2020-21 Players' Transactions: Breaking News , Trades, Free Agents, And Rumors

I don't think so. I believe the league changed it because teams would trade their players to make the salaries work and part of the agreement involved the team receiving the player to buy them out so the player can be with their original team again. The only way we could get McGee or Howard would be a trade or if McGee/Howard gets traded to another team and then that team buys them out. Man, letting Howard walk was the worst move the Lakers did the entire off-season. I had higher expectations for Marc but his slow and un-athletic frame means the Lakers aren't getting the easy baskets they got through lobs or Dwight/McGee rolling to the rim. Everything seems more difficult with Marc than with McGee/Howard. I don't think rim protection will be our biggest issue. The Lakers are making up for it defensively in other areas. Right now, our offense sucks. No amount of rim protection can justify the Lakers being the WORST team shooting the ball the past 15 games. Just atrocious considering the entire offseason had a high level of focus on shooters/offensive talent...

 

Lakers might be waiting on Blake Griffin. But he's a stretch 4/5 on offense at best and doesnt' have much to offer defensively, which is our biggest need. But it could rejuvenate him and our team a little bit

EDIT: Just saw Blake's Contract, he has a player option for $36 mil 2021-2022. No way he's passing that up in this day and age. Can he make up $36 mil off just advertising/entertainment if he were in LA? Not so sure.

 

Not a chance. He is not coming here.

 

griffin and cousins wouldn't solve this team's problems in the paint. those two are perimeter players these days

bamba would be a good add but orlando is probably asking for THT in return which isn't happening

 

wait--people still think our problems are on defense?

 

https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-02-23/lakers-waive-quinn-cook-open-roster-spot

Whiteside is interesting but man the guy is quitter. He has really body language when things don't go his way.

He *can* be useful with Lebron/AD around, we will see

 

so what is the problem? n how does it get fixed?

 

Horrible offense is the most glaring issue I'm seeing. Lakers can't make shots from threes, everything seems so difficult to get, Marc Gasol stands in the FT line just looking to pass the ball to a cutter, LeBron is trying to carry a team like he's playing for the 09 Cavs. It's just awful from almost every standpoint. The FT shooting is also incredibly embarrassing. One thing I've always disliked about Bron is his FT shooting. It's called FREE throw. I get anxiety watching LeBron try and shoot them. But yeah, this version of the team looks horrible. No Schroder or AD who are probably 40% of the team's production but man, it's been ugly.

 

Looks like we can put the Gasol reunion to rest.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30950969/pau-gasol-returning-spain-play-barcelona

 

Lakers need to go for Whiteside. With this failed Marc Gasol experiment, it's time to just get Whiteside.

 

No to Whiteside. Play Gasol for 30 minutes over Whiteside.

 

i'd have no problem with whiteside as long as they don't give up anything for him. he's better than anything else out there

 

I disagree. I think Whiteside is one of the worst options out there. Gasol is better than Whiteside. I'd rather Vogel go small ball with PJ Tucker than sign Whiteside.

The last 4 teams that signed Whiteside all needed a center, and each team basically said "nah, we're good" at the end of the year.

 

This team, as constructed, is probably not winning a ring. Has almost NO CHANCE against the Nets. Almost, slight but I would favor the Nets.

I am mostly an optimist but you can see the difference between last year and this year. Things are not meshing well. When do you admit it and when do you address it?

It is on Pelinka and the Lakers FO. Are they simply tired and under performing or are their holes and chemistry problems?

I personally think there are bigger holes than last years team had. Time to address them.

 

I would hate to trade for Tucker and have to give up anyone like AC or THT, for a one year rental. All for a guy who is NOT going to put us over the top. What is he going to do against KD?? Nothing!!!

If you are going to give up valuable players, you have to get a truly valuable player. Tucker is a nice piece but not worth getting rid of anyone they could trade for him.

 

That is fair, I was under the impression that Tucker was going to be a buy out candidate - I would not give up AC or THT for him - and certainly not for a rental. I don't want this core of Schroeder/KCP/THT/Caruso to be broken up. It's a solid rotation.

Tucker isn't doing anything with KD, but Whiteside isn't the answer to that either. LBJ will guard him when it comes down to it

 

I don't think we have to worry about the Lakers FO giving up AC for one of these one-year rental guys. Vogel and the rest of them have made clear they know how important AC is to our team's success. Just look at last night. The Bald Eagle single-handedly kept us in that game with elite defensive plays down the stretch.

 

We had one of the 2 best records in the League prior to AD going down, and there's people saying this team can't win as constructed? Sure feels like I'm back in 2020 all over again.

 

Yeah when I first heard Tucker’s name, I thought that would be a solid pickup; envisioning us somehow signing him from the buyout market or trading a second rounder for him (I hadn’t thought through the salary).

Then I saw a video from LakersNation and they went through trade scenarios for Tucker. Started off with Wes and Morris, but shot that down because they thought Houston would want more. Ended up concluding we would have to give up one of either Kuzma, Caruso, or THT.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or throw up. I would have to think Rob is smart enough not to give up any of those three guys for a few months of 35 year old PJ Tucker. Honestly even Wes and Morris might be too much.

 

what exactly would tucker bring to this team? he's good at corner 3s and defense

he'd stop making 3s as soon as he got to LA and defense isn't the problem with this team. the main issue that's concerning is fatigue and the crappy 3 pt shooting lately ties into that