Here's a piece I wrote about how the Lakers can dig themselves out of their current situation. Obviously we all want to see them improve, but there are some rough waters ahead and some very critical decisions to make at the deadline and in the offseason.
To me, the Nash trade is what really hurt us. Hopefully the front office doesn't have this nonchalant attitude towards draft picks anymore.
I enjoyed reading your perspective. One thing in the Lakers favor is the big jump in the cap that is expected when the new TV deal hits in 2016. It is expected to be at 90 million as compared to 68 million this next off season. With Kobe's contract coming off the books they could, if they play their cards right have less than 20 million on their cap leaving 70 Million to go after restricted and unrestricted FA's. Kevin Durant is the premier FA in this class so he would be a no brainer to offer a max deal to, and with enough to offer another max deal, plus get a mid level deal done too.Names like Mike Conley, Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Ryan Anderson come to mind. Now it's a mute point if they are active this off season , getting a Paul Milsap, Al Jefferson, or Goran Dragic, but either way they should have an attractive setting with the young, promising draft picks they add to the team.
Thanks, I genuinely appreciate it. I agree that the Lakers could be major players when the salary cap goes up but I think they are going to have to have something in place, at least the bare bones of a team with potential. That's part of why it's so crucial that they not only keep their pick this summer but that they make the right selection. With a healthy Randle, one of Okafor/Towns/Mudiay/Russell, and hopefully an improved Jordan Clarkson they could have some interesting young pieces that may attract a couple of stars in 2016, especially if they can add another young, growing talent on a good contract this summer (much easier said than done). They are going to have to be incredibly selective with who they sign. Free agents will flock to a team that has a future, but if they see an aging Rondo, Dragic, etc clogging up cap space it's going to be a tougher sell. In my opinion they are better off throwing big money at restricted guys like Jimmy Butler or Tobias Harris than burning up cap space on a long-term deal for a guy whose prime is already past. Even if it's a long shot it's worth trying. The most important thing is understanding that signing no one is better than signing the wrong person, even if it means that fans will be angry at the perceived failure to add talent.
There will be fans that complain no matter what is done. Most casual fans want big names and have no idea how things work but they are the majority and are often the most heard. All that is mitigated by winning a championship
Yea if we end up signing either Dragic or Rondo for more than $12 million/year i'm going to be livid. Also, please no one over the age of 27. At least not part of our core.
