Off season talk: Get Complentary pieces Or go all in for a 3rd star

[Dr. Laker]

[Halflife]

[LakerLogic]

We have no assets for a 3rd star.

[WC13]

If a 3rd star were possible....

otherwise, it doesn't matter...

Healthy AD and Lebron with anyone is good enough for me.

[Halflife]

[RashardA]

[Kobetan]

Might be recency bias, but it does feel like we can no longer rely on a LBJ/AD tandem + role players to bring home a chip.

[LGFan]

We have no assets to get the 3rd star

[LakersChamps04]

With Lebron and AD taking up 67% of the salary cap, its next to impossible to get a star of any kind.

[JamaalWilkes]

I think it would be good to have:

1) Players who can shoot the ball
2) A point guard who can run an offense and shoot
3) Another center who is big enough to guard the Western Conference centers
4) An offense with players moving without the ball and passing

[ToastedMuffins]

Lakers need to be careful with their assets as they're limited.

They can't waste them on middling players should an opportunity to get a player like Bradley Beal or Zach LaVine come along.

Draft the most talented player available. Run the team back on the most reasonable contracts you can negotiate two years or less in length. Use the MLE to fill whatever hole is deemed most critical by the end of free agency whether it's starting center, backup wing, or secondary ballhandler.

Then at the trade deadline evaluate the market and roster. If a offer for one of the above stars is available offer everything short of LeBron and Davis to acquire them.

Lakers do have assets
-Talen Horton-Tucker
-Alex Caruso
-Kyle Kuzma
-Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
-2021 22nd Pick
-2027 1st Round Pick
-2026 1st Round Pick Swap
-2028 1st Round Pick Swap
-2023 2nd Round Pick
-2024 2nd Round Pick
-2025 2nd Round Pick
-2026 2nd Round Pick
-2027 2nd Round Pick
-2028 2nd Round Pick

You could argue that the quality of those assets don't equal Beal or LaVine but if LeBron or Davis gets in one of those guys' ears and they they're in a situation like Davis where they demand a trade to only one team and leverage walking in free agency in a year then that could reasonably be enough if any other team will only put forth enough assets for a rental.

[ElginBaylor]

With the situation we're in I'm going to say run it back and give this team a chance at a real off-season, full training camp, and full pre-season. I predict AD2 is going to take our 5.8 mil and stick around. Caruso will stay. Schroeder will stay. Given that, Lakers will be a serious contender.
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Not a legend

[epic_]

Unless that 3rd star is Dame $, I think you try to solidify your roster with compliments. It all comes down to health of LeBron and AD anyway.
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💜💛 🏆 👀 🍖 #18!!!

[slavavov]

LeBron/AD and just role players could've won the championship back in the day, or even 10 years ago. But there's so much more talent these days, and pace and scoring is so much higher that you need a 3rd star, or at least a 3rd good player who's more than a role player.

Say what you will about DS, but he's a good player who carried us in more than one facet of the game when LeBron was out. Last year when we won the chip Rondo was that 3rd good player.

If DS leaves, we need an equal or greater replacement. But how would we get a player like that?

This is where our bad asset management hurts us. It would've really helped us if we got more in return for guys like Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance, Lou Will and even Thomas Bryant.

[point-guard]

all you need is 3 stars that looks like a guaranteed finals ticket, and players will low ball themselves to come play for us

[av3773]

Let's see what happens with the Nets...this year if both teams were at full strength, I really think the Nets would be a tough our for the Lakers...I'd probably give an edge to the Nets I think there is a bigger gap between LA/Nets and everyone else when healthy.....the gap for us isn't so much, and yes, ideally we could land a Beal level player, but that sounds like its not possible and that's ok, what we need is to find one reliable role player who can score the ball with some regularity...that with health I think it's an even match, because our D should be much better than their O being better than our O.

[Inspector Gadget]

Ben Simmons despite his flaws and weaknesses is considered a 3rd star, will be interesting to see rather the Lakers FO sees Simmons as a 3rd banana to AD and LeBron.

[Kobetan]

End of the day, 3 points are better than two.

If we're not landing a 3rd star that fits on the team, then better shore up on shooters and perimeter defenders. If not, it's going to be tough challenging the great teams next season.

[Four Decade Bandwagon]

Is this 3rd star capable of playing 48 mpg all season long?

Because if not how does this three star system work when one is 37 yrs old and picks his moments to play hard and all we talk about is getting him more rest, nights off and getting the ball out of his hands. Is that really the strength of his game?

And Davis is fragile. Injuries and in game tweeks are all too common. How many games is he missing next season?

Assuming the Lakers are able to trade multiple players for a 3rd star. How do they fill the bench with quality shooters, defenders, minute eaters, ball handlers, and high activity players? Especially having to rely on vet mins and G League level players.

Hell of a tall order for Pelinka and Co to achieve. Will be interesting to see.

[Halflife]

just looking at how young and good book and ayton are. Fortunately we have a defensive coach but we need a dynamic playmaker who can get his or her own shot.

[Maginka]

Russell Westbrook, need someone to give us that edge, being the engine on offense, 1st title hunger....Shroeder/KCP/Gasol/2021 1st

Sign the likes for min and exception
Wayne Ellington
Carmelo
Danny Green
Derrick Rose
Ariza

Kuz/Mckinnie for Harrison Barnes