Well that's not fair. My head spins rather easily so that's not a good comparison! If both Dragic and Rondo cost 19 million, I want Rondo. If Rondo and Dragic both cost 15 million, I still want Rondo. If Rondo costs 19 and Dragic costs 14, NOW we're talking. I probably opt to get Dragic and go bargain bin shopping for a big man like Hibbert or Robin Lopez.
I don't want Rondo, but Dragic may not be what we want as well. I can see him turning into something similar to Lin. We all know what Dragic is capable of, but he's only averaging 15.5 ppg and 3.2 apg (compared to Lin's 11.8 and 5.1). His numbers are down because he's playing next to Eric Bledsoe (and IT is coming off the bench). What would he average next to Kobe? If he's like this already because of Bledsoe, he's definitely going to have issues with Kobe. Last year, Bledsoe missed a good chunk of the season, which allowed Dragic to feature himself more. I'm a bit skeptical with Dragic now because of how he's playing next to Bledsoe. Edit: But maybe this might make it so we can get him for cheap? Lol.
Rondo has never played 82 games. He played 30 last year, 38 the year before and 53 before that. HUGE talent, but people seem to overlook the fact that hes always hurt
I believe the CP3-Kobe combo would've been successful, but I'll say it......I don't know if pairing Kobe with a ball-dominant passing point-guard is going to be effective. Kobe is used to being floor general. Kobe is effective when HE picks and rolls or penetrates, but I don't think the team would succeed in a system where someone else is doing that. Then again a guy like Rondo would help our perimeter D. So I'd take Rondo over Dragic all day if we are going the PG route. Sure we need a PG to take the offensive load off Kobe, but where we are losing games is the defensive end.
I think Kobe would be more than glad to give up the ball IF someone came and took it from him. Rondo can do it. Paul would have done it. Guys who are already elite PGs can and would do it effectively. It'd help Kobe get in more successful positions, take a load off of his back, let him create offense without doing all the work... I think it'd be great.
I agree. My Rondo aversion is not due to his ball dominance, but his inability to shoot the ball next to Kobe. I'm convinced Kobe going forward will be most effective if he has a pass first backcourt partner who has an outside shot that must be respected. In my dream world, Stephen Curry would be the perfect running mate. CP3 would have been excellent as well. I think Rondo actually would often times make things more difficult for Kobe due to spacing problems.
Well the key would just be cutting and slashing. Rondo is great at getting to the rim and finishes well once he's there. Instead of Rondo just staying at the top of the key like Lin does, he'd have to dump the ball to Kobe, set a screen on the weak side (for Young or Wes) and then get to the corner. By that time Kobe will already be moving and Rondo can read and cut off of his actions. Maybe sometimes dumping the ball to Kobe and making a quick cut to the rim. Less specifically though, the C Bags spaced the floor fine for Paul Pierce and interestingly enough Pierce was the player that Kobe said he'd try to model his offensive game after moving forward. More economic motions, less dribbling, more off-the-ball work to find his spots. It hasn't worked out that way this season without Nash, Randle, and with Lin steadily shrinking, but I still think that's the best way to lengthen Kobe's career. The key is getting a SF that can consistent shoot the ball to space effectively. What made that offense click was the triple threat of Allen's three and Pierce/KG's mid-range game. Even with Kobe sagging off Rondo and going to help around the court, they still found shots because they had the right weapons. We can use the same strategy here. Kobe is Pierce's role with a little more responsibility, Jordan Hill could be our Garnett with less responsibility. The key is the three point shooter that can come off screens/space the floor. Young comes to mind, but I'm not sure he's a catch-and-shoot guy. I mean the offense doesn't have to be exactly the same, but you get my point. It can work.
The thing with the C bag championship team comparison is that this team is nothing like them. Rondo worked perfectly for them because he was playing with three guys who were all deadly outside shooters in Pierce, Allen and Garnett. Kobe of course is a great shooter, but only when he's hot. JHill is not in Garnett's league as a shooter, and Swaggy is probably the closest to being effective like Pierce was. Overall, unless we find two real shooters Rondo WILL clog spacing because his man will always sag off just like Kobe did in the Finals playing him.
I mean sure that's a fair assessment, but hopefully Rondo isn't our only addition this summer and/or next summer. We'd have to find pieces that suited him more effectively, I know that. It's hard to pass up on talent though when it's available and I think Rondo fits really well next to a high volume shooter/scorer because they can let him do half the work for them. Kobe has adjusted some of his shooting to better economize his game. If Rondo could find him off screens for easy mid-range looks I think that'd be perfect for Kobe. And not to look too far ahead, but Rondo is excellent for Durant. Durant is great coming off of screens, he's a good catch-and-shoot player, and I think Rondo will bring the same type of on-the-court mentality as Westbrook with none of the stupid decisions. Durant wouldn't fight for shots anymore with a guy who's not as good as him. I think those two make a great match and it's something I'm sure the Lakers have considered too.
we can't afford both rondo and gasol, and gasol is pipe imo anyway, so what's our plan at center? Jordan has been awesome, but he's too undersized defensively to be the starting center on a contender. He'd be great at starting pf, but where does that leave randle? is hill or randle trade bait? is our starting center coming through the draft? maybe we have no interest in rondo and our plan is Greg Monroe?
I've made my feelings known on Greg Monroe for a long time, but if Rondo is the target, then I think they go in another direction. I think our plan at Center is to bargain hunt. Robin Lopez or Ed Davis. I wouldn't necessarily count out Jordan I just think he's playing at a level that's worth a big contract, but not from us. Like you said, Randle is the guy we want moving forward and Hill is really shaping up into a great PF. I don't think they go after more than one guy this summer. I think they nail down their big target (either Rondo or Monroe or maybe Dragic) and then they think about locking up one or two of our current guys for a couple seasons.
Curry on this team...I honestly think he's the most clutch player in the NBA right now. Maybe Dirk. Kobe as a creator - good. Kobe as a "win it" after playing the most minutes on the team for yet another game is bad news.
Kevin Ding seriously on the PIPE lol http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2287746-kevin-dings-2016-los-angeles-lakers-free-agent-dream-team
What are the chances that something like this even happens? 2016 Dream Team: PG: Conley SG: Kobe (takes small contract) SF: Durant PF: Randle C: Gasol Bench: Nick Young Maybe: David West and Joe Johnson as ring chasers
