Official 2016 Free Agency Thread

Even if we don't get Westbrook it's all good. We have three terrific young players who are only gonna get better and have only scratched the surface of their potential. So many teams are stuck in the mud. They aren't good enough to win a title and aren't bad enough to rebuild. Look at the Mavericks. Even the C Bags despite being the third seed that roster isn't winning a championship unless they luck out on the Ben Simmons sweepstakes. We have three legit building blocks for the future and if Nance's knees stay healthy I'd say four. Free agents will come here as this team progresses. I used to worry about our future after Kobe, but I don't anymore. Sure there will never ever be another Kobe. Not just with the Lakers, but in general. He's like Superman. He's been our superhero, but I think we have at least a couple of guys who can be Batman. Randle and Russell are those guys in my opinion. Both are being handcuffed by Byron and still producing. Sure they still need to learn how to play the game at this level, but that'll come with more experience. I know stats aren't everything, but still for these guys to be putting up the numbers with not much help in terms of a coach, a system that they trust, or teammates that fit around them is still impressive. I had this dream the other day that we had hired Luke in the summer and kept all the young guys and drafted Ingram. Then we made the playoffs and gave the Warriors a tough series. Sounds crazy right? Yeah I know, but remember when the Thunder scared the s*** out of us and damn near took us to seven games in our last championship season? That could be us in a role reversal. I believe our young guys are capable of that. Probably not next year, but in a couple of years absolutely. They've gotten better as the season has gone along. They've had the ups and downs like all young kids do trying to play in this league, but they keep going out and competing. They just don't know how to win yet and they don't have someone to teach them other than Kobe of course who I believe has had a huge impact on the kids. I mean it's clear as day they all love them and they're taking advantage of getting to learn from the true all time greats and legends of the game. I also think there's a huge motivational factor being a Laker. These guys know the history. This team is used to winning championships not trying to win the lottery. How special would it be for them to be the guys who bring us back from this hell we're in right now? Yeah it'd be great to sign free agents, but it would be even more special if we did it by developing and these young guys we've drafted. Guys who have all been seemingly written off by people. JC being a second rounder that we freaking bought from Washington. Julius falling to seven in the draft. D'Angelo who people destroyed the Lakers for drafting over Okafor and now some are saying they should've drafted Porzingis.

 

Paragraphs are my friend
Paragraphs are your friend

 

We have nothing to worry about if Boron's near. He says free agents want to play here. And it's his communication skills and closing abilities in these coming meetings that has me feeling confident. Talk to them about foxholes and s*** like that.

 

Well if Russell is the superstar a lot of us think he is gonna be I don't really think we need Julius or Jordan to be a superstar. If one was just an All Star then I think we'd be just fine. Not all championship teams have two superstars. If fact most only have one and and then their #2 guy usually being an All Star. I see Randle as being a 2 or 3x All Star at least and a guy who'll be one of the better power forwards in the game once he reaches his prime.

 

Look at Portland's talent and their record (27-27); they have a legitimate star in Lillard, but other than that, I don't think they're much better than us on paper, IMO. Either way, if need be, acquire free agents that complement the youth on our team (Whiteside) and other pieces (defensive wing, shooters, etc), and go from there. Keep Byron on a short leash, and if he struggles early, fire him.

 

I think the youth we have will be competitive in a year or so like TheRealDeal said, i just hope the Lakers can sign some established talent to complement them and take them from competitive to very good in a couple years.

 

yeah, they shocked the hell out of me. preseason, I thought they'd be at the bottom with the lakers and minny.

they do have a good coach and a legit allstar, though. if the lakers landed a lillard level player and hired a good coach, they could turn into a .500 team pretty quick.

 

I feel almost like the Players hardly matter right now. If Scott stays beyond this season, we will suck. Bad. Again. Another season will be lost.

 

i probably would if pau showed interest in returning. the defense would still be atrocious, but the offense could become respectable very quickly, even given byron.