Incompatible pieces?

[tox]

[greenfrog]

[P.K.]

Starting off saying I'd trade any of our current roster for the right deal - but, it'd have to be a pretty damn good deal for a few of them. I'm currently assuming we keep our pick, but won't include that here

Dlo, BI, Zu: going forward are guys I think will fit together, play the right way with ball & player movement, play defense well (eventually), and could be the core of a playoff team if you add a superstar or top 3 pick. Right now, none of them looks like a #1 option on a championship team, more like #2,#3,#5. But, they've all got room to grow still.

Nick: doesn't figure into the long term plans of the team - gone either this year or next in FA, unless he wants to sign for really cheap in which case, long term, he's probably a 3pt shooter off the bench.

JC: When we signed him for $12m a year, I thought we got a really good deal. However, he calls his own # way too often, will use up the entire shot clock dribbling the ball, doesn't really play D, and is very inefficient as a scorer and as a floor general running the 2nd team. He scores points (inefficiently), but he's detrimental to the rest of the team. I think he can easily be replaced with that Houston pick, and for a lot cheaper, and by someone that might actually play D. He needs to go.

Randle: show the very occasional game where he looks like he might be able to be an all star (offensively only) - ie the Houston game. The problem is that we see that about 8 or 10 times a season. And Randle hardly ever plays D, and on the few occasions when he does it's never for more than 2 or 3 possessions in a row. Randle doesn't show us enough to believe that he could be a starter on even a mid-tier playoff team - he projects as a bench player. The real problem is that Randle seems to actually believe he's spectacularly good - and he's going to want a big contract next year. At this time, I'm not sure he's even worth JC's $12m a year contract, much less a max type. He needs to be traded while we can still get something for him.

Black: He's a small ball backup C. He's also kind of a serviceable backup PF next to Zu. A cheap role player that we could keep - or not - and it wouldn't make much difference either way.

Nance: is cheap to keep, he plays the right way although he doesn't shoot right now, and he's usually a high energy guy on the boards & on D. He can fit it with the DLo, BI, Zu core going forward. It'd be nice to keep him, but he's not really a key cog. I'd like to see Nance starting with Dlo, Nwaba, BI, Zu and told to shoot 10 times a game - to see if he can be more then an energy guy off the bench. When he does shoot, he's pretty reasonable. Force him to shoot 10 a game like they did with BI, and see what happens (hey, we're losing anyway) Sadly, that experiment doesn't appear like it'll happen.

Moz/Deng: really don't fit with the direction the team is going. However, they're probably untradeable. It is interesting to note that if we were able to draft Ball, his ball distribution skills probably make these guys at least somewhat serviceable - right now, we don't have anyone (BI kinda can) that can consistently get the ball into the post or to Deng in the mid-range where these guys can do anything with it (neither can create their own scoring opportunities). This is not saying they'll be good - just that with the right distributor they might not be totally worthless.

everyone else is pretty much a minor role player. I'd try to keep Nwaba as a project, especially next year where they have those NBA/Dleague 16th 17th spots - but he's not really all that valuable either.
_________________
LBJ + AD = More rings
Never argue with a fool - listeners can't tell you apart
Wilt's unstoppable fadeaway: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O9MgNfcGJA
NPZ's Magic Johnson mix: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Qbo0WqvOI

[activeverb]

[P.K.]

[audioaxes]

I dont mind Clarkson as a bench player. Having a player off the bench who can create his own shot is valuable. But I also dont mind if we trade him in the right deal.
I dont see Randle as a #3 or #4 player on a championship team at all and am all in for trading him.
_________________
(bleep) Kawhi

[Roon]

If we can trade Randle/Clarkson for a good player, fine, but I think it'd be going backwards to trade them for a draft pick. Would we need to take back salary in that case as well?

Clarkson is fine off the bench. His contract is good, he can produce, and he should be able to find a comfortable role, especially if we have some extended continuity with the bench unit.

