[BallinmvpParticipant]

 I think LA should target Randle, Lavine, or Smart at 7. They don’t have the pieces to retool this year and they don’t have a 2015 first round pick. I think that their 1a should be Randle and their 1b should be smart. If they really want to gamble then take Lavine as their shoot for the fences pick. He has show time hops( I know the game of basketball is about more than athleticism),  he is a local kid, and it wouldn’t hurt to learn from Kobe and Nash while he gets acclimated and refines his skills.

[vulture711Participant]

 They don’t have any options.  That roster stinks, most everyone is untradeable.  You draft the best guy you can and start the slow build.  They’ll suck for years – with or without Kobe

[vulture711Participant]

 They don’t have any options.  That roster stinks, most everyone is untradeable.  You draft the best guy you can and start the slow build.  They’ll suck for years – with or without Kobe

[TRC1991Participant]

I wonder if the idea to part with Kobe has come to mind for Lakers head brass?

Get some assets for him and allow him to finish his career for a contender…This team will be bad for at least 3 more years 

 

[TRC1991Participant]

I wonder if the idea to part with Kobe has come to mind for Lakers head brass?

Get some assets for him and allow him to finish his career for a contender…This team will be bad for at least 3 more years 

 

[ballislyfe25Participant]

They’ll suck for years is a bit of an overstatement. Maybe they’ll suck for at least, at a minimum, another season or two is more realistic because they have a bunch of cap room going forward with the intention on using it in summer 2015 or after. If they don’t draft Smart, they’re probably going to make a run at Lowry or offer Bledsoe a big deal because he’s restricted. Other than that, they may hang tight this summer and only offer 2 year deals to some veterans/role players. Also, it seems as if Pau will return now that D’Antoni is out of there. It’ll be interesting to see how their roster shakes out this offseason.

[vulture711Participant]

 Kobe will be retired in a season or two as will Nash.  Who are you building around ??  Nick Young ?  Softie Crybaby Gasol ?

They spent way to much time trying to add a piece here and a piece there to a sinking ship and should have been in full rebuild mode 2 years ago

 

[vulture711Participant]

 Kobe will be retired in a season or two as will Nash.  Who are you building around ??  Nick Young ?  Softie Crybaby Gasol ?

They spent way to much time trying to add a piece here and a piece there to a sinking ship and should have been in full rebuild mode 2 years ago

 

[ballislyfe25Participant]

They’ll suck for years is a bit of an overstatement. Maybe they’ll suck for at least, at a minimum, another season or two is more realistic because they have a bunch of cap room going forward with the intention on using it in summer 2015 or after. If they don’t draft Smart, they’re probably going to make a run at Lowry or offer Bledsoe a big deal because he’s restricted. Other than that, they may hang tight this summer and only offer 2 year deals to some veterans/role players. Also, it seems as if Pau will return now that D’Antoni is out of there. It’ll be interesting to see how their roster shakes out this offseason.

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 The Lakers only have Bryant, Nash and Sacre under contract.  Sign a superstar, trade the lottery pick for another superstar, if they want to reload around Bryant they can do it.

Trading away Bryant is close to impossible, with how much he is going to get paid plus his no-trade clause.

Whatever they do it will be big and make headlines, and if they do keep the pick they will want someone ready to contribute right away like McDermott, Smart and Randle seems physically ready too.

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 The Lakers only have Bryant, Nash and Sacre under contract.  Sign a superstar, trade the lottery pick for another superstar, if they want to reload around Bryant they can do it.

Trading away Bryant is close to impossible, with how much he is going to get paid plus his no-trade clause.

Whatever they do it will be big and make headlines, and if they do keep the pick they will want someone ready to contribute right away like McDermott, Smart and Randle seems physically ready too.

 

 

[Rip255]

They’re not doomed at all for any season aside from the next one. After that they’re in a beautiful position. Picture this….at the world basketball championships all of the young star players get together and talk about teaming up together. Many of these stars are within 1 or 2 years of their next deal and wonder where they could go that would:

a) join forces and win titles,

b) maximise their income

c) allow them a team with unlimited cap-space and willingness to pay the luxury tax.

d) be global superstars

In 2015 we could see the lakers sign 2 superstar max players and unbelievable supporting cast from scratch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[Rip255]

They’re not doomed at all for any season aside from the next one. After that they’re in a beautiful position. Picture this….at the world basketball championships all of the young star players get together and talk about teaming up together. Many of these stars are within 1 or 2 years of their next deal and wonder where they could go that would:

a) join forces and win titles,

b) maximise their income

c) allow them a team with unlimited cap-space and willingness to pay the luxury tax.

d) be global superstars

In 2015 we could see the lakers sign 2 superstar max players and unbelievable supporting cast from scratch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[Moon RiverParticipant]

Does anyone else think a good addition would be Luol Deng?  Nash, Kobe, Deng, Randle and bring back Gasol at a reasonable price and that is a team (if healthy) can compete.  I think Deng is a total under the radar free agent who can really help a team, including the Lakers.

[ballislyfe25Participant]

He would be a good addition for sure. If the Lakers could sign him in the range of $8-12 million for 2 years with a team option for a 3rd year, everyone wins.

