Official 2016 Free Agency Thread

Sure, but most of this stuff is what people have already known. A guy like Whiteside or someone else who is seeking a max deal and their first pay day are they really gonna say no just because of one, clearly biased and one sided article? I just don't see it.

 

That's just mean

 

Yeah, that's fine. We're just not in a position right now to contend. KD wants to contend, and he probably stays in OKC. He's not leaving this season, if ever, IMO. This season is about building around our young core and bringing in the FA's that help us enhance the talent level and improve us from a win/loss perspective. I think if we have a fun, young team, that shows potential, then we're good. I think we'll land somwhere in the neighborhood of 37-40 wins and that's a success, IMO.

 

Kd thing is a good dose of realityfor jim bob

 

They're not if the Lakers insist on believing they will get a meeting. Harken back to free agency the last couple of years and recall how jimmy and Mitch put all their chips on getting Carmelo and missed out on other free agents to build with believing that Carmelo was coming here because it's L.A. That Dynamic Duo is outdated and they risk doing the same thing again this year with KD.

 

I'm hopeful they'll get the picture before July 1st that a meeting with KD is only a waste of time, IMO. I think they'll focus on more obtainable targets.

 

I'm gonna try to spin my frustration about not even getting a meeting with KD into something positive: we have a REAL shot at Russell Westbrook next summer.

The way I see it, the fact that Durant is even entertaining outside offers to the extent that he is at this point would lead one to believe that playing with Russell Westbrook isn't ideal to him in terms of Westbrook's style of play. If that's the case, why shut the Lakers down so early in the process, and not even grant them a meeting? It has to be because he thinks there's a great chance Russ will be here next year. Obviously I'm not chaining all my hopes to that wagon, but at the very least it's a theory that seems plausible.

 

I just think it's a really bad look to express so much desperate hope to get just a meeting! I can understand announcing you will make a hard push for a particular free agent when they've made it known already that you will get a meeting. But when someone says they are not meeting with you, why show desperation at that point? Is that not akin to some snotty nosed kid trying to convince himself that the hot cheerleader will give him a chance if she will just allow him to say hi? Borderline embarrassing and degrading.

 

I don't think Jim is done humiliating himself trying to get a meeting with KD. He's spent the last 3 seasons chasing hail-marys while missing out on valuable/getable free agents so why stop now?

 

I don't see it. Whiteside has made little money in his career. If we offer a max deal I have a hard time seeing him turn it down.

 

Exactly. I don't get this notion the Lakers are desperate. They've been trying to get a meeting with Durant so what? It's smart. The dude is the best free agent in the market and likely next year as well. Why not try and get a meeting and at least lay down your plan for the next season?

 

Not sure that there would be an official announcement of desperation. When has an organization ever literally announced their desperation?

Extrapolating from the past several years of free agency and Ding's article, it looks pretty clear that the Lakers have been desperate in waiting for that prime free agent at the expense of losing out on a decent free agent, only to suggest that next year they will get the top free agent. If you believe Ding at all, then this has been the approach for several years and apparently to the degree that jimmy and Mitch's hope has been delusional. You don't think it was desperate to beg for a do over with Lamarcus Aldridge last year after that completely embarrassing first pitch? I respect Alridge for even giving the Lakers a second pitch, which helped them save some face.