Official 2016 Free Agency Thread

I understand your thinking. I tend to go the other way. While obviously, Westbrook is a great player I like our group of young guys and want to see them develop. I'm not sure Westbrook could consistently play a good team game. During the playoffs he showed he could for a game or two but converted back to a one man show when it got to crunch time. I want to see good Laker team basketball. The Lakers have a very good chance of putting something very special together. The Warriors will be huge favorites for the foreseeable future but you never know how injuries and egos can change a team. I know he will never say it but it is possible part of Durant's decision might have had something to do with being tired of playing with Westbrook. Certainly an exciting time for the Lakers either way.

 

Right. Choke. That is what you see? Losing their starting center, having their best player only at 80%, their best wing defender hurt, and their best defender suspended for a game had nothing to do with them losing a 3-1 lead? And the League deciding to have the whistles swallowed to ensure a 7-game series makes them chokers? Even that aside (giving the Cavs and Bron some credit for the Kyrie performances), the core already won a ring, the comeback against OKC shows they don't choke, the close-out games to get to 73, and a coach that won titles with the Bulls and Spurs as a player. They are chokers and don't know how to win?? Don't see that at all. They had some injuries, and untimely suspensions, and a good player go 5 for 33 in the last 3 games. KD won't do what Barnes did. I see nothing that indicates that Steph is a choker. Or Green. Or Klay.

 

I don't know about Bass, does he fit after signing Tarik? I'm hoping for another guard.

 

So do we still have salary we need to spend just to reach the floor? Or are we at that point already? I could understand trying to preserve a little bit of space for next year, but if we still need to reach the floor I'm guessing we'll at least try to get another signing, maybe on a one year deal.

Things seem to be quiet for us though. Apparently Allen Crabbe is scheduled to have a meeting with someone tomorrow. Maybe thats with us. I'm holding out hope that Mitch is super secretively trying to get a deal done with Wade. I mean we did apparently try to spend big money on Dirk last summer.

 

Warriors will be fun to watch but I have a feeling Thompson's numbers are going to nosedive. I don't know where he's gonna find the opportunities to score.

I remember when the Big 3 in Boston teamed up, Ray Allen's numbers nosedived quite a bit

 

Me too.

 

"Dwyane, Riles had done you dirt ever since Bron came and they made YOU take less money. We're building a jugglers knot here in L.A. .... and you're the GUY who can shock the world in spite of the new evil empire up north. Plus I got more $Millions for you to show you we're serious. We're very excited. I'll get off the phone now..... here's Luuke."

 

But it was nowhere near as funny as the original quote. Humor is a good thing right about now in Lakers Land along with both these below quick on an empty stomach.

 

Wonder what West has up his sleeve for center prospect going forward, not that it needs more than about 6'10" and a pulse.


But seriously will be interesting. Ezeli?

 

So you're in favor of trading ingram/dlo?

 

Is that how much total cap room we have left, or much money we need to spend to reach the salary floor?