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

Agreed with the first part, but I'm concerned about the second part because we need so many pieces moving forward that I don't want to put all our eggs in one basket, especially for a second tier kind of guy. I'm not in any way convinced that Dragic is an impact player. Sorry, I'm just not. I wouldn't pay that much for him.

My preference is to split that money with two second or third tier guys over one who is hyped. We just have so many roster spots to fill upcoming.

 

We have a few, that's true. Keep in mind we've got four picks coming up in the draft though. Here's where our guaranteed/non-guaranteed contracts stand if we keep all our picks-

Kobe, Young, Randle, Kelly, Sacre, Clarkson, Black, Top 5 pick, and 20s pick. That's already 9 guys on the roster. Throw in that really high 2nd round pick and we've got 10 guys on the roster. I won't count the other 2nd round pick, it's too low to expect much. If we get our picks right, we've filled out the bottom ends of our roster at least and that means one big, impact player can change everything.

____/Clarkson
Kobe/______
______/Young
Randle/Kelly
_____/Black

Fill 2-3 of those spots with picks and you're really not left with too much else honestly.

Still though if we do what we need to in the draft we could have a pretty full roster already. My preference is to try to get a 2nd tier guy on a reasonable salary, then re-sign one or two of our bench players. I just don't think we'll be able to do that though. I really see us being forced to overpay to get ANYBODY we want because teams will try their hardest to keep their guys (and keep them away from us). I just don't see anybody letting us find a player for under market value.

 

I don't blame you. Two season ending injuries in a row. Any reasonable fan would draw the same conclusion.

When it comes to Kobe I have a completely unreasonable perspective. I just don't think the man is going to end his amazing career with a whimper. I don't think next season is his last.

BUT, even if he never plays another game, I want no part of Rondo. IMO he is the single most overrated PG in the league. The Mavs decline since they took the ball out of Ellis' hands and put it in Rondo's is just the most recent proof.

 

I hear you TIME, and you and are usually pretty simpatico on our views, but on this one I'll have to agree to completely disagree. I don't think Rondo is anywhere near the most overrated PG in the league. In fact, right now I'd say that Goran Dragic is given all this talk of a max contract. That money value is nowhere near what he does on the court. In fact it's insane. He's not a top 10 PG.

 

Here's my point guys. I'm not saying this is possible, but if it is I would rather get Rondo, whose value is diminishing currently, at 15 mill a year and add Wes Matthews at 10 million a year than spend $25 MILL (!!!!!) for Dragic.

If you were to add those two - one of the best passing PG's in the league to one of the better shooters in the league at the wing, you would be rounding out the roster in a way that I think would be better now, and better in 2016 for attracting a Superstar first tier FA like Durant (although realistically he looks to be pipe). Resign guys like Ellington and Davis on reasonable deals (Black is already here), and maybe Kelly and you have a decent roster. Plus the top 5 pick, hopefully.

 

I think you make a strong point Revgen. I don't like Hibbert or Jordan, but man, you add a rim protector like either one of those guys are alongside Randle and you have something potentially very powerful in one swift move.

 

Stats don't tell the whole story. Lin is a dear in the headlights. Dragic has some killer instinct. Two different players even if the stats so far have some similarity. I'd keep Lin for the minimum or up to maybe 4mil. Anything more than that and I'd much rather give those minutes to a developing Clarkson.

Again, I'm not all in on Dragic. I like him, and think he would be a nice fit next to Kobe. But, there are a number of PGs out there I would gladly take ahead of Rondo.

 

The more I think on it, the more obvious it becomes that we really have to see how the draft plays out. If you draft a talented big like Okafor or Towns, then spend on the back court. If you get a backcourt guy then go the opposite way and maybe go after DeAndre Jordan.

 

And if you draft a big man?

 

I'll bite. Maybe Dragic is not top 10. But Rondo is no longer in the top 20 PGs in this league. There, I said it.

 

I do agree with TIME about Lin vs. Dragic. Similar numbers but Lin has just shied away from the moment so much. Still there shouldn't be a 15 to 20 million dollar price tag difference between them in my opinion. Dragic is better than Lin, clearly IMO. But max contract? I don't think so. I'm not in anyway advocating keeping Lin though.