Yea it didn't have anything to do with Pau not trying anymore. Before he left in FA, we offered him 10 million and a no trade clause. Horrible treatment to a guy that put it on cruise control after he got his rings.
Great minds think like you and I! Go into the season with something like: Russell/CJ Watson Clarkson/Ellington/Brown Bryant/Young/Nance Jr. Randle/Black/Kelly Lopez/Davis/Sacre (Upshaw in the minors) Then the next year when we're looking for Durant + friends: Russell/_______ Clarkson/Ellington/Brown ________/Young Randle/Black Lopez/Davis
Here's a podcast from Alex Kennedy and Ben Dowsett where they touch on the winners and losers of the draft and they touch on potential landing spots for the FAs this summer. They touch on Russell and how great he is of a fit here. They talk about how he's really a flashy kid and just fits into LA really well as a person. They say Okafor is more quiet and laid back and that's not necessarily the kind of person that fits into our vibe as a franchise. Dowsett says he'd pick Okafor still but Kennedy went with Russell. Another interesting point was that Dowsett was ADAMANT that the Lakers' brand is enormous with players around the league. He said role players usually LOVE being here because it gives them a level of fame that they just don't get in any other market outside of maybe New York. It's good to hear our brand is still strong.
I don't think we have struck out on players as much as everyone really says we have. We will see this year though, we have the space and some real nice options out there.
Way premature look: STARTERS Clarkson 17.0 pts, 5.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds Russell 13.7 points, 4.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds Kobe 17.3 points, 4.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds Randle 9.2 points, 1.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds Jordan 10.5 points, 2.3 blocks, 13.3 rebounds SECOND UNIT ? J. Brown 6.0 points, 1.0 assists, 1.0 rebounds Young 15.8 points, 1.2 assists, 4.1 blocks Black 6.2 poins, 0.8 assists, 5.4 rebounds Upshaw 5.1 points, 1.6 blocks, 5.1 rebounds If Young is moved, I see Nance playing more as a rookie. Nance's line, then: 5.2 points, 0.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds. Or if Clarkson/Russell play all the PG minutes (or nearly all of them), then A. Brown gets significant PT: 4.5 points, 0.4 assists, 1.3 rebounds.
After LMA, I'm definitely intrigued with Brook Lopez if he can hold up for four years. Gasoline LMA Deandre, only because he's a healthy horse&would be a great fit doing what he does best. Also takes away from Flippers. B. Lopez Koufos Asik/R. Lopez In that order.
That's with DeAndre and, say, Ellington returning. And, honestly, it has too many moving pieces to say anything authoritative about it. Without DeAndre I bet it's more like 34-36 wins. I think he'd make the biggest difference. There are variables like: will this rookie play this many minutes? Will the rookie be more like this NBA comparison or that one? Will there be a synergy effect on offense (Russell seems like he'll cause one) or defense (Jordan may well cause one)? So take it all as way premature and with a grain of salt
Nice. I was going to say that the estimate seemed high without a premiere FA. I think we'll have a way better idea after Summer League. We'll be able to see exactly what Russell is capable of and whether Randle made the jump we all have heard about. Right now I'd probably estimate 35 wins or so, so we're thinking pretty similarly here.
Well I'm assuming total health gets us another few wins after that. Any type of injury to Kobe, which is kind of likely, would dip us down so yeah we're still in the same ballpark.
