Los Angeles Lakers Off-Season Thread

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Originally Posted by Damian Necronamous

If we could get the 3rd pick and Vesely or Seraphin for Pau...would you do it?

I'd do it. Pick up Odom to start at the 4 or play Hill. If Robinson falls to 3rd pick him and you'll have our front court of the future with Bynum, Robinson and Vesely. Or if Robinson is off the board, draft MKG or Barnes and play the 6'11 Vesely at the 4.

[Bogg]

Originally Posted by Wilt_The_Stilt

He was playing well before the deadline and they were still interested. That aside they still have plenty to trade with after doing a deal with the Lakers. Webster, Miller and Darko all have deals that are non-guaranteed.

And there are still some who think that getting Gasol would go a long way towards making Rubio comfortable and happy in Minnesota.

I just don't see it, Pekvoic is their third best player, is five years younger than Pau, and makes a quarter of what Gasol does. Combined with the fact that they have some of the worst swingmen in the league, the Wolves could make themselves much better by going after perimeter players and leaving their frontcourt intact. I'm sure Rubio really likes Pau as a person and a teammate, but when he's determining if he wants to stick around past the 2015 season, having a playoff squad is going to do more to convince him than a 35-year-old Pau will.

[Luke]

Bogg is right. Minny needs a swingman in the worst possible way.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Lou Williams opted out. He's probably well out of our range but w/e.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Ramon Sessions has opted out if his contract.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson talked to HBO about the NBA, coaching jobs and the future of the Lakers.
By Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
Phil Jackson has been away from the Los Angeles Lakers for a season. That doesn't mean he doesn't have an opinion.

Jackson appears tonight on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel and talks to Andrea Kremer about the Lakers, Pat Riley, LeBron James and the open coaching jobs in the NBA.

VOTE: *What role player will impact the NBA Finals?

In this clip that doesn't appear in the broadcast, Jackson explains how executive Jim Buss' appreciation for Andrew Bynum's game changed the tenor of the team.

"You know, Jim is a guy that, you know, saw Andrew as a kid-- and thought Bynum was gonna be a great pick for our team. But in the process, I think you know, he's wanted Andrew to have a bigger and bigger role. And I think he's hired his coach to have Andrew have a bigger and bigger role. And that kinda disjointed the symmetry of what the Lakers were really about this last year. You know, Andrew is All-Star center. He was-- did a wonderful job. But, you know, it-- what happened was, it took Pau out of his game. And it took the team away from some of their game. So they changed the style dramatically."

Interesting....

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.T-DIr4l5mc0

[King Sancho Fantastic]

During a chat with Sam Amico of Fox Sports, the question arose discussing the Los Angeles Lakers and the upcoming NBA Draft. As of now the team has just one pick, 60th overall, and won’t have a lot of options when they finally find themselves on the clock.

According to Amico, however, the team might be looking to move up in the draft and try to secure a higher quality point guard.

Sam Amico:* Lakers are trying to get into first round — and word is, they like the Baylor guys (Miller and Perry Jones III).

Question:* Who are Lakers likely dancing partners for a trade?
Sam Amico:* Houston and Boston. Each has two mid-to-late first rounders. Also possibly the Hawks at No. 23.

Moving up to the middle or end of the first round would certainly open a lot of doors for the Lakers that will be long since closed if the team sticks to the 60th pick.

The team spent its first two draft picks last season on guards (Darius Morris, Andrew Goudelock) as well, and could find themselves with a bit of a logjam at the guard position if they draft another youngster. But with Ramon Sessions opting for free agency, there’s no guarantee he will return next season either.

http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-r...ft/2012/06/20/.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Rockets shopping Dalembert and one of their two first rounders. Hmmm... Do we get involved seeing as we're trying to get into the 1st round.

[Bogg]

Originally Posted by King Sancho Fantastic

Rockets shopping Dalembert and one of their two first rounders. Hmmm... Do we get involved seeing as we're trying to get into the 1st round.

What are you going to give them back? They're not looking to dump Sam's salary, as he's got a team option for next year, IIRC, so it's not as simple as eating his deal with the Odom exception.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Originally Posted by Bogg

What are you going to give them back? They're not looking to dump Sam's salary, as he's got a team option for next year, IIRC, so it's not as simple as eating his deal with the Odom exception.

I have no clue. I would think if Pau were to be involved we'd have to receive Lowry back, but they wouldn't do that until they made sure Dragic were resigned. Which they can't do till July.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Hearing that Portland is shopping 6th and 11th picks too.

[Wilt_The_Stilt]

There was a time when he [Dwight Howard] really didn’t want to be traded to the L.A. Lakers, but now he would. He’s want out of Orlando that bad.

http://www.examiner.com/article/lake...for-the-lakers

Sounds like he might be using us, but if only this were true...

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Leverage.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/06/26/1...00&feedID=3725

• The Lakers are exploring all kinds of potential deals, having floated every name on the roster this side of Kobe Bryant. They are said to be open to trading Metta World Peace for a late first-rounder, with their eyes on Baylor forward Quincy Miller and Kentucky point guard Marquis Teague.

Back to the Lakers. If the Cavs are able to move up and nab Beal at No. 2, there’s talk the Lakers would be willing to make life easy for the Wizards and help them move out of the third spot. It would likely take power forward Pau Gasol. Far-fetched for now, but don’t be surprised if it’s something that’s explored in the right situation.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

If the Cavaliers move up to No. 2 to snag Beal, the Lakers are interested in a deal involving the Wizards' No. 3 pick, which could include Pau Gasol and Andray Blatche. This one seems awfully far-fetched to me, but it's something to keep in mind.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2012/06/a...medium=twitter

Blatche?! Eww...