Next several years? I disagree with that. The Lakers are on their way up and they should see at least a 10-15 game improvement. With that said it's not unreasonable to think the Lakers will be back in the playoffs in 2-3 years. Everyone is really high on Ingram and Russell and most at the very least see them being All Stars and maybe even superstars and now they are in a position to reach that potential with a really solid young coach who is clearly trying to and I fully believe will change the culture along with some quality veterans to help our young guys grow. Getting Westbrook is a bummer, but it's far from the end of the world. The team is still a lot better today then it was last season. We're better just by the fact we have a real basketball coach now. These kids have already shown flashes what they could last season. We saw both Randle and Russell improve as the season went on and the latter was pretty good whenever Byron let him play through mistakes and didn't yank him at very opportunity. Nance and Clarkson have already shown they should've gone a lot higher than they did. Ingram and Zubac showed they can really play in summer league. Although Ingram struggled a bit just by some of the moments here and there you can tell this kid has superstar written all over him. Russell clearly looks like a different player as well. He and Randle also looked fantastic with the select team drawing praise from everyone seemingly. There is still plenty of reason for hope. This is how OKC and Golden State did as well as the Spurs. Build through the draft. As bad as the Lakers have been it's allowed them to have these prime draft picks and they've done an excellent job. Russell much like Ingram has star written all over him. Once he finds that better balance between passing and scoring he will really take off and his defense will get better with more experience as well. Ingram will add more strength and will be able to finish inside more, won't get bumped easily on the perimeter, and he'll be better defensively because he can be more physical. Julius is a 15 and 13 guy per 36 minutes and the kid can't even shoot yet. I know you and me both are high on Julius. Hell he could end up being the best of all these guys. He has that much potential. He's already a productive NBA player and once he improves those obvious flaws not just the jumper, but using his right hand more, taking better shots, screening, and his overall defense he is really gonna be a problem in the NBA. Clarkson and Nance probably have the lowest ceiling, but that doesn't mean their ceiling is low overall just perhaps not quite as high as the first three guys. They've already shown to be tremendous basketball players with high basketball IQ, great athletic ability, a guy like Larry is everywhere whether he's switching, rotating from the weak side to block a shot, just moves his feet well and knows how to use that absurd defensive ability and Clarkson looks like a guy who could be a 20 point scorer in the NBA and those don't grow on trees. Even if his defense doesn't improve he is still a heck of a weapon to have. All in all I understand the frustration and I understand why people would wanna give up Russell and Randle or heck even Russell and Ingram for Westbrook. Me personally I wouldn't have done either, but I understand where people are coming from. The guy is a great basketball player, but I fully believe we have a couple of those on our hands right now. Just need to let them grow and mature under a great young coach who will grow with them and knows how to connect with them, knows how to communicate, will teach them, will lead them, will coach a style of basketball that is conducive to winning and will lean on a quality coaching staff when things aren't going real well. The Lakers are just fine.
By the way guys, this is far from over. 1. Remember that what this does is strengthen Oklahoma's bargaining position. If at some point in the next year it becomes clear that OKC isn't working out, Westbrook can demand out and his return will be doubled. There were many of you guys saying "well if he was guaranteed for a year or two, I'd throw everything at them". Well now is that chance. There's no longer an opportunity to low ball OKC in an effort to get Russell. If you want him, cough up the assets. 2. He comes clear at the same time as Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins. Go figure. You better be ready for the Lakers to make a run at all three of them when they're able to.
^yep. i'm mostly glad it's over because the speculation was going to hang over the entire season, and i was scared if the lakers did trade for him, there was a chance he could still walk. this is a better situation, for okc and for the lakers, imo. i think it hurts boston more, honestly, as they're going to have to pony up all their assets if they want him now, and it means the only big name FA likely to move next summer plays the same position as their high-priced new addition. given that the horford signing partially shifted them into win-now mode, the clock is ticking for them to add a couple more big time players. the lakers have the option of developing their youth a while longer. enes kanter is a tool, btw.
Agreed. I was getting nervous that the Lakers were preparing to make an offer that was unreasonable given Westbrook's ability to walk at the end of the year. Now if we make the move, we can rest assured that the risk is minimized a bit AND it's more unlikely that such a move is made. The only way I see OKC moving Westbrook now is if they get off to a REALLY rough start this year and even then they'll ask for the world. This way we stick to our rebuild script and we get to find out what these kids got. I'm happy about that. I feel like many fans might grow impatient at this process, but I'm excited to see if we drafted as well as I believe we did.
Nope. I'm done. Never again. I'm done with free agency. This was one guy I thought the Lakers really had a shot with. Such a let down.
Glad we can move on. At the very least, this gives us an opportunity to evaluate our young talent this season. Interesting tidbit
obviously Westbrook is waiting for his future Laker teammates to grow up before coming home...thats why it was a 3yr with a player option on that 3rd...he signed a 2yr deal basically...he thinks Ingram will weigh enough by then
If it was just Russell AND Randle...I would have pulled the trigger. Westbrook on the team would make us a borderline playoff team until Ingram hits his stride. On another note...in a year or two, Zu could conceivably be better than that troll Kanter. It's OK he'll get his. Up 3-1 and no Heimlich maneuver.
Glad to know we'll at least see the kids first and what they can do before trading them. But man this will get interesting if Westbrook ever demands out during the season.
Funny taste in clothes but i couldn't care less about his wardrobe, im not the one wearing it. Him re-signing with OKC, shows how far away are we from attracting free agents. He was one of the very few guys with "LA ties/connections", "destined" to wear P&G. Winning can fix all this, so lets hope our guys stay healthy and excede expectations (at least my expectations... because i think some of the fans overrate them a lot anyways).
