This is my preferred trade partner as it opens the door us to also keep Monk. Russ is a prototypical Thibbs player, as well.

Aloha, Michael,

I also like the Knicks as a trading partner and Reddish as our stealth target. The pieces aren’t as appealing as the Pacers pieces but there are more options on players. I would like to see if the Knicks were willing to move Rose if we took Randle. Need a point guard to replace Russ, which is why I like the Pacers trade. Also always loved Julius as a small ball point five.

The other team that’s interesting is the Thunder because we could get Favors, Muscala, and Williams while creating a $30 million trade exception that could be used for a player like Kevin Love or Tobias Harris.

The key is taking back contracts of players who woud be big upgrades over the minimum salary players we have starting next to LeBron, AD, and Russ right now. When healthy, that is.

Give me three new starters to replace minimum salary vets and Lakers will be back in contention.

One and a half quarters has been our M.O. all season long. Hasn’t cut it for most of the season, hence our record.

I gave up trying to figure out what can fix this team when I came to the conclusion that age cannot be fixed. Not by a rotational change, not by a scheme and not by post-game comments for certain. I believe the will is there, this team simply lacks the gas.

It’s why Russ’ comments the other day to the point of the game plan is go hard at us and let the chips fall where they may. It’s a valid observation and a great strategy. Because we’re old. It’s why not keeping Caruso and choosing DeAndre Jordan as our 2nd back up big have been so completely detrimental to everything this team hoped to accomplish.

LeBron can’t be the two way guy, not anymore, probably not even in the playoffs. He needs elite defenders and guys who aren’t going to shirk from the moment. All these minutes at the 5 are wearing him down because he HAS to be involved on defense. 5 years ago he probably could have done it and won the MVP going away. At 37? Well, we’re seeing how possible that isn’t in real time.

Frank has resorted to the most desperate tactics…except the one that makes the most sense to me. Play the kids more, it’s not like they’re junking up our chances of winning because we’re just not winning. Too many old dudes on the roster gave Frank too few options early, Nunn not playing all season hurt more than I think we all realized since his deal was the 2nd biggest cost move we made after re-signing THT.

But now? This choice to go old down the stretch of games i mind-boggling, especially when you see the offensive possession stall out at the top of the key, some meaningless passes around the perimeter and shitty shot a little while later. Frank has always been a mediocre, at best, offensive coach but even he has to be able to see how bad this has gotten.

Hence I expect him to be gone. But I won’t guarantee it’ll happen because, well, anything is possible.

Aloha, Michael,

Watching LeBron since the break has been discouraging. At times, he’s looked washed and uninterested. Is it the injured knee or is it Father Time finally catching up with the King? That’s going to become a question that’s asked more and more as this season painfully ends and we prepare for what coud be a franchise-defining summer for the Lakers.

It’s hard for me to understand LeBron’s reluctance to take time off, even a week, to let the knee rest and recover. While I expected LeBron to announce at some point that he’s shutting it down for the season, Bron says he’s not going to sit and still thinks the Lakers have a puncher’s chance of winning everything.

In the end, it really comes down to two questions: (1) Can the Lakers build a championship team this summer? (2) And if not, should they then trade LeBron as well as Russ or maybe even go all the way and trade AD? The article I wrote explored what most would consider to be a biased set of trades for Russ, LeBron, and AD but the team we could build is actually very impressive as Lakers get eight elite players and a net of 2 first round picks for their superstar big three.

Personally, I like the idea of trading Russ and LeBron and keeping and building around AD but that might not be possible because of Klutch. Anyway, I still think the smart move by the Lakers is to go all-in this summer to build a team that could legitimately contend the next two years. While LeBron may not be able to carry a team like he used to do, I still believe he can still be the catalyst to help the Lakers win #18.

Oh, I forgot to mention he had Westbrook, Pg and Steven Adams, along with Melo for one year. They won 48 and 49 games in the two seasons and lost in the first round each year. Again it’s apparent why PG wanted out. It’s interesting that Russ was part of both of OKC’s high profile squads.

