Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

QFT.

Shaq was the obvious example. Not a closer, but who's not going to give prime Shaq a Max deal?

 

What the hell is happening in my optimism thread?

I think the point being made is that if Julius wants max money, he needs to bring max effort every night. Using the last game against him in that argument is a little tougher than it needs to be. He was playing fairly well, but some factors outside his control meant he wasn't closing the game for us.

I understand Alcindor's point I think. Julius isn't "the guy" so he doesn't deserve "the guy" money. I agree with that kind of. Vash pointed out in another thread why Julius probably isn't "worth" a max investment. However, I'm not sure it matters. It all really depends on who wants to throw cash at him. I think Dallas is the main threat and could find a way to get him a max deal, but it all remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, back in the optimism department: Orlando tonight should be a blowout.

 

There's no need to get touchy about it, I didn't put words in your mouth. You literally wrote: "But Jules and Isaiah need to pay attention, this is why you won't get close to max contracts. You want Lillard money you close out games like Lillard."

I responded to that statement. I get it with IT - he's not going to get a huge contract as he would have before his injury. And he an absolutely awful game against Portland, easily the worst I've seen from his so far as a Laker and it's not close. I just thought the inclusion of Julius in that sentence made very little sense, especially considering that the game before this one against the Spurs, Randle's play down the stretch ABSOLUTELY without debate helped clinch the game for us. This game he was on fire destroying Portland in the paint all night, Luke took him out and took way too long getting him back in the game in the fourth. From there he really didn't see the ball as IT and KCP decided to play hero ball on their own and cemented the loss.

What kind of deal Julius is going to get is out of our hands. We're going to have to see what happens. The fact though is that he's played outstanding ball all year long and if he gets a big pay day out of it good for him, he deserves it. If we can keep him on a good cheap deal, hey more power to our FO! I'd love to see him stay no matter what, but it's a business and we shall see.

 

Using the last game or the game before or even the last 30 games or so since he became a starter as a point to demean Randle's value or competitiveness is inane. He is a huge reason for our surge in the wins column. His play against the Spurs down the stretch literally sealed the win for us. This is indeed the optimism thread so I don't think trashing our guys who are playing at a high level is positive.

 

I'm not saying I agree with using this game as the prime example, but in a macro sense I can see the argument of "If a player is looking for max money, he needs to bring max player play every single night". For instance guys like Lillard or Giannis are prime candidates for a max contract. Julius plays a high level, but probably below that threshold.

If that's the argument, I understand it. I'm not judging Julius's whole season off of last game for sure. The guy has been tremendous. I argued for Julius for four years, I love that kid, I'd love to keep him around. He's done a lot of proving himself this season. One of my favorite things to point out about Julius coming into this season was how he's improved every year he's been in the league. Personally, I think Julius is worth somewhere in the 15-20 million range, closer to 17-18 million which is a significant amount of money. I think he's a deeply impactful player when he's on and going hard. He's certainly been very responsible for our current stretch of success and he's making it very difficult to move on.

 

Randle does things that no one else is willing or able to do on this team. And it's not just offense, and that should be part of the consideration of how valuable a guy is. He's our only Big who is truly capable of and GOOD at (which is a very important point) switching on smaller guys. We found out earlier this year that he is also credible as a small ball center, something which I very much doubted in the past. This is one of the main reasons I want to retain him next year if at all possible to pair up with one or two big time free agents. He's a beast on the block, a great switching big on D, and a potential starting small ball center doubling with some time at the 4.

I feel the situation is entirely different with the other two guards on our team who are vying for max contracts than the situation with Julius. IT unfortunately just isn't healthy and his hip is a huge concern for his next contract. He's not going to get max based on what he's shown so far. It just isn't happening for him. I think it's similar for KCP. He had a chance to sign an extremely lucrative contract in Detroit and I feel like he blew it. On the Lakers he's been fine but nowhere the level of play to get that kind of offer again.

Perhaps not coincidentally both of those two players, IT and KCP really blew it for us down the stretch and looked awful against Lillard. They were both selfish and playing hero ball. It didn't work. They both failed miserably although IT much more so. Meanwhile Julius as I mentioned play outstanding. We haven't even talked about the fact that since missing those 5 free throws some games ago, he went into the gym, stayed there practicing free throws much of the night and since then has been absolutely superb from the line. The other night he was 9 for 9 from the line. Last game he was 7 of 8. Meanwhile, the ultra dependable IT who shoots nearly 90% bricked a clutch free throw down the stretch vs. Portland that could have helped us and him salvage that game.

In other words, Randle is getting a pay bump this year. That much is an absolute fact. Whether it's from us or from another team depends upon the market this summer, it's not up to us completely. He's improved a great deal and his play has elevated us this year in a big way. He'll be very deserving of his pay increase in regards to how hard he's worked and the results he's showing. I do hope we can keep him and that it will be as cheap a contract as possible for our cap space. We'll have to see what happens this summer.

 

We have a tough schedule and most of those teams are in the playoff hunt so they probably are not going to mail in games along the way.

But honestly, at this point I expect the Lakers to beat some of them at home at least.

I think we will easily get to 35+ wins which is a successful season in my book and above the general expectations.

 

Right now we would be giving up the 12th pick in the draft which makes it a lot easier to handle.