If there are multiple trades in the pipeline to get a good player back, I wouldn't mind trading Lou at all. But not for getting an unknown rookie in this year's draft.
He'll probably throw Calderon and Huertas those minutes. I wouldn't mind trading Young. He's an expiring and not as valuable as Lou. But I'd rather get a player back, not a draft pick, in that scenario as well.
I wonder about Clarkson's trade value. His contract isn't bad but he is owed over 37 million the next 3 seasons. That's still a sizable contract for a team to take on as he's not on a cheap rookie contract like Randle is. Attach that to a pretty decent but not overly exciting season (13.7ppg 2.9rpg 2.1apg 1.2spg 45.2fg% 33.2 3fg%) and I don't know what kind of return the Lakers can expect. Some team out there might see what he did last year and pay a price at that value but that's not a given. Personally I like JC a lot and I'd rather trade Young and/or Lou so we can play Clarkson and he can produce like he did last year. Then he'd have more trade value AND more value to the Lakers as well.
Julius and JC PLUS THE ONE might be able to land us an All-Star. When teams are going young/into the rebuild, they want those young talents plus picks. Drummond or Cousins? Why not?
I don't see Julius + JC even with a top 3 pick being enough to lure an All-Star (unless it's an aging All-Star who was gifted an All-Star berth like Melo). In all realism, teams engaging the Lakers in trade talks where they are giving up an All-Star - especially one in his prime - are going to want that high upside stud young talent. I don't believe Randle and JC fit that category. The top 3 pick also takes a hit in value because this is a draft without obvious studs, as evidenced by the utter lack of a consensus #1. In other words, Ingram or DAR (or Zubac - especially if they are giving up a C like Drummond or Cousins). That's who they are going to target realistically. The Lakers can obviously say "no" but doesn't mean teams will then settle for the lesser options on the Lakers. The market will always be there for All-Stars and it's a seller's market when it come to that because of the dearth of options. The Lakers have to bid against other teams. Ultimately I think Randle/Clarkson have more actual value to the Lakers than they do on the trade market. At least at this moment. Likewise for the Top 3 pick if they luck out and keep it.
For the record I'd trade Randle and JC plus a pick (if we can get one for Lou) for Cousins. That works for me. Cousins is a head case but a better fit at the 4 than Julius in this system I believe. The fact that he can shoot from anywhere, score 25 plus a game and grab 10 boards on a nightly basis is nothing to sneeze at. And I am one of the folks who likes Randle here. But I agree with EddieEddie, I doubt it entices Sacto enough. If we are lucky enough to keep a top 3 pick, I probably wouldn't give that up though.
You definitely need the right situation - like a disgruntled player and some other things going on. Deron in 2011 got Favors, Harris, and two first-rounders. Those picks ended up being #3 and #21. He was averaging 21/10 at the time, was only 26 years old. For what it's worth, I think there are still people out there who think Julius is a very good prospect. There are some here who still think he can be Charles Barkley. Trades require lots of stars to align, and I think that having a first round pick appeals to opposing teams more than having Lou Williams's salary for two seasons.
Lou Will reunion tour As far as the Boogie news, if he gave us the go ahead that he was going to resign, I'd pull the trigger on a deal. I'd start with.... Cousins/Gay for Moz / JC / Nance...........and then throw in a 1st from a Lou deal if that doesn't cut it.
The Kings would be lucky to get that deal for Gay who has a player option and has made it clear he's leaving this summer.
Then there's this: I think there's two things going on: 1) The Pelicans need to prove to Davis they're trying to help him and 2) The Pelicans are trying to piss off Boogie enough to demand a trade.
So they'd take on a bloated contract in Moz even though they a C in koufus who does what Moz does? Lucky would be better used to describe Mitch if he by some miracle finds a gm dumber than him that would want Mozgov
If you starting a deal with Moz, you might as well hang up the phone and save yourself from being laughed at
