Would most of you agree that Clarkson/Randle would be a fair package or is there still a sentiment that including Randle would be overpaying? I love Randle, but if we're all in on signing George and another free agent next summer, I feel like Randle and Clarkson are going to have to be gone anyways so might as well do it now. And yes, I know this is predicated on Pritchard lightening up first.
No. Randle and Clarkson are marginal players. However, George not signing an extension with the team he is traded to puts the bargaining at zero for Indy. No one is giving Indy anything unless the other team feels they can win a title in that one year.
I was against it at first and part of me still is, but if Randle clinches the deal then ship his *** out. When it comes down to it, we're trying to lure George and LeBron which is barely going to leave room for Ingram, let alone Randle. There's a way we can keep Randle around, but I think Lopez would be more valuable. Still, if we can force them to settle for less, then Randle can be flipped at the deadline for more pieces. I just don't think they're going to be forced to take less at this stage.
We should have a pool. Which player gets the first call at 12:01AM. My guess is Gordon Hayward from Miami.
Well its already been reported that he's meeting with Miami first, then Boston and finally Utah before bunkering down to decide.
I've gone back and forth with it. Prefer not to give up Randle, but if we really cannot keep him next year anyway then do the deal.
I like Randle. His playmaking impressed me last year in his 1st season in Luke's system. Still want to see more consistent defensive energy and better range on his J, but I'm liking what I've seen from him, and the work he's done on his body is a good sign that he's serious about improving in his coming contract year. I'd trade him for PG, but if Magic/Rob are still being told we're signing PG next year outright, I'm happy with holding onto him and seeing what he can grow into.
For what it's worth, I think the Lakers are 100% planning on opening the season with Clarkson and Randle. I think Indiana has more or less told them to eff themselves and the Lakers are sitting back calmly knowing George is still on board... for now. I think Randle next to Ball can be extremely dangerous. A lineup of Ball/Hart/Ingram/Randle/Lopez has the ability to grab the ball and push hard for easy points. Their defense is to be determined (somewhere between bad and below average probably).
I dont mind trading Randle if he's part of PG package, what I dont like is shipping him off as a salary dump in HOPES of targeting James or to make room for 2 max lvl players, that could easily blow up in our face just like Dlo trade if we cant get the guy we want to sign here.
ESPN has Tom Penn on SportsCenter yesterday doing his little thing with the touch screen, throwing out stupid deals. He was the same way, anti-Laker. He laid out what we had to offer and how George would fit with us and said it was bad. Then he immediately moved onto Boston, said they had tons of assets to get the deal done, that he would "fit right in" to what they are doing and that Boston just makes sense. ESPN hates us, and someone high up there is a Patriots, Red Sox, and C Bags fan.
So Hayward is the Guy? The Guy that Paul George is going to make himself look like a Puss for by going back on everything he and his agent have done in this plan to come home to his Los Angeles Lakers and be the Man? Take up that mantle after Kobe along with our most talented young players plus another max slot for who else he wants to bring with him, and create an exciting new era of winning Lakers basketball? And he's going to do it at the cost of multi-millions of dollars? Paul George loves Gordon Hayward (same position as him) that much that he'll sign an extension prior anywhere he goes that's not L.A.? Horse pucky. This is him and his agent's place in time where they can possibly seize the moment and make it happen. Get mean and tell Boston or Cleveland or anyone else Don't Do It! I'm telling you I'm going home next year it's where I want to be and play for my hometown Lakers. Just slam shut any ray of hope with the illusion they have that he's going to hopefully be swayed and stay. This is simple, right?
Then Indiana really does get no value of any consequence from anyone else and has to accept our now multiple players including starter in Clarkson ( Randle too??), some of the very nice looking players we drafted for them (as it turns out now) and future picks. Right? If Kevin Pritchard is going to take far less of a package from say ....desperate Cleveland for one year PG rental, then Magic should get ahold of Indy's owner and explain how his boy is an idiot and hurting his team. Give him that persuasive Magic talk.
Even if Boston lands Hayward & then PG, I'm not seeing how it's so wonderful that PG just signs up and stays no questions asked. With his long-known preference to not play the 4, that would be an odd fit with Horford & Hayward. Their best lineup would be to go small with Horford at the 5, PG at the 4, & Hayward at the 3. I know everyone creams their pants over Brad Stevens and just assumes he'll make it work as well as possible, but I'm not so sure I'd love the fit there anyway. Hope we never find out.
C Bags didn't trade for Jimmy Butler who was gonna be there there for 2 years. You think Ainge is gonna trade his assets for a one year rental "hoping" he resigns after they lose Warriors? Not gonna happen. Pritchard is gonna send PG to a team that has a chance of winning it all so the team that wins it all at least gets him for a title, or he is gonna take a bad deal. The bad deal will be with a team that isn't the Lakers. The way he talked about PG in that presser, not a chance in hell he gives him what he wants. And please people, trading Ingram for PG would be a lateral move if not worse. BI could be a star and if you traded him away when you can get the same player a year later, it would be catastrophic.
