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

I agree, except that if we lock him up at this summer's max, he'll be a solid bargain two seasons from now. Besides, we hopefully have a pg who can make DeAndre a scorer. Russell, Clarkson and Randle can win us the games in the 4th. Honestly, he fits better with Durant too if we really make a play for him.

 

Boogie isn't a FA meaning we have to give up to get him. Why do that when there's other options available that will net us the same (or better even) results WITHOUT giving up anything? Haven't we given up enough future picks? We don't have consecutive first rounders until like 2018/2019 I think.

If we get Cousins, we have only 10 million more to spend AND we had to give up either Russell, Randle, or Clarkson (because you're not getting him for Hill/Young/Future Picks in the 2020s). That means we have only two of Russell, Clarkson, Randle. We have Kobe. We have Cousins. That's not better than ALL our young guys, Kobe, AND a max FA.

 

I am just shocked that they'd even consider that. I know Karl has been a butthead this summer, but that franchise is just a laughing stock right now... Cauley-Stein and Cousins on the same team? Oh boy... That's not the leadership Cousins needs at all. They might be awesome or they might have a meltdown and start punching each other on any given night.

 

Wouldn't Marc just be perfect for this team? Oh my goodness... A guy who we can look to any night to score if the young guys aren't doing it. He can captain or defense to help make up for the man-defense that'll be pretty rough with our trio in the back court. He isn't a rim protector but he's a pace controller. I think he'd be just such a perfect fit.

The rest of your list I'm pretty much on board with but I'd put Chandler in before Asik and switch Asik and Lopez. Asik took a step back last year and I really like Robin's personality for LA.

 

Well who knows? If they don't move him by the start of the season I can't imagine he and Karl last longer than the trade deadline. If we strike out on players, maybe we throw something out there at the deadline and see if it sticks.

For now though I'm 100% focused on going after a FA.

 

Well apparently Karl promised he'd try to get along with Cousins and the owner now thinks that was just a boldfaced lie and Karl never intended to even try to make it work. THAT is why the owner is pissed off. And Vlade is mad because like you said Karl has been trying to gauge trade interest behind his back...

Just a really weird situation. If I were a professional in their industry, I'm staying the hell away from them until they get their act together.

 

I'd trade Russell straight up for Cousins today, although it's not going to happen. Not high on this pick at all.

 

Karl has had bad relationships with his centers... Joe Barry Carroll in Golden State, Alton Lister in Seattle and now Cousins.

 

Man I love that you don't back down from your opinions LJ.

At this point I ain't trading Russell. We picked him and we're all in now. His name and his "splashability" (yeah I made up that word to mean flashiness) are what's going to help sell FAs here in a few weeks.

 

Please, JSM. I know you're upset about Russell over Okafor. You know I wanted Okafor too. But neither one of us is an elite scout (or we'd be doing that for a living). So let's take a breath and look at the positives with Russell. I mean, we still have a great big in Randle. I think we forget he IS a big. And we may have just put a stamp on our backcourt for the next 10 years. Happy thoughts, man. It's not like we took Porzingis or something.