The Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

[Punk]

Because Kobe.

[nando714]

Byron Scott Fired

[nando714]

Too bad Tibideaux (sp?) is with Minnesota

[nate]

Yeah good thing they waited for thibs to be hired. Jimmy can't do anything right

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

I'd love to steal Jay Wright from Villanova, but I highly doubt that happens...

 

Kevin Ollie is rumored to be one of the coaches that the Lakers' are interested in. If they go that route, I suspect its to appease Durant. Durant speaks very highly of Ollie and has a load of respect for him. 

[Billy_Ball]

And Scott Brooks went to Washington.  Luke Walton and Brian Shaw are intriguing options, at least they will bring the triangle offense back.

[Angel Oracle]

Scott's firing had to happen.

Solid human being, but doesn't seem to relate to young players very well.

[nando714]

Can someone explain to me the love affair with Walton?

I just don't get it.

[nando714]

Calipari back to the NBA?

[Angel Oracle]

Walton does supposedly relate well to the young players, a departure from Scott's tenure here.

Whoever is hired HAS to relate to young players well, as young as this team is currently.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

lakers have received permission to interview San Antonio Spur assistant coach Ettore Messina.  Great candidate with excellent pedigree, and shows the team is not settling for former Laker washouts and run-o-the-mill retreads.

[Angel Oracle]

Time for a group led by Magic Johnson to purchase the Lakers from the clueless Dos Busses?

Michael Jordan's Hornets aren't doing too badly. 

[Tank]

Just got a news alert text. Lakers have hired . . . Luke Walton.

[xboom28x]

I'm ok with Walton. Very high BBall IQ. Always thought he would make a great coach. Always knows where players should be off the ball. Understands all of the little things. Definite upgrade from Byron Scott. I just don't know if he's intriguing to top FAs across the league.

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

Lukeeeeeeeeeeee!

[tennischmp]

As long as he is not in uniform, I'm good

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

I like the Walton signing. Obviously the Lakers are rebuilding so no need to pay some big name big money when they're coming to a team that at best is 2-3 year project.

[Brandon]

Nice, these shitty white guys that rode the bench for a couple years before leaving the league generally make great coaches.

[nate]

I love Luke and hope he does well.  Going to be quite a shock for him to go from one of the most talented rosters in the history of the NBA to whatever the Lakers have.

 

I think Luke might relate well to FAs so maybe the Lakers can actually bring some talent in.

[mrwicked]

wow, ballsy move by walton.

the lakers are not close to competing, and the top brass said straight up they will walk after this year if the team doesn't turn it around.

one would expect him to stay in golden state, keep learning from kerr and the best org in the game, get another championship or two, and then move on.

but it sounds like it's walton's dream job.

good on him for going for it when it's available.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

I actually believe that the Lakers could get a lot better this offseason under Walton.  Exchanging Luke for Byron is probably worth a few W's just with the new offensive style Luke will be implementing, putting players in better positions to score. With $62 million to spend on free agents, there is a great opportunity to improve the talent level of the team.  Not sure if someone like Kevin Durant would come but it is certainly possible in the slimmest of circumstances.  But, there are several free agents that are potentially obtainable that would make us better (UFA's Derozan, Bazemore, Batum, Whiteside, Horford, plus a few more; RFA's Barnes, Ezeli, etc.).  There is also the opportunity to improve via trade.  Could Jimmy Butler be acquired with a top pick in the draft?

 

Can one imagine a lineup like (*rookie):

 

PG:  Russell/Clarkson

SG:  Derozan/Williams/*Caris LeVert (Michigan)

SF:  Bazemore/*Ingram (Duke)

PF:  Randle/Nance

C:    Whiteside (or Biyombo)/Black/*Thon Maker or Prince Ibeh (need to acquire another 2nd rounder)

 

OR

 

PG:  Russell/Clarkson

SG:  J. Butler/Williams/*Caris LeVert (Michigan)

SF:  K. Durant/Butler could play here and Clarkson slides to SG

PF:  Randle/Nance

C:   Whiteside (could be replace with someone like Horford or Biyombo)/Black/*Maker or Ibeh

 

**In either lineup, it might make some sense to stretch Swaggy and find a trade partner for Lou Williams to clear some salary.

I like these teams because there are multiple personnel for different lineups.  You could play Russell at PG or SG; Clarkson at PG or SG; Butler and Derozan at SG and SF; Durant could likely play SF and PF in a small ball lineup; Nance could play PF or C in small ball lineups.  Lots of flexibility to get shooters and athletes on the floor.

[Angel Oracle]

I love Luke and hope he does well. Going to be quite a shock for him to go from one of the most talented rosters in the history of the NBA to whatever the Lakers have.

I think Luke might relate well to FAs so maybe the Lakers can actually bring some talent in.

The 39-4 start as head coach has to be helpful.

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

I dont understand why people think the Lakers' are so far away from being a playoff contending team. There is a difference between playoff contention and championship contention. Obviously, the goal is to get to championship contention. We've got a solid young core with Russell, Randle, and Clarkson. We've go over $60 million in cap space. There are some serious solid pieces available this offseason and we have a solid shot at a top 3 pick this year. Maybe I have my homer goggles on, but it seems like a damn good position to be walking into if both sides understand its a growing process. 

[Tank]

I dont understand why people think the Lakers' are so far away from being a playoff contending team. 

 

i'd like to introduce you to roy hibbert.

 

in hockey, we say a slow guy is a pylon. i'm not sure what the basketball equivalent is, but roy hibbert is it. not as lazy on defense as james harden, but pretty darn bad. hope his tenure here is done.

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

I too hope he's gone. I don't see the Lakers' re-signing him.