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

A few quotes from that article....

This explains why we're big game hunting this offseason.

 

They are doing right about prioritizing shooting. I would not stress out too much about the backup small forward position for crying out loud. For starters, this spot would probably be filled by THT. Second Carmelo Anthony could probably still play some minutes there, which would give us some added size at the wing. Third, we could sign an extra small forward that could also fill in. There are quite a few "wings with size" out there, such as McDermott, Ariza, Bullock, Stanly Johnson, Harkless, Winslow, Oubre, Barton, Ennis, Batum, Solomon Hill, RHJ, etc. Some have more size than others, and some have more skills than others. But, we are talking about a third or fourth string small forward here, and they could be had for cheap, so I would suggest not to be too heartbroken if Kuz is traded.

 

We complain about giving Dennis 20 million a year as a starting point guard, but we have no issues giving up two players and paying Buddy Hield 63 million over three years? I just don't follow the logic in that. If we did this deal, then we most definitely intend on resigning Schroder, because otherwise we are basically giving up three players in order to sign Buddy at 20 million per season. That is not a great idea IMO. If bringing back Dennis and acquiring Buddy is our big plan, MEH..I guess it depends on who we entice with the 5.6 million MLE and pick up on vet mins. It's not some earth shattering grand scheme, but I suppose it would have to do.

 

it will take kuz+, which means we lose another trade asset while losing depth from last year's roster with no way to replace that except for vet mins and the mini-mle. just not a good deal, imo.

the wings you name are either out of our price range or bad/not sufficient. save maybe batum, though i wouldn't bet on his health for another full year.

we complain about kuz, but want to replace him with bullock, ennis, barton, johnson, winslow, ariza, hill, harkless, or rhj? those guys better not check social media...

to me, it's pure deck chair shuffling, might as well preserve continuity if you're not shaking things up in a big way.

 

I know it's not earth-shattering. I would not underestimate the impact that Hield could have though. His shooting would make the offense run more smoothly and open things up. If Shroader is resigned, then so be it. At least we don't let him walk for anything. I am not against bringing him back at about 15-18 million per year. He could be used in a trade later. In your opinion, what do you think the Lakers should do? Also, how would you address the Lakers' glaring weakness in three-point shooting?

 

Dennis is not taking less than 20, because we've already offered him that. To be honest 20 million dollars isn't a that bad of a price for a starting point guard. A three point specialist? I don't think so. I'm on the fence with all this shooting, spacing stuff. We won a chip with most folks complaining all year about our shooting that season too. Personally besides the Westbrook idea, I would rather trade for Myles Turner. It might not be popular around here, but I would also hope that Drummond took the MLE. That way we continue to emphasis size as our advantage. If we plan on investing in Tucker and Caruso then it's time for both to become fixtures in the rotation. We still have Ben, he's a shooter, Turner,Gasol,AD, Morris(Melo?) and Lebron can all shoot threes, so can Tucker and Caruso. If needed we could grab Reddick as another specialist. Melo seems like a good bet to sign with us IMO. Turner can block shots and hit a decent clip from three, I think he, AD, Drum and Gasol would be a potent big man rotation,because Myles can also play power forward like AD. Frankly I don't believe in the Lebron at 4 and AD mostly at 5 talk. I like them where they are now, bring back Dennis and adding Turner is a better move than Buddy Hield IMO. I think the three point shooting would work itself out. Besides as I've pointed out previously, the last three NBA champions shot 45-46 from the field and 35 percent from three. I don't think three point shooting is that big of a deal, rebounding and defense are more important.

 

so just to clarify Deng is finally off the books right?

 

Agreed. I’m VERY skeptical of how much success Hield will have in a Lakers jersey. It’s one thing to hoist up 10 threes a game on a bad Sacramento team, and another to have those threes cut down to 4-5 a game on a championship or bust roster.

 

no. it's a source of minor annoyance this year because his 5 million affects the apron, which further complicates our roster moves. he's finally gone next year.

 

NO. That will happen next season

 

Each of those teams had some well respected shooters. Milwaukee was stacked with three-point shooters around Giannis! Middleton, Holiday, DiVicenzo, Caunington, Forbes. They even had excellent three-point shooting bigs, such as Portis, Tucker, and the best stretch 5 in NBA history, Brook Lopez! Spacing was not an issue at all for them! Toronto had Kawhwii, Lowry, and Green. That team also had Van Vleet, Siakam, and Norman Powell! They also had three-point shooting bigs in a healthy Gasol and Serge Ibaka! Sure, we were lucky to scrape by in the bubble with basically only Danny Green as our only real threat from three, but I would not expect to do that again. The evidence is that shooting is important. I don't understand the downplaying of it.

 

DiVicenzo didn't play and Milwaukee still shot 35 percent from three, just like the last three NBA Champions did. Spacing wasn't a problem for us in the bubble, or last year either for that matter. The only team that recently won a chip shooting over 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from three was Golden State and they had Curry, Thompson and Durant, a trio not easily duplicated. Utah had great shooting, Portland did too, Miami had it in the bubble,Houston had it with Harden and Paul...besides Golden State...nobody is winning chips with that strategy.

 

The Bucks, Lakers and Raptors all had size, rebounding and shot blocking too. Those thing are more important IMO than three point shooting in the playoffs.

 

Dante is only one name out of all the players that I mentioned! Come on man..lol

 

https://lakersdaily.com/report-lakers-and-mavericks-interested-in-landry-shamet/

 

Gasol and #22 for Shamet works. Brooklyn probably wants to flip #22 and #29 to move up.

 

What I'm saying is simply that at the end of the day...the Bucks still only shot 35 percent from three. Just like the previous two NBA Champions did.

 

The Bucks were actually 4th in the NBA with a three-point percentage of 38.9%. When the Raptors won their championship, they were sixth in the NBA with a three-point percentage of 36.8%. How is three-point shooting not important?

 

And we know how good Golden State was at the three. The Lakers were the only outlier, winning the championship and being 21st in the NBA with a three-point percentage of 34.9%.

 

Brandon Rahbar: Hearing from sources that the Lakers turned down an offer of SGA + the #6 pick in the draft for Kyle Kuzma.

Wait...what in the entire f***?!?!!!