LMAO. Come on, Michael. You know that was a baseless rumor from an unnamed front office person that was the result of LeBron praising Presti and people jumping on that as a slight to Rob at the least and proof LeBron wanted Sam as GM at the most outrageous. Nothing there and you know it.

There will be plenty of scuttlebutt from here in out unless we start putting up Ws. LeBron did himself no favors over the ASB, Frank hasn’t done himself a favor all season with all his weird rotation choices, and so on. Some things have been out of our control but the team’s energy has been bad all season long. We’ve underwhelmed at every opportunity. That’s why it’s hard for me to see a big turnaround. Like…what would change that suddenly we just start playing with better energy? If I thought firing Frank would fix that I’d back it right away. It’s just I don’t think he’s the reason. I think we’ve maxed out the roster.

Aloha, Michael,

This season has convinced me that two superstars with a better starting lineup and deeper bench is better than three superstars.

The problem is multi-fold.

First, it’s hard to find three superstars whose personalities mesh as the Brooklyn Nets discovered this season.

Second, it’s hard to find three superstars who’s talents complement each other as the Lakers have found with Russ this season.

Third, paying for three superstars handicaps the team when it comes to improving the rest of the roster via free agency or trade. You basically don’t have any trading chips or cap space.

The only Lakers player we differ on is THT, whom I think will never be a good enough shooter or defender to be a good fit on this team. Only reason he could be kept is we can’t get value for him.

Otherwise, we do need to give all of the kids more minutes and more important roles. it’s the only way this team gets better quicky and sets the stage for long-term growth. Monk, Reaves, Johnson, and THT need to play big minutes.

Only other change I think we need to make soon is firing Frank Vogel. There’s no way he’s going to be the coach next season so why wait. Make Handy interim with instructions to play the right players. Then start a search for the next head coach now rather than trying to do that at the same time they’re building the roster. We’ve aready seen how having a coach who doesn’t agree with roster doesn’t really work.

I’ve never been one for team-building via slogans. Haven’t really been a proponent of multiple ball dominant stars on the same team since the NBA vetoed the trade for Chris Paul, which I thought then was a terrible deal. Kobe doesn’t need Chris just like LeBron doesn’t need Russ. It’s reverse logic that just about always backfires.

The only time’s it has worked is when all three take less than the max. Boston (Pierce, Garnet, Allen) and Miami (James, Wade, Bosh) are really the only two examples that come to mind. A big 2 with a solid roster around them is a much better way. Wish we had run it back from last season since that team made the playin without a lot of AD and LBJ. Could have used Dennis as a S&T, taken the hard cap hit like the season before, and seen what Trezz wanted to do (he would have opted in).

Anyhow, not sure we end up keeping all the young guys. I like the idea of continuing to develop them but I think Reaves is going to need to be used to move Russ. Since we have no picks of relevance Reaves is essentially a late first rounder/early second rounder right now. Who knows if he can take a step forward but if a team needs to have him included to make a Russ deal happen (and it’s a good trade, not some for John Wall BS) I can’t see a way to legitimize holding onto Austin at that point.

THT… Man, I dunno. I think he’s our most trade worthy player, honestly just because he shows some promise now and then. That’s the issue for me, though. I would rather have a guy who you can count on on defense every night and if he scores more than 10 well that’s just peachy. I don’t need volume three point shooters, or even guys who can hit the three above 35%, at every position. We need so much more than scoring right now.

Bottom line, I don’t even consider AD untouchable this summer. Honestly, if a good deal for James came down the pike I’d consider it. There’s no way to look at this season other than an epic disappointment. Thus, because the only things we have to work with are three max salaries and some role-players who have yet to define themselves in the NBA, I really don’t see anything as being off the table. The Lakers need to do right by the franchise. It should be the first priority this off-season.

