Good eye. He was an FA last season and Portland locked him up for 4 years. The Portland GM was drafted him, and was more than likely familiar with his game; he's one of the first guys, if not the first, that got signed last offseason if I remember correctly.
A guy I really like in these PO's is Cory Joesph. Goodness. One of the guys that I wish we signed last year; oh, well. A name I haven't seen mentioned; DJ Augustine...another capable backup PG; I'd like take a look at him.
Hm. Too bad. Hoopshype needs to update their salary page. That's the kind of FA acquisition we could really use.
After watching the playoffs, my stance has changed on DeRozan, I don't want the Lakers going after him, at all. This dude is ghost when it matters the most, and he can't shoot. I was willing to overlook his inconsistent shooting, but I can't get past it at all. This dude is better off staying in Toronto. Do not want.
Same for me VinMillerHearn24. I thought he had turned some kind of corner this season, but wow, what a disappointment he's been in the playoffs. Keep him far away from my Lakers please. Too poor a shooter, too big a choker. And honestly I'm not seeing much in the way of BBall IQ at all. Do Not Want, either!
The problem with the FO was they were going for the blockbuster signings or trades which never happened. Mitch, and probably Jimmy, is scrambling to put up a decent scenario for FA presentations. However, with the previous Boronic regime's devastation and with a barebones roster, Durant won't be impressed if Durant himself will be given the heavy responsibility to uplift the franchise.
If not DeRozan, then who? That my only question, because there is a very small pool of quality free agents that can help get a team back to the playoffs and he is IMO one of them. The only other names I see being thrown out hurt are Barnes who is restricted, and Batum who doesn't have the rumored desire to actually come here. Durant, not happening. We have to fill the position, we gotta sign someone. I'll take DeRozan at 20+ mil over Chandler Parsons at 15 or whatever.
At this point I would vastly prefer Deng or Bazemore. Not impressed with DeRozan and currently he's not a SF anyway.
Yeah, I'd rather take Bazemore, too. Derozan's game clashes too much with everyone else on the team's game.
I can get on board with that, but man is it going to sting to pay Bazemore 5 times what we would have had to pay him had we kept him a few years ago. Deng, I like, but he's not getting any younger, don't see why he would want to join a team that isn't close to contending. I'm not against either of those guys, but I don't think either gets us as close to the playoffs as DeRozan does, and I don't think either is as likely as DeRozan signing here. I'm not super high on DeRozan either, I just don't see a lot of other realistic options.
^^ It definitely stings that we didn't lock Bazemore up when we could, Weezy. But to me I just don't see the reasoning in going after a guy like DD who is going to make SO much money and just isn't that great. He's a name only at this point. He's been lousy in these playoffs. I don't want to bank on a guy like that. I'd rather try someone else.
I wouldn't doubt if Luke has JC looking like DD in one year. No joke. I'm looking for SF and Center in FA, not an undersized SF that is really a SG. It's just not our biggest need.
DeRozan is very good but inefficient at times... He also is ball dominant which might not mesh well with the space and pace, ball movement strategy that Walton wants to implement. We already have two players that can create for themselves in Russell and Randle [three if you count Clarkson]. A small forward that with a balanced game that will fit and complement them is a bigger need. Not to mention a mobile, defensive minded center.
Barnes, all the way for me. Gamble and sign him to the max at the start of the FA period. Then Mitch and Jim can waste their time on Durant who hopefully will go to GSW lol.
I think the either/or comes from the discussion amongst guys who play the same spot. in truth, the lakers will be happy to get any one of them, as it would beat what they've done the past three years. am I excited about paying batum, parsons, barnes, or bazemore 20+ per? not really. but more excited than paying the next roy hibbert or Jeremy lin for a year. but I'm a fan. I imagine a general manager has to think differently than that.
I want DeRozan and Deng. We have more than two max slots open you guys. You want Bazemore? I do too, but we can literally pay all three of DeRozan, Bazemore, and Deng if we want them. I also don't think DeRozan is a bad fit. Does he consume a lot of possessions? Sure, but a large part of that is a function of what Toronto does offensively. Casey is not a good coach.