Lakers-Pacers Staring Contest May Last at Least 20 Games

emplay · Site Staff Joined: 15 Apr 2001 Posts: 25549

Hey All,

ICYMI latest @BleacherReport Lakers-Pacers Staring Contest May Last at Least 20 Games https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10051018-lakers-pacers-staring-contest-may-last-at-least-20-games

Cheers,

EP
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

I think the Pacers can win this staring contest. If the Lakers start out 5-15, the noise will be deafening and the asking price will remain at 2 FRPs.

Lakers have much more to lose than the Pacers here IMO.
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nomoreshaq · Star Player Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 5142

emplay · Site Staff Joined: 15 Apr 2001 Posts: 25549

If the Lakers are like 12-8 and Pacers 3-17 and Turner asks out?

Very different circumstances - enough that LA may not even want to make a trade
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BILBJH · Star Player Joined: 23 Jul 2020 Posts: 5124

From what I watched yesterday, we looked beyond a Turner and Hield from a title.

It could also work the other way... where we do so badly, that we just throw in the towel and go into rebuild mode.

I get that the first half was okay... but those new players were absolutely terrible. I'm not saying there weren't promising moments but they lost 35 points of ground to a mediocre team.

I don't know how LBJ and AD compete even if Russ is doing better. They need some sort of decent second unit and just adding Schroder and Walker won't help them beat Golden State.

So, if I were Indiana, maybe I try to get something in case the Lakers go down the tubes, before it's too late.

emplay · Site Staff Joined: 15 Apr 2001 Posts: 25549

So third-string Lakers didn't do well? That's relevant, how, exactly?

lol
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GOODRICH25 · Star Player Joined: 17 Jun 2017 Posts: 3366

I dont think Turner and Hield are difference makers enough to justify 2 FRP. Those can be used for a bigger fish later
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markjay · Star Player Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 3924 Location: O.C.

RI Laker · Star Player Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 7157

I agree that it depends on how fast the teams get out of the box. I think the Pacers would lose the staring contest because they realize at 20 games, we are inching closer to the Dec. 15th mark. They realize that the Lakers will have more opportunities to make trades because they can send out players that they can not move now and because there will be more (or at least different) teams looking to deal. Russ's contract also becomes more valuable (less time teams have to pay him). Let's not forget this is an unusual year for tanking. There really has not been a player since Lebron and Wiggins that teams will go all out to tank. I am thinking we may be surprised at who we can acquire. It is really beneficial if we do not do anything right now. Hopefully our guys are playing good enough at that time.

ThreePointBomber · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 6:18 am Post subject:

governator · Retired Number Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 25092

calistrtballr · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 7:08 pm Post subject:

Rob should have every team mega tanking on speed dial. The Wembanyama hype is real

unleasHell · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:24 pm Post subject:

Think a win-less preseason will cause the Lakers to have second thoughts?
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

venturalakersfan · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 8:05 am Post subject:

I would guess that Indy doesn’t know that they are in a staring contest
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emplay · Site Staff Joined: 15 Apr 2001 Posts: 25549

They are well aware
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hydrohead · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2022 5:06 pm Post subject:

Of the teams that may be sellers, even the expanded list in this Tank-For-Wemby season, I don’t see a better talent pair to elevate the Lakers chances than Turner and Heild.
Also, Indiana is going to be in the lottery, and with the odds evening out amongst the bottom lotto teams (which is where Indiana will be) there isn’t THAT much more incentive to deal Turner and Hield no or later.
Hence, it’s still going to cost the Lakers 2 picks.

So why not make this trade now?
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Kobe_Is_King13 · Starting Rotation Joined: 16 Jul 2018 Posts: 555

hydrohead · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 6:27 am Post subject:

J.C. Smith · Franchise Player Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 12673

The early indications in preseason make me believe that trade would be worthwhile. For multiple reasons.

There is a logjam at guard. Russ is the best overall player of that group, but he isn't the best fit. Moving him would open up minutes for Nunn, Schroder, Walker, and Reaves.
The Lakers are light on Wings and Hield can play the 2 or the 3. He's played better at small forward than he did at guard last season.
Hield would help address the Lakers lack of shooting consistent shooting.
The Lakers centers have been underwhelming this preseason. Turner would be a large upgrade on both ends of the court, and he can help stretch the floor. Not to mention the idea of he and AD paired together on defense would be scary and the fact that you have two of the league's best shot blockers would help mitigate when one of them goes down.
The Lakers may be 1-3 in the preseason but that is largely from the G-Leaguers and deep bench blowing leads in the second half. They've consistently jumped off to quick starts, and led at halftime in 3 of the 4 games before going bench heavy in the second half.
Westbrook, Lebron, and Beverly have sat the last two games and the guard rotation hasn't looked terrible.
AD looks he's back in prime form. That is reason for optimism.
Lebron's window is closing but he's still one of the best players in the league.

I think the general consensus has been that the move would improve the team. The arguments against it are that the price is too high and that it wouldn't make them contenders. But those factors indicate to me that the team is going to be better than expected. Despite the obvious flaws in the roster construction. That move rounds the roster out a lot. It addresses shooting, defense, and roster balance. I think with that trade the Lakers have a shot this year. It may be an outside shot, due to health concerns. But they would have a team that could potentially contend.

I think you have to try to get it done. Now I also can understand the idea that maybe there will be a better deal later in the season, and that maybe this team is good enough to keep themselves in the playoff picture until then. It's a gamble. There's some logic to it though. Personally though, I think a draft pick 5 and 7 years down the road to give Lebron and AD a chance to compete for another title is worth the risk and I don't think they will get a much better deal as the season goes along, at least from Indiana.

Maybe at the deadline if they strike out on other trades. Maybe a star player becomes available unexpectedly at the deadline. But that's a lot of maybes, and even if it does happen, there's no guarantee that if a star becomes available that team would be willing to take the picks 5-7 years down the road for that player.

There's also some benefit to getting a player in camp or early season when they have more time to prepare, practice, and integrate.