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

Who said we have to hide him? I don't remember James guarding those two guys much during the chip season. I don't really remember them guarding him much either. I'm sure they will be occasional matchups involving them. AD should be guarding Kawhi in the 1st place IMO. Pass him off on the perimeter but pick him up in the paint. There is more than one way to skin a cat, teams employ matchup zones, double, trap, it's not all about one on one defense anyway. Hamm preaches D, I noticed that the Bucks were pretty varied in their strategy, depending on the team they were playing and the game situation. I think the Lebron is going to tank our D stuff is a bit much, even at 38. I would deploy him differently than I would when he was 30.

 

people kept asking who's going to guard tatum/kawhi, etc. i say lebron (or, as you suggest, AD). i promise whatever mini mle wing we get isn't going to do a better job than 38-year old lebron or AD at the task.

iow, yes, i want wings, but no, i don't think our mini mle MUST be spent on one.

 

Agh the Westbrook stuff..Again give me a healthy Lebron and AD all season and then tell me about Russell Westbrook. Most of the whole team was a minus last season.
I don't know if Vogel would have played Plumlee either. I'm not sure what the hell was up with Frank last season but he could have used Dwight a lot more but chose not to. Rambis had a valid point about his lack of using his bigs.

Yeah but Hayward is owed 31 million next season, that doesn't help our cap. And he won't be around come playoffs in either season. And giving them clowns a 1st round pick negated anything positive from that trade idea IMO. It further limits our ability to make moves. I'd rather hold that 47 million expiring contract for something better than this idea because it all comes off our books next summer, and keep my draft picks.

 

The FA pool is just so shallow.

Monk was a good surprise last year.

For as much as I don't want Melo back, he was a good value signing for the minimum.

Baze, DJ, & Ellington we're all busts. I knew 2 of the 3 would be. I thought Baze would be better.

Ideally, we hit on 1 of these undrafted wings. That would be great. We signed a couple. I'll be watching SL to see if any jump off on the screen.

 

Name that guy then..let's see his defensive stats compared to James and Davis specifically against those folks you listed. Hell name him on OUR team from the last two seasons.

 

I don't see Warren demanding a mini, he hasn't played at all since the bubble. I think Jones can be had at the min. Hartenstein and Monk..I'd pitch Hartenstein if Monk signed elsewhere, but I'd go heavy on promoting the idea of him cashing in with us next season if Malik took it. Unlike a lot of you guys, I think the idea of us having over 100 million off the books next summer, is going to be enticing to players. I also think the idea of playing next to AD coming off a monster season, will be a draw in it's own right.

 

Pffft..good luck with that.

 

I might be in the minority, but I think stretch 5 is the area that we should prioritize the most, unless the Lakers plan on utilizing Lebron or AD at center.

Stretch 5 free agents:

1. Bamba
2. Ibaka
3. Bryant
4. Smith
5. Boucher
6. Cousins

Stretch 5 trades:

1. Vucevic
2. Love
3. Turner
4. Olynek
5. Washington
6. Kleber

 

Yeah, as currently constructed, no chance in hell the Hornets can make noise in the playoffs.

What they need to really get to the next level is a former MVP!

 

OX voice … YES

 

Yeah well throw us a 1st rd pick and keep Hayward, and we might can help them out with that!

 

I'd be willing to swap Nunn for PJ Washington tho.

 

i'm sorry that facts about westbrook are inconvenient for many of your arguments.

plumlee's like dwight but can pass a little. upgrade. and expiring if it doesn't work out.

who said anything about picks? they'd get none from me in any deal that hayward comes back in. that's the price, as i said. taking hayward's deal next year.

why are you asking me to name a guy? again: i don't think he's out there! not sure how many times i have to say it.

i'll put a pin this, and we can revisit after FA. i think warren goes for over what we have, despite injuries. hartenstein goes for mini mle or more unless he stays with the clips out of loyalty. monk gets mini mle from us or that or more from someone else.

jones is a vet min, i agree.

i don't like having cap space next year, as there basically zero players worth spending that much money on last i checked (i've posted it in here a few times, i think).

i think olynyk is gettable. not sure i want him very badly, but gettable. i'd love to get pj washington in a russ trade.

i'd sign cousins for the vet min. would have either of the past two years, too. closest thing to gasol we can find, imo.

i was never as high on bryant as most. i think ibaka's done. i think we have no shot at bamba or boucher.

who's smith? the guy from indy? think he's interesting. can't figure out his contract status. phx drafted him and declined his option, right? that should make him a UFA. if so, i'd love to take a look.

 

Lebron is also getting that contract for business purposes as well. He has off court value to the franchise which makes it worth it. Despite the brutal season, the Lakers lead the league in revenue so I doubt Jeanie is complaining about his contract.

 

Boogie not a terrible fallback, I'd pitch Nunn for Washington and leave the rest of those cats in Charlotte. Serge is washed and Bamba is a RFA.

 

You add as many as you can (proven or not) into the room and hope 1-2 surprise and a few vets stick....


Gabriel 6'9
Johnson 6'6

Christie 6'6
O'Neal 6'10
Swider 6'9
White Jr. 6'8

keep on keeping on....

 

Not without Westbrook you don't. Do it Mitch

 

I'm in this boat as well and I think (with absolutely no inside information) that this is what Ham wants. I hope we aim for a Bucks-esque defensive scheme that is adaptable when necessary, but defaults to maximum rim protection. Of these options, Bamba at the MLE would be amazing IMO. He's only 24 and shot 38% from three on 4 attempts per game. With AD and Bamba protecting the rim, our perimeter defenders have a lot more margin for error.

 

The devil’s advocate defense and excusing of what Westbrook gave us last year is insufferable and hilarious at the same time. Good lord!