Anthony Davis Discussion: Thanks For The Ring AD!!!

We overpaid for a scoring Ben Wallace.

AD is great but the only recent player worth all those assets was maybe young LBJ or young and healthy KD.

You say he does 37 things well and doesn't do 39 things but that's like saying you have a car with nice paint, early warning system, good cupholders, airbags, seat belts, bumpers, windshield wipers etc, but doesn't have the speed to win a race or a driver with the killer instinct and nerves of steel.

The ability to close and lead teams to victory is the most important part about being a great player... Otherwise you are Pau or Bosh.

Now if we combined him with young LBJ or Dame or healthy Kawhi, then I'd say we were in good shape. But that will never happen now because we managed to get rid of Julius, DLO, Nance, Clarkson, LouWill, BI, Lonzo, Hart, Thomas Bryant, Zubac, Bonga, Svi, Mo, #4 pick, two future firsts, other second round picks.

It's a breathtaking amount of assets to lose for one great player in their prime and one great who is getting old.

It sounds good on paper to have two top five players but considering AD has never been able to win by himself it's taking a huge leap of faith to imagine he suddenly will be able to replace a declining LBJ.

Even his most ardent supporters admit that isn't who he is.

Title winning duos?

A young LBJ/AD combo... yes
A Dame/AD combo... yes
A healthy Kawhi/AD combo... yes
A Jimmy Butler/AD combo... maybe

An old LBJ/AD combo... maybe this year but that's probably it.

Competing for a title for one year wasn't worth losing those 16 assets. We aren't desperate Cleveland... We are the Lakers. We gave up everything for LBJ's window not ours. I can't argue that we were poor but I think were at the verge of a breakthrough before Klutch took over.

Maybe some of you think making the playoffs was worth the price after six years of failure. If we were some obscure small market like OKC or New Orleans maybe I'd agree. I just disagree that we had to make this move right now. Sure maybe we'd miss the playoffs one or two more years... doubtful with LBJ, but the worst case scenario would be that he wasted his time. Instead, he may have given us one false dawn in exchange for another period of hardship.

It's ironic that you've championed AD so much while also admitting that you most likely need the scoring wings to win the title.

You give up that much for Jordan, not Pippen.

 

I've said a hundred times if LBJ was young I'd understand it. I don't understand doing it for one year or two years of prime LBJ.

Of course I get that all assets weren't for AD... but if one player is expiring then it ends up becoming one superstar hopefully later than sooner.

On one hand Abeer is saying there are no great scoring wings available, on the other hand we are going to magically sign one with no assets when LBJ retires?

Either there are good wing options available and we could have signed one eventually or there aren't any.

I suppose people will say this year there weren't. Well part of the due diligence in divesting oneself of all those assets is making sure you have at least a few verbal agreements with said targets in advance.

It was too many assets and hopefully one day people will realize I'm on the side of Laker fans and not the enemy.

 

Where did I say we gave away 16 players to acquire AD. I said we divested 16 assets to sign old LBJ and AD.
If LBJ was young it makes some sense... since he's old it ultimately becomes 1 player pretty quickly.

 

Wow. Just wow. I’ll take Ben Wallace with Rasheed Wallace’s offensive game.

you take...all your assets. I win. Proof is already in the pudding.

 

I agree I was unclear so I will concede that to you.

But I've posted enough that most know what I meant by that.

I'm sorry but I can't give credit for the Kawhi moves because they were done at the last minute.

Is that more excusable because of that?... sure... but it wasn't good planning imo.

 

You do know that the Lakers get some serious cap relief after LeBron goes, right..?
& AD will still be in his prime. I love BI, Zo & Hart, but AD is one of the Top 10 Players in this League.
Can't believe we're still debating this trade.

 

If LBJ leaves in a timely manner, and AD signs with us long term, then yes it can still end well.

If he stays too long past his expiration date that could neutralize two or three years of AD's prime.

It wasn't just BI, Zo, and Hart... it's losing almost everyone that has us struggling to find spare parts.

I can't believe people are still defending the price when we are agreeing about the holes.

Acquiring AD... good

Losing almost everyone... not optimal.

 

We have our 1st round pick this year, I'm sure our talent evaluators will do a good job with that pick.

 

and we have a top 10 nba player in his prime.

the only player we lost that isn't easily replaceable at MLE or less is ingram. seriously, not a big deal.

 

Just couldn't disagree more..
You're banking on BI or Zo ever becoming anything close to LeBron or AD.. (not happening, btw)
What other pieces did we lose that we didn't replace with Players with more Playoff experience...?
Don't say draft picks, cuz those can always be acquired, & this Team has a helluva lot fewer "holes" than we've had over the past 5-6 Years.
Give me this Team over potential any Day...

 

Who were you planning on paying their going market rate, once ALL those guys got to their better basketball versions the next one or two years? Cause once you start maxing them and over paying to keep them it doesn't look so rosy does it if you're STILL not winning a ring? Oh, what's that? They become assets to trade, and hope you bring in someone better with more championship GRIT?

 

Come on now don't be shy about standing up for your opinion. Give yourself the proper multiple here. 4x? 6x? 8x?

 

Oh bleep here we go again with this NONSENSE of yours. This was the last time I got really irked with you posting. What a clownish statement. What a dumb statement.

 

He's facing the same challenge that Pau Gasol faced. He needs to play tougher and be ok with taking the punishment physically on offense and defense. If he cannot do that we will not win a ring. This mid range stuff isn't going to work in the playoffs

 

White Swan

he should feel extra insulted by that