Lakers Plan To Explore Dragic Trade Or Offer Him $20m Per Year In Off-season

He's not 39 years old at least.

 

You want to see Kobe doubled every time they are in a half court set? Then sign Rondo.

 

He'll definitely have a chance to show people why his market sounds like a max deal. Besides the fact that there's not a ton of really talented PGs out there to be had this summer.

 

And you want to see no defense on the opposing PG then sign Dragic. And for Max money apparently.

 

I don't CARE who we overpay lol I just want a guy who is a game changer. I want an impact player. I'd overpay Dragic a dozen times before we overpay Hibbert, but Jordan is an interesting case. He's not a bright bulb and at some point that athleticism is going to fade, but he's most definitely an impact player right now.

The thing I like about Jordan (and I don't like a lot about him) is that he's willing and able to do the dirty work. He's showing why he should command big bucks this summer. If you can find a suitable PG hold-over and we don't end up drafting a big man, I'm definitely down for Jordan or Monroe as FAs.

Draft Mudiay or Russell, then sign DeAndre Jordan. I'm 100% down for that. We get stronger and we weaken the Clippers a bit.

 

I don't care about past accolades and the fact he WAS a gamer. He hasn't been that guy for 3 seasons, not just in Dallas. Partly because he has missed SO much time due to injury (which in and of itself is huge red flag). I mean, do we want to go into next season with 40-45 million dollars invested in a starting backcourt that has missed more games than we can count over the last few seasons? His game will not age well either. At least with Dragic, he can stroke it. Rondo is already slowing down. You want to be paying that body 15 million into his mid 30s?

Yes, he was a poor fit in Dallas, but that's the thing with Rondo. There are a lot of places where he'd be a poor fit. He needs talented, non-ball dominant players around him. It's why he worked so well with Boston early in his career. KG was a pick and pop player, Allen was a catch and shoot..Pierce would control the ball a bit, but nothing like Kobe will/would. You put him on this Laker squad, he makes us no better. Kobe will take the ball out of his hands a bit. We have no shooters. Rondo and his VERY particular set of skills would be lost on this team. Rondo really needs the perfect sort of situation to thrive. The C Bags no longer had that situation and it's why their fan base gave a collective "eh" when he was traded away for essentially nothing.

 

Lakersball divided!

 

Ronnie Price should not be mentioned in the same sentence as Rondo. Yes, Rondo does not shoot well. We all know that by now. But he is a good penetrator, great passer and defender. Ronnie is none of those things. He's a hustle player and perennial backup.

 

Honestly LJ, you are describing the Rondo of 3 years ago. Did you catch Rondo playing D against Westbrook last night?

 

I get that he's not the same as he used to be. But first of all, no one can guard Westbrook right now. Secondly, I am not advocating that we necessarily set our sites on Rondo as the savior. I'm just expressing my opinion that I'd take him at a lower pay scale than Dragic at a MUCH higher pay scale in a heartbeat. If Dragic could be had for a reasonable value like 10 million a year then I would take him in a heartbeat over Rondo at 15. But that's not the case. To me, Rondo at 15 is a better value than Dragic at max money.

 

My point is that with Rondo, AND an overhaul, Kobe is going to get constant doubles. I'm not married to Dragic, but whoever plays PG next to Kobe has to be able to shoot outside of lay up range.

 

Rondo won't save this franchise. Plus he was a C-bag so I kind of hate him. Nonetheless I hate the idea of seeing us wasting money by overpaying hugely. Everyone sees that Rondo is diminishing, too. You may be able to get him at a discount. I'm not as concerned about whether he fits our hypothetical lineup right now. This team is going to change.

 

I hate to say it TIME, but I'm not counting on Kobe from now on. I'm not counting him out, either. But I'm saying I'm not counting on him playing more than one last year and the decisions that happen about the roster shouldn't depend much upon him. I'm sorry to write that but it's how I feel. I just don't think he has much left in the tank.

 

I'm more inclined to agree with you on the injury part. I'd take him at 15 million no questions asked still, but the injury concerns are real. Relying on Kobe and Rondo would be... stressful. That's why I think Dragic is a more natural target for the Lakers anyway. Still at 15 million? Yeah I'd still pull that trigger probably.

 

I'm with you on this one. It pains me to say it, but Kobe just can't be counted on anymore. We've got to add our next player without Kobe in mind specifically. Not just because Kobe can't stay healthy, but because Kobe won't be here at the end of our next FAs contract. We've got to look past Kobe.

THAT is why I'm okay overpaying though. Who cares if we overpay? Seriously? We don't need to be concerned with value at this point, we just need talent! Obviously if you can get that talent for below a max deal, you do it, but WE can't set the market price. If the price for an impact player is 20 million, f*** it! We need the impact player!