I can always tell when someone posts from a phone (like I am now) as it’s fraught with weird typos. But I catch the gist of what you’re laying down, Michael. I tend to agree that our current assets aren’t enough to swing a major trade. Something else to consider is how long AD wants to stay here w/o LBJ. Signed for only 1 more after James’ last. Win now needed to be the mentality this last summer when we had a lot more tools to work with. Now, fewer tools and more bloated contracts which are harder to move. Especially when said player is likely to be in a decline of some sort. Hard for me to advocate mortgaging being competitive for the rest of the decade to try and squeeze something else out of LBJ and AD. Davis does not feel like a player who will age well. I love his defense and when he’s engaged and healthy he’s a two way dynamo. It’s just that those circumstances are not the norm. Is AD we’re 100% sure we want to build around is the real question. If so you have to find a dynamic playmaker who also opens the floor with their scoring to maximize the pairing. Nobody plays forever and one would hope the Lakers have already at least scenario

It’s always easy to jump aboard a Lakers doomsday train but it’s all just overreaction. Like Moma said, LeBron James loves living in Los Angeles and playing for the Lakers. He’s not going anywhere until his son is drafted in the NBA.

For that reason, the Lakers will make big improvements using Russ’ $47 million expiring contract and the two first round picks and LeBron will sign a two-year extension to remain with the Lakers.

Everything else is just posturing by the Lakers and Klutch to make sure the Lakers end up in good shape whenever LeBron does retire or leave to play his last year with Bronny.

What I do agree with is that LeBron would be in great demand were he to refuse to sign an extension or the Lakers decided to trade him. He may be 37-years old but he’s still a top-5 player.

What I find hilarious is the guys who never see the Lakers able to ever make a positive trade are always eager to throw their full opinions behind every crazy doomsday theory that has no basis in reality. The Lakers are not going to trade LeBron James. Get over it and just stop the stupid negative takes.

They have a locked on lakers podcast and I think they may have a you tube channel as well.

Yep!

Trades are always fun, Michael.

I would preface this by saying I still think Lakers best move is to keep the Klutch alliance going. It’s a huge competitive advantage that’s not going to go away once LeBron retires. But if we have to trade LeBron and/or AD…

Yeah, I had Sexton, Love, Allen, and 2023 and 2025 firsts for LeBron and THT. But I think there’s even better deals to be if LeBron refuses to do an extension and forces the Lakers to trade him.

The Lakers could basically choose the next NBA champion because there are a half dozen teams who would become immediaete favorites if they could get LeBron for next season. Raptors, Pacers, Knicks comes to mind as well as Clippers, 76ers, Celtics, and Bucks.

One interesting dynamic is there is no better sweetener to get teams to take Russ’ expiring contract than also getting LeBron James for a year.

Finally, there’s the chance Klutch could push for Lakers to trade AD too. Lakers have to be very careful. Don’t let a difference turn into a squabble and then a disaster.

The truth is the Lakers cannot replace what they will lose if they trade LeBron James. No matter how good the deal might be. There is only one LeBron. Starting to think you’re better off without him is a sign you’re losing it.

Sorry, but that team isn’t getting past GSW, PHX, or MEM in the west. And if I’m an up & coming young team I ain’t trading away my future for a year with LeBron. Cavs would be much wiser to stay the course..Gilbert has shown he will spend the money to build a contender and keep that young core intact.

You notice that most of these contenders are doing it through the draft and we have no picks. Exception is the Bulls but they made some shrewd moves with undervalued talent.

We in trouble….

You must not watch a lot of NBA adJ. Jarret Allen was an all star center this year. Trent Jr and Anunoby are both on their way. Tent Jr is averaging almost 19 a game, in the last 10 he’s scored 30+ 3 times and 42 once. He shooter nearly 40% from 3 and is already considered a lock down defender. Oh and he’s only 23. Anunoby is also a great defender with length and is averaging 18 a game and he’s 24. Brogdon is a very good point, capable of running a contending offense. And we all know about Grant. 20 points a game and another lock down defender. He’s old at 26 lol. Regardless of what the Lakers do they would not be able to put a defense together that’s this good especially with an all world fender who rivals AD as a paint protector. I would definitely pay to see them play.

