Don't think Laker plan on being a young team. A young bench maybe. With a young starter or two possibly.
Durant left Westbrook. Durant didn't leave Harden and Westbrook. What I talked about in my post is difference between having Westbrook as a full time decision maker/primary ball-handler, and if you're able to move him off the ball a good portion of the time allowing for a middle man..basically what Harden was for OKC. So this has already happened..granted, OKC is dumb/cheap for blowing it up because they pretty much bitch slapped the Spurs with the " Harden point guard/Westbrook and Durant on the wings " setup, but yeah, it worked out pretty well and kept Westbrook from overly hogging the ball. Westbrook was also able to key in more defensively without so much offensive responsibility on his plate, so structure can help this guy. All that said, I'd be mindful of adding Westbrook because he's just not good a shooter from distance off the catch or in general, so they'd maybe have to tinker with the system or he'd have to get in the gym improve from deep. But ultimately, shooting isn't going to beat GSW anyway..Westbrook would have to buy in defensively, fork over some offensive responsibility to Lonzo, and try to lock Curry up.
Hearing Russ is going to get a huge extension or be offered one pretty soon and I think he's going to take it.
He'd have to buy into being a wheel on the car, and buy back into being one of the better defenders in the league. Can't forget that Westbrook was 3 wins away from being a champion in 2012, and it wasn't really his fault that OKC lost to Miami in the Finals..it was Harden's fault for doing his choke job ritual. Harden is the guy that I'd absolutely hate for LAL to bring in because this guys just chokes incessantly..his choke jobs have become legendary. So I'd say I'm 60/40 on Westbrook joining LAL, and 5/95 on Harden
Old man, undersized Mo Evans was locking Kwame up in the post Smh Was dying of laughter 48 year old Abdul-Rauf was impressive AF tho, great to see him
So..George is recruiting LeBron and Klay Lakers Rumors: Paul George has called Klay Thompson, LeBron James to discuss Lakers superteam Paul George is dreaming big for his potential Lakers homecoming. by Drew Garrison Jun 27, 2017, 11:30am PDT The Los Angeles Lakers are biding their time until NBA free agency begins and the Indiana Pacers make third decision on what their plan is with Paul George. Trade chatter surrounding George has quieted down since Thursday, but the latest rumor regarding George, Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson and Cleveland Cavaliers megastar LeBron James should refuel them ahead of of July 1. Former Golden State Warriors forward and current CSN Bay Area analyst Kelenna Azubuikejoined 95.7 The Game to discuss what he’s heard on the Paul George front. Azubuike revealed that George has “definitely” called Klay to discuss a future together with the Lakers. “He’s definitely put in a call to Klay Thompson, and obviously he feels like Klay Thompson’s a guy he would love to play with on the Lakers,” Azubuike said. ”For all we know, Klay could’ve said buzz off, I’m staying with the Warriors. It doesn’t really mean much that he put in the call, they probably had a nice conversation.” The eyebrow-raising reporting didn’t stop there, though. George has also spoken with LeBron, and is apparently trying to gauge which star players would have interest in joining him on the Lakers. “He’s definitely put in calls to Klay Thompson, he’s talked to LeBron James, and he’s trying to see if he can figure out who can come with him to the Lakers. I doubt, highly doubt that Klay Thompson will end up leaving the Warriors,” Azubuike said.
^ I know this is all rumor, but how would this work if Klay comes to LA. Where do they put Ingram. If that is the ultimate decision then why not trade Ingram for PG13 now, then sign Bron and Klay next year and use the bird rights to resign PG13. That would be a sick team. Ball/PG13/Klay/Bron/Brooks or Zubac.
