Post#70 » by danfantastk32 » Tue May 23, 2023 3:36 pm
Getting swept is certainly not how I wanted it to end. But tip of the hat to Denver. Great team. I think Denver and Miami will be a great series. Good luck stopping Jokic. I think it's their year, and very much deserved.
Well, so yeah.....this was a pretty fun run we put up from mid Feb until about a week ago. But I do think there are certain realities: Namely that this team is actually quite mediocre when you step back. Proven by the fact that we finally ran into a legit team, and we had nothing. 4-game sweep. They were totally other level than us. And I certainly wouldn't call this Denver team one of the all-time greats. So while it was fun, and I think we have a couple young guys to be really happy about, our FO has it's work cut out for them.
A) AD: Made a nice playoff run. Math tells us we won't get that again for about 3 years. What will he be when that comes back around?
B) Lebron: I cannot fathom him retiring. Not with all that $$$.... I mean without playing with Bronny. But your finally seeing the end for this guy. He is still a great player, but he's done "running the show". Would he take less? We need to have this discussion, if we're gonna make plans to have him around. He can't gobble up all the salary. Sorry.
C) DLO - Reeves - Couple others: While I certainly don't look forward to listening to Laker fans fume/sulk about trading Reeves year after year, and re-create him into a basketball god (ala Caruso) and I do like Reeves alot.....this Laker team has something that it hasn't had in several years: valuable commodities.
The Lakers have 3 choices. one sorta sucks, and isn't interesting: Keeping team as is, and bringing it back. - Well, we aren't good enough. It's that simple. We might get a couple decent bench bigs...pray to the B-Ball gods that AD brings it next year, and make a nice little run. I don't think thats a good way to go about it at all. So let's look at the other two options.
1) Move AD and Lebron. Keep the youth, and move forward into a new future. The Iron is hot with AD right now. They can make the excuse that Lebron is done, and a rebuild is needed. Prob the best decision....although, be prepared to stink. This would be my decision.
2) Figure out a S&T with DLO. If done masterfully, you might end up landing yourself a Kyrie. Maybe DLo, another guy, and a 2nd-rounder would get it done. Kyrie isn't exactly a smoking commodity either. Shop a couple of our other young guys, and see if you cant get yourself a decent veteran. Pref a defensive guy. And lastly....yes, can you move Reeves for an upgrade, albeit older veteran with to try and go all in.
Could we move our youth, and get something like Kyrie, Randle back....and maybe a couple older defensive guys (KCP type) and keep Shroeder.....would that be enough? Kyrie and Randle are just names. Fill in the blank. But sort of that level / age. We might get a deal with Kyrie. Would Reeves for Kyrie work?? Id make that move if I were Dallas. Sucks to lose Reeves. Don't get me wrong. But if you were then able to S&T DLo....you might be able to get something decent.
Point is....we got two more years of AD and Lebron. At crazy high salary. I'd love to move them, and move on. But I doubt we can, or that Jeanie will. The totally WRONG thing to do is stand pat, and think this team is a couple tweaks away. We're not. And I think your finally gonna see the rapid decline of Lebron. Prob not in quality, but in quantity. I expect minutes to decrease alot the next couple years. And with that will go rhythm and production.
The FO have an intersting time this year. We have some young guys with some talent & Value. At the same time....AD prob played himself into some value. I bet a team like Dallas would be VERY interested in a guy like AD. So would Portland. I could see Phoenix being interested.
I'd keep Reeves personally, and the youth, and move AD. Let Lebron know we are rebuilding, and facilitate any trade he wanted (except the Clippers...F them). If Lebron insists on sticking around, fine. At 29-8-9 (whatever the exact totals were this season) even with a drop, he's good. Would be good for the young guys. I'd also definitely trade DLo and see what we can get. If we could get a first rounder - a couple second rounders, and a couple semi-decent prospects for AD and DLo....I'd call it a day, and begin the next chapter.
Please don't just resign DLo and Reeves, and bring it back. It'll be ugly. And expensive! That's my one hope: That all these guys played themselves into decent contracts....and have out-priced the idea of standing pat. And for the love of god.....don't just let them walk! If you do that....then I will forever be on the "Pelinka sucks" side. We've managed to get some value here.....let's pick a path and go with it.
Sorry so long
