[J-rueMykelParticipant]

 The Lakers only have 4 players on the book for the coming season.

Kobe @ 23.5 mil

Steve Nash @ 9.7 mil

and both Robert Sacre and Kendall Marshall @ 915K

Do they have any chance of being "contenders" next season?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FutureNBAGMParticipant]

Um, no.

[FutureNBAGMParticipant]

Um, no.

[Andrew1984Participant]

I think they are so interesting, considering the following:

Kobe is one of the greatest players of all time, but is 35 years old and has tons of tread on his tires, having played in so many games (playoffs almost every year). Coming off an injury that sidelined him for 76 games last year. So how do you re-build and/or emphasize rebuilding with him still around — too good to pay to go away, but too old to dominate?

Steve Nash is 40. Pau Gasol is 33 and says he is “open to” staying with the Lakers.

They only won 27 games last year, one of the worst years in their history. They got decent numbers from non-elite players: Kendall Marshall posted tons of assists when given minutes. Jodie Meeks averaged 15 points. Kent Bazemore showed he could score; but would these players have been given significant minutes on a contending team? Of course not. Swaggy P did what we all knew he could do: score a lot, while shooting about 43 percent.

On top of all this, the Lakers will probably try to trade for Kevin Love and will probably have some level of involvement in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes.

On top of all that, they also have the No. 7 overall pick, and they have no head coach right now!

There are so many storylines, so many possibilities, so many question marks. As far as the draft, players I can personally envision in purple and gold are Dante Exum (if they move up), Marcus Smart, and Aaron Gordon.

[Andrew1984Participant]

I think they are so interesting, considering the following:

Kobe is one of the greatest players of all time, but is 35 years old and has tons of tread on his tires, having played in so many games (playoffs almost every year). Coming off an injury that sidelined him for 76 games last year. So how do you re-build and/or emphasize rebuilding with him still around — too good to pay to go away, but too old to dominate?

Steve Nash is 40. Pau Gasol is 33 and says he is “open to” staying with the Lakers.

They only won 27 games last year, one of the worst years in their history. They got decent numbers from non-elite players: Kendall Marshall posted tons of assists when given minutes. Jodie Meeks averaged 15 points. Kent Bazemore showed he could score; but would these players have been given significant minutes on a contending team? Of course not. Swaggy P did what we all knew he could do: score a lot, while shooting about 43 percent.

On top of all this, the Lakers will probably try to trade for Kevin Love and will probably have some level of involvement in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes.

On top of all that, they also have the No. 7 overall pick, and they have no head coach right now!

There are so many storylines, so many possibilities, so many question marks. As far as the draft, players I can personally envision in purple and gold are Dante Exum (if they move up), Marcus Smart, and Aaron Gordon.

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

They should sign Diaw to a max contract.  He’s gonna be MVP of the finals.  Can you imagine his passing with Kobe?

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

They should sign Diaw to a max contract.  He’s gonna be MVP of the finals.  Can you imagine his passing with Kobe?

[220Participant]

 The Lakers should be happy if they even make the playoffs. Unless they get crazy lucky and two or three big time free agents come aboard the Lakers will have minimal talent most it being pretty old. Hopefully for their sakes whoever they choose in the draft is awesome. The Lakers team is in a bad spot and if they weren’t the Lakers I’d say they’ll probably miss the playoffs for the next bunch of years, but since they are the Lakers I imagine they’ll have free agent luck at some point and be a playoff team sooner than we’d expect.

[220Participant]

 The Lakers should be happy if they even make the playoffs. Unless they get crazy lucky and two or three big time free agents come aboard the Lakers will have minimal talent most it being pretty old. Hopefully for their sakes whoever they choose in the draft is awesome. The Lakers team is in a bad spot and if they weren’t the Lakers I’d say they’ll probably miss the playoffs for the next bunch of years, but since they are the Lakers I imagine they’ll have free agent luck at some point and be a playoff team sooner than we’d expect.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Trade Kobe to the Thunder for literally every player on the Thunder not named Durant, Westbrook, or Ibaka, plus cash, 21, 29, and two future first round picks.

The Thunder get their "Big Four" of Westbrook and Kobe at guard, Durant at the 3, and Ibaka inside.

The Lakers get some good young talent like Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Steven Adams, Perry Jones, and Andre Roberson to go with other young guys like Kendall Marshall and the 7th pick.

Kendrick Perkins gives them inside toughness and an $8 million plus expiring contract in 2015. 

The Lakers also save around $7 million in the deal.

