Official 2016 Free Agency Thread

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by LaVarBallsDad, Nov 16, 2015.

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  1. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    Not sure about that, but depending who he costs, I'm willing to try.
     
    Savory Griddles, Apr 25, 2016
    #1021
  2. Mitch

    Mitch - Rookie -

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    I would love either Butler or Cousins.

    Butlers value seems low at the moment but he Is one of the best 2-way guards and from everything i ever heard him say he is very competitive and a real pro. We get him and our backcourt is complete and will likely get better for years. Could be one of the best soon.

    Cousins has issues of course but he is still so good and i think for the most part he is just very tired of losing, which is also a positive, and if we can get him in a trade, we are likely to get him at low cost. More risky though.
     
    Mitch, Apr 25, 2016
    #1022
  3. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    this is what I'm talking about. buy-low guys who can be rotation players. I haven't seen enough of mozgov to know why he was demoted with extreme prejudice, but prior to that, he looked like a quality backup big to me. which makes him a starter here.
     
    abeer3, Apr 25, 2016
    #1023
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  4. Doc Brown

    Doc Brown - Lakers Starter -

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    Mozgov has sucked a** all season. He's out of the rotation for good reason.

    He's a good backup big, but starter. Ehh. Rather not.
     
    Doc Brown, Apr 25, 2016
    #1024
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  5. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Cousins is a huge risk. I'm willing to make the move for him under two conditions:

    1. He helps us bring in other FAs. I'm sure Butler will give us credibility which is why I'm willing to make moves for him. Butler gives you a smart two-way player at a position of desperate need.

    2. We don't have to give up too much for him. I'm not giving up more than our pick (should we get it). I'm not even sure I'd include any other young'n. Cousins could be a real issue in a way that Butler simply wouldn't be.

    He's got the kind of insane talent that can put you over the top, but boy he's such a loose cannon it's just hard to pull that trigger.
     
    therealdeal, Apr 25, 2016
    #1025
  6. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

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    Without Scott in the picture, I'd like to see us pick up Black's option. I don't think he got a fair shot last year.

    As for Mosgov, I was under the impression he struggled because of injures; when he got healthy, Cleveland played better by going smaller at the 5.
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Apr 25, 2016
    #1026
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  7. fabfourlakers

    fabfourlakers - Lakers Starter -

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    I think the Lakers may try to get BOTH Butler AND Cousins...they'll have to deal away the #1 pick, Randle, Clarkson and Russell to make that happen though (and probably Nance too, while tacking on Lou and Young to shed their salaries). IF we get Butler and Cousins, and then Luke/Ollie/Messina as coach, we would boast 2 all stars with a legit coach/system to attract KD and another max player or 2 really good players. I'm thinking we shoot for KD and Conley if we get Cousins and Butler....
     
    fabfourlakers, Apr 25, 2016
    #1027
  8. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

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    Westbrook leaving for the Lakers is in the back of Durant's mind. This is where it gets interesting. Will Kevin pre empt Westbrook and sign with the Lakers and therefore won't be left holding the bag in OKC or will he stay believing the franchise will get him help despite its history to the contrary.
     
    KareemtheGreat33, Apr 25, 2016
    #1028
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  9. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I doubt the Lakers have the stones or desire to trade away all the youngsters. I'd expect 1-2 of them to go, but not all 4-5 of them.
     
    therealdeal, Apr 25, 2016
    #1029
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  10. Helljumper

    Helljumper - Lakers All Star -

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    Trading our entire team for Butler/Cousins and then striking out Durant would be terrible.
     
    Helljumper, Apr 25, 2016
    #1030
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  11. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm not sure Cousins does have the insane talent that puts you over the top. His talent hasn't translated to wins in Sacto. That team majorly underachieved with a decent roster this season. Nobody is gonna tell me Dallas, Portland, Boston and some other playoff teams have much better rosters than they did. He clashed with his coach all season too. Do not want Cousins, his talent hadn't lead to wins, he's a headcase, seems to put his attitude and constant anger over invented issues above the team and winning.
     
    Weezy, Apr 25, 2016
    #1031
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  12. Kou

    Kou - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Absolutely second this, I'd trade Clarkson packaged with the pick and filler for one of them, that's about it.
     