The only problem with that is the same you always have with trades. Not going to happen. I can’t envision a scenario where the Lakers trade LeBron and AD, as logical as it might be.

I think what we’re seeing is the Lakers trying to distance themselves a little from Klutch Sports and LeBron putting on the pressure already to make major moves this summer or else.

Problem is I don’t see Rob Pelinka trading LeBron. Bronny won’t be eligible to be drafted until 2024. Lakers will try to make sure to somehow draft Bronny, even if it costs them picks, to keep LeBron and Klutch happy. And trading AD would be foolish.

Could it happen? Man, anything’s possible and the Lakers don’t have strong, intelligent, problem solving ownership and management right now. That’s the difference between the LeBron transition being an opportunity or a danger. That’s what worries me.

Like the man said….”Get busy livin or get busy dyin”. LeBron will be here for one more season…maybe two. He’s got no problem prodding Pelinka into tossing away those future draft picks especially since he ain’t gonna be here to deal with it. Then we’re stuck with AD and the Los Angeles Pelicans. I wouldn’t hesitate to start testing the waters for an AD trade right now..he can’t be the future face of the franchise.

Aloha, Michael,
I don’t blame the Lakers for trying to upgrade the championship team. In retrospect, we benefited greatly from the four-and-a-half-month season suspension and the elite teams like the Clippers and Bucks getting upset. Yes, we were the last and best team standing but it was obvious that this team needed upgrades and that lightening LeBron’s load had to be a priority. I’ve always believed you never stand pat. You assume everybody else is getting better so standing still is not an option.

The problem last year was the same as this year: Pelinka didn’t execute by making the right moves. Instead of a game changer like Markieff Morris, last year we got Dennis Schroder, turned down the Lowry trade to keep THT, and landed Andre Drummond. This year, we scored big on Monk, Melo, and Reaves but missed badly almost everywhere else, especially with Russ and the lack of small forwards. Two years of essentially missing on most of our personnel decisions. The problem to me was not that we broke up a championship team but that we didn’t end up with a better team.

We see summer completely different as expected. I think Russ’ expiring contract and our two first round picks plus THT and Nunn could bring us a legitimate third superstar like Dame if he requested a trade to the Lakers or three quality starters to play alongside LeBron and AD. What worries me is I think the evidence is mounting that the three starters option might be a smarter route for the Lakers to go than the third superstar, although we already know what direction the Lakers will go. They didn’t resist trading the 2027 draft pick midseason because they ever expect to keep the pick. They just want to add it to the 2029 first round pick that they will be able to offer once the season is over. Two post-LeBron and possibly unprotected Lakers first round picks could be very attractive.

While the Lakers have obviously made a big effort to keep their salary cap open for 2023, I’m not sold that clearing cap space for then will continue to be important. The reality of two years lost from LeBron’s championship window should be enough to push the Lakers into a total win-now mode. They want a third superstar for next season and that’s what Russ’ expiring contract and two post-LeBron first round picks and filler can bring. I much prefer going after two non-superstar players like Gary Trent, Jr. or Jerami Grant via trade next summer rather than trying to get them as free agents.
The Lakers have mistakenly tried in the past to create cap space at the cost of not signing players to multi-year contracts. It’s what we’ve been doing since we got LeBron. What the Lakers need are valuable tradeable contracts that can help them create continuity and win basketball games. You can always find takers for those kinds of players if you need to dump salary. I would have no problem taking back Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, and Cam Reddish for Westbrook and a draft pick. The kinds of players we should pursue are guys like Trent, Jr. and Grant. We need youth and we need players under contract for more than just a year. I think that would make the Lakers a better team than adding Damian Lillard.

I also haven’t completely given up on this season although it’s going to take luck more than skill to pull us out of this wormhole we’ve created. The biggest problem is there is no one individual we can count upon to get the Lakers back on track in the face of the daunting decisions they need to make. We’re just another let’s go all-in for another superstar to replace Russell Westbrook style move from crashing and burning as a franchise due to management dysfunction.