Ball Klay Thompson (Signed via FA) Lebron (Since we're stuck with him) Kuzma Brow In order to trade for Brow, we're going to have to give up some pieces, do some sign and trade stuff, offer picks perhaps, etc. Not sure how many youngin's we'll be able to keep, or current guys on 1 yr deals we'll be able to bring back. I actually like a bunch of our guys, but I just don't see too many of the Lance Stephensons or Rondo's of the world settling for vet minimums, and you can't use exceptions for everyone. My backup for Brow may be trying to get DMC, but that would mean sign and trade of Klay I think. How does your ideal starting lineup look next year?
I'm not sure it's possible to trade for AD and get another star on a max contract. If we sign a Klay/KD type first, then we wouldn't have the cap space to absorb AD's contract unless we give up the farm. If we trade for AD first, we'd be left with less than the max required to sign those top tier free agents. Any trade for AD is going to involve BI AND Kuz imo. Whether Hart/Zu/Mo are thrown in will be worked out, they'll probably want Zu to replace him though. My list starts with: 1. AD - Still young, hungry, top PF/C in the league. 2. KD - Still a lethal scorer, even at his age. Who know's what he could do next to Lebron. 3. Kawhi - He's showing his value right now in Toronto and he's healthy. Not sure about fit next to Lebron, but be amazing to find out. 4. Klay - He has his rings. He's built for the Golden State system. I have questions regarding fit outside and motivation, but still an amazing player. I think he stays in GS though. 5. Kyrie - Kyrie can still play and we know he can work with Lebron already. My realistic lineup probably looks like: Lonzo Reddick/Danny Green Lebron AD McGee AD plays much better as the PF than at Center, even though defensively, he plays more like an anchor. Defensively, this would be a terror lineup for a lot of teams. Offense might be another story, which is why we absolutely NEED a sharpshooter like a Reddick or Green to spread the floor, seeing as how bad already are, spacing would be limited, but we would most likely be running Lebron/AD pick and rolls. If we sign KD outright, it'll look more something like... Lonzo Lebron KD Kuz Zu Plus, we'll have most of our young core in tact because we didn't need to trade for it. which I could like with too.
I would mean in terms of contracts to match, because most of the other players would be off the books. If we did decide to go get AD AND go after a max contract, that package STARTS with BI+Zo+Kuz+Hart+Zu JUST to match salaries AND have space.
that's the part I don't like. I'd rather see one more star, and solid additions. Some of these guys are worth keeping and developing. But I would like to see a dominant big, Lebron, and a sniper together, along with another distributor/elite defender, and a slasher. Just seems like a nice combo.
I think the lineup that closest resembles that is the one I went with if we just went for an AD trade. Lonzo Reddick/Danny Green Lebron AD McGee Lonzo/Lebron can handle the distributor roles, Reddick/Green would be open so often they'll live off the three. And McGee is the perfect interior player next to Lebron/AD because teams have to rotate off him to help, which is what we're already seeing when we move the ball around.
C - Prime KAJ PF - Prime Karl Malone SF - Prime Kobe SG - Prime MJ PG - Prime Magic You DID say "Dream" Lineup.
Smart/Dellavadova Murray/Booker JR Smith/Stephenson Draymond Green/Olynyk Pachulia/Adams I feel pretty confident that every team would hate stepping onto the court against them if only for the number of flagrants these guys would rack up.
With you on that line up but money is very hard. I actually see this as more likely: Lebron Kuzma AD Boogie (takes less than max for a year like 20-25) Some 3&D like Ariza Zu is not signed beyond this year and will certainly resign for more money. So actually if we did say, a 10x4 year for 40 deal with Zu and S&T him to NOP (who will need another big) the money is easier though still really tight. I could be wrong on this as I'm no cap expert but it seems like this. The only way a 3-max lineup including brow is happening is by trade by this summer in which Ball & Ingram go out because they create the most cap space. Maybe we sign Zu like above to a 40mil 4 year deal or whatever, then use him as a S&T piece in the trade. We would need to do it by this summer because we need AD on his current contract which is only 27mil next year in order to have the space for a 3rd. In that scenario above (Ball, BI, Hart and S&T with Zu) the money can work or if not Zu, then swap him with a resigned Rondo who NOP likes, and S&T him. And I believe S&Ts would be allowed as both teams can both be under the cap after the trades. If so, in the Ball/BI/Hart/Zu scenario the Lakers would be left with: 37.436 LBJ 27.09 AD 5.0 Deng 6.8 Kuzma, Mo, Svi, Bonga ______________________ 76.326 32.674 left from 109 cap And the cap at 109mil. That's 32.674 mil to play with (almost exactly what the max for 7-9 year vets is estimated to be) but 7 only guys signed and 3 barely rotation players. Maybe have to trade off one or 2 more youths there like Mo/Bonga etc just to make sure money works. If S&T with Zu doesn't go down, then S&T with Rondo. If neither works, then it's much harder. And we'd have to do all vet mins and use the room exception for the entire REST of the team. max salaries for 2019-2020 estimated: Klay 32.7 Kawhi 32.7 Kyrie 32.7 KD 38.15 (not doable with AD) Boogie 38.15 (or who knows what Boogie will take next summer) if Boogie is playing good and takes a say, 20-25 mil deal for a year that may be our best bet. We could go over the cap to resign him the following season and have a tiny bit of cap to play with this summer.
lol ya, that would be good for a change if we had at least one year without any significant injuries... even the ironman LeBron misses a month here....for the first time in his career. But you also have the likes of Rondo, Ball, Ingram etc...always good for a month of MIA.
AD KD Lebron Ariza Beverly (vomits)--could insert any ring-chasing vet pg here, though in this scenario, all youth are traded for davis and kd is signed outright. more realistically: just add a shooter who can defend (danny green on a short-term deal?) and add cousins. if cousins is hurt again or something, vucevic, or even horford or m. gasol, depending upon price. basically a center and a perimeter player who can shoot. another thought: if we lose the davis sweepstakes to boston, we can absorb jrue holiday (hopefully for minimal players in return) and bring back big brook! gotta say, i'm not thrilled with the FA market at this point. after the huge names (which are likely staying put), there's not a lot of needle movers. seems like trades will be the only option if kd doesn't come. guess it depends on how much you like cousins, post-achilles tear. because that's a very realistic target. if you're optimistic and squint, just adding him to the current team (replacing chandler or mcgee) could make us the second-best team in the west. but that's pretty theoretical at this point.
Klay would be a perfect fit for this team. A deadeye shooter that can defend. Imagine this current team with him in KCP's spot, he'd open up the game for everyone. "Beggars" can't be choosers but the problem with Klay is that can he carry the team when Lebron starts the downhill turn? I think that's what we are trying to accomplish right now. We're going for the grand slam to contend NOW and the near future.
Realistic: Ball Ingram Kawhi Lebron McGee Dream: Ball Kawhi Lebron Kuz AD Either squad is getting a ring