    Kou, Apr 26, 2016
    #1032
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  13. Kobe Bryant 8

    Kobe Bryant 8 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    I've never felt more comfortable about landing a free agent than I am about Westbrook. He IS a Laker. Star on and off the court, big personality, etc. He just hasn't put the uniform on yet.
     
    Kobe Bryant 8, Apr 26, 2016
    #1033
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  14. Kobe Bryant 8

    Kobe Bryant 8 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    This is why I'd like to get guys like Dudley on the cheap. They can log big minutes when needed, sit when they have to, but always be a solid contributor.
     
    Kobe Bryant 8, Apr 26, 2016
    #1034
  15. Lakers2015

    Lakers2015 - Lakers Starter -

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    Don't want Cousins. Would love Butler, but that's too hefty a price. Either that Clarkson and the pick or don't do the deal. Trading all our young guys for those two makes absolutely zero sense.
     
    Lakers2015, Apr 26, 2016
    #1035
  16. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    I am more of a Cousins sympathizer than most on this board, but this would be extremely dumb and shortsighted. The problem is I could see Jim and Mitch doing it to save their jobs. Without the Durant miracle, we aren't in contention next season which means they are both gone (according to the much ballyhooed deadline Jim gave himself). So I could see a scenario where they try this and then hope Butler and Cousins is enough to lure Durant.

    If we have any shot at Butler (which I'm not sure we even do) I go HARD after him. Cousins...at this point if it costs anymore than Randle + Clarkson or Clarkson + our pick, I pass.
     
    Savory Griddles, Apr 26, 2016
    #1036
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  17. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm not giving up more than one kid and the pick for whatever player we're talking about here and I only need one player. If the Kings want to ask for the same package (Russell AND Randle) then no thank you. If the Top 3 pick AND Clarkson (assuming he's okay with the sign and trade) isn't enough for Chicago, then I'm not interested in that either. I'm not going to gut the team for a star, I'm just going to try to make the best offers I can and live with it.

    Honestly the #1 or #2 pick should be enough on its own to net us someone really really good. The only reason to include Clarkson or Williams is to shed salary to keep us with enough to get two max deals. If it's the #3 pick then things get dicey, but still... I'm not going nuts just to be good next year. I'm going to make the right deal. I don't think Mitch and Jim go overboard. Mitch is too good at his job to make a rash decision like trading away all of our young talent.
     
    therealdeal, Apr 26, 2016
    #1037
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  18. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    Unfortunately, you are not the decision maker of the Lakers. Ramona was talking with Max and Marcellus yesterday and Max asked Ramona point blank if this "deadline" will cause Mitch and Jim to sign players that may not be ideal or make moves for "the now" and sacrifice the future. Ramona said they likely would.
     
    Savory Griddles, Apr 26, 2016
    #1038
  19. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I doubt she meant that they'd trade away all the kids and I doubt she has as much inside knowledge as Ireland who said they wouldn't trade all the kids. Ireland knew more about the coaching search than Ramona did.
     
    therealdeal, Apr 26, 2016
    #1039
  20. fabfourlakers

    fabfourlakers - Lakers Starter -

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    @therealdeal I get what you're saying, and I'm not saying I agree with it or that is what we SHOULD do. I'm saying I think this is what Mitch and Jim are thinking if we end up with the #1 pick. There's NO WAY we have a shot at KD with just the young guns and the #1 pick as our roster next year. Even if we trade for JUST Butler, I don't know if that is enough. I mean, I would hope that trading for Butler is enough...and then you convince KD and Whiteside to sign....we would be looking at Whiteside, Randle, KD, Butler and Russell as our starting lineup....and then after another year of hopefully improved success....you can look to deal Russell and Randle for Westbrook?

    I could just see the Lakers totally swinging for the fences....if LeBron and the Cavs lose in the ECF somehow...I could also see the Lakers pitching LeBron and KD to team up with Cousins and Butler here in LA....that team would hands down be the best team in the league. Remember, Lakers are always thinking BIG. They will go BIG once again. Not saying it's what they should do or that it's even remotely possible....but they have the assets to pull something like this off, and the cap space to have 3 max players (or 4 since Cousins deal is less than max, and butler's deal was signed last off-season so he's also technically less than max).
     
    fabfourlakers, Apr 26, 2016
    #1040
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