2022-23 Team Developments: News / Trades / Free Agents / Rumors

It’s probably even more realistic to have them come via two separate trades. I would be totally stoked if both of these happen. The Russ trade HAS to happen for any chance at success this year.
On a side note, because Ham decides to completely go against the numbers which show how bad Russ is for this team, I don’t have much faith in him as being the guy we will keep long term. I sure hope he improves and can change my mind.

 

Troy did pretty good actually was always in catch and shoot spots with his hands ready a couple more and that confidence will be through the roof same with rui you could see. Rui yesterday too hands ready to catch n shoot

 

Russell Westbrook is not getting traded. Move on to the next great trade idea.

 

Trent Jr for salary matching and two 2nd rd picks? Klutch client to boot...sounds like a Laker to be soon. It would be odd though, to have Jr and Walker on the roster, along with Reaves and Christie. Someone isn't going to get squeezed out of the rotations. Or traded

 

I'm inclined to agree with the Supreme Fuzzler here though. AD is just getting back, so is Walker, we just traded for Rui. Reaves will be back soon, It doesn't seem logical that we are going to add 3 more players to the mix, this late in the season. It's not a video game, it takes time for guys to adjust to new teammates, game plans and coaching staffs. It seems very unlikely but we shall see soon.

 

That's a pipe dream for sure, would be absolutely amazing.
I've been probably the most adamant against trading both picks but I would honestly rethink it hard if that was on the table.
3 young guys who would still have trade value down the line, specially Trent and Rozier, who fit our next 2 year window perfectly.

A closing lineup of Rozier, Trent, Reaves/Rui/Troy, LeBron and AD is scary.

And it's not completely crazy for Toronto and Charlotte to accept if they got a pick each.
Both guys would give 3 to 4 triples every single night

 

He needs to be, and if not he needs to be taken out of the rotation completely...

 

It wouldn't necessarily be a play for this year. I agree that its too late to completely remake your rotation and mount a deep playoff run. It would be more about turning Russ and Bevs' expiring salaries into new players under team control and giving them another 25 or so games this year to play together before making a run next year. I doubt anything that big happens, but we shouldn't do nothing because we think its too late to contend this season.

 

I think I like Rozier more than Trent as well, and not just because Rozier would be under team control while Trent is an impending free agent. I still can't get a great read on how Trent is defensively and I think Rozier has the stones to play in big games.

 

Yeah well, we'll see what the people that actually get paid, to make those decisions think about that.

 

This season isn't over, we still have LeBron and AD, two of the best players in the game. The West is weak, but we might as well pack it in anyway?That's a loser's mentality IMO.

 

That's why they play the games. Frankly I haven't seen anyone to fear in a 7 game series.

The playoffs are different, stars matter even more in a 7 game series.

 

Oh, so you think that its too late to integrate new rotation pieces but that this group still has a chance to contend. Gotcha. I'm not advocating packing it in, I want to trade Russ and Bev for better players who will also be here longer.

 

Russ isn't getting traded, it still doesn't make any sense at this point. Bev might, he is more likely to be dealt.

 

The Phoenix series is the perfect example. Folks still whine about KCP,Kuz, and Caruso. But those guys were all terrible against the Suns. However we had Lebron on a high ankle sprain, and AD hobbling around on one leg, and EVERYBODY feels like we win that series if AD could have made it through to the end. Phoenix went to the Finals, stars matter in the playoffs, even more than in the regular season.

 

It seems to me that we either trade him now or lose value next year when we let him walk. The sooner we trade him, the sooner we can trade the piece we have traded him for. If it comes down to that.

If LA is ALL about rings then this season is over and we start prepping for next year. If we were going to make a move to salvage THIS season, it should have been made a long time ago. IMHO, these guys are just starting to figure out their places on the team and every change we make throws what we have accomplished so far, out the window. I mean, I really love the Rui acquisition but it has thrown the balance of time for WG and Bryant out of whack. Those guys, now have to find a different way to make an impact. That can really mess a team up, or it can really make them gel, only TIME will tell. Doing it again on the 9th, just adds too much confusion for the other players who are all fighting for a position and their next paycheck. I would STILL make the move and STILL, (weird, the site crashed and I lost some of my post, will attempt to restate what I had written), pray for the best but I doubt my prayers will be answered.

 

If they are smart they will do one or the other...

 

The entire West sans the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Kings, are whining just as hard as us about how bad they are. The fact is there is a lot of parity in the NBA right now and there are some injuries and some bad starts. You all gonna right off the Champs as a .500 or so team? We're 2 wins back of the champs right now. This season has been weird. At least we know the reason for our record was a bad start due to the team not meshing with its new coach and roster for a month or so but after that, injuries have kept us from recovering quickly. The fact is, if we have some health, this roster as stands is one that no team in the NBA wants to meet in the playoffs. Another move for a key player is not going to set us back into the dark ages of chemistry. We will integrate them just fine. There are 26 games left after the trade deadline.

 

We are not going to beat the C Bags, the Bucks, the 76ers, the Nets or the Nuggets. I mean really, if your goal is to make it to the second round, then yippy skippy, we might make it. We are not going through any of these teams above. At least it is very doubtful.

I am not really sure of the money for the Lakers, in terms of making the playoffs vs not making the playoffs. If it is worth the money then they need to go for it, if it is not the point, then just build the team for next year and get as much experience as you can. In the end we are not winning a ring, so do the math.