How to fix the Lakers

chekmatex4 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:30 pm Post subject: How to fix the Lakers

The Lakers are in trouble and it runs from the top down. My thoughts to fix the Lakers provided below.

Management and Coaching

Sorry Jim, Mitch, and Byron but the Lakers need to bring in people that have a history of winning with no previous ties to the Lakers. The team needs to focus on developing the young guys to see what we have. The silver lining to losing is that it improves Lakers chances to keep their 2016 first round draft pick, which is top 3 protected and held by the 76ers.

Personally I would like to see Tom Thibodeau or Avery Johnson be the Lakers coach. These are no nonsense coaches who will drill the young guys. They tend to wear down on the players over a couple of years but would help with immediate player development. They both previously won Coach of the Year honors so should have the respect of players, including Kobe.

Team Depth Chart

This Lakers team was terribly built and lacks balance. The team has 4 guards (Russell, Clarkson, Williams, and Kobe) who should get consistent minutes. Sorry Huertas but the young guys need more PT to develop. Kobe needs to play closer to the basket, ideally in the high post, where he can use his post-up skills and minimize the energy needed to get a good shot off. Rotating these 4 players will also allow them to handle the ball while the other is on the bench.

Lakers have a lack of depth at SF but should play Anthony Brown to develop him. Not sure why they kept MWP unless it is to help develop Randle in practice. Nick Young is a gunner and there is no more room for gunners outside of Williams and Kobe. We need to play Anthony Brown to develop him as the "3 and D" player the league is moving towards.

We have Randle, Bass, Kelly, Nance which may be our "deepest" position by quantity. Randle is undersized but gets his points through effort and energy. Bass is also an energy player that is a decent rebounder with the ability to hit the open 15 footer. I like Kelly as a stretch 4, similar to Ryan Anderson. Larry Nance Jr is another undersized PF. I think we should play him as a defensive SF due to his positive athleticism and hope he develops a 3 point shot.

At C we have Hibbert, Black, and Sacre. Hibbert has been performing well but has to focus on defense and setting picks. I hate that he calls for the ball in the post. Black is undersized but has excellent energy and hustles to make plays. Sacre is just a big body. Lakers should bring back Robert Upshaw to develop him for the future if they can get comfortable with his character issues.

Proposed Rotation

PG: Clarkson, Russell
SG: Kobe, Williams
SF: Brown, Nance Jr.
PF: Randle, Bass/Kelly
C: Hibbert, Upshaw/Black
Not part of the rotation: Huertas, Young, MWP, Sacre

Trades

I think Lakers should trade either Williams or Young. They both fill the role of 6th man, instant offense. Williams is the better player and would result in better offers.

Lakers should also decide if they want the PF to be traditional low post player or move towards using a stretch four. They should trade either Bass or Kelly depending on what they decide.

We would trade for young players to develop with the rest of the team at positions of need (SF and C) or expiring contracts combined with draft picks.

Salary Cap

The Lakers are in position to have a lot of cap space next year and, by my estimate, enough to offer two Max contracts.

Under contract: Russell, Williams, Brown, Nance Jr., Randle, Bass

Looks like Lakers are focusing on Durant. I would tell Durant we will sign him to a max contract offer and can offer a 2nd max contract to another free agent he wants to play with.

The cap space would have to be balanced with maintaining bird rights for Clarkson (RFA) and Hibbert (UFA). Kobe's bird rights would have to be released to free up the cap hold. Benefit of maintaining bird rights is you can go above the salary cap to resign the player.

Wilkes52 · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 9:23 am Post subject: Wrong forum

Maybe should be in the LA Lakers Lounge.
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st8ktacos · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Oct 2015 Posts: 253

We aren't getting Durant. He's either going to Washington or going to stay where he's at.

chekmatex4 · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:17 pm Post subject:

Bard207 · Star Player Joined: 08 Jan 2013 Posts: 7713

Would there be a hit - ding to the team image if the Lakers weren't even given a chance to sit down and recruit Durant in Free Agency?

st8ktacos · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Oct 2015 Posts: 253

Dave20 · Franchise Player Joined: 15 Jun 2013 Posts: 11333

Hire Thibs.

venturalakersfan · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 11:50 am Post subject: Re: How to fix the Lakers

LVLAKERFAN · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 7:39 pm Post subject:

Next years capspace will solve all the laker problems.

I just hope that Randle, Russell, Nance and Brown continue to develop. I hope we can get Clarkson back and two more very good players.
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chekmatex4 · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 12:01 pm Post subject:

Mike@LG · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 1:46 pm Post subject:

Mike@LG · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 1:47 pm Post subject:

silkwilkes · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:37 pm Post subject:

There's too many things broken to point out... so fixing the Lakers is now very difficult. Some of the main issues:
- Ownership with no vision
- Power struggle among owners
- Capable GM that is hamstrung because owner thinks he's the GM at the worst times
- Bad coach
- Overbearing history and legendary players from that history that are hurting our ability to innovate
- Not much competitive advantage being in LA anymore
- Bad PR and marketing so we're not controlling the message (as much as we can and should)
- General depression from all involved, including the fans

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venturalakersfan · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 7:59 pm Post subject:

nevitt_smrek · Star Player Joined: 15 Jun 2009 Posts: 2803

:Worthy Mamba Magic: · Starting Rotation Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 621

I posted this in another topic in the forum but I figured this is the right place.

