Lakers - Kings- Trade Very Unlikely; Both Teams Focused On Draft

Oh in that sense I agree. Given the predicament the Kings are in, we should absolutely low-ball them. I just don't think on paper that is any kind of loss for us because neither Julius nor Jahlil are proven.

Cousins is.

So looks like Faried and Lawson to the Kings? The Sacramento Nuggets. Nice.

 

Not everything with the obvious elite players coming out has to be "proven". Some things are just "obvious". Anthony Davis you could have said the same thing. Okafor has skills down low and the size and strength to execute them that Tim Duncan himself and David Robinson said Tim wasn't close to having at 19. Talking offense. The kid will NOT be a bust on defense. Coach K has said he's the most impressive player (at 19? or period?) he's ever had. Julius Randle has demonstrated against NBA talent (Dramond Green qualify?) that with his moves, strength and speed he scatters them like bowling pins going to the hoop. No big of his size has had the handles he does at 19. And I will continue to throw out because I'm dead serious, Randle appears for all intents and purposes and in interviews someone to take the leadership torch from Kobe who will give it willingly if Randle just keeps doing what he's doing. Cousins is the opposite of that guy. We need that guy ASAP. Okafor may be a 2nd of that type of guy.

 

It is like I can't even get excited about the draft anymore, feels like its only a matter of time before Okafor will be traded for Cousins, I think Randle goes too.

 

I don't disagree with what you're saying. I guess you have a point, I just tend to be skeptical. Not so much of talent....which both those guys clearly have. Moreso of health. Too many bigs with injury issues last decade or so. Also many bigs who end up busts.

You're right, Randle might be that guy. I admire your confidence in him and I was super high on him when we got our lottery pick last year. I just don't know how you can assume he will be great. That's such a big "if" at this point.

You're right, Cousins is a head case, but he's a damn good one and proved he can be among the best in the NBA. 14 minutes of NBA basketball for Randle and all we have is hope. Check my post history, I've gone on record saying Randle could be a new breed of NBA player. A Lamar who can actually play like a big man too. I'm just not on the kool-aid enough to deny a proven talent for a pool of potential.

 

Injury is the only thing that will derail him. Or Cousins. Or Russell. Or Towns. Or Okafor. I'm totally convinced.

 

At least Cousins is proven as healthy?

 

I'll keep Randle on my team over Cousin any day. He's still young. He and the Lakers have taken the time and care to treat his injury right. With him + #2 pick, we have something great to look forward to. With Cousins, our team is not competitive, how long will the change of scenery keeps Cousin in line?

Plus, a young core who is hard working and driven is a lot more attractive to free agent than a head case star IMO.

 

#2 & Randle for Cousins & #6 is a much better deal than it's being made out to be. Randle & #2 have played a combined 0 NBA regular season games. Cousins is proven as the best C in the NBA (unless you count Davis). #6 should have just as much potential to become a good player as Randle. Now add in the fact that Mitch always finds a way to get a few extra pieces in every deal. Just combining rumors, but with Sac's rumored interest in Lawson & Denver's interest in a Sign & Trade for Lin, & Orlando's rumored involvement, I could see us coming away with a package like Cousins, #5 or #6, Collison, Sign & Trade Tobias Harris. I'd go for that no question.

 

Who's your next potential receiver of the torch that you see and don't say KD because we don't know if we can get one. Randall looks, walks and talks like one .....again to come through here, let alone KD when we have Randall and Okafor who has been a WINNER his whole basketball career. This is not a small deal. So many at CL wanted the torch handed to Dwight freaking Howard before Kobe even got hurt.

Same question, LakersN4? It sure as hell ain't Boogie Cousins.

 

I don't know about some mythical "receiver of the torch". I know Cousins is a proven franchise player & we have no idea if Randle or Okafor will even be starters in this league.

 

LT - this is exactly how I feel. Kobe's, CP3's, Wade's and LeBron's are transcendental talents. Rarities. How are you convinced Randle is already one of those guys? More importantly, I know what Cousins IS.....a proven NBA star. And as of today it's a lot more than Randle/Okafor.

Don't get it twisted, I am all types of high on Okafor.....but as a builder of a team and as someone who is not a professional scout, Cousins + #6 just sounds like a great scenario to be in.

 

Really hope you're right on this one.

 

That's where I put trust in Kobe. If anyone can teach Cousins how to use that anger as a tool to punish his opponents, it's Kobe. I think trading for Cousins puts us in great position to land a big FA. Having a franchise C locked up for 15M per year for 3 years is a great place to build from. Of course having Randle or Okafor become a franchise player would put us in an even better position, but the odds of that happening, especially in their rookie season is a much bigger gamble than Cousins attitude imo.

 

Because Cousins flunks the character and leadership especially as face of the Los Angeles Lakers tests. That is it exactly for me especially for Randall. That will ultimately be way more important to the future of the Lakers than Cousins' proven talent until he blows up the next time and potentially nukes us if it becomes ugly and contentious. That is also a part of his proven experience. Tell me exactly please with both Randall and Okafor with their size, speed, coordination, agility and SKILLS we'd have to be blind to not see, what parts of their games do you see as being so highly questionable to keeping them from being the great players they clearly want to be? Be specific. And acknowledging we need a new leadership type of player, again ASAP. Randall looks to be one. I'm far from the only person here seeing that in Randall. It is not trite to say he has that certain "IT". Who if not him? If not potentially Okafor?

 

Of course take with a grain of salt but clutchfans' resident "insider" CyberX seems to think we are trying to get Love and Cousins. From what I've seen he's somewhat reliable and they treat him like deity over there.

Thread Here: (Credit to NGAV at LG)

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=256423&page=1897

 

LT - not disagreeing with Cousin's character being a question mark. I agree with that. That can be fixed, or mitigated.

Look at Rasheed Wallace. Way more of a head case than Cousins. Dude was in 3 NBA Finals and almost batbeat the 1999-2000 Lakeshow to get to his 4th NBA Finals. He was batsh** crazy but an excellent player.

Anyways - it's not that Randle doesn't have "it". Mentally, in terms of character he is absolutely the guy you want. Will he stay healthy? Can he defend bigs? How's his defense in the NBA? Can he shoot reliably? Will he be a bust?

I don't have to ask those questions about Cousins.

 

I'm not sure that would even work unless Love takes a paycut. Might be feasible as he's currently injured and may take a 1+player option deal to wait for 2016.

Have to remember, taking on Cousins mean taking on salary, salary which would likely go to Love. Even if we trade Nick Young or anyone else, it still hampers our ability to get Love as well.