LLLLLebron is really a closer, and neither is PG. So unless our guys step into that role (We know a couple of them think they want it, but haven't been able to prove it yet), that means it needs to come from outside. Bringing in LLLLL gets you to the playoffs, but it won't carry you to the Finals in the West. He'd be a good guy to learn the game and preparation from, but he's more concerned about winning rings to catch other greats. Overall, disappointed in the PG's role/effort, etc. A Kobe type would have had words with Russ or not given up the ball LOL. I don't know the answer, but I'm starting to think having (2) 1b alphas instead of a 1A may be nice, but it might not ever be enough to get it done.
I like this plan a lot and have been bringing it up a fair bit. I think to match salaries with Spurs you could ask for Danny Green coming back. That puts Hart to the bench. You’d also have the MLE to get a good combo guard. Personally I’d prefer to trade Lonzo instead of Ingram. I think this is a league where big wings dominate. So after Lebron retires I hope Ingram is the next guy to step up and be the 1B to Kawhi’s 1A. But that’s my personal preference and keeping Lonzo instead is no issue. I just think we’d need another offensive weapon after Lebron/Lopez/Green sail off into the sunset - I can see Ingram being that guy.
Gasol at his prime best meshed well with 24... He commanded doubles, played within the Tri, defended AND made sure his teammates such as Odom or Bynum were involved. Also he and 24 had chemistry that George and Westbrook are yet to establish...or maybe not.
I totally get you. I'm 50/50 on lonzo vs Ingram. They both are likely to be dynamic in different ways. If lonzo can improve his shooting I lean ever so slightly in his favor. Though I voted Ingram in the other thread. If PG comes here this is a beastly team as well: Lonzo/vet/Caruso PG/Hart Ingram/Kuz/Hart Lebron/Kuz/fry Lopez/vet/Bryant
If Lonzo can improve his shooting I take him as well. No doubt. He is an elite playmaker, at his size and with a little bit of added weight, he can be an elite defender from 1-3. If he can become a good scorer, he will be a heck of a player. He just had historically bad shooting efficiency and shot selection this season.
You know what really is disappointing about George, in the second half yesterday he just passed up shot after shot. He could of had 10 extra field goals quite easily that he threw back to Russ. That would of put their FGs at 26 for PG and 33 for Westbrook. Hate to see great players wilt in the face of pressure.
I felt like that watching Giannis today in the C bag game. I just did not see a guy willing to shove it down your throat. Just being genetically gifted will get you by in the regular season, but being "the man" in the playoffs is a different thing altogether. Some players are just not wired for success in those moments. We're lucky to have had some that were that played for our home team.
Watching the OKC-Jazz series has me thinking more than ever about talent vs fit, and for this team I think retaining Randle (plus any assets we can sign for the salary difference) may be more important than signing George alone, especially because I feel Ingram would give us similar production to George in a year or two. Not that it matters because we can sign both players, but if we were to sign Lebron for example and we had $30M left in cap space, I prefer to keep Randle + Lopez over signing George.
Saw the exact same thing with Giannis. Both went gently into the night. It’s one of the reasons why I love AD, Westbrook and Kawhi, these guys just go at you. And why I’m not the biggest fan of Durant and Lebron either. Go New Orleans by the way!! They along with the Pacers and Jazz have been a real revelation these playoffs.
I don’t buy that at all. That makes literally zero sense to me. You’re telling me a 28 year old, that has 4 more years in his physical prime, is going to start throwing years away? A player who thinks he is a top 10 player, who just joined the current MVP? I’m pretty sure they all believed they could win it all this year. Even if he is leaving this off season you go as far as you possibly can. With the fire power they had on the roster, you might just get lucky with a few injuries along the way and win a ring. There’s no throwing series and years away. And if by some off chance he did, why on earth would any of you want him on the Lakers?
for the ones who is asking is pg worth max, obviously not but thats what it takes....meanwhile we have chumps like deng making 18mill and mozgov making 17mill...good for thought lol
theyre not bringing randle back at 15+mill to be a backup n im sure randle wont be happy being a backup regardless of who's in front of him
i don't disagree. But... Maybe he's been really unhappy for a while. Maybe specifically towards russ's style of play. Maybe he knew they weren't going far or weren't even likely to win this game so he went out with a passive aggressive f*** you to Russ? "Here ya go, shoot as much as you'd like!"
I'm not buying it, why didn't he do the same in game 5? If it was passive aggressive, why was he so reverential to Russ in the postgame interview and about how he would love to stay at the thunder? Usually, the simplest answer is the correct one - he just had a shocking game in a key moment.
