Who should be the Laker starting PG next season and why?
Dennis Schröder
55%
[ 33 ]
Alex Caruso
26%
[ 16 ]
Talen Horton Tucker
18%
[ 11 ]
Total Votes : 60
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troy Star Player
Joined: 30 Jan 2013 Posts: 4973
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 1:22 pm Post subject: Who should be our starting point guard next season?
Forget contract dynamics; based on talent and fit only, if our options for a starting PG were Dennis S, Alex C, or THT next season (no one else), who should we go with and why? Also, who should come off the bench, and who should we "let go"?
Caruso and THT are quality talent on good contracts. Because of the cap situation the Lakers will either pay too much to keep Schroder or have to let him walk without being able to use his salary for a replacement. Or in other words, a wasted asset.
I've advocated for Caruso to be the starter from the beginning of the season. James is the PG. Always will be. Caruso's defense and energy is a valuable chemistry to play off James.
Caruso is leaving in free agency, and - unless he starts playing better - so is Schroder. _________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
Caruso is like a playoff veteran now. So cool, calm and collected. Would be a huge mistake if the Lakers don't resign him. _________________ LeGoat! LeMazing! LeGend!
Caruso and THT are quality talent on good contracts. Because of the cap situation the Lakers will either pay too much to keep Schroder or have to let him walk without being able to use his salary for a replacement. Or in other words, a wasted asset.
I've advocated for Caruso to be the starter from the beginning of the season. James is the PG. Always will be. Caruso's defense and energy is a valuable chemistry to play off James.
Alex isn't a very dynamic shooter, but that 40% 3PFG% is sexy as hell. If that's durable - say he's a 38-40% 3pt shooter over his next 3-4 year contract - that's a much more startable player on a championship team. _________________ Under New Management
As LBJ ages you need to account for the fact we may have more games where he isn’t around. THT/AC struggled a bit without LBJ but Dennis acquitted himself well, helping keep this team afloat without LBJ/AD. Ergo Lakers recognized that and offered him the max extension they could. I hope we can bring all 3 back as they bring different things to the table.
But a chief concern isn’t how well they play alongside LBJ/AD, but whether they can step up in LBJ/AD’s absence. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Missing the "Steph Curry" optio : _________________ Starting Lakers Dynasty6.0! NOW!!
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....." each year in Lakerland is marked by four seasons: Kobe’s Mad at His Teammates; Kobe’s Shooting Too Much; Kobe Leads the Victory Parade; Kobe Receives His Championship Ring."
Schroder. THT is not ready and AC is an energy bench guy he's not a starting material. THT is probably another year away from that role.
I feel like Schroder's importance to the offense has been on display since he's been out. The Lakers have adjusted by playing more Gasol and allowing him and AD to create and AD at times to handle the ball. When THT was out though the Lakers are really susceptible to ball pressure. Good teams would exploit that.
Till we have LBJ and prime AD, we don’t need a starting level creating PG. we need a defensive player, a three point shooter, cutter and someone that brings key intangibles.
The second unit PG is the most valuable role. One that we have not filled with Caruso or THT.
For starter, I am fine with THT or Caruso next year. But we need a bench PG leader badly. I really thought Dennis would be that guy. I still hope he becomes that guy in the play in and playoffs and then we can re-sign him confidently knowing he has found his role.
Till we have LBJ and prime AD, we don’t need a starting level creating PG. we need a defensive player, a three point shooter, cutter and someone that brings key intangibles.
The second unit PG is the most valuable role. One that we have not filled with Caruso or THT.
For starter, I am fine with THT or Caruso next year. But we need a bench PG leader badly. I really thought Dennis would be that guy. I still hope he becomes that guy in the play in and playoffs and then we can re-sign him confidently knowing he has found his role.
Conceptually I understand what you're saying. But it's also fair to assume that as LBJ ages, that there may be more games where he doesn't play. And AD is somewhat injury prone, so we may have situations where there are no AD/LBJ. I don't think we can run with that assumption TBH. I 100% get why Rob went for Dennis hoping he would be that starter level PG. He acquitted himself well in AD/LBJ's absence, helping this team win way more games than what many people here thought they would win. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Till we have LBJ and prime AD, we don’t need a starting level creating PG. we need a defensive player, a three point shooter, cutter and someone that brings key intangibles.
The second unit PG is the most valuable role. One that we have not filled with Caruso or THT.
For starter, I am fine with THT or Caruso next year. But we need a bench PG leader badly. I really thought Dennis would be that guy. I still hope he becomes that guy in the play in and playoffs and then we can re-sign him confidently knowing he has found his role.
Conceptually I understand what you're saying. But it's also fair to assume that as LBJ ages, that there may be more games where he doesn't play. And AD is somewhat injury prone, so we may have situations where there are no AD/LBJ. I don't think we can run with that assumption TBH. I 100% get why Rob went for Dennis hoping he would be that starter level PG. He acquitted himself well in AD/LBJ's absence, helping this team win way more games than what many people here thought they would win.
The role of a bench player, can be the same. For example, last year, Rondo won 2 games as the team leader when Bron and AD sat out IIRC. That is a much older lesser player. Dennis easily could have been that guy for us when AD-Bron were out this year, coming off the bench.
What pains is me that I see Caruso now start, and he is doing ok around AD. He is not great, but he is good enough to at least manage those minutes. The bleeding happens when Bron sits. That is when we need Dennis to get all in. I really hope this covid time out, gives the coaching staff a look at how great Dennis could be. It still irks me we have the 2 best bench players from last season in the league, and we did not exploit them off the bench.
We need to run Trez-AD-Kuz-Wesley (or THT or McLemore)-Dennis lineups for 4-5 minutes a half when Bron sits, in the play in or playoffs. Then sub in Marc Gasol, for Trez, and Bron for AD to let AD rest. We can manage the game so much more to our advantage if Dennis comes off the bench.
It is crazy how much talent is on this team, and the injuries and starting role has impacted the way games could be managed. There is still time to save the season, IMO. I do not expect a run, but I believe in Dennis and this group still, to be able to get it done if they manage the game better than they have.
If the Lakers do bring Dennis back, it'll be at 20m+. They're not going to re-sign him to that deal for him to come off the bench.
If they aren't able to bring him back, then it gets interesting. I don't think THT is ready. And I'm not sure AC's body can hold up for a whole season + playoffs as a starting guard given his physical style of play. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
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