Tank Tank Or Tank Tank Tank?

Fultz on Fox @ 3:30.

 

Welcome from the scout forums EddieEddie! I was there long ago back from 2003-2007 before I found this place!

 

Also a first time poster, and also came over from Scout!

I think it's fairly obvious that the Lakers SHOULD tank, but it's also fairly obvious that management disagrees and prefers to 'win now'. Thankfully(?), we suck enough that we'll end up in the same place (atop the lottery rankings) no matter what management wants to do. I do hope that Mitch has enough foresight to trade Nick/Lou for something, even if it's as insignificant as a 2nd-round pick. The Lakers should be stockpiling assets. We have Moz/Deng for 'leadership' and 'locker room presence' anyway, so there's really nothing to justify Lou/Nick's presence here. I'd also hate to see us missing out on a Top 3 pick because of unproductive wins (ie. Lou scores 40).

 

Sad thing about that quote is, if nobody knew any better..they would think that Mitch said that any of the last 3-4 years.

 

Welcome!

 

with the 3rd worst record this deep into the season it might be time to purposely start tanking.

 

We don't call it "tanking" anymore. The phrase is now called "protecting the pick."

 

Good. Start him. I can live with Zubac's mistakes to expedite development.

Moz is a backup...

 

My only issue tanking is you cultivate a culture of losing. Look at the Kings. They have't made the playoffs in 10 years. They don't know how to win, and Cousins isn't a leader. His weekend at Kentucky didn't prepare him for that. So now the surround him mediocre vets, and some talented players that leave for greener pastures, like Thomas. And when he leaves next year, and he will, they'll have spent 12 years with maybe one playoff experience. You look at teams you have tanked with success and brought title and you have SA (which doesn't count. They had two all star coming back) Cleveland, Miami and Dallas. And the last two are iffy.

 

I like 'protecting the pick.' See, we're the Lakers; and we keep everything classy. "Tank" doesn't sound good. We're trying to class the 'tank' up.

If alternative losing works for you, go for it. LOL!!!

On a serious note, Fultz is the real deal. He's a stud. We'll have to wait 2-3 years, but I like him.

 

I understand your point about the culture of losing, but the Kings and 'Cuz are a very extreme and complex example of that. Their front office is far more unstable than ours and Cousins is one of the most talented/temperamental stars ever. If he were any less talented, he'd be traded by now... and if were any less of a giant baby, the Kings would probably have more success by now. If the FO had better decision makers, they'd have more success too. Hard to tell who is "more" at fault but the pieces don't add up, from players, personnel, to FO.

The Lakers are not that far down the road in terms of dysfunction, but unfortunately I don't think we a player as talented at Cousins right now. I think our problems will be different from the Kings going forward

 

I think both you and Randle have it right. A culture of losing can devolve even the best franchises, and since the draft is a crap shoot, I'd rather win a few more games and have the player going going forward feel like they have a change against any team.

But the Kings are a mess since 04, kind of like the Wolves. I believe you have the coach, are drafting good players, but for some reason it's not working and I don't think tanking is the wisest move. I think going ahead Russell, Randle and Clarkson are a good core. I know he's a rookie, but I'm not sold on Ingram. The problem is none of the player are superstars and never will be. With only 2 or 3 exception that's what you need. You're already a prime location for FA. I'm not sure how you get out of the inane Movgov and Deng contracts, but that need to priority #1 - 4. If you can keep them at a reasonable price, sign a not old super star and build the team with some smart pieces, you'll be the real Lakers again.

 

I'm on board with most of this, but I think us "developing" our guys will basically tank our season. I tend to favor Ingram over Russell but that is an entirely different discussion. Our non-prospects are not good enough to carry this team, and the young guys are too young. I don't think we're gonna put all our chips in to a prospect in this draft, but I guarantee that Mitch Kupchak would rather have this top-3 pick going into trade negotiations than not. The class is supposed to be "loaded", but so was 2014 - the jury is still out. Back in October we didn't know if we needed the top-3 pick, but in January I think it's clear we do now.

btw, love the username, Mash was the business back in those days

 

OT my name lol. I remember watching that game where Laetner went off. As a kid, you were supposed hate Duke (I've gotten over it) and I saw Mash play and I really liked him. I lived in San Antonio when he got drafted and SA and Houston were good so I decided to be Mavs fan. Even after he and everyone were traded, I'd stuck with them, and been a fan ever since, no matter how bad they are. I did follow him from Miami and the Hornets. I remember in 2001, when they were having a bit of a run, they had a piece on him and how he was a black belt and in great shape. A couple of years later he retired due to mounting injuries.

Sorry for the OT tangent. Back on topic, have yall discussed ways to get rid of Deng and Mozgov?

 

I have. Thoughts of what happens to horses after they break their legs has crossed my mind.