Klay's a FA in 2019, so that's a ways away and not really worth fussing over. That aside, I'm beginning to wonder if Zubac will ultimately be the piece that gets a George trade done..not much has been said about Zubac as a trade piece and that's fairly mysterious in itself. Of course Indy already has Turner at the 5, but Turner knocks down the 3 ball and has the required athleticism to play the 4, so I could see them wanting a Zubac/Myles tandem up front and that'd be a tough duo going forward, especially in the east. Sucks, but now word has also reportedly leaked that George said he would stay in Cleveland long term if LeBron stayed as well. A development that could possibly lead LAL to sweeten the pot and include Zubac in a George trade..well, that and the fact that LAL now has Lopez who could stick around and fill the center spot. Or obviously LAL could sign Cousins to play center after next season. So the fact that there are other options for LAL @ the 5 spot could loom large. Anyway, I do hate to say it because I like Zubac's game a ton, but he may be a valuable piece in limbo..which would be backed by Magic's statement of " Ingram is the only guy that's untouchable. " Will say this as well..if I were Paul George, and Zubac was the piece keeping me from being traded to LAL and getting a 5yr deal/extra 30+ million guaranteed, I wouldn't be too happy about that when I could easily recruit Cousins the following year and/or convince Lopez to stay. I think if the scenario plays itself out and Zubac becomes a piece that goes to Indy, if I'm Pelinka, at that point I'm forcing Clarkson on Indy as well. If I'm trading Zubac, one of the big contracts has to go along with him and Clarkson's should be the 1st to go. And again, Randle could maybe be traded at the trade deadline for a 2018 late lottery/1st rounder and then you attach that draft pick to Deng to get him traded. But all of a sudden Deng, Randle, and Clarkson are all cleared out, so LAL would have George, Lonzo, Ingram, Nance, and maybe still have cheap, young pieces in Hart/Kuzma/T.Bryant as well. And with that group, there's relatively no money on LAL's payroll picture..like 39-40M on their cap, so 62-63M in cap space + the 9M MLE to use on a role player. So it's the same 60+M in cap space that we've all heard about except for one major change..it doesn't have George soaking up any of it as a FA signing. What they'd have there is a chance to sign 2 max level free agents to join George/Lonzo/Ingram and the young crew behind them + sign a role guy with the 9M MLE they'll get as a non-tax paying team. With a FA pool that of course includes LeBron, Cousins, and Westbrook ( currently), but could also maybe use some of that space to re-sign Lopez or get him back with the 9M MLE. So possibly: LeBron/Cousins/George/Lonzo/Lopez/Ingram/Nance/Hart/Kuzma/T.Bryant, or LeBron/Westbrook/George/Lonzo/Lopez/Ingram/Nance/Hart/Kuzma/T.Bryant, or Westbrook/Cousins/George/Lonzo/Lopez/Ingram/Nance/Hart/Kuzma/T.Bryant, or Cousins/George/Lonzo/Avery Bradley/Lopez/Danny Green/Ingram/Nance/Hart/Kuzma/T.Bryant Etc..you get the idea, it's just up to Magic and Pelinka to do what Jim and Mitch couldn't do..which should be easier for Magic/Pelinka without old man Kobe around and with a younger star in George that'd already be locked in.
Ingram's a baby, you rarely see 20 year olds in the starting lineup for a championship contender..which is what you are if you have LeBron. There would be enough minutes for Ingram off the bench as LeBron's getting older. Could sub in and play the 2, 3 or 4
Mychal says Klay isn't going to LAL or anywhere else for that matter That makes sense, and again, Klay isn't even a FA until after the 2019 season
That may be true, but it does not negate the possibility that George called to try to convince him to move in 2019. Either way, it is all rumor. I would love to get PG13, but honestly if he splits to somewhere else, it does not mean the Lakers are screwed next year. If they have two Max FA to offer, with the youth talent they have they should be fine. I would rather they make their offer and if Indy takes it, cool, if not then they move on. I wonder if Indy and Boston are colluding to mess with the Lakers. Doesn't it seem a bit odd that Boston is the only real offer Indy has........
AAWOL@goaawol 2h2 hours ago Klay Thompson: "Yeah I talked to Paul George about playing for the Lakers. Draymond Green:
FULL ON 3 RING CIRCUS that would make Barnum and Bailey proud LaVar done got hisself a full portion of self promotion and does not require some WWE fool adding to the fire. and so.. This loudmouths kid best have some mad ball skills now where in the hell is Paul George already?
a world so quickly and thoroughly forgotten a more open yet private world it's what drives me off grid so often
I think maybe my favorite Phil folly in NY was his showing up for Shaq's statue ceremony, that took place during the NCAA tourney..where Magic happened to be so he could scout guys in the UK/UCLA game