With picks at 21 and 29 to go along with their seventh pick, the Lakers have some assets in the draft to work with.

Steve Nash can tutor the young guys and keep things interesting.

Then I would do a sign and trade with Chicago.  Send Pau to the Bulls for Carlos Boozer (and his expiring contract) along with Mike Dunleavy, 19, and 49.

Old School Lakers Lineup:

PG Steve Nash

SG Thabo Sefolosha

SF Mike Dunleavy

PF Nick Collison

C   Kendrick Perkins

New School Lakers Lineup:

PG Kendall Marshall

SG Reggie Jackson/Jeremy Lamb

SF  Andre Roberson

PF  Perry Jones

C    Steven Adams/Robert Sacre/Hasheem Thabeet

Draft picks: 7, 19, 21, 29, and 49

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Trade Kobe to the Thunder for literally every player on the Thunder not named Durant, Westbrook, or Ibaka, plus cash, 21, 29, and two future first round picks.

The Thunder get their "Big Four" of Westbrook and Kobe at guard, Durant at the 3, and Ibaka inside.

The Lakers get some good young talent like Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Steven Adams, Perry Jones, and Andre Roberson to go with other young guys like Kendall Marshall and the 7th pick.

Kendrick Perkins gives them inside toughness and an $8 million plus expiring contract in 2015. 

The Lakers also save around $7 million in the deal.

With picks at 21 and 29 to go along with their seventh pick, the Lakers have some assets in the draft to work with.

Steve Nash can tutor the young guys and keep things interesting.

Then I would do a sign and trade with Chicago.  Send Pau to the Bulls for Carlos Boozer (and his expiring contract) along with Mike Dunleavy, 19, and 49.

Old School Lakers Lineup:

PG Steve Nash

SG Thabo Sefolosha

SF Mike Dunleavy

PF Nick Collison

C   Kendrick Perkins

New School Lakers Lineup:

PG Kendall Marshall

SG Reggie Jackson/Jeremy Lamb

SF  Andre Roberson

PF  Perry Jones

C    Steven Adams/Robert Sacre/Hasheem Thabeet

Draft picks: 7, 19, 21, 29, and 49

[mixtape2003Participant]

Kobe nakes 23 mil next year,  OKC can’t afford or even make this trade happen

[mixtape2003Participant]

Kobe nakes 23 mil next year,  OKC can’t afford or even make this trade happen

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Every player on the Thunder not named Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka makes $23 million.

It is doable. 

But, should the Thunder do it? 

If Kobe comes back strong then he could be a GREAT fit in a Thunder Big Four.  Great shooter and scorer who can post up, hit the 3, AND pass.  Kobe, Kevin, Russell, and Surge would give the Thunder scoring from EVERYWHERE.  And, each guy can shoot, pass, and score. 

They would have to search the D League and undrafted rookies to fill out the roster, but that Big Four would be really good. 

They should then look at veterans who want to continue to chase a ring: resigning Caron Butler (if they don’t put him in the Lakers trade) or Rashard Lewis as a 4/3 who can shoot 3’s and play on the Thunders’ front line, or be their sixth man.  Mike Miller would also be a good fit as a third wing player and a 6th man candidate. 

They would need some inside help.  Maybe they can take a shot with Greg Oden.  Or, get Tarik Black as a bruising power forward with big hands as an undrafted rookie.  Niels Giffey as a 3/4 who can shoot, rebound, and hustle.  Chane Behanen fell off the map, but he is a good athlete who can rebound at the power forward spot.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Every player on the Thunder not named Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka makes $23 million.

It is doable. 

But, should the Thunder do it? 

If Kobe comes back strong then he could be a GREAT fit in a Thunder Big Four.  Great shooter and scorer who can post up, hit the 3, AND pass.  Kobe, Kevin, Russell, and Surge would give the Thunder scoring from EVERYWHERE.  And, each guy can shoot, pass, and score. 

They would have to search the D League and undrafted rookies to fill out the roster, but that Big Four would be really good. 

They should then look at veterans who want to continue to chase a ring: resigning Caron Butler (if they don’t put him in the Lakers trade) or Rashard Lewis as a 4/3 who can shoot 3’s and play on the Thunders’ front line, or be their sixth man.  Mike Miller would also be a good fit as a third wing player and a 6th man candidate. 

They would need some inside help.  Maybe they can take a shot with Greg Oden.  Or, get Tarik Black as a bruising power forward with big hands as an undrafted rookie.  Niels Giffey as a 3/4 who can shoot, rebound, and hustle.  Chane Behanen fell off the map, but he is a good athlete who can rebound at the power forward spot.

