2016 Rumor Mill: Trades and Players to Watch

Trading Randle and Clarkson for Cousins makes no sense when we could possibly pick up Whiteside in FA without losing either of our young bucks.

 

Real and Savory, I don't agree that a Randle/JC package is the only way we land Cousins. I think Clarkson and Hibbert would be a very appealing starting place for them. Their wing play is terrible and in need of a playmaker like JC. Hibbert gives them a three headed monster with WCS and Koufas, and WCS can play some PF as he's shown. Young would also be a huge addition at SF for them, especially if they plan on dumping Rudy. I think Cousins could go a long way towards recruiting big FA's. I can see DAR and Boogie putting on a show.

 

Replace derozan with nick batum

 

... one ball .

 

I don't see a Cousins/Derozen/Durant lineup "crushing it right away". Cousins is a proven talent, but he hasn't proven himself as a winner. Ditto with Derozen. Batum has at least been involved in winning a playoff series. Granted, it was only one playoff series two seasons ago. Batum's 3 & D style fits in better with Durant and Russell, but it's still far from being a championship team.

I'd only trade for Cousins and sign Derozen if Durant agrees to come. Otherwise, I don't see the point.

 

I think we have a great chance of signing DeRozen in the offseason.

I just don't see any reason to trade for Cousins when we can wait and make a run at Whiteside or even Al Horford this offseason. I don't think he improves the team enough to break up our young core for him.

 

I choose Horford in a nanosecond over Whiteside, and I like Whiteside a lot. Horford is the PERFECT center for Randle and Russell to play with. Team player who is mobile enough to roll and finish and is shooting like 50%fg from midrange. He also draws Durant much more.

Derozen and Whiteside would be a very nice summer. But, man...where's our shooting with a lineup of Russell/Clarkson/Derozen/Randle/Whiteside? I guess it's not a TON worse than Nash/Bell/Marion/Diaw/Amare (shooting wise, not talent wise).

 

I agree that we would have rim protection issues, but I think Horford and DeRozen are the two guys I want the most this summer (outside of Durant of course).

At this point, I'm looking more at just improving the overall talent level of the team. We can try and fix issues a bit further down the right IMO. Let's get back to just putting a respectable unit on the floor.

 

Agree with your point as far as improving overall talent level, which is why DeRozan is my preferred aquisition over Batum.

While Batum is a nice fit as far as his 3 and D type of game, I don't think his overall talent is greater than Demar's. With a guy like DeRozan, you have a player that has consistently improved every year to this point, and seems to have the mentality of a guy who wants to be one of the best players in the league. He is a guy that can create his own shot with ease, and has proven these last few years to be a decent go-to player down the stretch of games. While I like Batum a lot, he still strikes me as a player that doesn't quite produce enough relative to his incredible skillset...seems like a great teammate/too unselfish-for-his-own good type of player IMO.

 

Less than Westbrook means?

 

Guys, I get way too excited reading your ideas considering the issue is basketball... but please tell me just why just about any of those names would come to the Lakers of 2016. i really want to believe it too, but money seems like our biggest (almost only) argument and the named can get as much elsewhere with a chance to win.

Derozan - winning team, says he loves Toronto, money
Horford - same? Maybe not exactly, but he seems like he wants to win more than anything and will get offers
Batum - probably most realistic, no Game changer...
Durant - why?
Whiteside - better Teams will want him, he is already on one, money?

So it only works if we get 2-3 main guys at about the same time? Who is gonna be talking but mitch? I am scared...

 

yeah, that's been my private thoughts about most of these discussions. until russell and/or randle blossoms into an allstar, the lakers aren't getting a big fish.

i think the hope with derozan is that he's a hometown guy, but that seems more fan fantasy than reality in most FA decisions.

not sure what whiteside's contract situation is in miami, but they *may* have to clear things out to offer max, and they don't have bird rights, so no extra year. that gives the lakers a puncher's chance.

but horford/durant....i'm guessing there won't even be a meeting.

and batum? not sure how he got elevated to the status of the others. i don't think i pay his max unless he's the final piece, which wouldn't be the case here.

i expect big bags of nothing at the deadline and in FA next year--the latter circumstance only changes if the lakers keep their pick.