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

oh, that actually changes things to some degree for me.

 

Some more tidbits from the B/R piece...

If we're inquiring about Grant, then I'm sure we're also looking into Covington. Fills similar need.

They threw our name in the Simmons rumors so Klutch get max clicks in the media. Wonder if they'll do the same for Reddish. I really like his game and potential. Shame it doesn't fit our timeline.

I've mentioned House as someone I'd target if I was Rob.

 

Hey, I get it man. It's slim pickings. Westbrook is not complete trash though, and I wouldn't shut the door on a trade possibility. Some teams that come to mind are Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Cleveland, and New York. We wouldn't necessarily be receiving anything directly from these teams, but they could be utilized in multi-team scenarios.

 

I'd take George or Kawhi for Westbrook.

 

You also have to account pressure in Sacramento vs. pressure in Los Angeles. I made it a wash to make things easier without saying it. Every good shooter shoots worse in LA. Pressure matters. No ANALytics for that.

 

Well...there is this article making the rounds.

https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...k-nunn-hopeful-for-january-return/2021/12/13/

More good news

https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...ntact-he-is-considered-day-to-day/2021/12/13/

Here's something shocking

https://www-cbssports-com.cdn.amppr...tbrook-and-thats-great-news-for-the-warriors/

 

The King is upbeat..

https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...utes-with-teammates-is-beneficial/2021/12/14/


Vogel is seeing some signs...

https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...s-becoming-part-of-teams-identity/2021/12/14/

Russ too...

https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...ing-recent-defensive-improvements/2021/12/14/

Maybe we should hold off on trading anybody.

 

Will it hold as long as THT plays next to Russ and Bron? Absolutely. THT's ceiling as a ball handling slasher will be limited as long as he's on the team with them. And after them is he worth holding on to? Doubtful.

Grant is a 3 here or a 4 if AD is at C. Size, defense and scoring wise he is a near perfect fit next to our stars. Much smarter than playing THT up two positions on D or relying on a late 30s post-injury Ariza to be a poor version of what a prime Grant is today.

My ideology is simple: we have a 2 year window. Do whatever you can to maximize your chance at getting a ship out of that. That's not quite where the FO is though because they went cheap on us after getting Russ.

I think he gets the best of both worlds. He got the payday from the bottom feeder and gets to compete for a ship. Losing that much can change your priorities rather quickly.

 

I love THT and I like Grant a lot as a role player, but I do not think either of them are ideal fits for the way that our team is constructed. Perhaps Grant is a a better fit than THT (right now), but I don't think the difference is significant enough to trade THT for at this point.

 

I’ll be pissed if we give away yet another young, good player because of “LeBron’s window.”
I actually think this is his last year of contending. His body has been breaking down for three seasons now and it’s not getting better with age and more mileage.
If I were Rob, I would be looking for players who mesh well with AD and whomever your next Alpha target is.
I’m of the belief that this team is not just one SF piece away from winning it all this season.

 

What other young good players did we give away because of Lebron's window? What evidence do you have of his body breaking down over the last three years?

 

They could actually do this, but i don't think the FO is in love with AD either, so he could be on the move eventually too. I don't think the front office is particular enamored with AD or Lebron tbh. Lebron got much more pull though, due to Rich Paul being his childhood friend and all. If it wasn't for LB/RP, AD we would very likely have one less banner hanging in the the rafters right now tbh, so they hold some weight, The trade targets I mentioned (Hield and Turner) are still pretty young, at 28 and 25 respectively.

 

Zach LaVine would be ideal, but too bad the Bulls are doing pretty good so far. But you never know, he is a free agent this offseason. Zach, THT and Nunn are all Clutch Clients. THT and Nunn also happen to be Chicago natives, so you never know, there could be some flirtation there. Lavine and WB would not be good in the back court together though, so WB should be shipped out too, but its not a deal breaker.

 

I thought the young players were obvious. Our entire roster from the End of the Byron Scott/Luke Walton era that include:

Ball
Randle
Nance
Ingram
Hart
Caruso
Kuzma

lesser degrees

Bonga
Wagner
Svi
Zubac
Dlo

maybe not all directly related, but our draft department did an amazing job getting talent, but if you go in a “contend now mode”, lots of people get shipped out. The roster turnover has nearly been 100% besides Lebron right? I think the last holdover since his arrival was Caruso.

not everyone is a fan of the old rugged mercenary approach to assembling a roster

If you ship out THT, no drafted young talent is hardly left. Just a hillbilly

 

Slick are you serious with that question? And you're going now declare those were not good players? Of course you will, "who are you going to believe ... ME .... or your lying eyes?" LeBron's "window was the start of the LeBron "era' in coming to this team. And Magic and Rob getting rid of players to make room and then more players to build a super team for him to play with / and L.A. have a chance for more rings in the LeBron "era".

 

All players that went out for AD were necessary sacrifices. The rest were bad FO moves—some atrocious.

 

What?

 

But AD is here because of Lebron, so we still get to blame him right?

 

Who were these good players? Didn't we just win a championship? I'd sacrifice every single one of them again. Have zero problems sacrificing some more for another one.