Honestly, if the handful of articles I have read for our actual pitch is true, it wasn't nearly as bad as folks made it sound. One of the reasons that LMA was rumored to be leaving Portland is because of the endorsements Lillard is getting. So I understand the front office rolling with a pitch of marketing opportunities in LA. Kobe supposedly told him about all the deals Mitch has managed to pull off to try and improve the team, which I also understand. We didn't roll out a lot of analytics initially because we stunk last year plain and simple. I don't know. Just feel more and more like LMA is full of crap and we got completely played here.
I honestly think no one knows what is going and just making up crap to get clicks. The Lakers have always been very stealthy when it comes to dealings .... This situation is no different. Also, all the doomsayers here saying that LMA met with the Lakers a second time out of pity is just dumb. These guys don't have time for that stuff. I think the Lakers are still right in the thick of it. Finally, everyone is complaining that the Lakers haven't made a move. They offered a max contract to Monroe, to DJ, and to LMA. Some of the ideas by you guys are totally unrealistic. The Lakers were not getting Harris. Frankly, there really isn't anyone else worth going after..... Maybe Kosta I thought Robin Lopez would have been a bad fit for this team. One shouldn't make a move for the sake of making a move. I've liked Mitch's approach to FA so far. If we don't get LMA, there will be plenty of bargains out there to fill out the roster.
BMJ...the key is here how many of those "bargains" are still out there? Who would you say could be a good addition?
^ You want to start building a foundation that will attract the big name that we keep going after. You don't just sign these "bargain players" to one year deals and letting them walk the next, just to fill out the roster. There has to be direction, a plan.
I'm sorry, but you don't find that to be a terrible excuse? No matter what, you always present a solid basketball plan to a basketball free agent. Even with the rumors, Mitch and the FO should be tackling the meeting at every single angle. They should have prepared and done their homework to answer every question that LMA might have. I'm not really as upset about missing out on LMA as I am about hearing that the Lakers gave an unimpressive basketball presentation.
And the Lakers haven't done that? I've been watching the Lakers since the 80s. I watched the rebuild in the 90s, which was done almost entirely through the draft. Then the Lakers got Shaquille. Once Shaq left for Miami, the Lakers had to rebuild through the draft, Marc Gasol, Bynum, Farmar, Sasha, and through bargain trades (Ariza) and using assets to trade for a star (Pau) to compete again. A star player, like LMA, would accelerate the rebuild but I think the Lakers are right on track. It's the fans who are impatient. GCC, if I were to add a few bargain pieces, I would look for a C and PG.....young and cheap. Kosta and Biyombo for examples. There aren't many guards out there but teams will be looking to shed players. I think the FO has done an outstanding job. It appears my perspective is the minority view around here.
Yes and no to be honest. I can't argue that we shouldn't put our best foot forward on all fronts. But I don't think it would have mattered. Again, I just think we got played and LMA was never really coming here.
Biyombo is a name being mentioned out there... I would like Aaron Brooks as a back-up to young D-Russ. We need a veteran at the 3, boss. Someone reliable on the floor and a steady influence in the locker room. Caron Butler? 35 and long in the tooth but from what T-Rod provided is still producing at a reasonable clip. Shore up the needs...provided stability. By no later than Monday, this thread will be in NBA Discussion. I just don't see it happening...
They are building a great foundation through the draft but those guys are still several years out if they play up to their potentials. The thing is there's the unexpected big cap boost next offseason, we will have essentially two max contracts to offer (other teams will too). You get two guys like KD and Derozan and things are on the up and up. You gotta convice those guys though with a foundation built on your young rooks and a couple mid tier players. I'm not asking to get LMA or DJ this season, I'm asking to get a Robin Lopez, Afflalo, Deng, Ed Davis, Bellineli, etc. You put together a team that can get 35-40 wins, that is just a move or two away from contending.
That's how I'm feeling right now too. I think we were played and I just can't imagine what for. Aldridge was getting the max no matter where he went. He wasn't using us to bid against anyone. So what point was there in using us this way?
Players in the NE are desperate for attention apparently. It's his 10 minutes of fame before deciding where to play next.
I think this summer revealed two important things: 1. The Lakers FINALLY have let the lack of analytics catch up to them. Sure, last season's numbers wouldn't have mattered. What you do instead is show them some analytics of what we WOULD do and where we would go with him and the rest of the roster. Their complete lack of this important aspect has caught up to them and embarrassed the franchise. 2. They're woefully unable to sell their franchise. Jeanie and Jim and Mitch have no idea how to make LA attractive to EVERYONE. Every FA is different. Do your homework, find out what makes them tick, use your connections to find out everything you can about them and what makes them tick. Don't give the same presentation to each person. Any number of salesman anecdotes fits here... How do you fail at making people feel confident in the Lakers? How far have they fallen as a group? I DO think that our presentation had it's positives and negatives. I think Carmelo responded well to basically the same pitch and that's because he's into money and fame more than winning. When you meet with LaMarcus you should know he's not the same guy. I think it's an excuse to try to claim afterwards "oh I didn't know you wanted THAT". It's your job to think of all of that, the different possibilities, and what that person may or may not want. You brought 15 people to the meeting and not one of them thought analytics would be a topic? Terrible.
Honestly, I never said half of the things you talked about in here so I'm not really sure how to respond.
No they're not, not unless we have a trade in place to get Pop. He knows how to extend careers. He's better at resting his guys than anyone in the league. That'll allow LMA to be featured this year, but also extend his years after TD when he's the one getting games off. What does Scott do? Ride the guy till he has to be shut down. Who wants that?
Ultimately, we dodged a bullet. Didn't want him here. Give the young guys some burn. But to think our FO thought we stood a chance against a Spurs team who are contending for a championship... and the amount of time spent on trying to get him here... wasted an opportunity to target more realistic options who might have fit better with our "plan" (if we have one...).
