Grade Magic & Rob - Summary of FO Moves

ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

This probably could have gone in the grade Magic/Rob thread. But for now, I will add I have been very critical of Magic. And while I stilll don't agree with his plan, I do think we have a nice roster to put out this year.

Car54 · Franchise Player Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 14424

Jiggling Jello · Sixth Man Joined: 22 May 2017 Posts: 87

I won't applaud Maginka yet for any of the moves they've made, because they either smack of short-sightedness, or I'm not convinced that Jim and Mitch couldn't have done the same. I believe that the Jim and Mitch Lakers could have purchased the Bulls' 38th pick instead of the Warriors, and I don't believe in celebrating the signings of Brook Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope when they're likely going to be one year players.

I will say that they've injected an excitement in Lakerdom that hasn't been present for a very long time, and that gives the Lakers a better chance at nabbing big-name free agents, which is why I'm reserving full judgement until 2020 to see if their moves paid off. If the Lakers haven't reached the NBA Finals by then, then I would say Maginka failed.
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DancingBarry · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:20 am Post subject:

Magic/Pelinka = Lonzo
Jesse Buss = Kuzma, Hart, Bryant (and JC and Nance)

Mike@LG · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:36 am Post subject:

CervantesRises · Star Player Joined: 18 Jun 2016 Posts: 3918

I think evaluating this offseason you have to ask what are the FO responsibilities...

1. To improve the roster

2. To maintain cap flexibility

3. To provide the best environment and support for existing player develoment.

Is our roster better than it was at this point last year?

Is our cap situation better?

Is our player development and support staff better?

Objectively the answer to all 3 is yes.

So my question is...if you gave a grade below an A what could they have done differently to be able to earn an A?

Else...there was no scenario they could have earned an A.

You retain DLo...you dont get the better C in Lopez, offload an albatross contract for an expiring or get Kuzma with the 27th...and you arent in a position to get KCP...the return for Dlo is insanely good.

Would you rather go after a Hayward or save your money to go after PG and a max friend?

Would you rather swing for the fences or swing for the fences and have 2 backup plans that still look great? We only get PG we can keep KCP and Jules. We get no one...very unlikely...we resigb what we have.

I just dont see what more Magic and Rob could of done to improve this roster...really completely overhaul it into a new culture that values hustle on D and pushing the pace at the same time in 4 month.

It's possible to grade them on just their actual moves and not say incomplete...because if a grade is incomplete then you could literally say that every year.

We all knew mozDeng was an F- summer...I dont see one move so far that looks anything remotely close to that abomination.
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TooMuchMajicBuss · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:50 am Post subject:

The score is incomplete at this stage on Maginka. I really like the draft choices, but a big part of that is that Magic and Rob made a good choice in leaving the college scouting group intact. I will say they made a pretty decent move in trading down to pick up an extra player, taking advantage of the good scouting we have, and the end result is we have 4 good draftees including Kuzma, Hart and Bryant.

I understand needing to dump Mosgov's contract; but I don't think getting rid of DLO was a win for the Lakers. I think it was a very steep price, which could possibly be compensated for by the so-far exceptional play of Ball and Kuzma. IF the summer league success translates to real NBA games I'd say we came out OK on that end.

Dumping Mozgov's contract and his 2 rebounds per game and getting a year of Brooke Lopez was a big win, no doubt about that. KCP is also a win, but again we're talking 1 year contracts. The real test is who we wind up with for free agents next year, and how much of a sustainable core and future draft picks we're left with in the process of getting these superstars.

ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

I just hope they get the right FA next season. Dont care if its two max. Just get the right players that we wont need to sacrifice any more of our youth. Namely Ingram.

Chronicle · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:52 am Post subject:

Kuzma potential is not >> Randle potential.

I do wanna say tho, what is characteristic of this FO's draft picks so far is that they are all players that would play well with Lonzo ball. They are truly going all in on him
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SDLakersFan · Star Player Joined: 01 Apr 2012 Posts: 2044

They're doing a good job working with limited resources. Only Lord knows how much more they could've accomplished if they didn't have to work around Mozgov/Deng's contracts.

