Another positive with Jordan is that he's really durable. You can count on him to play all 82 + playoffs.
That's definitely true. A guy with his passing ability will certainly intrigue FAs. Everything I'm hearing is that he's not a pass-first guy per se, but that's alright. As long as he can see the passes he needs to make, that's what's important to me. Honestly I'm still scrambling to change my view on THIS summer, I can't really think about next just yet. For THIS summer I think we just flipped the world on it's shoulders. If I'm a big man looking at the teams with cap space... Suddenly LA looks really really nice. We've got young guys, but they're guards not bigs. Russell comes into the league looking like a passer. Kobe is either on his way out or looking for help so he's willing to work with you. From a roster standpoint we definitely look like a team that can use your help if you're a big guy. Then throw in the money and the endorsements and commercial opportunities, the weather, the women (or men), and boy we've got a hell of an offer. Mitch also said he learned a little from last year's failed pitch at Carmelo Anthony too whatever that means.
I guess I'm jumping from the Middleton train to the Carroll train to the LMA train and now the DeAndre train.
It means he learned the Lakers have luck in addition to tradition because we were fortunate Melo didn't pick us.
Another thing for DeAndre to consider for us is that he won't have to contend with Griffin for looks on those lobs. Dallas doesn't have a point guard like Russell or CP3 to run plays like that for him, so that's another plus.
Yeah Dallas doesn't have a PG at all do they? I'm thinking they're going to really blitz Aldridge because they don't really have a creator on that team with Ellis gone, they don't like Rondo, and they're relying on... Devin Harris? They need guys they can dump the ball to and space the floor with. They're probably banking on Aldridge.
Be honest Rondo/Russell Clarkson/J.Brown Kobe/Young/A.Brown Randle/Kelly/Nance Jordan/Black/Upshaw And either Ellington or Sacre How good is it next year? How well equipped for a run the next season?
Stephen "Agitated" Smith speaks for all of them. On topic...Jordan could be a nice acquisition. Heck, we'd probably run plays for him too just to whet his appetite. His free throw shooting is a concern but he is willing to learn plus we have some Canadian who would be willing to teach him. Jordan would be receptive unlike that other guy we used to have.
With the movement of a lot of player next year, the only teams in the West I see that will remain at the top are Golden State and Houston. The Clippers are losing Deandre. Portland is losing Aldridge and Mathews. Memphis may lose Gasol. San Antonio with Aldridge put them back into contention. Dallas has to make decisions, but they'll still be middle of the pack. Will New Orleans be better with a healthy Eric Gordon? I think OKC will stay healthy this year and be back in the playoffs, but they really don't have any depth. Phoenix without Dragic won't be the same. Utah and Minny are young and developing. You never really know what you're going to get with Denver. Again, the biggest question for us is Kobe's health. Then, the team chemistry and Scott's direction. I think we can make playoffs if everything falls in line, but still a piece away from being a strong contender.
Here is my transcription of Mitch's interview this morning where he talks about Russell and Free Agency: http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/...l-la-lakers-nba-draft-mitch-kupchak-interview My write up on the Lakers pursuing Jordan will be published shortly, I really think the Lakers are a fantastic fit for him.
And here it is, my write up on Jordan-to-Lakers: http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/6/26/8852541/la-lakers-rumor-deandre-jordan-free-agency
Yeah I'm with you. I think (health out of the equation) there's only a few surefire playoff teams next year: San Antonio (plus Aldridge), OKC, Memphis (wont lose Gasol, New Orleans, and the Clippers (even without DeAndre). I think Dallas misses on FAs this summer, Portland looks much worse without Aldridge or Matthews, Phoenix will strike out and even if they don't... eh, Utah and Minny will be alright but not surefire playoff teams. Denver is a wildcard, but still we're DEFINITELY in the mix if it Aldridge/Jordan make those moves.
Great read and pretty much what this board has said. I think it's a pretty great fit and I'm starting to think he's our first priority in FA. That's got to mean a lot coming from us and our line of Centers when Mitch JUST said that Okafor doesn't measure up to the names on the wall... Does Jordan match up with those names? I don't think so, but maybe the Lakers think he might.
oops... I think Houston will be in the mix, but I forget them because they'll never be more than okay. Golden State I think will have trouble recapturing their magic from last year, but they'll certainly be in the mix. Not in order, but these teams will be in the playoffs: Golden State Houston San Antonio New Orleans Memphis Oklahoma City Clippers Now I think the Lakers with Russell/Clarkson/Kobe/Randle/Jordan are DEFINITELY in play for that 8th seed, maybe even higher if something wonky happens injury-wise.
This is where Kupchak has to make sure whatever contingency plan he had in place goes through... Either this young man is as advertised who can further re-invigorate the franchise, draw in free agents or we end up with a bigger version of Brandon Jennings. Everyone is touting him as a "star" in the making... Aldridge is not a sure thing in light of how San Antonio is willing to maneuver to draw him in. Recently read he's also 30? Not there yet as "old" but close...so the allure of winning now instead of being part of a rebuilding process is huge factor.
Awesome write-up, as always Didn't know DeAndre craved being an Allstar. Should be a no-brainer then. No place better than the Lakers. And he also gets to become our franchise player, albeit temporarily, after Kobe retires.
