43 replies to this topic

[DanishLakerFan]

They still eat up payroll. Asik, Horford, and Lopez will all make big money.

Think about Pau Gasol with the Grizzlies. For years, they remained in mediocrity because they were too good to get high draft picks, but not good enough to compete. That's what will happen if you get Horford or Lopez and try to build around them. They won't attract FAs either. Being in LA won't attract FAs alone. Otherwise, Dwight would definitely stay anyway.

Being devoid of any talent is better than being a mediocre team. That's how you get difference makers like the Cavs did with Kyrie Irving. The extra cap space of the Lakers could be used to get more draft picks by taking in bad contracts later on.

First of all, the Lakers are not going to rebuild through the draft!
Secondly, why would we be mediocre if we did one of these deals?
Horford is a two time all-star at only 26, Lopez (24) have been the best C in the league this season and Asik (26) is a defensive specialist, who along with the other prospects from Houston would complement our current team. Except for Korver, the best 3pt shooter in the league, the rest of the guys i mentioned are all on minimum deals and all are playing extremely well.

We would have a very solid and even relatively cheap team going into the 2014 free agency and depending on how much Kobe wants in his next deal we should be able to sign either 1 max or two very solid players.

[Japago]

First of all, the Lakers are not going to rebuild through the draft!
Secondly, why would we be mediocre if we did one of these deals?
Horford is a two time all-star at only 26, Lopez (24) have been the best C in the league this season and Asik (26) is a defensive specialist, who along with the other prospects from Houston would complement our current team. Except for Korver, the best 3pt shooter in the league, the rest of the guys i mentioned are all on minimum deals and all are playing extremely well.

We would have a very solid and even relatively cheap team going into the 2014 free agency and depending on how much Kobe wants in his next deal we should be able to sign either 1 max or two very solid players.

You can't plan a team around Kobe anymore. Every hint he's given has him retiring after next season. And even if he doesn't, what kind of player is he going to be for the 2014-2015 season?

That's the whole point. The Lakers are going to have a complete overhaul in 2014. It'll either be with a guy who you can build a team around(Dwight) or from complete scratch. If the Lakers trade Dwight for non-superstars, they're going to end up with those guys as the best players on the team because they won't attract FAs. And when those are the best players on the team, you're going to be mediocre.

[DanishLakerFan]

You can't plan a team around Kobe anymore. Every hint he's given has him retiring after next season. And even if he doesn't, what kind of player is he going to be for the 2014-2015 season?

That's the whole point. The Lakers are going to have a complete overhaul in 2014. It'll either be with a guy who you can build a team around(Dwight) or from complete scratch. If the Lakers trade Dwight for non-superstars, they're going to end up with those guys as the best players on the team because they won't attract FAs. And when those are the best players on the team, you're going to be mediocre.

Why wouldn't a guy like Horford at 12mill/yr attract FAs? Nash is an expiring at this point and could be traded and Kobe+Pau's combined 50 million come off the books.
The Lakers could go into free agency with one of the best big men in the league as well as up 40 million in cap space, depending on the type of deal Clark will receive. If that's not an ideal situation for a Free Agent i dont know what is...

[Japago]

Why wouldn't a guy like Horford at 12mill/yr attract FAs? Nash is an expiring at this point and could be traded and Kobe+Pau's combined 50 million come off the books.
The Lakers could go into free agency with one of the best big men in the league as well as up 40 million in cap space, depending on the type of deal Clark will receive. If that's not an ideal situation for a Free Agent i dont know what is...

He's just not the can of guy that attracts FAs. Only superstars can do that. When Miami got Lebron and Bosh, D-Wade was probably the 3rd best player in the league.

But, another key difference is the fact that you can still put together viable teams without getting a superstar when you have a guy who can lead you to a championship. Kobe was the only true superstar from the back to back championships. If you don't get a superstar to pair with Dwight, you can still put together a viable team around him. Obviously, that's not an option when you don't already have one.

Edited by Japago, February 16, 2013 - 07:22 AM.