i think it's more the argument that we broke up the championship formula: size, defense, and lebron as primary offensive engine. ironically, in trying to remedy the latter, it's all that remains. we didn't have to keep kuzma and kcp, but we also didn't have to just jettison perimeter size and athleticism for no return in that department. and yes, AD and lebron's injuries are the biggest story. but the westbrook trade is 1A, and the other mistakes get magnified (or were caused) by the former two.
Ugggh ... that Pincus read. So sloppy and careless with the wonderful bang for the buck talent our scouting staff has brought into the franchise. The letting guys walk for nothing and trading useful players for half season rentals who left just blows.
yeah, makes klutch's weird attempt to back off their involvement after the deadline sort of sad/hilarious. own your failure.
Ok hindsight is 20/20, but thinking back on things at this point, the biggest screw up was Pelinka not moving Schroder for Lowry. I know, the hangup was having to include THT. I had my reservations then thinking we were giving up too much. But that was the move to make. You use an asset in Schroder when we all knew he was gone to free agency since he turned down our offer to test the waters. And while THT is compelling he doesn’t fit the Lebron timetable. Lowry was exactly the kind of vet we needed to play PG with Lebron and AD. With Lowry here we don’t make the Westbrook trade and have solid role players all around. With THT gone we resign Caruso and still add Dwight Melo and Monk on min contracts. Ah well.
Not to mention Rob could've still chased the one who got away -- Hield with Trezz and Kuz if he wanted. Maybe we could've gotten Jones back in some sort of S&T too in a "separate" trade to shore up the big rotation. AD, Bron, Lowry, Hield, AC, Melo, Monk, D12 is a really strong 8 man rotation. Heavy in the backcourt but that seems to have been the plan regardless. We still don't go anywhere this year if Bron and AD still have the same injury luck, but the outlook with both the play in and next year don't appear nearly as bleak.
True, it would fit perfectly. He's really the perfect guard to play with LeBron. Can handle but not too much, shoots the 3 and defends well. We definitely resign Caruso and keep KCP and Kuz. We probably make the Hield deal with Kuz I'm pretty sure. Don't think we would go to Monk. Lowry Caruso KCP/Hield Lebron AD Our closing lineup. Well if Lebron and AD would be equally injured, we would still struggle
If knowing that not making the Lowry trade meant we were doing the Westbrick one, I think most basketball savvy people would easily choose the first one. Then again, LeGM probably “knew”that adding Lowry wouldn’t work.
Yep. It's HERE and look...he's not wrong. It's a rough reality sandwich to take if you're a longtime - even a short-time - Laker fan.
yeah, i forgive them for not moving THT for lowry (i was firmly against it myself), but man, that was a mistake. just night and day in terms of what would be happening right now.
I don't think Rob is top 3 when it comes to the blame pie for this year. He's middle management stuck between people who have more influence like Jeanie (spending) , Lebron (LeGM 2nd guessing his superiors and less than stellar play on court) and Vogel (atrocious on court coaching)
yeah, again, i don't think it was foreseeable, but goodness that was it. so many of the bad things don't happen if we make that trade. no westbrook, almost certain to keep caruso, didn't lose schroder's contract slot for nothing, etc. lowry/caruso kcp/monk/reaves lebron kuz AD/howard just in much better shape, and we'd have had contracts to move.
