2016-17 Running NBA Thread

Given their location, I would think the Lakers should be in on every substantial free agent anyway. They're one of the few franchises that big-time free agents have switched teams for, and their location probably also gives them an advantage in the trade market. However, it's unclear if that means the new regime will be able to contain itself and only extend offers to elite players, or if they'll just say, "Eh, fuck it" and give out max offers to the Harrison Barnes, Rashard Lewis, fringe all-star types.

 

If LAL could get the right coach in there, who would get the right players to fit into their system, then the free agents would flock to the Stapler.
Today was domino 1. Getting Magic in place. Next the GM. Then the Coach. BUT PHIL ISN'T COMING BACK.

 

From Plathke:

Plaschke: Can the greatest Laker ever save the worst Lakers ever?

 

Who is say Walton isn't the right coach?

 

Bingo. Vlade's admission that the Kings had a better deal but passed on it speaks volume about Ranadivé.

He's a wannabe basketball genius who thinks he has all the answers when it comes to running a team. This was Ranadivé's call, not Vlade's. If Vlade had the cajones to pull that "better deal" off, Ranadive would have run his ass off faster than Vlade could do a flop on the floor for a charge.

Yes, Cousins got some issues and is a hot head. He's also their best player. Sacramento, with Ranadive running that ship into the bottom of the ocean, didn't help matters much. Both parties were better off separated.

Buddy Hield as the next Steph Curry? GTFOHWTBS Ranadive.

 

Walton might be the coach the Lakers need, granted this is his first year. Luke is doing his best with this group of Ingraham, Swaggy P, Lou Williams, Nance, and Russell. Will they get better post-ASG break? Nope. But can Walton keep things from going sideways? It's possible. We will see.

For all of the criticism Magic has laid on Jim Buss and Kupchak, Magic better be ready to take some criticism and everyone tracking his moves as this goes forward.

 

And this is hell of it, that Ranadive got into the NBA as part of the group that bought the Warriors from Chris Cohan (and outmanuevered Ellison, who only has his name on the arena, to get it done). Say what you want about the Durant deal, and that doing better than Chris Cohan isn't much since it was a low bar, but the Warriors have become one of the premier organizations not only in the NBA, but all of North American pro sports. You would think Vivek would have picked up a thing or two in Oakland, no? Apparently not.

Although it's been said, many times, many ways, the Lakers are a work in progress. The biggest factor may be the fan base. In pro hoops, LA still is and probably always be a Lakers town. They may be patient in other towns during a rebuild, but LA?

 

LA is a Dodgers town first and foremost and forever. Lakers are a very close second.

 

Five candidates to be the Lakers' next general manager

 

That's insane. And I don't like either team.

I don't trust Vermonters to know what is going on in LA.

 

And the Magic era stars with a blockbuster. Why not trade your leading scorer?

Lakers trading Lou Williams to Houston for Corey Brewer

 

There's some Twitter talk that Kupchak and Jim Buss made a last-ditch effort to save their jobs by trading for Boogie.