[tidhoParticipant]

Sure if they land a stud free agent and hit their pick out of the park.  Hard to completely rule out any team with Kobe and flexibility.

[tidhoParticipant]

Sure if they land a stud free agent and hit their pick out of the park.  Hard to completely rule out any team with Kobe and flexibility.

[ColdCutsParticipant]

I don’t think the Lakers will be a contender but they may surprise a lot of us if they make the right moves. The first major move is there coaching vacancy, the best candidate for the job has to be Byron Scott an Ex Laker with coaching experience. The second major move is the draft who do you pick if your the Lakers you have a need at every position, do you take Aaron Gordon the 18 year-old point forward out of Arizona, or do take Marcus Smart the 20 year-old point guard out of Oklahoma state, what about Noah Vonleh the 6’10 big man out of Indiana, and don’t for get about Randle or the hometown kid Zach LaVine. The third major move is free agency you have; Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, Chris Bosh, and the list goes on. I believe LA is a great landing spot for any one of the free agents its all about what the Lakers are selling and if there buying.

[ColdCutsParticipant]

I don’t think the Lakers will be a contender but they may surprise a lot of us if they make the right moves. The first major move is there coaching vacancy, the best candidate for the job has to be Byron Scott an Ex Laker with coaching experience. The second major move is the draft who do you pick if your the Lakers you have a need at every position, do you take Aaron Gordon the 18 year-old point forward out of Arizona, or do take Marcus Smart the 20 year-old point guard out of Oklahoma state, what about Noah Vonleh the 6’10 big man out of Indiana, and don’t for get about Randle or the hometown kid Zach LaVine. The third major move is free agency you have; Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, Chris Bosh, and the list goes on. I believe LA is a great landing spot for any one of the free agents its all about what the Lakers are selling and if there buying.

[Andrew1984Participant]

Aaron Gordon, point forward?!

[Andrew1984Participant]

Aaron Gordon, point forward?!

[King CaluchaParticipant]

Lol… some people dont’ watch basketball. Aaron Gordon is a good passer, but just because he make some handoffs here and there from the high post, it doesn’t make him a point forward.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

Lol… some people dont’ watch basketball. Aaron Gordon is a good passer, but just because he make some handoffs here and there from the high post, it doesn’t make him a point forward.

[ColdCutsParticipant]

 Evidently you dont watch basketball or you’ve never seen Aaron Gordon play in person or you only watch him no your TV set  because for his size he can dribble he couldn’t showcase that at Arizona because they wanted to showcase he’s athleticism 

[ColdCutsParticipant]

 Evidently you dont watch basketball or you’ve never seen Aaron Gordon play in person or you only watch him no your TV set  because for his size he can dribble he couldn’t showcase that at Arizona because they wanted to showcase he’s athleticism 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The Lakers have so many questions to answer before we know what their chances will be next year – draft, free agency, filling out the roster, who they retain from last season and of course what form Kobe will get back to.

So they could be the biggest unknown of any team next year regarding their final position.

A lot will depend on whether they decide to try and have another couple of runs with Kobe or look to start rebuilding longer term. I feel this will largely depend on the FA/trade market and if they can get a younger All Star level player in. If not I think they will bring back the best guys from last year, resign Gasol, try to add a decent veteran or two along with whoever they draft.

The issue becomes do they want many guys on the cap for 2015 as they already have Kobe at around $25 million then and they may want to retain FA flexability to make a run at K-Love and co or do they restock for a couple of years and go with what they can assemble and knowing they can start with a clean slate in 2016 if needed.

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The Lakers have so many questions to answer before we know what their chances will be next year – draft, free agency, filling out the roster, who they retain from last season and of course what form Kobe will get back to.

So they could be the biggest unknown of any team next year regarding their final position.

A lot will depend on whether they decide to try and have another couple of runs with Kobe or look to start rebuilding longer term. I feel this will largely depend on the FA/trade market and if they can get a younger All Star level player in. If not I think they will bring back the best guys from last year, resign Gasol, try to add a decent veteran or two along with whoever they draft.

The issue becomes do they want many guys on the cap for 2015 as they already have Kobe at around $25 million then and they may want to retain FA flexability to make a run at K-Love and co or do they restock for a couple of years and go with what they can assemble and knowing they can start with a clean slate in 2016 if needed.

 

 

 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

Obviously have zero chance to be "contenders"

[GrandmamaParticipant]

Obviously have zero chance to be "contenders"

[Author]

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