I worried about fit before with LMA and have said so quite a few times. But that was if we were getting Okafor. Now with no big other than Randle I don't want to nitpick this thing. You get the best player because none of the other guys are good fits either, or probably aren't coming here anyway (Gasol and Jordan). LMA is a far better player for the max IMO than Love, Monroe and Lopez who are all more one way players than LMA. We need some freaking talent on this team, and LMA has plenty of it. I don't like Jordan nearly as much, and even if he's arguably a better fit I don't love the idea of maxing out a one way guy like him who has such glaring holes in his game, nor do I think he's likely to come here anyway. Chances are slim to none that we leapfrog over the Clippers who will pay him more and already have a team around him, or Dallas who he is pretty hot to go with. In the meantime, we're not moving Randle, regardless.
It doesn't matter. If he doesn't want to do it, then that's it. At least he's made his position clear.
I'll continue to harp on this, and I may be completely wrong. Nevertheless, our situation is a lot better because of the way we're uniquely positioned. We have a max offer LaMarcus could sign as soon as free agency begins; We 'wow' him in the meeting, he don't have to wait for us to maneuver around while we try to create the necessary cap space to sign him like SAS, he signs, and gives Mitch enough time to do his thing to fill out this roster as best as he could...
Horford doesn't want to play C, either. But he still did it. He and his father have asked the Hawks multiple times since he was drafted to get a center there, yet Al is still manning the position. That's on Scott to get him to buy in and give him enough minutes at PF to keep him happy.
Kupchak stated he was comfy with drafting Russell because of a slew of free agent bigs available come 7/1. Saw on NBA-TV ticker that Gasol is not interested in what the Lakers have to offer. San Antonio is by accounts ahead of us to Aldridge not to mention that they can win now even with a core that qualifies for carbon dating. That leaves Jordan... Dallas and The Tenants are likely 1b and 1a in his likely destinations. Lopez? Brooklyn is likely to re-up him. Maybe Monroe...maybe. Self titled "Laker Killer" Tyson Chandler? Laker brass will end up with a second-tier 5 with a max contract? I have to see this Uphaw kid...I hope he works out. If we want to follow the Warrior blueprint, find a center that will do the grunt and smash work like a Bogut type. Selfless...low maintenance...hard working...a tough customer.
Correct. I see Randle being the leader of the bench mob because he has handles and can bring ball up court. I see Lakers having Tarik as 'plan b' to slide next to Aldrige. Andrew Bynum is available.
Karl really wants him in Sac Town. Plus I'm not sure I can live with 3 Shaqtin' a fool plays per night.
It's none. That, with Tim saying he'll return for 6 mil specifically to sign Aldridge, LA being from Texas, Spurs being ready to chase the title immediately by adding him + when Tim and Manu call it quits he has built in running mates with Kawhi and Tony P good for a few more years at least, makes it a tough sell for us. Still it remains to be seen what the Spurs can actually offer, they are in a tough spot with cap holds and will have to renounce some people to pull it off including Tim and Manu + they'll have to get Manu to sign for an exception (2.8), They'd have to trade Splitter and take nothing back too just to get near to a max offer. Maybe Mills too. Another thing for the Aldridge camp to look at is that after 7 deep or so, the Spur roster will be all min salary players. Depth could be an issue for those guys especially with their injury pasts and the way Pop likes to spell his older guys.
Like many said, LMA is the best FA (next to Mark) this year. Great player... bad fit for the Lakers. I won't cry if we get him but i'm more in the Jordan camp (or maybe im alone on this one) .
Quick comparison of 2nd-tier centers (Per 36 minutes) Ed Davis, 26 yrs old, 6'10", 225lb 12.8 pts .601 fg% .487 ft% 11.7 reb 1.9 blk Robin Lopez, 27 yrs old, 7'0", 255lb 12.4 pts .537 fg% .772 ft% 8.7 reb 1.7 blk Kosta Koufos, 26 yrs old, 7'0", 265lb 11.2 pts .508 fg% .647 ft% 11.4 reb 1.7 blk Bismack Biyombo, 22 yrs old, 6'9", 229lb 8.8 pts .543 fg% .583 ft% 11.8 reb 2.9 blk Tarik Black, 23 yrs old, 6'11", 250lb 12.3 pts .589 fg% .562 ft% 10.8 reb 1.0 blk I'm not quite sure what we're gaining with those 3 players over Davis/Black, other than size. They really aren't an upgrade. I think we should just stick with Davis if we strike out on Gasol, DeAndre, Lemarcus, and Monroe. Davis wants to be a Laker, and that is huge in my book. And to honest, Gasol is the only true 2-way player in that 1st-tier group. Monroe and Lemarcus provides offense, but they block below 1 blk/per36. That is depressingly bad as a big. DeAndre makes a ton of sense with his 15 reb and 2.3 blk. Monroe/Lemarcus not so much.
