It's a lessons learned for the Lakers front office for sure. Not only to be better prepared going into these free agent pitches, but also to understand that the whole Free Agent attracting period pretty much is year round. We can't be a team with no assets, we can't be a team relying on a name, we can't be a team that looks like it's not competing. Those are all cards those other teams brought to the table we didn't have. All things considered, we're putting together a pretty attractive team of "young" veterans with Hibbert, Williams, and Bass to go along with our developing young players. If we make a splash next season and make/get close to playoffs, we'd definitely be sitting pretty going into 2016 Free Agency.
Getting back to FA business.... What's going on with Lin S&T opportunities? We doing this with Dallas or Chicago? What bout Hill? Man I would LOVE to get Taj Gibson, but I'm thinking thats not happening now with Bass in the fold...or is it? I'm guessing if we do a S&T with Lin or HIll or both, we might try to tack on Kelly & Sacre or Nick Young? That would be the smart thing to do I know Cavs are looking at possibly getting Joe Johnson, but if that falls through, maybe we offer Hill/Young/Kelly for Haywood's expiring non-guaranteed deal?
There are two articles just out (I don't have the link) that describe LMA as somewhat of a diva. Your theory may be on target.
I still don't really think we are good enough to make the playoffs. The West is stacked with good teams and alot hinges on Bryant's health + Russell/Randle development.
Entirely possible. It's also entirely possible that 4 is both true from Aldridge's perspective and from ours.
I like the team a lot and I'm trying to refrain from thinking about it this way until we see exactly what the finished product is, but you're right. Playoffs is a tall, tall order right now. I think they've got a shot, but things have to break right for them. Health, development, chemistry all have to hit the ground running 100 mph. We'll see. So far I'm optimistic they'll make a run for the playoffs if they're healthy, but I'm not sure they make it.
If you'd have told me 2 months ago that we'd have this kind of offseason with the lottery luck, Russell pick and solid, if not spectacular free agency period, I'd have taken it GLADLY. I really like what we've done this offseason. Just keeping our pick was a huge win. Anything else from here to opening night is gravy. As optimistic as I tend to be as a fan, I think the playoffs are a bit out of reach in the West for this coming season. However, we're in an infinitely better spot as a team moving forward than we were 12 & 24 months ago. This season is all about developing our young guys. If they can show they're as legit as we all think they are, you take that and $65 gazillion (approx.) in cap space into next offseason, and maybe you can get a Durant, Horford or whoever to join an up & coming Lakers squad. The needle is very much pointing up, gentlemen!
A lot of "if"'s have to go our way to make the playoffs. If Russell and Randle are as good as we hope. If Clarkson and Black are as good as they were and don't regress or have a sophomore slump. If Kobe can avoid major injury the entire season. If Hibbert is helped by a change of scenery and has a great season. If we stay healthy as a team. A LOT of stuff has to go right for us to make the playoffs, the West is that tough. I'm not gonna be disappointed if we miss the playoffs, it's a big ask. Ideally we see our rookies make major progress and our signings work out well, and Kobe has a good final season and goes out on his own terms. It's a lot to expect a jump from 21 wins to the playoffs. I'd say we also get a better pick if we miss the playoffs, but we don't have one anyway. Still, watching a 1st round exit isn't exactly fun.
This is the bottom line in my head. The Lakers FO isn't perfect, they missed correctly identifying Aldridge's focus, but the Lakers were never a front runner to sign him, or DJ. The Spurs FO might be the epitome of a well oiled machine that rarely makes mistakes, but I can't think of another FO that tops the Lakers for second place. I'm talking actual results, not arguing the Lakers "big name" free agent philosophy. Mitch is elite in negotiating "something for nothing" trades and our scouts seem to be some of the best in the NBA. I'd love for the FO to be perfect, but yes, I think it's kind of nitpicking to be so down on them for one big mistake, in one free agent period of one year, because from what I understand, Mello liked our pitch but got paid more in NY, and Dwight just wanted to have fun because he was already a champion. The recovery of our team via trade in the past 48hr has been insane, we might not even be done yet, and I can't think of another FO in the League that I'd expect to pull this off. Not even the Spurs.
I honestly think it came down to something much more simple: Aldridge took a look at our team and just thought we weren't ready for prime time. Which makes sense. We have an old Kobe and a bunch of unproven rookies. Stars these days are looking for the quickest and easiest way to win. I think the same can be said with what happened to Dwight and Pau, though with the latter, we treated pretty s*****
We've already accomplished more than I thought we could this off season. But now Mitch has got my juices flowing and I want more. I'm also gonna throw some props Jim Buss' way for keeping a low profile and approving these moves.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ChrisPalmerNBA/status/617920332637171712 With all the moves done today, I feel like we will prob take a small step forward. We always hope for the best. Last offseason we were talking about Lin reverting back to his Knick days and Boozer playing like he did a few years back. The problem is, Durant is going to be just like Aldridge and go to a contending or close to contending team and thats not us.
if our rooks ball out i dont see how his signing here doesnt get us over the hump, along with having cap space to add another star
Haven't you heard, TIME? Laker fans aren't allowed to say nice things about their designated whipping boy. He may only be blamed for moves that don't turn out well.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/da...union-mavericks-have-reached-out-to-guard.ece Could mean Jeremy isn't going to Dallas and reunite with Chandler Parsons if this happens.
