Man, I had to SEARCH for this thread. A turn around started tonight for us Lakers fans. We've been through the most unfortunate of circumstances the last 2 or so years but tonight that changed. It will continue during the summer because of the following reasons: We have the following assets; number 2nd pick, 27th pick, 34th pick. We'll end up with Okafor and/or Towns, and I'm excited about BOTH potential prospects for various reasons. Either of them will fill a position of need, be on a cost controlled rookie contract, and have massive upside to be game changing impact players for years to come. More importantly, and often overlooked, no character issues and wonderful people from everything I've heard. read, and seen in interviews. The 27th and 34th pick could be packaged in a trade or used to find more depth to add to a roster in dire need of talent infusion. Oh, did I mention our cap space? We'll have room to add a max-level player i.e. Aldridge or Love. If no max-free agents come here, we could take the value approach and still upgrade our roster while maintaining cap flexibility but putting a more competitive product on the basketball floor. I think we'll be more inclined to signed free agents next year and use our cap space. I'm sure Mitch will also be active in trade scenarios as well. I predict we make the Playoffs next year...bookmark this page. Lakers Fans Celebrate! We're back!
I don't see us making the playoffs but next season will be great anyways though (just stay healthy please).
Mannnnn, with Towns/Okafor all we need is to spend on a legit SF and were on a roll. and there is so many options (Middelton, Butler, Carrol, Harris). Unless Gasol wants to come here I don't want any big guy signed. not even Diandre Jordan. Spend on a SF and some good bench players.
We finally have some hope. That #2 pick makes up for the Nash debacle. Road to recovery begins here. We're building a young core (Clarkson, Randle, Okafor/Towns) that will hopefully be our guys for years to come, and they're all on rookie salaries, which leaves money for free big name agents. This was a great day for the Lakers, made this awful season and rooting for taking pay off. All we need is a PG, a SF, and to hopefully to retain Ellington as Kobe's backup, and Ed David, because he's all hustle. Wes needs to go though, tired of him.
Lakers' lucky number comes up in NBA draft lottery with No. 2 pick http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-nba-draft-lottery-lakers-20150520-story.html
Ahhh, back to this thread... Feelsgoodman!! Next season should be fun. Now, I'm not saying we are going to win the championship or anything, but it will be fun for sure. Just stay healthy.
Even if we're not quite a playoff team this coming season, it'll be such an improvement to have a squad that's actually fun to watch rather than tanking. Losing Randle opening night last year basically took away 90% of my reason for watching the team as much as possible, but in the long run, it likely landed us either Okafor/Towns. That's a win.
Thanks @RandleROFY for bumping this thread! I'm HOME!!! I was going to write an editorial piece, but I'll just do it here. Now to be fair we had more hope than we realize. Randle will be back. Clarkson is a 1st Team All-Rookie. Tarik Black, Jabari Brown, and Ryan Kelly are all solid young bench players. We had cap space to add a max deal if not a couple good pieces... Now though we're going to have a young core of Clarkson, Randle, and either Okafor or Towns... That's what we've been dreaming about since we knew we'd be in this position! I can't wait for workouts to start and for Summer League. This is an exciting time again for us.
Our summer league team could sport a starting five of: Okafor/Randle/Rondae Hollis-Jefferson/Jabari Brown/Clarkson Domination...even if it's only summer league.
RandleROFY ^^^ What a great spring and summer.....that last night abso-fricking-lutely guarantees will be had on LB. I mean ..... from the possible shoot us all now scenario to euphoria instead, and WE HAVE LOTS OF MONEY TO SPEND. Holy Crap Batman!!!
Next season ain't gonna suck as bad. There have been talks of the organization had no direction but those talking heads conveniently discount the injuries, the bad breaks, the core that aged and being Sterned. It is a rebuild but we are off to a fine start this past season and the next. The games lost this season were due to inexperience and youth. It is not such a bad thing as it landed us where we will be on the 25th. We could be trending up while the people across the hall are heading the opposite direction. In the near future, if we hoist another Larry O'Brien, we can use their locker room for our sweaty unis and jockstraps. Then again, we have too much class to do such a thing.
At this point I have to REALLY disagree. Just my opinion, and I know what they're like. The 900lb gorilla caveat of give us some freaking REASONABLY good luck in the health department next year. No long term injuries or scratches from our chosen roster.
Let's truly comprehend this; we have cap space, 3 picks, the best GM in the business, the best scouting department in the business, and a rising salary cap. We're making the playoffs next year. We'll be contenders in 2 seasons. Book it.
It's terrific to have positive commentary all over this board now! The stench of the past two seasons is behind us all, a re-birth of Laker brand is on the horizon. I don't expect a miracle next year but fully expect a fun, energetic, competitive team unlike the past two seasons.
Here's something else. And it's HUGE. I think it is WAY pre-mature to assume Kobe won't be much of a factor this year. In my 900lb caveat of "REASONABLY" good luck in the health department, I include Kobe. He played for years apparently with the bad rotator cuff. It's fixed. Mike Jordan at his Wizards level of play with our final roster we have for the 2015-2016 season is impossible of course. Or is it??? Think about it. Kobe had while he played this year little more help (?) (as much help?) as he had in the couple of Smush years. Tried too hard with a ready to fail right arm and coming back from two freak injuries. Byron didn't help with overworking him, before he was slapped into the possibilities and necessity of the TANK by the front office. Kobe, just on the floor, and in the ears, and slapping respect into these guys in practice, with his remaining skills and KNOWLEDGE he willingly shares for those that want it, is nothing but WIN. THEY ALL COME TO LEARN THE MINDSET OF WINNERS AND ALPHA DOGS. But...... If Kobe is able at 37 (I think he is, if healthy) to also give us anywhere close to what Mike gave the Wizards talent wise at 39...... again Holy Crap Batman. There's a number of eager, potential alpha dogs on next year's roster..... learning from the most alpha dog of alpha dog short list. I've come to love Byron's game face as well. Even last night at the LOTTO. All business. These exceptionally talented young players we will have assembled, just for next year are learning championship mindset from the BEST OF THE BEST.