[ballislyfe25Participant]

He would be a good addition for sure. If the Lakers could sign him in the range of $8-12 million for 2 years with a team option for a 3rd year, everyone wins.

[tidhoParticipant]

I think Dens up in LA or Pheonix.  Definatley a good get for the Lakers becuase he does everything AND won’t get in Kobe’s way.

Randle would be a phenominal pick for them too.

I wonder if Gasol might just want to get away from the whole situation at this point.

[tidhoParticipant]

I think Dens up in LA or Pheonix.  Definatley a good get for the Lakers becuase he does everything AND won’t get in Kobe’s way.

Randle would be a phenominal pick for them too.

I wonder if Gasol might just want to get away from the whole situation at this point.

[Moon RiverParticipant]

Does anyone else think a good addition would be Luol Deng?  Nash, Kobe, Deng, Randle and bring back Gasol at a reasonable price and that is a team (if healthy) can compete.  I think Deng is a total under the radar free agent who can really help a team, including the Lakers.

[NtsapParticipant]

 They are banking on them getting free agents because they are the Lakers but there are 3 big problems , there is no Dr. buss, Phil Jackson or Jerry West. I use to think Love going to them was inevitable but I’m not so sure anymore. I think the best thing there is for them is to tank these next 2 or 3 years. You got screwed in the Chris Paul trade get over it . I would trade with Phoenix for all 3 of their 1st I doubt they want to part with the 2015 1st. Or I would trade the 7th for future unprotected picks. Next I would try to get as many 1st as possible with my cap space. Utah got 2 1st for 20 million in expirings so I would try to do that . Chicago, Portland , Indiana, and Houston are all teams trying to get cap space so I would go after their trash for more 1st. I know it would suck because it will be the end of Kobe’s career but they have to consider these things for their future. 

[NtsapParticipant]

 They are banking on them getting free agents because they are the Lakers but there are 3 big problems , there is no Dr. buss, Phil Jackson or Jerry West. I use to think Love going to them was inevitable but I’m not so sure anymore. I think the best thing there is for them is to tank these next 2 or 3 years. You got screwed in the Chris Paul trade get over it . I would trade with Phoenix for all 3 of their 1st I doubt they want to part with the 2015 1st. Or I would trade the 7th for future unprotected picks. Next I would try to get as many 1st as possible with my cap space. Utah got 2 1st for 20 million in expirings so I would try to do that . Chicago, Portland , Indiana, and Houston are all teams trying to get cap space so I would go after their trash for more 1st. I know it would suck because it will be the end of Kobe’s career but they have to consider these things for their future. 

[NardDog NationParticipant]

 If I’m the Lakers, I’d be looking to trade down from 7. Right now Marcus Smart is slated to go at that spot and I don’t think that the quality of his talent is good enough to justify passing on the quantity of talent that exists in the middle of the first round. The Suns have an exceedingly deep team and I suspect that they’ll be looking to consolidate their 14th, 18th and 27th picks, which the Lakers should oblige. With the 14th pick, I’d target Elfrid Payton who has the potential to be better than Marcus Smart will be. With the 18th and 27th picks, I’d target Rodney Hood and Spencer Dinwiddie respectively. If at all possible, I’d trade the 18th pick to the Thunder, who also might be looking to move up in the draft for their 21st and 29th picks. So instead of picking Rodney Hood, I’d go with Adrien Payne/TJ Warren at 21st and KJ McDaniels or some Euro prospect I can stash overseas at 29th.

As far as free agency is concerned, my only major target would be Loul Deng. He’s nothing special but fills a need and is a favorite of Kobe’s. I’d re-sign Pau Gasol and with the remainder of my cap space, either target teams looking to include draft picks with a salary dump OR entice the Rockets into giving up Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin on the cheap. This wouldn’t be good enough to be contenders BUT I think it offers a very strong first step in the process of returning back to this status.

[NardDog NationParticipant]

 If I’m the Lakers, I’d be looking to trade down from 7. Right now Marcus Smart is slated to go at that spot and I don’t think that the quality of his talent is good enough to justify passing on the quantity of talent that exists in the middle of the first round. The Suns have an exceedingly deep team and I suspect that they’ll be looking to consolidate their 14th, 18th and 27th picks, which the Lakers should oblige. With the 14th pick, I’d target Elfrid Payton who has the potential to be better than Marcus Smart will be. With the 18th and 27th picks, I’d target Rodney Hood and Spencer Dinwiddie respectively. If at all possible, I’d trade the 18th pick to the Thunder, who also might be looking to move up in the draft for their 21st and 29th picks. So instead of picking Rodney Hood, I’d go with Adrien Payne/TJ Warren at 21st and KJ McDaniels or some Euro prospect I can stash overseas at 29th.

As far as free agency is concerned, my only major target would be Loul Deng. He’s nothing special but fills a need and is a favorite of Kobe’s. I’d re-sign Pau Gasol and with the remainder of my cap space, either target teams looking to include draft picks with a salary dump OR entice the Rockets into giving up Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin on the cheap. This wouldn’t be good enough to be contenders BUT I think it offers a very strong first step in the process of returning back to this status.

[Author]

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