I don't know why people give this hack any credibility. Honestly the play should be as follows. Sorry if I digress and maybe this is free agent and trade discussion. I just mean our core should stay intact and add real pieces that fit.
Our next coach, Shaka Smart?? He's like a Brad Stevens type.

Re-Sign Clarkson. 4 yrs 75mil. He works hard and is a great kid.
Sign Dj Augustin, Mario Chalmers or G. Vasquez
Sign Batum or Barnes (ideally Batum)
Trade Bass and Lou for a 2nd round pick.
Sign Ezhli
Draft Diallo(compliment to our core bit undersized) Skal(not sure here if he develops, but could be defensive monster)
Sign Courtney Lee
Sign Jj Hickson

Russell, Chalmers(best fit. Plays 12-15 a game)
Clarkson, Lee
Batum, Brown, Young(all can play 2-3)
Randle, Nance, Hickson
Ezhli, Skal, Black(maybe for depth)

I know this is lots of moves and seems nuts but this to me is the formula. Lee and Chalmers are solid vets that play their roles. Both decent to good shooters and defenders. Batum. We all love his game. Very underrated and still young. Max him out. JJ Hickson. He's a fiery guy at times and can run. This team needs to get out and run. He's also solid enough to play 25 min if needed and can guard the 4-5. Ezhli is a wild card. Very raw and limited offensively but he can protect the paint. Plus he can come off bench once our #2 pick develops. Skal will have to be monitored for his body and progress but I think he can be a Defensive monster. Black is just for depth. This squad in 2 years will be a playoff team.
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KobeDunk · Retired Number Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 26849

sell the team, enough sibling rivalry bull crap! That's the best way to fix this disaster they have created.

10. · Starting Rotation Joined: 04 Dec 2015 Posts: 273

Everyone loves young coaches, but how exactly are OKC and Bulls doing?

Are they better? I think not.. Most of their fans are learning the bs nonsense fans have with young coaches...

GSW are working with Kerr and Luke, but how are the knicks, okc, and bulls doing????

game2488 · Rookie Joined: 11 Dec 2015 Posts: 7

Trade Clarkson to sixers for our 1st round pick back.

Trade Randle and Hibbert to celtics for 2016 Nets unprotected 1st, 2016 Mavs top 7 protected 1st, and 2016 celtics unprotected 1st, and fillers- Lee and Jerebeko(expiring).

Trade Lou Williams and Brandon Bass to pistons for Jennings(expiring).

Hire Luke Walton. Absorb Iggy and Bogut's expiring contracts in a salary dump(warriors will chase after Durant). Sign Evan Fournier and Motiejunas.

Draft Ben Simmons, Jakob Poeltl, Denzel Valentine, and Grayson Allen.

Russel/Valentine
Fournier/Allen
Iggy/?
Simmons/Montiejunas
Bogut/Poeltl

Last edited by game2488 on Fri Dec 11, 2015 2:22 pm; edited 1 time in total

22 · Franchise Player Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 17063

^^^

Uhh, no LOL

chekmatex4 · Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 10:22 am Post subject:

cyrus_the_virus · Sixth Man Joined: 14 Mar 2014 Posts: 52

Trade Randle to Phoenix for Devin Booker as Nance is solidifying the PF for this team.

JC to Sixers for Embiid straight up. Risky for the Lakers, but could expedite the rebuild if Embiid can get back on the court.

lakurluv · Star Player Joined: 17 May 2010 Posts: 2529

As a coach at some point you have to assess all of your players not only individually but collectively, do they jell/mesh well as a team on and off the court. In the case of the Lakers it's apparent that on the court there is simply not a good mesh. Not only is the coaching bad right now, but the players are bad. The youngsters definitely have some talent, but it doesn't seem as though they're getting enough time on the floor to learn to play together.
Players seem to be out of position and there is some redundancy, at some positions and the Coaches aren't molding the players the correct way.

How to fix the Lakers it's simple!
Play the youngsters all season, sit or trade anyone else. Let them play without a true 7 footer in the middle if need be, we're loosing every game anyway. Play Russell/Clarkson/Randle/Nance/Kobe and let them run the floor together and bring Brown off the bench.

Get rid of everyone else except for maybe Black and do a total rebuild next year. Actually you can keep Bass, I think he's a keepr, Lou Will can stay also. Hibbert and Young have to go especially along with Kelly/Clarkson/Huertas and whoever else is shoring up the bench and DNP list.

Look to build through the draft and free agency next year is the best we can hope for. This is how you rebuild and FIX this team. After all of that is done, find a LEGITIMATE Coach who can build a system for these young kids before it's too late...

scoobs · Star Player Joined: 19 Aug 2005 Posts: 4746

1. Trade Hibbert and Lou to Boston for Lee, Jerebko and 2016 first round pick. I really don't want to trade Lou, but this gives minutes to the young players and helps solidify the tank.

70sdude · Star Player Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 4567

I'm inclined to support a ditching of the coaching staff and give the new inbound HC have a go with the current roster, with minor tweaks.

I haven't studied the FA market for small forwards but I think there's almost no chance we can obtain a franchise starring player this Summer (e.g., Kevin Durant.)

Draft the BPA, fire Bee, hire Thibs,, pull in DeRozan if possible, and roll with that.