Tank Tank Or Tank Tank Tank?

That's why the Lakers should shop him so they don't lose him for nothing as a free agent. That's also why they should shop Lou. While not a free agent this summer, he'll be a free agent after next season. So it's leading into the same situation, except Lou's value is higher now than this summer or at the trade deadline next year. I'd love to target fringe playoff squads like Detroit - a team I actually referenced as a potential trade partner for Lou. They may be looking for that veteran boost to help them make the playoffs and could part with a young talent who isn't in the rotation due to being behind more proven veterans or could part with a 1st round pick that would be in that 13-17 range by draft time.

 

I'd prefer a 3 & D player. Johnson is pretty much just D. They tried it with Anthony Brown and after a few 10 day contracts he's back out of the league.

 

Unlikely a team gives up a young 3 & D guy for Young.
Young only does one thing, so likely the Lakers only get back a player who does one thing haha

 

Swaggy has grown on me though. Couldn't stand him at first, but I'd hope he ends up in a good situation. I'd prefer to move Lou, and get more value, then again moving them both is more logical.

 

I'm with you. Swaggy has bounced back big time this season. Gotta respect that.

 

realdeal was all over him as well.

 

I was joking around with Oak about the "one thing". We've known each other from the other board for years, so it probably didn't read that way to others. Sorry about that.

But yes, I'm obviously on board with trading Young (and Lou) because of the value standpoint.

 

neither looks as good as russell did, pre-draft.

this is a straw man. of course having a pick is better than not. the question is whether you should deconstruct a team for a slightly increased chance at having a pick. this is the tank thread, remember?

myopic, eh? i think underestimating current value for potential future value is problematic. the late 1st might be good. lou is good. lou may choose to re-sign at a discount rate like young did and continue to be a viable asset both as a contributor to wins and as a trade bait.

now, if i've got the trade market all wrong, and lou's worth a high pick to someone, the numbers start working in your favor. but right now, you're putting way too much faith in our scouting (which i will agree is among the better groups in the league) and not enough in known quantities.

someone would have to blow me away for lou. cleveland's 29th pick wouldn't move the needle.

 

Lebron wants a playmaker (what does that make Kyrie?) How about instant offense instead? Trade Young and Williams to Cleveland for expiring contracts or picks or something. Win win.

 

I agree that neither Ball or Smith look as good as Russell overall. Russell was a stud pre-draft, #2 pick for a reason. I'd just rather have Russell at SG. It's not so much I think he is an incapable playmaker. I think he has 20+ppg potential but he needs to have scoring be his primary focus. As such, adding a quality PG is a move I'd like to see the Lakers make and the timing just so happens that this draft has 3 solid PG prospects at the top and I'd be thrilled with any of them. I'm admittedly a Lonzo Ball fan because of his pass-first, pass-second, pass-third mentality and would be thrilled with a Ball-Russell-Ingram-Randle-Zubac starting lineup down the road.

This discussion is about trading Lou Williams. Trading him isn't the deconstruction of the team. Yes this is the tank thread but I've been saying that trading Lou isn't really tanking. It's just a logical move for a bad team to take advantage of the value of an older player. As you noted, the move increases the chance of the Lakers keeping their pick, which as you also noted is better than not keeping it. That's a tangible benefit. Along with freeing up playing time for the young players. I just don't personally see any tangible benefits to keeping Lou - and again, I say this as someone who really really likes him. That's just my opinion. I don't share similar concerns about getting younger or other concerns that have been brought up.

Underestimating current value for potential future value IMO isn't problematic on a bad team in a lost season. Not taking advantage of current value to try and obtain viable future value is a mistake in this context.

Young signed his 4 year very moderately priced extension in 2014 when he was 29 and given he was born and raised in LA and went to USC, he was giving a hometown discount. When Lou hits free agency in 2018, he will be entering his age 32 season and 14th season in the NBA. I'm not overly interested in signing him to a contract extension at that point. You are not likely to get your moneys worth there. Also, as someone born in Memphis and having grown up in Georgia, unlikely a hometown discount occurs.

I've said I would trade Lou to fringe playoff teams, whether outside looking in or inside but barely holding on, and looking for the veteran boost that a solid player like Lou would provide in their chances of making the playoffs. I threw out 2 trade ideas and they involved Charlotte and Detroit. The former right now is pick #16. The latter #12. And both ideas involved the Lakers getting back a veteran point guard (Ramon Sessions or Ish Smith). That's the type of trade I am talking about. I've said I'm not in the business of trading for the sake of trading. The trade has to be a viable return and I think a capable player + mid-range 1st round is a viable return.

 

Indeed I did break a cardinal rule with my proposal; that of helping Lebron. I retract my offer! You can't hold me to that Queen James!