Yeah, Lin really disappointed me this season. And his inconsistency really showed through to boot. Not only did he lose his starting job to a walk on free agent, he never picked up since then. He has a game here and there that really shine, but again, lack on consistency. He had his chance to make an impact, he didn't do it. I was really looking forward to him doing so, and making a name for himself outside of "Linsanity", but he just didn't do it. I move on and go after a more veteran presence like Mo Williams.
The only way I want him around is if we are sure we've filled our other needs. We need a starting caliber SF, a guard who can score but looks to facilitate, and a reliable low-post presence. Not to mention bringing back people who deserve to be here like Ellington and Davis who should be signed a week ahead of Lin. Say we draft Stan Johnson, sign Greg Monroe, re-sign Davis and Ellington, and still have room left... Fine. He can be a backup to Clarkson next season. Clarkson/Lin Bryant/Ellington Stan Johnson/Young Randle/Black Monroe/Davis I can live with that next season but Lin is my last pick-up...
I think Byron and Lin figured something's out; Byron knows how to utilize Lin and Lin has a better understanding of what Byron wants; if Lin does resign, I see a much smoother transition on what will hopefully be a more talented roster next year.
At that price, I still don't want him here, but wouldn't be irate with the organization. Simple supply and demand makes me think he'll get an offer of $7-8m from someone and that's an offer we shouldn't consider matching. The starting PG FA pool is thinner than Christian Bale in the Machinist. After Dragic, Knight (restricted), Rondo, Jackson (restricted), Beverly (restricted), Mo Williams, Lin will be the next name on the rolodex. Three of those six are restricted and one will only play for 3 teams (MIA, LA, NY). We'll likely be in the bidding for Dragic, Rondo, and Mo as a starter, so that leaves two PGs for the rest of the league to fight over. The draft doesn't offer much. If you start Russell or Mudiay their rookie year, you can add two more (potential) point guards to the list. Outside of them, I don't see someone who has a remote chance of starting at the point from day one. So I don't think for a microsecond he's going to take a discount when there's such a weak market to capitalize on. I think he'll take a one year deal (like most FAs waiting for the cap to jump), but it won't be from us. His value will take a nose dive next year when he's not getting the minutes or the ball as often. We're going to have 5+ returning/new players that will destroy his value. Kobe, Swaggy, and Randle will be back from injury. Our top 5 draft pick. Also even if we only land one free agent, that's 5 more mouths to feed, that's at least three guards cutting into his minutes and touches. He'd go back to being a worthless bum on this team faster than Fez can tell him, "I said good day." He and Scott still don't agree on philosophy. Lin still doesn't run p&r nearly as often as he'd like. He's auditioning for his next gig and the only thing he and Scott agree on is trying to win the rest of it games, outcome be damned. Scott should have him in a suit next to him, not getting season highs against the junior varsity 6ers.
I vote no to Lin under any circumstances. I saw all I needed from him when he went Ramon Sessions giving Kobe the ball and tucking his tail and hiding in the corner earlier in the season. When things are going good for Lin they are great, when things go bad he turns into a whiny version of Pau where he is always the victim. Do not want.
What do you mean? The only thing that makes sense. Why Byron's going to start him again? Guess so. But it might also be seriously and truly trying to win. If that's the case why are we not maximizing our lineups, with more Ed Davis and less Wes Johnson somehow made to work. I have no clue at this point. Just would be beyond crazed if these feel good but meaningless wins manage to cost us the complete lottery pick. And if that happens then it is totally on the F.O. and they deserve to start losing their elite clientele like Jack, and some supporters here that are still behind the F.O. hoping they can turn it around with Mitch and Jim and Jeanie and Ryan West and Jesse Buss. After the dirty bomb that David Stern dropped on their team's future. 14 games left. Do they want another year of this crap.....since no prayer of playoffs.....might as well be hoping for higher lottery picks? Do they want to risk that?
If he was really, truly trying to win every game to the best of his ability his rotations wouldn't include Ryan Kelly at SF. Byron isn't tanking, but he's not giving it his full effort to win either. He's developing players, trying to build relationships, and that's what I see from this Lin business. Unfortunately that points to the Lakers and Lin possibly having a future together. I'm not one of the people saying Byron is some colossal moron who is so incredibly inept that he is trying his damnedest to win, but somehow changing his rotations every 10-15 games, playing Ryan Kelly at SF, and not giving 30 minutes a night to the best players on our team. He's not trying as hard as he can to win games, that much really has to be clear at this point. He's just trying to give every player a chance to either earn a new contract or earn a spot on this team next season (or both). The only players he's given fairly consistent minutes to are ones who need new contracts next season. Isn't that kind of telling to what his priorities are this season? Lin, Boozer, Davis, Hill, Ellington, and Wes Johnson. Those are the six that have been playing the most since it became obvious we're playing for our pick next season. Byron is playing guys for 3 quarters to give them time, then in the 4th he rolls with whoever is hot and if they can win the game, they win the game. They almost always DON'T so no real harm done. It's about as honorable a tank job as you can do all things considered. Again I hate this thread.
another angle: playing guys in contract years could be a favor to agents, and maintaining good relationships with agents is important--particularly if they might represent a future FA target.
Mark Medina retweeted Evan Barnes @evan_b · 2h2 hours ago Scott added that Ed Davis will remain coming off the bench. Starting lineup is Lin, Clarkson, Wes Johnson, Ryan Kelly & Tarik Black #Lakers This lineup I like
So Lin/Ellington Clarkson/Brown Johnson/... Kelly/Boozer Black/Hill/Davis Scott also said that one of Lin or Clarkson will be on the floor at all times to run the offense. Cool deal.
Jerry Zgoda Verified account@JerryZgoda wolves list KG & Rubio as doubtful, Bennett, Hamilton, Pek, Neal, Shabazz and Hummel as out for tonight's game at Utah
That's OK. Have seen the light and am proud of Lakers "turning the other cheek" while the teams in similar situations smack us around.
lakers could have lost both to philly and the sixers would have just lost every other game to solidify the pick. this is old hat, baby.
In previous years I'd agree, but since the All-Star break when management signed a player to get to the minimum cap number, they cost every man on that roster money. Whatever the difference is between the salary and minimum cap number, it gets distributed evenly amongst the players. They then promptly cut a player. The team hates management. They want to win. One columnist described it as the movie Major League, in real life.
well, they did a pretty terrible job of showing it the other night. unless you honestly believe that the lakers are a) more motivated or b) even the slightest bit talented. just hope we hang onto the 4th spot and let it go. if the lakers finish at 4 and get nudged out via yet another cruel twist of fate, I'm guessing the buss family launches a formal inquiry into the league office's dealings. at 4, you're twice as likely to move up as you are to finish out of the top 5. at 5, you're more likely to finish out of the top 5. so, let's just focus on holding onto 4.
