Lakers - Kings- Trade Very Unlikely; Both Teams Focused On Draft

Cousins is a great talent. But having Okafor/clarkson/randle as a core has the potential to be great for several reasons.
1. Youth (i know cousins is young too)
2. High character guys
3. Hard workers
4. So far no major egos
5. They are CHEAP. Those 3 guys with a couple very good to great FA signings next couple years can translate to a very special team.

Cousins attitude in the locker rooms seems to be ok. How he takes direction and attitude on the floor is what is somewhat cancerous, especially with a young core

 

Same here. I think Cousins is super talented and will continue to get better, but I want to see a young Lakers team grow together and win. I want our own version of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili (plus KD next year and/or Westbrook the following year ). Sometimes being patient is the best way to go.

 

I hope he's right. SAC isn't going to get much better than the 2nd pick in a loaded draft.

 

I don't trust Mitch in this instance for a very simple reason - it doesn't involve only his negotiation and evaluation ability.

It involves his and his boss' jobs. There is an additional incentive to make something happen right now, regardless of how
convincing he sounds in saying "we are not going to pawn our future". That kind of pressure bodes poorly with one's ability
to plan for the future.

 

Well yeah, but I don't even know why the Lakers are under so much scrunity. They really haven't made a bad decision in years. All boils down to bad luck (injuries) and things he could not control (CP3 veto)

 

I want to listen to therealdeal, because everything he's saying makes sense. But I'm just too emotional right now. After a few years of atrociousness, we're finally a day away from the draft, and a week away from free agency, where we can finally lay out the foundation for the post-Kobe era. This is such a crucial moment in Laker history. We have too many options to truly screw it up, we'll land on our feet no matter what happens. But I have a vision for how we should go about setting up this era, and I'm easily rattled by all these reports saying that we're attempting to go in a different direction.

 

What a freakin nightmare.

I hate the Kings to their guts.

 

I think the Lakers have enjoyed the recent positive undertone from the fans. id be surprised if they tear all that up for a guy like cousins.

 

Remember - Kwame was No. 1 pick.

 

We don't listen to you because we hate your guts.

 

I beg to disagree. It's a bit hindsight, but Mitch and Co. should really have predicted the switch in CBA and understood that getting Nash for all those picks
was a really high gamble, considering his age and health problems (which he didn't suddenly had, uncharacteristically). Letting Pau walk for nothing was also a bad move.
And don't get me started on Dwight, who showed everyone, during his Orlando departure who he really is.

Those were rush decisions (for a different reason - Kobe having last few productive years), just like there are now.

And to @realdeal, you are correct, Mitch's job was not reported to be on the line, but I seriously doubt he'd outlast Jim by much. It would
simply make a lot of sense to make a general change.

P.S. May be that'll move Ryan West faster into GM seat, which could turn to be great.

 

Dude, my sky is bright and as high as it has ever been

I may be mistaken and Mitch has proven a numer of Times that he may just see things we fans don't, but for me this trade (in the currently reported shape that is) would make next to no sense from the Lakers' perspective, mainly because:
1. Under the new CBA, it's crucial to gather some good talent in the draft, we were able to do so in a very short time. Not only that, it seems that if the young guns pan out, they should be enough to build a championshim around (long term of course). You don't just throw that out of the window
2. If we trade 2 (don't even get me started on all 3) of our most promising prospects for a guy that will cost a ton more money, we will not have a lot cash left to build around him. Even if Cousins is already an All Star, he's not enough to make this team much much better immediately. I have a hard time to believe that our team this coming season would be better with Cousins and whoever we could attract as a FA, compared to us showing Cow Town the finger, drafting Okafor/Russell and adding more peaces with the money that's left.
3. Even if No. 2 was not true and we went for the "Win Now", does anybody here believe this trade would make us better long-term? Semi-finished product in Cousins vs. very young, talented, motivated and hard-working guys like Okafor and Randle/Clarkson? I sure as hell don't.
4. Cousins may or may not be a headcase. I have no such concerns with either of Okafor, Russell, Randle and Clarkson

This is just a sample list of reasons why I whink Mitch would be an idiot to do this trade. And I am pretty sure he's a very bright one, which makes me feel very good about the nearest future.

This discussion has been fun so far BTW, the first somewhat feisty one I can recall on this forum

 

highly doubt mitch pulls the trigger on this unless the most he'll be giving up is #2, and even then sac better be giving us #6

i'd be shocked and pretty mad if he traded one of clarkson or randle

 

Man, what a circus. What supossed to be a beautiful week is turning in to a s*** storm. DO NOT deal or even talk with Kings management. These guys are brain dead (judging from their "offers). I say f*** them.

 

Maybe we can trick them into taking the 2...7 pick for Cousins.