2022-23 Team Developments: News / Trades / Free Agents / Rumors

There's no way any team could justify paying $35M for a player that can't play in the 4th quarter.

We need shooters but also players that can be trusted to execute plays in high leverage moments. Can't trust mentally weak players that pass up wide open dunks.

 

Lebron could be in the corner waiting on his kick outs, or AD, they can hit threes too.Having guys that hit a three every now and then, but can't guard a parked car, doesn't help much either.

 

You don't know how he would play on the Lakers, it's a different situation and different players. If that’s the case all any player will ever be, is what they are in their current situation. That is simply not the case in the NBA .

 

I'd take Westbrook too. Especially for that. ASAP

 

Now I'd take Russ first, but we can win chips with Simmons too IMO.

 

I love this conversation, it's just talking hoops. Simmons is 24 years old, 6'10, athletic and a gifted lock down caliber perimeter defender. His career avgs are 16 8 and 8. Yes he shoots 60 percent from the free throw line, that can be worked on. I don't care if he ever hits a three point shot consistently, it's not necessary to have every player with that range. If he can score 16 pts a game, that means that he is capable of scoring, improving his free throw shooting would make him an even better scorer. This kid still has a ton of upside IMO.

 

So you'll trade away all of our shooters and future flexibility with the small hope that Simmons, with a change in scenery, would magically develop a shooting touch and mental fortitude within a year or two?

 

Thing is, we don't need upside. We need proven talent with the window we have left with Lebron.

 

You are pegging a guy at his age like that is all he can be? Nonsense, put it this way, if he shot 75 percent from the FT line, how would you feel?

 

Lebron isn't about to die or something, a guy rolled onto his ankle. He hasn't declined that far in any area. That said if we aren't trading Lebron or AD, we ain't losing anything trading for Simmons. We just improved our defense a mile, and added a16 8 and 8 guy. We can fill out the roster around those three pretty easily. Dwight and Green could be had for the minimum most likely, would that make you feel better about it?

 

I don't buy this at all. It is about chemistry and filling needs on a TEAM. Simmons has skills but our team already has a lot of those skills. We need outside shooting and could sure use some solid 3 point shooting. Some teams already have some great outside shooters, we don't seem to. We have great defenders. Why sign him? It would clearly NOT be a wise use of our money. We get better at what we already lead the league in and worse in areas that we are already bad at. Scoring has to be within a team offense, if it is outside of the offense and you aren't Kobe, Lebron or Kareem, then you are going to be a waste of space on any team. You have to find a team that needs your skills and hope they can rebuild with you in mind.

 

I disagree, "shooters " are overrated IMO. I'll tell you why briefly..the vast majority are the catch and shoot variety. It's very rare for a "shooter" to be an off the dribble guy. What I don't like about them is 3 things 1. If you press up on them, they have a hard time scoring. 2. Even the best go through spurts of not hitting shots, even open looks 3. Most are "shooters " because they aren't as athletic as the off the dribble guys. This also means that most of them have problems guarding the off the dribble guys. Utah/Clippers are a perfect example of what I'm saying. The Clippers had multiple guys that could hit a three, but could also attack the paint off the dribble. Utah had one.

Our defenders aren't the great one on one type except AD. Phoenix exposed that clearly IMO. Simmons is superior in that regard by a wide margin to anyone we have but AD. And he does it on the perimeter.
You build your team around your best players, not around some strategy of how you want to play the game.

 

I think he can improve. Just not on the Lakers. We're not in the business of running a farm system. That dark phase of developing kids has past once we signed Lebron. The last thing we need is another project on our roster.

No it wouldn't. The thought of having Simmons and Dwight out on the floor in crunch time makes me throw up a little.

 

Well Kuz,Trez and Dennis need to go asap since we aren't into developing talent. Simmons is a far superior talent than any of them right now.

As long as Lebron and AD are healthy, Simmons, Dwight and a "shooter" are a monster 5. Add another stretch 4 instead of Dwight and that's great too.

 

Slick, I'm not sure why you are hell bent on changing a winning formula btw. AC, KCP Green, Bron and AD. Three 3&D players to surround Lebron and AD. That's the lineup that won us a championship. Let's keep it that way.

 

That was 2020, it's wasn't the formula that worked. It was more a healthy Lebron and AD and the teams we faced in the playoffs. The teams we have to go through have changed, it's the way it goes in the NBA. If we have an opportunity to add talent, whoever it is , to better matchup with other contenders, take it. That's how you stay on top. I think Simmons would work here, but he isn't the only player that could. I don't think running it back with the bubble type of team is going to get it done though.

 

Well nothing has really changed in 2021, as we would have repeated (or gotten to the Finals at the very least) with a healthy Bron and AD.

Simmons is basically a poor man's Giannis. He has no jumpshot and also refuses to get in the paint because he's scared to shoot FT's. He was exploited by the Hawks and it's safe to assume that he will continue to be unplayable in the 4th quarter. Apparently you think he will miraculously snap out of his yips and jumpshot playing for the Lakers, but it's not an experiment that any real contender would want to be a part of.

And how exactly is Simmons going to help us match up better with other contenders?

 

Tell me your closing 5 in your team with Ben in LA