What's the ideal team to surround Kobe with for the next 2 years?

lakersken80 · Retired Number Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 38789

The Lakers have been trying to build around Kobe up until last year...its part of the reason why they are in this current predicament......trading away draft picks for Steve Nash, getting D12 to LA only to lose him in free agency....even if they wanted to build around Kobe its a bit too late as he is on his last legs and they don't have the assets (money included especially since Kobe signed his extension) to build a contender within his window.

a2j1m · Star Player Joined: 06 May 2013 Posts: 3734

Irving
Kobe
Durant
Lebron
Sacre

LoLakers13 · Star Player Joined: 14 May 2011 Posts: 1777

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

Rebuild as though we don't have Kobe.

With the topic, it's seriously hard to avoid appearing snarky. Frankly, if one uses the approach (over the next two years, that one's best chances lay in finding the best complementary talent for Kobe) we're just postponing a rebuild.

Don't do that.

Draft the BPA this Summer regardless of position, reassess team needs and trade/FA potential, and you've taken the best possible first step towards the next championship push.

wolfpaclaker · Retired Number Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 58344

Not ideal, but realistic and would be tough to see as a fan, but if I'm thinking completely about win now and maximizing each asset in the now.

A couple assumptions I go with.

#1 Bryant has all-star ability left for two healthy years. Not a stretch but not a given. Not talking 29/6/5 MVP numbers, but 23/5/4 type of numbers.

#2 Pau won't be traded or given away at deadline just for cap relief, and Pau goes into FA.

#3 Bryant comes back after the ASB and adds about 3-5 wins to the Lakers final Win total. Pushing them outside of the top, and somewhere around 6,7 or 8 in the draft lotto. Lakers do not win the lotto or move up when it's don in June.

#4 Lakers are willing to admit hiring MDA was a mistake and cut ties with him, bring in someone like Lionel Hollins, who focuses on D and fits our team better than MDA.

So here goes

#1 Trade the draft pick, Steve Nash (who probably retires if traded to MEM) to Memphis for Marc Gasol. Marc is going to be a FA in 2015 and Memphis may be missing the playoffs this year. If Memphis wants a quick re-build, they would have Lakers lotto pick AND their own. Top top 13-14 picks in this draft is very good, especially if one of them is a top 6-8 one like the Lakers one will be. This trade has to happen on July 1 or after the new caps go into place. So Lakers would then absorb the extra $$$ on Marc's deal, Memphis also gets a significant trade X.

#2 With Pau seeing his brother on the Lakers and Pau/Marc always wanting to play together, LA then gets Pau to take a pretty big pay cut. A 2 year 16 M deal.

#3 This leaves LA with about 8-10 M in cap to spend. They use this on Luol Deng and re-signing Jordan Farmar. Deng gets a 4 year 36 M deal. Farmar gets a 2 year 5 M deal.

#4 Lakers use the bird rights they have on Meeks to bring him back, once they are over the cap.

#5 Sort of like last year they look for bargain vet min deals on players who want to showcase themselves as Lakers to get bigger contracts next year.

Lakers main rotation:

Marc Gasol/Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol/Deng/Kelly
Deng/Kobe
Kobe/Meeks
Farmar/Marshall

+ Vet min players brought back or brought in.

A team with the Gasol brothers, Deng up front, Kobe/Farmar in the backcourt and good coaching that fits (and is defensively focused) I can see the Lakers move into the top 4 of the West. You probably won't win a title but you give Kobe a great chance at another shot in the playoffs with that sort of team, IMO. You've got the type of team Kobe's always had success with and the type of style he truly believes in.

Then in 2016 Pau/Kobe contracts off the books. The real re-build begins then.

The alternative of course is what is likely going to happen - we'll keep the pick and try to make the playoffs as a 7th/8th seed. Not against that at all,I think the pick could turn out to be fantastic player. But if I'm not in the top 3-5 and I don't think the pick will be a franchise player or perennial all-star, I'm not against trying to win one more time around KB.

Telleris · Star Player Joined: 28 May 2013 Posts: 2371

deal · Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:29 pm Post subject:

King beef · Starting Rotation Joined: 03 Jan 2014 Posts: 356

Drifts · Retired Number Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 28374

ideal would be... Lebron, Melo, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Roy Hibbert, LMA, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook
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greenfrog · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:29 am Post subject:

NYLakerFan · Starting Rotation Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 413

I have an incredibly difficult time imaging any realistic scenario where we can build a true contender around Kobe for the next two seasons. That being said, I hope we build with youth, a great free agent, and Kobe mentoring all.

Trade Pau to Phoneix for Okafur and the ~20 something pick. Continue to free fall this season.

Draft Parker/Wiggins/Embiid/Smart etc. with our top 5 pick.

Hope Kyle Anderson declares and is still around at 20-25. If not, draft best available PG.

Sign a vet on a cheap one-year deal just to help Kobe with scoring load (Granger looking to rebuild his career?).

Wait until 2015 free agent class and sign Love.

Not going to win a title in the next 2 years but ... a core of Parker/Anderson/Love to build around after Kobe retires would make me very happy ... especially with Kobe's $$$ coming off the books to use for another free agent signing (a still title-less Durant?).

SHAQ/KOBE=#1 · Star Player Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 3260

Trade Pau for Okafor and a late 1st

Re-sign Okafor if healthy, otherwise a defensive big for the room mle.

Sign Boozer if amnestied.

Sign Marion to a 1 year deal.

Re-sign Meeks and Kelly.

Okafor
Boozer
Marion
Kobe
Nash

Bench: Sacre, Kelly, Meeks, Marshall + picks and fillers.

Keep the 2015 plan alive and develop the youngsters while giving the appearance of competing.

alohalakers · Starting Rotation Joined: 20 Oct 2012 Posts: 164

I don't know if this idea was posted yet because I didn't have time to read the whole thread. LOL

If we're trying to make the most of Kobe's last two years we should try to trade Pau and our unprotected #1 for Kyrie and Varajao:
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m9lp6na

Embiid is very raw, Wiggans and Parker are nice, but are not Lebron level prospects - all these guys are a few years away from dominating on the pro level. Better to get a relatively sure thing in Kyrie to pair with Kobe in the backcourt. - plus Lakers save about $5 million. Just have to figure a way to dump Kamen or Hill and you are under the luxury tax.

Then in the offseason you might have a slightly better chance at Lebron if he likes Kyrie over a fading Wade.

Kobe, Kyrie and Lebron. Total Pipe but you gotta swing for the fences.

dvdrdiscs · Star Player Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 6274

Am I the only one who thinks more along the lines of who do we surround in the foreseeable future? I love Kobe, but I am not certain he's someone I'd build around at this point.

DLaker · Star Player Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 1539

Convince Phil to coach Kobe's last 2 yrs

Blake
Lance (10m)
Kobe
Love (trade pick)
Pau

Farmar
Swaggy
Wesley
Hill
Kaman

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

USCandLakers · Franchise Player Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 19955

LakerLogic · Franchise Player Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 17886

Need to build the team as if Kobe is not there. He can fit in with any good players with whatever he has left in the tank.

DLaker · Star Player Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 1539