Tank Tank Or Tank Tank Tank?

Basically boils down as this:

Keep: 2017 Top 3 pick, 2019 1st round pick
Lose: 2017 2nd round pick, 2018 1st round and 2nd round picks

OR

Lose: 2017 1st round pick (most likely in the 4-7 range) and 2019 1st round pick
Keep: 2017 2nd round pick, 2018 1st round and 2nd round picks

I'll take the former without question. We're comparing a Top 3 pick + 1st rounder to a 1st rounder which we would all assume would be worse than Top 3 because we expect the Lakers to be better next season + 2 2nd rounders. No brainer for me.

Plus the Lakers do own the 2018 2nd round pick of Denver per the Calderon trade. So they have a pick in the next draft regardless.

 

If this happened, the Lakers 5 most expensive players next season would all be coming off the bench. Not that it matters because salary shouldn't dictate playing time but I wonder if that's ever happened in the NBA.

Next season: Deng + Moz + JC + Black + Lou = 57.7 million. Meanwhile that starting lineup would be around 20 to 22 million

 

For the record, I wasn't disagreeing with the rotation. I'm 100% on board with rolling with the young talent - a key reason why I advocate trading veterans. I was just more so commenting, jokingly, on how the bench would be so much more expensive than the starting lineup.

 

Yup. Also got that in the Calderon deal as well. I only mentioned the 2018 Denver pick because the two scenarios I listed had the Lakers either losing or keeping both their own 2018 1st and 2nd rounders. For those concerned about that, just wanted to point out the Denver pick.

So basically next 3 drafts it is:

2 1st rounders (one of which is obviously top 3) and 2 2nd rounders
or
1 1st rounder and 4 2nd rounders the next 3 drafts

The Lakers don't currently own or owe anything beyond that.

 

I guess as long as we keep our pick? One of these days a draft pick will take us to the next level of competing, right?

 

Yes, but it will take awhile. If the Lakers keep the pick, I expect it to be moved, though. I think you'll see them making a play for Cousins, George, or another star who may become available along with other asset(s).

That's where the Moz+Deng deals can come in handy because you can now match salaries if you include one of those contracts.

As it stands, we're "3rd" in the tank standings, and Phoenix is 2nd; we have two more meetings with them this season. I believe we'll finish 2nd and have a 56% chance to keep our pick.

 

The Lakers' next 5 games are on the road versus New York, Detroit and Milwaukee and then a back to back at home versus Sacramento and on the road versus Phoenix.

Losing the first three is very probable as the Lakers are 5-23 on the road, those three have winning records at home and are fighting for the playoffs in the East. The other 2 are very winnable games for the Lakers. The Kings are struggling bad lately. They are on a 4-12 stretch, just lost to the Suns and one of three Western teams currently only 3.5 games better than the Lakers. The Suns are technically 0.5 better than the Lakers in terms of record but are the 2nd worst team in the league based on winning percentage. So right now they are pretty much as sucky as the Lakers.

I bring up this specific set of games because it's the last ones before the trade deadline. That Suns game is February 15. The trade deadline is February 23. The reason for that fat gap is All-Star Weekend but it buys the Lakers - and other teams - time to not only decide what they want to do at the deadline but time to take and make calls. I don't know that going 1-4 or even 0-5 will make the Lakers any more of a "seller" than they are at this moment but it certainly wouldn't dissuade them.

 

Handy in the sense that they assist in matching salaries, sure. However, I'm sure we can all agree that in a trade they are going to be considered a negative value. Assuming they aren't moved at the deadline, the Lakers will have the expirings of Lou and Black this summer. There is also Clarkson's contract that is fairly sizeable. Along with the low cost contract of whatever young talent is involved in the deal. So teams will certainly do everything possible to not need to take on Moz or Deng to make salaries work because it's in their best interest to do so - unless for some reason they actually like Deng or Moz.... which in that case, great!

 

Depends on the structure of the deal. You're right, though. Black, Lou, and Clarkson are about 24 million in salaries; 2 of which are expiring and Clarkson is on a team-friendly deal.

I think if the Lakers keep pick and Sac fails to make the PO's, something tells me Lakers and Kings will have a discussion about Cousins.