re: NBA Offseason Thread | Media Day

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Ingram is the one guy I really really wish the Lakers could hold onto under any circumstances even though I know it’s not realistic. He’s going to be a monster as he fills out. Maybe a Giannis-type player imo.

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I really wish they could just hold onto all 3 of their young players, (Ingram, Lonzo, Kuzma), and give them a couple of years to develop.

Ingram is only 20 years old. Imagine what he will be in 2 to 3 years. Just look at his improvement from year 1 to year 2. Dude is going to be awesome

Lonzo is a little younger than Ingram. Another few years of development and working on his shot and he can become an all star level player if he gets his shooting to just an average level. He improves that shooting and he has the chance to be an all star

Kuzma is the oldest of the 3, ( he will be 23 going into the season), and a couple of more years and he should be a beast


The more I think of it, I think keeping that young core together and let them develop together is the best long term solution. Sacrifice another year or 2 now, for 7 to 8 years of greatness on the back end instead of throwing away all your assets and handcuffing yourself from making any meaningful moves in the future.

Hell, even Josh Hart showed some flashes last year.

Sure, go all in on trying to get Lebron and PG13, but if you strikeout on one or both, then keep the core together, resign Randle, and let them grow the way Golden State did. Plus you are not handcuffed by the salary cap and have flexibility


Im now on the "Keep the Core" bandwagon

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I'm really starting to think the Suns are going to move for Kemba after they take Ayton.

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What are they going to offer?

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I hope Lakers are smart enough to not go for a 3rd star after they get pg and Lebron. They will have to give up hart, kuzma, or ball to get rid of Deng to fit both of those guys though.

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The Lakers have cap space for two maxes regardless of Deng iirc. The problem with that scenario is they can’t sign both Lebron + PG AND retain Randle if they don’t move Deng with basically no money coming back. They also cannot sign two maxes and make a trade for Leonard without moving Deng.

There’s many different ways this can play out but basically, if the Lakers make a trade moving Deng with an asset attached, that’s probably a sign that a much bigger move is coming.

If they miss out on the big fish free agents and do not trade for Leonard, then you match whatever offer Randle gets and hang onto Deng to try and move him at a later date. Stretching him over 5 years should be an absolute last resort imo.

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Im now on the "Keep the Core" bandwagon

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must be lonely in there

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They will have to give up hart, kuzma, or ball to get rid of Deng to fit both of those guys though

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So what?

Odds are that no one in that trio will be anywhere as close to as good as Kawhi.

I like Lonzo more than most people but you have to play the odds. He goes if you can get a star.

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I’m in love with this scenario. Wouldn’t they have a MLE to use on the bench too?

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Can't use the MLE if you use cap space to sign a free agent. The could use the room exception, which is about 4.3 mil this season.

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That's the issue, is it worth it just to keep Randle?

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IMO, you give up Ball to keep Randle, because you need a big more than you need another ball handler.

I would like to just point out for the 17th time how nicely the Lakers would be set up this summer if Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak didn’t lose their fricking minds on July 1, 2016 and give Luol Deng 4 years/$72 million.

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Maybe a team like phoenix would eat Deng if they get Lonzo, but I'm thinking there's not many teams unless you add in hart or zubic too.

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I was thinking possibly a 3 way with the Lakers/Spurs and another team like Brooklyn, Atlanta, or some team like that.

Already giving up on LeBronzo

Lakers Fans