I haven't seen much of KCP. If we strike out on PG13 would he be a decent consolation prize?

Pau Gasol's Beard · Star Player Joined: 04 Jul 2009 Posts: 1410

Getting rid of DLo was addition by subtraction and immediately upping the maturity level. He couldn't play defense and I doubt very much he could keep up with Lonzo's pace with his lack of foot speed. Nothing but A moves by Maginka so far.

Aike · Starting Rotation Joined: 17 May 2017 Posts: 274

I think it's still TBD on the Russell move, but I give them a plus so far based on bringing in KCP. I think they've made the team better in the short-run, while positioning them to be better long-run.

My biggest reservation about bringing in Ball was the (lack of) defensive combo of Russell/Ball. So they've made that a non-issue, and at least for now are sliding a solid defender beside Ball, which is a necessity, imo.

I like the Hart pick (potentially Brogdon-esque), and Kuzma looks like he will put pressure on Randle to up his defensive game (and jumpshot game).

Thomas Bryant looks like a rich man's Tarik. As a Kentucky fan, I've known about Bryant for a while. We stopped recruiting him, he went to Indiana and torched us in the round of 32 with his hustle. Cal praised him afterwards and admitted that he missed the boat on Bryant.

Vin · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:16 am Post subject:

Gotta give it to them. I was skeptical but theyve done great so far.

acer77 · Star Player Joined: 16 Jun 2017 Posts: 1042

Only thing they've done right is Lonzo and nearly blew that too.

FanOfFour · Star Player Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 1761

I think they've done a great job of potentially improving the team from last season all the while being positioned to sign at least 1 max player. That's not an easy proposition. Combine that with bringing on personnel that fit the more modern style of winning basketball and they've surpassed my expectations. To me, they get credit for having a vision and being steadfast to it. Whether it comes to fruition remains to be seen. But they definitely are not resorting to half-measures at this point, which is what got the Lakers into trouble in the most recent past.

laker50 · Star Player Joined: 07 Mar 2014 Posts: 2140

It would take at least a few seasons to determine if they have been successful.

But from the first look they have started off with a bang.

The play of the team this year will be a big factor.
It actually will be the most CRITICAL season for the Lakers i
7 years.

The season will determine if the Lakers get into the playoffs.
And if the Lakers make the playoffs Paul George is a greater chance to come to the Lakers. And other FAs also.

But if they don't look good the Lakers will fall behind surging teams like the Celtics, Timberwolves, Houston, OKC, Pelicans, and even the Kings. And it will be too hard to overcome for lots of years.

The Dagger · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:26 am Post subject:

Hated the Dlo trade at first but this what we got...

Lopez a top 10 center who we have the option of re-signing next year.
Kuzma who looks like his ceiling may be as high as Dlos.
Pope who probably would not have signed if Dlo was here and we also have the option to re-sgin next year
Got rid of one of the worst contracts in the Nba in Mozgov.
Got rid of the only bad apple on our team who apparently was a cancer.
Made room for a second max contract for next year which could potentially be LAbron, Pg, Westbrook, Cousins or Pope.

To me this is winning all the way around.
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gng930 · Franchise Player Joined: 13 Apr 2001 Posts: 11476

Sina · Star Player Joined: 12 Jul 2015 Posts: 1812

I have to especially credit them the trade of Dlo. Dlo gets talents but seems not a good teammate or leader. He may have some negative impacts to this young team. By the way, his role in playmaking and scoring may duplicate with Ball and Ingram, both get all star potential and need room to grow. Magic quickly traded him for an all star talented and role model player in Lopez, a pick turn out to be Kuzma and unload the bad contract of Mozgov to allow us 2 max next year.

LakerLanny · Retired Number Joined: 24 Oct 2001 Posts: 47581

KindCrippler2000 · Franchise Player Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 15821

After the last game on ESPN, Luke said he was thrilled the FO was able to get KCP. Said there's a different vibe/energy with the new management. They are beginning to attract high-caliber free agents.

Also, it's not a surprise PG expressed his interest in joining the Lakers after the management change. This ain't a coincidence, people. Players want to be here.

32 · Retired Number Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 73073

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

Chronicle · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:12 am Post subject: