Official 2016 Free Agency Thread

I'll be honest, I'd trade one of Randle or Russell as well if it could land us another piece.

 

See my thing is both those guys look like potential cornerstones so if you want them, then I want an unreasonable package in return. I'm not sure I'd trade the pick AND Russell or the pick AND Randle... That's a LOT of potential right there. I'm not sure I do that...

My dream trade would be Lou/Pick/Nick Young (salary dump)/ maybe Nance Jr. for Butler. If we need to throw in another pick (I know Laker fans hate that idea), I'm for it.

Get me Butler while keeping Randle/Russell and I'll start to believe in Mitch's magic wand again. If you can pull that off, now you're talking about a team with Butler, Randle, and Russell... and room to add two max deals AND more on top of that. THAT is something you can take to Durant and make him consider. Anything less than that and the big time FAs aren't going to be taking LA seriously.

 

I'd gladly take either one of those rosters at the moment. Of course I'd prefer the first one, but we'd be lucky to even do the 2nd. Except for Young, replace his a**.

 

I think Butler would take the pick and Russell or Randle. And I'd probably choose Russell of the two simply because Butler is a guard and we'd still have Clarkson. I think any offer that doesn't include the pick AND Russell or Randle gets us hung up on. But Butler, Randle and Clarkson is a nice little core to tempt two free agents.

 

I'd be willing to trade the pick and Clarkson for Butler. I think Russell and Randle are keepers.

 

Yes.

Russell/Randle/Butler/A. Brown?/Larry Nance Jr./Cap Holds = roughly 32 million dollars. If the salary cap hits the expected 92 million spot, we've got 60 million to spend. Durant's max is about 25-26 million and Whiteside's is 21-22 million. We'd even have cash left over.

Not much worse no, I'd take either of those teams! But I'd rather have the one with Butler/Durant than the one without those two.

 

This is going to be a fascinating and potentially exciting offseason. It's essentially a make or break moment for this front office. It's a bit sad to me that it has come to this, but it's a big business, even if family run, and the Lakers FO has hit this wall where they need to move forward in a big way or they will have to concede defeat and resign.

Despite a godawful season, a complete horror show of coaching, and the inevitable retirement of arguably our greatest player in franchise history, I think we are actually in a pretty good position if the FO gets it together this offseason.

We have a young core that we can develop and/or move a piece or two for an established vet to help us either lure FA's or just bolster this squad in general. If we keep the pick we can follow suit in the same way - pick up a nice addition to the core we already have or move the player along with one or more of the core to get better in a hurry. Tanking hurt, but at least we have that 55% chance which is the best we'd get going up against the tankmasters Philly this year. Even if we lose the pick, we'll keep it next year with no more protection in a better draft class and finally be done with this top 3 protection nonsense.

While it's beyond unlikely that we'll get the top FA in Durant (I would bet just about everything I have that he'll sign the 1 plus 1 with OKC and give it another shot), there are a number of second tier guys who could really help us including Whiteside, Horford, Batum, maybe Barnes, Ezeli . . . I think we even have a shot at Derozan.

I'm hopeful in other words. I think the FO is going to be fighting for their lives basically to put together something better and keep their jobs.

Even though I want Boron gone after tomorrow night's game, I think he's the last piece of the puzzle for the FO. First is the pick, Second is whether we trade it (if we are able to keep it) at draft night, third is FA. I don't think they'll make their decision on him until after those things are resolved. If we strike out in all departments I can see them throwing in the towel and keeping him to tank for one final time before they go out with a whimper.

But I'm optimistic that they will be going hard and putting together a better contending team and if they do, they will need a MUCH better coach to get them there such as Thibs, Ollie, Luke . . .

 

Yeah I'm with you lakerjones on the Durant piece. I definitely think he'll sign the 1 + 1 deal with OKC this off-season. This way he can talk with Westbrook next off-season and make an easier case to stay or sign somewhere else.