The Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

[Angel Oracle]

33 minutes ago, Lou said:

" The club (Lakers) also traded Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, and Jemerrio Jones to the Washington Wizards as part of the blockbuster Davis deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources told ESPN's Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.

Meanwhile, Washington will receive the Lakers' 2022 second-round pick, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania, while sending an undisclosed amount of cash to L.A., according to The Athletic's David Aldridge.

The moves will leave the Lakers with $32 million in cap space, enabling them to sign a max player in free agency."

Of those three, really only Bonga has some sort of decent enough NBA future, and that's a ways off.   

Good news on increasing the cap space to $32 million.    Sign one of the key guys along with Ariza, and then fill in the bench roles.  Hopefully, the bench can play enough minutes so that the starters aren't playing 38-40 minutes/game.  

[Lou]

Something tells me Carmelo will be a Laker soon . 

[HaloMilliVanilli]

You may be right about Carmelo.  I could see a few of our signees from last season come back so that we can offer them larger deals next season with their bird rights (Rondo, McGee).  Or, I could see something like D'Angelo and Bullock/Brogdon signed to complete the starting lineup leaving 4-5 mill for a backup and the the midlevel exception for another backup.

If they go with Kawhi, they'd need to use the mid-level for a starting PG.  Wonder if Pat Beverley would sign for that?  Beverley/Kawhi/Lebron/Kuzma/AD = Championship!

[Lou]

There is no way in hell Beverley signs for the MLE. He has several teams after him and is seeking a 3-yr $40M deal. 

[HaloMilliVanilli]

Just spitballing, but I've seen a ton of people saying Anthony Davis would never give up $4 million in a trade kicker.  Hell, Deng gave some money back on his buyout.  Not saying Beverley would take a discount like that, but strange things happen.  The lure of a ring and the chance to join a championship title favorite has strong pull.  I'll bet someone we think won't come for the mid-level or even vet minimum comes and we are surprised.

Incidentally, I still believe Kawhi is who the $32 million is for.  Kawhi is comin'!

[Lou]

No chance it's Beverley at the MLE. His situation isn't in the same stratosphere as AD's. He's 30 years old and this is his first opportunity to make some "real" money.

Plus, he's already said the standard line:"it's a business'

[Angel Oracle]

Can Kawhi be the PG?   With LBJ handling the ball a lot, they really don't need a traditional PG.     Then sign Ariza for his defense and decent enough shooting.

Kawhi, Ariza, Kuz, LBJ, and AD = best starting lineup in the league, with KD and Klay possibly out for quite a while next season?

Of course, the bench would be a huggggeee question mark.

[Angel Oracle]

Meanwhile, the Celtics have emerged as favorites to sign another Lakers pursuit target, Kemba Walker.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

The pursuit of a point guard, at least to me, is less about whether the guy can run an offense and way more about can he catch and shoot well and can he defend opposing small point guards.  I don't want Kawhi chasing Lillard, Curry, Kemba on a nightly basis.  Seth Curry or George Hill may be more obtainable options.  Curry-Kawhi-Lebron-Kuzma-AD I could probably live with and the "other" Curry would probably like a shot to catch up in titles/rings.

[Angel Oracle]

One day to go to start of free agency signings period!

[Lou]

On 6/27/2019 at 3:41 PM, Angel Oracle said:

Meanwhile, the Celtics have emerged as favorites to sign another Lakers pursuit target, Kemba Walker.

Yep. Max deal 4/$141M 

[happybat4]

Kyrie to the Nets.

[Tank]

21 hours ago, Lou said:

Yep. Max deal 4/$141M 

Deals like this always make me wonder what someone like Oscar Robertson or Wilt in his prime would have been worth.

[Tank]

22 hours ago, happybat4 said:

Kyrie to the Nets.

Rumor is the Nets are also signing KD.

[Brandon]

2 hours ago, Tank said:

Deals like this always make me wonder what someone like Oscar Robertson or Wilt in his prime would have been worth.

The same. There are max contract caps.

[Lou]

3 minutes ago, Brandon said:

The same. There are max contract caps.

Damn, this really made me laugh.

What a dick. 

[happybat4]

Durant and Jordan join Kyrie in Brooklyn!

[Lou]

6 minutes ago, happybat4 said:

Durant and Jordan join Kyrie in Brooklyn!

I bet Nets fans are excited about 2021 

[tennischmp]

Looks like all the eggs are in the Kawhi basket

[Angelsfirst]

@Chris_Broussard

Kawhi to Lakers rumblings getting stronger & stronger. Iguodala likely to join Lakers after Memphis buyout. Danny Green & Seth Curry in Lakers’ scope. Lakers offered Rondo vet minimum & 24 hours to decide. Lakers on verge of building powerhouse.

 

21.9K

11:01 PM - Jun 30, 2019

 

 

[Angel Oracle]

If they sign Kawhi and Iguodala, how would they be able to fit Green in under the cap?   He still is a very good defender and shooter.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

Couple of things.

1.  If Iguodala comes, he'll likely sign for the vet minimum because he's getting paid by Memphis (who will have bought him out and released him).

2.  I think there is a possibility that Kawhi signs a shorter term deal for 2 years so that he can then resign for the 10 year max money.  I also think there is a chance that he signs a deal for an under market base with incentives to get him to the max.  If he did this, he'd be under contract for the base and would open up a small amount of cap space for us to use on another player.

3.  If we could carve out $5 mil in cap space, that could go to Green.  The MLE could be split between Seth Curry and another player (maybe some $$ towards Iguodala).

4.  Rondo at vet minimum

After the dust settles:  Curry-Kawhi-Lebron-Kuzma-AD     Rondo-Caruso-Green-Iggy-Cheap center

[Angel Oracle]

Seth Curry signed by the Mavs.

[Lou]

55 minutes ago, HaloMilliVanilli said:

  I also think there is a chance that he signs a deal for an under market base with incentives to get him to the max.

If it's a "likely to be achieved" bonus, it would count against the cap.

[Lou]

Lakers to sign Suns SG Troy Green to 1-yr minimum deal.