2023-24 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Aaron Larsuel went on his show tonight, All Access Lakers, and said not to rule out Tristan Thompson getting that 15th spot. If it happens in a month or two, don't be surprised.

Sign me up. I want at least one predictable big off the bench. You're also getting guy who will give that retaliation foul (Dillon Brooks fouls Bron hard, TT smacks the s*** out of Brooks). We're missing that guy. Also don't have a locker room vet from the bench, he'd check that box too.

 

Are we already into the penalty tax with Wood in the 14th spot? Am not clear on that. I thought the mandate was to get out of the repeater status with that this year and that we were able to do it with just the vet minimum on the 14th slot? Would not filling out to 15 put us over? Or are we already over the taxpayer limit again anyway?

 

Gabriel is too light, especially on this team. According to ESPN's weights, Bron and AD are the only players on the roster over 230 lbs. They have Rui right at 230 but looking at his training photos, he's going to enter camp closer to 220 (maybe under).

Also, Wood took Gabriel's number. That's never a good sign.

I like Gabriel, but he's not what I'm looking for if we were to max out the roster.

 

I don't think we carry the 15th spot for tax purposes and future trade possibilities, buyout market, etc.

Some good players won't get signed by us, but choices have to be made. I loved watching Wenyen Gabriel work, and it's too bad he won't be here next year. Ultimately the team felt they needed something different to win. Hope they made the right call.

 

If I had to guess, if they add TT it would be to a non-guaranteed deal with the understanding if someone is made available later in the season then he'd be a roster casualty. And If they did a 2+ for 1 trade, they'd bring him back when they could.

It's not like there's competition for his services. Unless the Clipps come calling, I think you can get away with a non-guaranteed offer.

 

Do you know if as of now we are breaking the repeater cycle? That has to be the goal as it’s so incredibly expensive the more years you’re over.

 

Can't give an A+ when Whitmore was available to be picked .
This roster with Whitmore backing up Reaves/Christie/Vincent sigh.

 

I want Fudge to get really good. I want to see him make a bonehead play in a game and be justified in saying WT FUDGE!!!

Small things in life can make you so happy.

 

Corny, but not as corny as this one: Hodge and Fudge become a formidable dual and get the nickname "Hot Fudge".

 

I though Whitmore was more of a 3/4.

 

forgot how big he is - he's more of a wing then a 4. Very good jumper plus the slashing

 

Yeah, well only time will tell on that one. If they were going to est available talent route, then Whitmore should have been the pick. However, they may project JHS as being the better player in the long run. It seems they target prospects that have a strong base of talent to work with, but don't look great on paper due to sub-par three point shooting stats. But if they have a decent enough looking mid-range/free-throw stroke, they feel that it is something that our player-development staff could help them develop. Look at Max for example: Beautiful mid-range/free throw stroke (82%), and good defender, but shot only 32% from three on low volume in his Freshman year in college. JHS has a similar profile. He was 78% from the line, but only 33% from three on low volume. You could even put players such as Caruso, THT, and Reaves in that category.

 

Andre Drummond best rebounder ever, Steph better than Magic ! Now this . What’s in the water these days . LeBron started it lol(

 

I thought crack was illegal

 

Yossi Gozlan (HoopsHype) has a clean, easy to read cap sheet:
https://www.capsheets.com/los-angeles-lakers-cap-sheet/

Here's the pertain part to your question


We're over the luxury tax but barely. A sentiment I've seen a lot is that we'll likely make a move at the deadline and that could get us back below. Given the roster depth, I'm sure either a) there will be at least one player wanting more minutes and we'll accommodate their ask by moving them and that could get us under. B) we make an upgrade by consolidating a couple pieces and that could accomplish cleaning up the cap a bit, too.

I asked Aaron Larsuel about this last night on his show with regards to Wood. Everyone is saying we can just cut him if it doesn't work, himself included. My counter, as I've mentioned in the Wood thread, is we're already over and that makes dumping and replacing him tricky. Can't recall his exact wording, but he was confident that they're not worried about the financials of it and will figure it out if it comes to that. So it sounds to me like they'll expecting some kind of move and the season will dictate what that will be.


Regarding TT and that 15th, I really think it's going to be non guaranteed, if we fill it. That way there's flexibility and financial exit ramps if we don't dump anyone along the way and the amount we'd end up paying out would be marginal. Aaron was using the same verbiage and tone about the possible addition that he's used on Wood for the past couple months. Making me give significant credence to the possibility of adding him.

 

Thanks!!