can't really move pieces as easily. I believe the sort of deal we'll probably end up seeing is similar to what we saw with Portland and PHX last year. I think Ayton went to POR and they end up with Nurkic and Grayson. If we move Rui and DLO, that's the sort of deal we're looking at. I believe this is why we're hearing Grant from POR. It's sort of Portland wanting out of that deal, and maybe getting less money tied with a Rui/DLO package (DLO expires at years end or moved for POR in another deal). Rui fills a short term role for them in a re-build period. Not that I am sold that Grant for Rui/DLO makes us better, however it's the sort of deals we're likely looking at if we're not moving the draft picks.

We should probably just look to make lateral moves in talent, meaning mid-career starters for for mid-career starters. Just better fitting talent. And meanwhile hope this new player development project works out sooner than later. I mean you can't think of a worse player development coach than Ham was, and in contrast we may actually get some player development this year with Redick, sort of like we saw with Vogel (Gave guys like THT, Caruso, Monk, Reaves, Stanley etc all chances to develop and shine).

Probably even if we run it back with the core we have, there will be opportunities by trade deadline to upgrade the roster.

[Kblo247!]

Derozan has 7 seasons of 8+ Win Shares, Paul George has 5.

Derozan led the league in minutes played last season at 34 years old. Despite his age, he's been really healthy over his entire career, never playing less than 60 games in a season.

DeRozan was fifth in the entire league in average scoring in the fourth quarter and first in actual total points scored

Get that done

[babyskyhook]

[Kblo247!]

[manlisten]

I think 3 point volume has become overrated. Out of the top 10 teams in 3 point attempts, #1 and #2 made the Finals. 6 teams missed the playoffs entirely, 1 was out in the first round and the other was out in the second. Both #1 and #2 had elite defenses however. That's what the Lakers desperately need to shore up. With that said the Lakers do need to increase the attempts and maintain their percentages. The difference between the Lakers being 28th in attempts and top 10 is 5 shots a game. That can be alleviated by just having guys like Rui/Reaves/Dalton taking a couple more.
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It was reminiscent of one of those Most Interesting Man in the World advertisements: "I don't always shoot 6-for-28 from the field, but when I do, I become the youngest player in league history to score 28,000 career points."

[manlisten]

[Sojo]

BTW folks, we shouldn't be worrying about Denver as the star to shoot for (beat). I think it's pretty obvious our team construction needs to be going in a different direction.

[ocho]

[defense]

people getting paid left an right

[dont_be_a_wuss]

[jb2]

What a piss poor off-season.

[lakersfan8]

I am not mad that we didn't get Klay but I am very frustrated watching good free agents signing elsewhere with reasonable contracts. Mavericks worked with the Warriors on a S&T while still using the MLE to sign Naji Marshall. I wonder why we couldn't operate in the same way

[SGV-Laker fan]

I’m all for developing young players. But exactly how many of those young players lakers have current? Outside of Max and Knech I can’t think of any. Also, if you really set your goal on youth movement, then LeBron and AD should be flipped RIGHT NOW for more young asset. This going halfway on everything just does not work, pick a side and go all in.

[King Randle]

[RI Laker]

He is a fool, but he is spot on with this.


https://twitter.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1807954005416726658?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[lakers4life78]

Pelinka is brain dead. I swear this franchise makes moves or attempts to make moves to grab a few headlines.

Their big miss was attempting to trade an 18-6 point guard who set a franchise record for 3s for a 34 year old declining Klay Thompson, and also giving him a 4 year deal to boot. So exchanging one flawed player who doesn't play defense for another declining player who can't play defense and was benched at times last year for a rookie. This was going to make us a better shooting team? Trading the one guy who can make threes on volume?

This move would have done nothing. Rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.
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17 time World Champions

[lakers4life78]

[FrankUnderwood]

[governator]

So missed on Valenciunas waiting for Klay which we also couldn’t close the deal Ala Hurley, we waiting on DeMar now? No center, no Capela for DLo rumor? Are we seriously gonna run it back? J.J. that good? This off season is ruining my week so far
_________________
“The main goal for the Lakers is to win a championship. All I care about, all we care about, is to raise another banner in the rafters.“

[bkt4208]

It is James who (obviously because he wants to win now as he wraps up his career) doesn't want to embrace the "youth movement" that the front office HAS TO EMBRACE WITH THE NEW CBA and prepare for life without LeBron.

It is extremely difficult to do both things and it does create this conflict- but I am sure Pelinka is attempting to do so based on all the rumors out there and the fact that we did try to get Thompson on board. A sign and trade probably would have cost equally what the Mavericks wound up giving up, which is a pair of 2nd round picks, but evidently we couldn't find a third team and/or Klay simply took the same offer (ours was higher reportedly but with Texas tax it probably was closer to even) for what he considered a more-ready title contender.

They might very well do it for DeRozan too assuming they can find a 3rd team to take some salary off our books- and yes, whether it is a mistake or not, Russell is the guy they would likely have to move, because of his relative value, the amount he is making and the obvious expring contract.

DDR does not fit what the Lakers are trying to do at all- spread the floor and create more shooting and close that gap of ONE THOUSAND POINTS OVER THE LAST TWO SEASONS (how much we have been outscored from distance) and at the cost of Russell, who was your #1 3-point shooter in volume and percentage last season. But yet they are likely trying to make that happen for James, who simply wants another high end player or otherwise he isn't taking the pay cut.

I dont think there is another free agent that James would be willing to do that for. Gary Trent or Buddy Hield? I seriously doubt it.

So instead it is a tight rope on what Pelinka should do. A basketball trade would be better for the team but the new CBA rules makes that hard to do as well as the serious limitations on who the Lakers could dangle.

Pelinka messed up by giving all his minimum signings last season (Hayes, Reddish, Wood) and of course Russell PLAYER OPTIONS and they all opted in- and only one of the ones in parenthesis can be dealt in a single trade; they can't be combined with the new rules.

Not sure how Rob can make the team better, take advantage of James paycut and get a guy he is acceptable in doing so with as well as not trade away young assets (first round picks or Rui, Vandy, Reeves, Christie, Knecht) and not hurt our outside shooting even more by parting with Russell....

[kfkilla]

[kfkilla]

[governator]

[Palin]

4 year deal for Klay would be bad. I really wouldn't go for Klay unless he takes MLE. Guy is cooked at D. Also now we would have to replace DLO's playmaking next to getting a two way wing and a center.