Really curious what Ryan does though as Director of Player Personnel when there is a GM and an assistant GM, while still being involved in scouting. Am always afraid some team he doesn't dislike will come and offer him good money to be a GM for them and then he'll be gone. Still looking for @D-Fish Man to hopefully shed a little light on West and his duties and value in the FO. That's different than spilling the beans on DLO. As much positive information for Lakers fans as his inside source is comfortable to share and himself to ask.
Anyone think we're better off keeping picks and extending/stretching Deng for that 3 mill a year deal. If you think about it rookies on cheap contracts with ceilings is more valuable than 3 mill imo.
Part of me likes that idea, and if it is the only way to keep Julius around while adding PG and LBJ, I'd do it. But in the end, if we trade those picks for Deng, we're still going to have Julius, Kuzma, Hart, Ingram and Ball all under the age of 24. At some point you need to balance out your roster with experience.
If that pick is at Kuz or Hart level impact then keep it and stretch Deng. If not, move it and be rid of the Albatross once and for all. I trust Rob to make the right call.
The thing is if we stretch Deng, we save money, but not enough to keep Randle around probably. LeBron- 35.7 George- 30.6 Randle- 12.5 (cap hold) Ball- 7.5 Deng- 7.3 (stretched) Ingram- 5.8 Kuzma- 1.7 Hart- 1.7 #25- 1.5 Zubac- 1.5 Bryant- 1.4 Cap holds- 1.2 Total- 108.4 million We're over the cap. We'd have to waive Randle's bird rights or sign him for 4 million less than his cap hold which seems unlikely. It's better to use future picks and assets to dump Deng if LeBron/George are on the table. Or sign and trade Randle for a veteran if we can.
Randle is our strength in the middle of the key on offense and defense and as always pointed out can actually guard 5 positions pretty darn well. When he's in the mood. Already. Do what it takes Rob to keep him here. Use your shark like talents.
Good interview. I could listen to Rob and Magic and Luke talk basketball all day. Can only imagine the depths of the theory and strategy and building the plan for going forward successfully that they talk together about on a normal regular basis and even more so on this retreat they're doing together whenever that happens or happened already.
What about that proposed extension then stretch? Cap I heard would be 3 mill a year but for like 10 years lol. Cap will go up doe in those 10 years, so impact could be marginal.
The extension stretch is a great concept, but you need Deng on board. It's such a wonky concept, I'm not positive he'd be with it.
"BBBBut guys!!!! I can still playz!!! If I agree to this, you must also let me out of my contract." Genius. "He has a little African in him" -- Danny Ferry
Plus the NBA might veto it. They would know what we were doing and might not allow teams to cercumvent the cap like that.
Yeah it's a nifty thought, but It's a real Hail Mary. I think it's just much more reasonable to think more in terms of waiving/stretching him or trading him. It's just way easier to accomplish than anything tricky. If he goes for that crazy extension plan, then so be it.