Russell and Ingram should be able to fit anywhere. I'm high on Russel.

Ingram will play the 4 for stretches, but plenty of 3s who outweigh him by 30+ pounds haven't made a full time transition to four. There's a reason for that.

I also think the gradual improvements in basically his entire game has given Randle the benefit of the doubt to show how much he can improve between now and the next trade deadline.

Would 3% percentage would ya'll be happy with to keep Julius around? 30%? 33%?

[brock]

I disagree with almost every point.

[SGVL1]

[rogers49]

[splashmtn]

[LakerLanny]

It is a terrible roster and many here supported Mitch right until the obvious and necessary end.

Mitch and Jim have cratered the franchise to unprecedented levels, it is not an easy fix that faces Magic and Pelinka.
_________________
Love, Laker Lanny

[socalsp3]

A stretch 4 who can d up would serve them better than randle.

[Lakerpark]

I remember the year they drafted Randle I kind of liked McDermott. How's his career panned out? Would anyone trade Randle for McDermott?

[J.C. Smith]

I have a varying degree of love for all of the young Lakers. There is some young quality talent. Though it's all still developing.

I think this summer we see some guys get moved.

Black is likely a goner if they can find a taker for his contract. He has some value there and you can only have so many power forwards/small ball centers who can't shoot on one roster. Unless Randle or Nance get moved, Black is as good as gone.

I think Ingram is a keeper unless someone sends a superstar our way. Have to like his progress so far even after an underwhelming start.

I think Russell has the most alpha potential on the roster but I could see him getting moved if they can bring back an All-Star. The fact that we have both Clarkson and Russell and they don't play particularly well together makes one of the expendable. That's probably going to be Clarkson. But if the right deal comes along I wouldn't be completely shocked to see Russell go.

Nance's injury concerns probably prevent him from being in discussion as a power forward of the future. I like him off the bench though as a spark plug. I think either he or Randle get moved this summer, and if neither does then Black is certainly moved. Unless he or Randle can hit their jump shots consistently or prove to be a good small ball duo though we really need to find a four who can stretch the court better. There really is nobody right now. Even Deng wasn't doing a good job of stretching the floor when he played at PF.

I have enjoyed Randle's progress this year, but with him being the closest to a big extension and having probably the highest value of the young guys you wouldn't hate to part with there's a chance he gets moved if you can bring back a star player who is a better fit. That having been said I like his work ethic and unless you can bring back a star player in a multiplayer deal I think you move Nance or Black instead. Both of those guys make more sense as bench players if you have a star power forward. Otherwise Randle makes more sense because he has the potential to become that where they don't.

Last game aside, Clarkson is playing the best basketball since his rookie season since the All-star break. I think the biggest problem for him is that he and Russell aren't ideal fits together. If the Lakers keep their pick and draft a point guard, I'm fine with having Clarkson playing the Lou Williams role off the bench. If we need another starter to go alongside Russell though I think he is the most likely guy to get moved. He's young and talented enough to have value, and redundant enough that you can part with him. A package of Clarkson and Randle together can probably fetch a decent return and maybe be used to move either Mozgov or Deng.

Zubac looks like another late draft steal. There are mobility concerns defensively. But offensively he's got a great touch. Unless they move Mozgov though they might feel like one big plodding center is enough and he may be used as a sweetener to a deal. I wouldn't be shocked if that happens because he is going to have some value. I'd like to see him stay though.

Nwaba has been a pleasant surprise. Not sure if they'll be able to retain him or not, I would try to get one of the Mitch special 1+1 deals signed on him on a minimum contract. The effort has been good, the defense is good. He's a jump shot away from being a good player.

T-Rob has performed very well for a minimum signing. I can't imagine he'd sign another minimum deal to be a third or fourth string power forward. If Randle or Nance is moved maybe they bring him back. Otherwise he was a nice one year rental.

I would guess Ennis won't be back.

[Bard207]

[richmorgan12]