My debut for LakersNation.com- http://www.lakersnation.com/grading-lakers-2015-nba-draft-and-free-agency/2015/08/06/ Here is a bit of it:
Hey Trev the one note I'd say is that keeping Sacre makes way more sense after hearing from Pincus that Upshaw had an issue in Vegas. He wouldn't clarify, but he said something happened that gave the Lakers pause in signing him. If that's the case, it makes a lot more sense now why Sacre is still here and Upshaw isn't. If Upshaw wasn't in the picture at all, would any of us have a problem with Sacre being there? Not really, maybe a minor one because he's clearly plateaued, but as a 3rd string Center he works out fine. If Upshaw was ready and hadn't had an issue in Vegas, I believe Mitch would have either cut Sacre or traded him by now in order to make room. Since there was an issue, I think keeping Sacre ended up being prudent. I'd give the Sacre move a C instead of D-.
Good read as usual. Saw this posted on Facebook and read the comments where people were giving them F's and Z's.... Had to gag a little. Agreed with all the grades, maybe would have given the Hibbert trade a solid A. Also the breakdowns were spot on.
@therealdeal I agree, I wasn't aware of Upshaw's Vegas misadventures when I wrote that. Although the argument could still hold if Byron really does end up experimenting with small ball lineups with Bass or Randle at C. @TIME awesome, glad Cortana found it!
I didn't know there was such a thing as a "D-" grade. Wow...I mean, were you just being civil not declaring it an unmitigated disaster?
I wouldn't give the Sacre move a C because it proved to cost us a SF or a PG. Mitch overestimated the trade value of our scrubs. Locking him up before moving Kelly/Young wasn't a smart gamble. I get that we may need him now with a potential Upshaw complication but it's time to move on. He's not going to get any better or check any of the other boxes that we now need -- like veteran leadership. Nazr or Haywood bring vet leadership. Seraphin would've brought a young capable big with upside (before inking in NY). It was in our best interest to terminate that relationship. I mean we cut ties with DJ for the same reason. Great teammate, practice big, locker room guy but he wasn't going to be anything more than he was. It was time to do the same with a Sacre.
