2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by TIME, May 22, 2024.

  1. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

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    KD has been down too. Embiid nonexistent as well
     
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  2. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    KD has been banged up since the start of the season too. Could be his standard banged up problems or Olympic play could factor in too.
     
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  3. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yeah, i was hoping the olympics would help AD get a rhythm and stay in shape. it did, as he hit the ground running this year. but it's quite clear he could have used the rest. plantar fasciitis is a wear and tear thing.
     
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  4. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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    I just hoped that he would try more in the defensive end by now. That being said, I would be fine with bringing him back since Bron’s time looks to be nearing an end.
     
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  5. Khmrp

    Khmrp - Lakers Legend -

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    been asking for as firing too
     
  6. Khmrp

    Khmrp - Lakers Legend -

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    id like sleepy back as well
     
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  7. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    I liked how he's looked this year. It was never the talent, just the mental aspect of being trade bait for 80% of his career.

    Collins, Sexton, and Kessler for DLO, Gabe, Rui, Wood, and JHS works. But I know DA would try to f*** us on the number of picks he'd want.

    Locked in Collins is better than Rui. Sexton, I'm not a big fan of but he's more athletic and brings a better scoring package than DLO, and Kessler solved the center search.
     
  8. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    Oh no, we suck again
    * insert gif*
     
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  9. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    It's looking really ugly right now. Looking forward to Olivari's debut and trades. But other than that I'm not going to go out of my way to watch them until they make changes
     
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  10. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm watching every game that I'm able to. But I'm pretty shocked at how bad we've been since the Orlando game. Yes, I know Reaves got hurt a few games ago. But we just look out of it for long stretches. No semblance to the team we saw at the beginning of the season that was in the top 5 in the West.

    Primarily, AD has just been completely non existent for his standards. He was on a MVP trajectory, scoring 30 a game to go with 10 boards and 2 blocks, and showing his elite defensive prowess. Lately he's been so subpar. Unfortunately the supporting cast just isn't good enough to weather bad games from him. Rui is so inconsistent. Dlo is so inconsistent. Gabe sucks. Knecht is a rookie. Cam is defense only. Reaves is hurt. Max is showing some signs of life thankfully. I was hoping we'd see Vando by now but he looks like he won't be back any time soon.

    We absolutely need some trades before the deadline.
     
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  11. KuzmoBall17

    KuzmoBall17 - Lakers Starter -

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    I understand that not a lot of people cares about that after yesterday ugliest blowout since C Bags in the finals,but I don't recall any fines like this and still didn't get why Draymond never was fined for basically the same action as Udoka
     
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  12. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

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    Yeah me too. He looked damn good though, but maybe he cuts out the hoops in the offseason, because he gets drained earlier and it leads to minor injuries. Idk
     
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  13. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

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    Not mad at that idea either..we bring in some size and Sexton has a little burst to his game.
     
  14. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

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    Winning a championship isn't guaranteed, but I can see a path, to contending for the Conference crown.

    Currently my first choice of moves, is adding Vucevic and Valancunas. I know some might think, that's a bit of overcorrection, adding two bigs, but I disagree. I'll give you several reasons, why I'm touting this move particularly.

    That's adding more size, length, rebounding, and scoring. Euro bigs are well schooled in offensive fundamentals, they understand how to set proper screens, and play off of those screens, they all have decent footwork, and these two guys board well.

    No they aren't "great" defensive players, frankly there aren't many bigs around period, that also have the ability to board at a high clip and score the ball too.

    Vucevic can start with AD, look at their shot charts. Perfect fit IMO. AD does most of his damage 15ft in, Vucevic does most of his 15ft out, all the way to the 3pt stripe effectively, with better volume than Rui.

    I'm on the cell so I'm about at my limit for posting, without having to do a ton of editing. I'll follow up more on this in a few, but the roster I envision is this...

    AD,Lebron, Vucevic, Valanciunas, Reaves, Russell, Vanderbilt, Reddish, Wood. That's my 9 man rotation. Maybe another ball handler or wing on the buyout market. I forgot the Rook, so make it 10.

    Health is an issue as usual, I admit that. Yet I'm counting on Vando and Wood to eventually return to the court next month.
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2024
  15. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    Valanciunas and/or Vucevic aren’t fixing anything here, and in the case of Valanciunas we’ll likely send Gabe and 2nds for him soon and be finding that out how little he helps very quickly. Neither of these guys play defense, Jonas is especially slow and aging, and Vucevic never was a defender. This team is sick from the top down, this is 3 coaches in 4 years they’ve just flat out quit on and had not just games, but entire stretches of looking like a G-League team. This is on LeBron and AD, LeBron is old and tired and a lazy defender, and AD put up an 8 point game, which is inexcusable and sad. There are very few moves I see that could change this team enough to matter, I think JSM’s suggestion of Collins, Sexton, and Kessler would do it, but there’s no way we could get all that from Utah.
     
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  16. 52years

    52years - Rookie -

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    Rather have Cam Johnson and Dayron Sharpe than any Utah deal
     
  17. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

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    Yeah like your take that it is the 3rd coach they just give up. There's a pattern there. Just said something similar in the other thread. It's disgusting. They are paid millions and just choose to not do their job

    One thing is to lose against Denver just because you're outplayed. Another is to flat out don't care and not play the game. This group mentally is one of the worst I have ever seen
    Laid it perfectly
     
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  18. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

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    Nah..perhaps you don't really know anything about Nikola Vucevic,and you aren't watching any games involving him or Valanciunas. Vucevic has been a pretty solid defensive 5 for most of his career.

    https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=nikola+vučević+defense+rating+career

    A damn decent starting 5 period, for all of his career too.

    https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vucevni01.html

    Valanciunas is giving you a hell a lot of bang for your buck at 20 minutes a game

    https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/jonas-valenucius-defense-rating-career

    https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/valanjo01.html

    This team is soft,because our two most physical players are Lebron and AD. One of them is damn 40 years old. The problem, is that we haven't done s*** to address that in 3 seasons.

    If the asking price is 2nd rd picks, Rui,Gabe and probably Max, to get those two guys, you absolutely pull that trigger. Immediately, before you get outbid, then you have all of your most valuable assets, in case another move presents itself by the deadline.






    There is more than one way to be more effective on defense man. Take a page out of Frank's book..hold the ball to later in the shot clock, don't crash the offensive boards and get back on transition D, be dominant on the defensive glass. Those things will get the scoring down.

    Freeing up AD to get out more on the wings,improves your defense too. This move creates more versatility on defense, because you aren't relying on Davis to try and guard every friggin body.

    There is more than one way to skin a cat, and play the game of basketball.
     
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  19. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Maybe Lakers should have thought outside the box and sold high on AD when his value was at it's highest level. His value might of dropped now, though. The Bulls are idiots, and AD is from Chicago, so maybe there could be something there, idk.
     
  20. KuzmoBall17

    KuzmoBall17 - Lakers Starter -

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    Valanciunas is more physical than Davis ever gonna be and he was shooting three too .I didn't see any of his Washington games but he can out rebound all Lakers players like in 2 quarters. .I was surprised that he was traded from Toronto and he didn't get championship ring.I always wanted for him to be a Laker
    When he plays Lithuania by FIBA rules he's like 7 foot Dennis
     
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