I’m only trading Ingram in a package for a bonafide star. For a borderline star I’m willing to do kuz, Hart, #4.
Yeah that's my stance as well. There's a pretty good chance Ingram could be better than Beal in a couple of years. He's never eclipsing AD though, and that's where I draw the line.
I'm of the opinion that Beal is a bonafide star. 25 yr old All-star shooting guard who averaged 25 ppg. He can score off the dribble or spot up. If Lebron didn't get hurt and we had Beal instead of Ingram, I legitimately think we might still be playing right now.
It's nice knowing you think that highly of him in case we really do that. At 25 if he has the passion he will continue to improve for years.
I'm not sure if he moves the needle as much as you think. Remember, the Wizards won 32 games despite Beal playing all 82 games. A lot of what you say holds true with Devin Booker as well. He's younger than Beal with even better stats, but similarly on a losing team. Would you trade Ingram, #4 and Kuz for Booker too?
We are brainwashed into believing players who drop 20 a game are "stars". No, they aren't. Tada makes a good point. Stat lovers love players like Booker and Beal and McCollum and Westrbook and all these empty stat stars. Bill Belichick said it best, "stats are for losers". I believe in that statement about as much as I believe in any when it comes to sports. WINNING is the ONLY thing that matters. Until this sinks into all the sports fans, you will continue to be mesmerized by triple doubles and 20 point scorers that do not amount to squat.
Yes, but let’s not lose focus of the point I’m trying to make He has a tremendous well rounded game, and he’s very difficult to stop. Whoever signs him next year is a very lucky team.
Well if you go there he doesn't have quite the same level of back to basket game as Jordan and Kobe. Yet. Now .... with further Kobe training once he gets to the Lakers .....
But to be fair, he’s far more efficient, and not as ball dominant. Everyone will always have things to work on, but he’s fantastic. That’s just nitpicking
It's nice to see a mod somewhere who doesn't want to bury Magic over all this. While I think he has made some mistakes, I always look to the leader for what is controlling the narrative. And that leader for the Lakers is Jeannie. If she would have done that to me, I know I would have walked too. The biggest mistake Magic made was going public before telling her he was quitting. That is just a presumption because none of us really know what they have said to each other. I don't think Magic is beyond criticism but I think the level of criticism aimed at him, and often the way it was aimed at him, has been more than disrespectful and even unappreciative of what he went through. The person I can't walk away from with any appreciation is Jeannie Buss. The fact that she hasn't even come out and tried to explain herself or even talk about her hopes and dreams for this team, more than blows my mind. She simply seems to be hiding. I have never been sooooo unimpressed with anything associated with the Buss family.
I don't think Beal is an empty stat guy though. I read this breakdown of his game a couple months back. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/bradley-beal-is-finally-the-player-he-was-meant-to-be/ I think he is the perfect compliment to Lebron's game. Outside of Klay, I'm not sure there is a much better natural fit in the league. He has learned to get the ball off screens and pick and rolls. With Lebron dominating possession, a player like this could flourish.
The source of all the Earvin criticism is not his feud with Jeanie. You will have a hard time finding anybody defending her on this board. He may have very legitimate reasons to have quit, the problem is how he did it and especially his last interview, where he torpedoed our chances of landing any of the top FAs this summer. You say the criticism of him is disrespectful and unappreciative, but what has he really given the Lakers as an executive for us fans to to respect and appreciate? Nobody here wanted him to fail at this job, but the sad truth is he did, miserably. And then he decided to go on TV and s**t all over the Lakers just to make himself look better.
Thanks SG. All anyone ever could want to know it's there and current and Impressive. I stopped about 2/3 through. 25 years old and changing his game already to get better. But should not stay satisfied and get in the gym extra time to work on the rest of his Handles. Apparently. Only effective pretty much if in straight line the article is saying. Not a great creator. But the new him is more JJ Redick, Ray Allen mode and guys that run your a** off with constant motion and using screens, because he can rise up and fire with good %. So now opening up those straight line drives as well.
