Today Windhorst talked about an option for LAL that centered around them buying Westbrook out of his free agency after next season. But LAL would have to stop spending in FA immediately, as in right now, no more deals. He's currently eligible for a restructure/extension and he keeps the option even being traded, when signed it'd go into effect immediately. It's an 8MM boost to his current figure and it locks him up until the summer of 2018, where then LAL would have his Bird Rights and he'd have the ability to re-up for the supermax. Presti is reportedly going to Westbrook now and trying to get him to sign it or he's gonna look to trade him. But the LAL side centers around Presti possibly being adamant that he must get 2 of DLo/Randle/or Ingram and that LAL would not give up any 2 of them for Westbrook with true team control of him. But here's the alternate play, because no team in the league is going to send multiple talented, young pieces for a rental...Lakers could just wait OKC out until they come down on the price, if Westbrook declines all other trades/extensions and doesn't commit to staying in OKC either. Westbrook just basically sits on his hands and like you said, forces Presti to get desperate. Basically, the ball is in Westbrook's court and he can call his shot, so he/his agent should be in the process of working with LAL to squeeze OKC/Presti behind the scenes. Never want to evoke this name, but it's similar to the position that Orlando was in with Dwight. Anyway, get the talks down to just DLo and maybe Black or Nance (maybe both), and we should absolutely have a deal. Or LAL may just be like " fuck all the talking, take 2 of our 3 lotto picks, give us Russ, and GTFO of our faces. " Lol Would obviously rather they just send 1 of the kids, so hopefully LAL and Westbrook can squeeze Presti. But I'm not gonna shed many tears, if any at all, if they they have to send both DLo and Randle. Just lock MVP level Russ in for a couple years and go shopping with Russ/Ingram/Clarkson as the attractions. I don't think it's going to come to that, though, I think Russ would commit to LAL without an extension and embrace bringing the home team back...especially with what's going on in the Bay Area right now. I could see Russ doing whatever is team friendliest for LAL because if you're going to LAL and battling GSW within the division you're gonna need all the help you can get.
if you lose that gamble and westbrook bounces, that sets them back at least another 5 years again as the team has sent away many of their draft picks. far too risky in my book, especially with a quality young core already in place. give em two years to grow, and they would be an attractive destination once more.
If it's DLo or Randle, dynamic PFs are far more scarce and Westbrook becomes your primary ball handler anyway. Would send DLo with the quickness and just go with Clarkson in the back court with Westbrook. Would probably be the most athletic backcourt in the league.
Not sure what you're trying to say. Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant were awesome for the lakers during the last two years of their careers!
yeah i think we do better than 30ish but you could be right and even if its 40 the trend of going to join other stars has been consistent there are only 3 or 4 teams w a chance at winning it all and then the drop off is huge he's going to go to one of those teams in free agency why even watch the NBA season? i know they never think about it but if I were Westbrook i'd try to force something sooner than later for fear of injury before the payday especially the abandon that he plays with
No way, because Shaq and Karl Malone are going to suit up too. That team is going to go 79-3... ...in 2001
Fred Hoiberg hyped the hell out of Brook Lopez joining the Bulls Too bad it's his twin Robin Lopez joining and not Brook, FAIL
I say we go in on wade instead. Then bring in westbrook as a FA. And run a 3 guard offense with wade or westbrook at sf and ingram at pf and randle at c. Small ball but powerful. All strong and skilled guys. Just keep some bigs on the bench in case u need em. Dangelo. Clarkson. Williams Westbrook. Clarkson. Williams Wade. Ingram. Brown Deng. Ingram. Nance Randle. Black. Mozgov. Zubac Then we flip deng and mozgov to clear space for Lebron! Lol
Neither am I but it sure would be nice to see Mitch pull something off without West, like with Pau. That would probably go a long way in building FA's confidence in this FO in the future years, if they remain.
