Official 2016 Free Agency Thread

Clarkson and the pick could probably net Jimmy Butler. Much rather do that deal.

 

Hmmm. Not a Cousins fan and not sure with saddling Luke with a malcontent right off the bat. I think once we get rid of Nick we will have a team with good chemistry. I prefer focusing on bringing in Whiteside, Derozan, etc. and keeping our pick if we get it.

 

Ok. We need to replicate the Warriors roster ASAP.

D'Angelo can be our Curry. Randle can be our Draymond. I'd like us to sign Batum, he can serve as an Iggy/Barnes. We need some athletic combo guards off the bench (but not one's that are ball happy like Lou).

We need a big. I think Larry Nance might be able to play the 5 for us with Luke at the helm, at least when we go small. We need a couple more bigs, I don't think Tarik is mobile enough for this system.

IM SO EXCITED GUYS

 

We can sign Barnes! (maybe)

 

I like your thinking @alam1108

 

We are going to land an All-Star before the season starts; it will ease Luke's transition with somebody to build around, keep us more competitive and put people in the seats at Staples; additionally, it will alleviate the pressure of the young core and make the game much easier for them.

 

Assuming the Lakers keep their draft pick at #2, I would prefer to keep that instead of trading for Demarcus or Butler. Demarcus is the best center in the league but he's also the cancer to his own team. If he doesn't respect Luke, it will spread and you will get nowhere.

At #2 for the most part I expect Ingram to be there as Simmons is still the majority of GM's #1 pick.

I would honestly just build around Russell/Clarkson/Ingram/Nance with high character guys that can fit into Coach Luke's system. Do whatever you can to max out your cap space, get rid of Nick young and Lou Williams somehow (future picks, salary dump, whatever).

Safe to assume we will unlikely land the big fish in Kevin Durant... So this is how I would spend the Laker's cap space.

- Sign Kent Bazemore ($12 mil year).
Athletic, hustle wing player who plays defense and can hit the 3. Can initially split time at the SF position to take pressure off of Ingram who will need time to adjust to the NBA.

- Sign Joakim Noah ($10 mil/year)
The team needs a center and Joakim, although 31 years old now and is coming off an injury, can potentially be had for cheap. His entire game is hustle and defense, but he is also a great passer for a big man. Something that would be great if we want to encourage team ball movement. If you want a player to be the heart of a team, can you really go wrong with Joakim?

- Sign Evan Fournier (He's a RFA, so I think you have to offer him $15mil go get Orlando to walk away)
Fournier has shown great strides in his development in Orlando this year. He is a great 3pt shooter but is not the typical catch and shoot player only. This guy can create his own shot and can drive and kick out pretty decently. Would be ideal to have him start at SG, allowing to bring Clarkson off the bench. Clarkson will then become the team's sixth man and play minutes at both PG and SG.

- Try to sign Meyers Leonard (RFA, might take $12mil/year to get it done).
Admittedly, this is overpaying for Leonard. However he is very young, and is only scratching the surface of his potential. He is a big who can also hit the 3. As long as he develops properly, his age is about the same as the rest of our young core which means he can grow with them for the long term.

Your lineup and rotation, with minutes played estimates would look like:

Russell (32)/Clarkson(16)
Fournier (32)/Clarkson(16)
Ingram (28)/Bazemore (20)
Randle (30)/Nance (18)
Noah (28)/ Leonard (20)

Fill out the rest of the league with low cost, high character vets to be role models for the kids (i.e. Kirk Hinrich, Tayshaun Prince types) where they will be like what Metta World Peace was this year... They only play if the injury bug hits. Otherwise, they are mentors.

 

Give me someone like Festus Ezeli over Noah and I'd be content with that squad.

 

I think we need one big free agent. I like that we've been building through the draft. If we pick up a big free agent he needs to be a big piece, not a big name (unless its Durant). I wouldn't mind 2.

We have our PG and our PF. We need to draft a 2 or 3 with our pick. Ingram? Hield? If we keep Clarkson that's a young core of = D'angelo, Clarkson, Ingram/Hield, Randle, Tarik/Nance.

I like Batum or Horford. I wouldn't mind both because I think they work. Horford hits the 3 so he spaces us well. Batum does everything. If we have to sign and trade Clarkson to get both of those guys I'm sold. I'll take one though.

D'angelo
Ingram
Batum
Randle
Horford

That's sexy.

 

I hope Luke can convince either Black or Bass to come back.

 

I'm betting and hoping it's Jimmy Butler. As long we keep D-Lo and Julius that would be a no brainer move. All Star. Great defender. Gives us the ability to attract other free agents and take the load off the young guys so they don't have to carry the team right away.

 

Ideally, yes. However, if Raptors get bounced in the first round, I still the Lakers take a very close look at DD.

Irrespective of what we think, one of the things the Lakers look for is name recognition, and DD has that. Although, he has struggled in this post series , he had a very good regular season, and he checks many of the boxes the Lakers loom for in free agency.

 

this is what I was referring to when I said in the other thread that I hope luke knows something I don't (I was surprised he wanted the lakers job so badly).

I think it's pretty important to accomplish this, but I also think it's heavily contingent on keeping the pick.

 

I too am afraid of the immaturity that comes along with Cousins, this franchise is already at its lowest point and I'd rather avoid any type headaches that come along with him. Boogie is a all star caliber player don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't take that risk at this point of a rebuild.

 

Someone on LG (good poster) said don't be surprised if Deng and Noah move up on LA's FA list.