Let's assume we're not trading Aldridge and we still want to acquire some talent to make a run at the playoffs next season. It seems to me we have a real opportunity right now because so many teams will want to be tanking for the 2014 draft. We've already seen Philly deal away their All-Star for a project big man and a draft pick. Who else might be willing to offload some talent to tank for the draft? Philly Orlando? Charlotte? New Orleans? Sacramento? Phoenix? Atlanta? We have cap space and a few cheaper contracts that we could throw together to snag some talented guys from a team that wants to go full tank mode. Any ideas?
If I were the Lakers, and I lost Howard, I'd tank for next year's draft and shed $$ for next year's free agent class. That means Pao. Or the injured Kobe.
I think amnesty on gasol would most certainly make them tank. I could see Kobe even sitting out most the year to tank fest
Yeah, once they lose Howard and shed Pao's salary, and Kobe gets a paid vacation, the Lakers are top 3 in next year's lottery, and the 2014 free agent class is their oyster. Fuck I hate the Lakers.
I don't know if N.O. is, having traded next year's pick for Jrue. Obiously, health will determine it, but Jrue/Gordon/SF/Davis/Lopez with Vasquez and Anderson off the bench, I would think they look to find a good SF and bench player and try this season.
What happened to that pick they owe Phoenix? Is it still protected? I seem to remember that they must make the playoffs in order to keep Phoenix from getting it.
I do not know the actual facts of LA's draft rights next year. If they again don't have a lotto pick, torpedoes away! (Even though they'll still make out like bandits in free agency. There's just no stopping that.)
New Orleans just traded FOR said all-star, so I doubt they're tanking. Orlando is collecting young assets; I don't think they have any older talent that is worth taking on--maybe Big Baby? Philly might want to rid themselves of Thaddeus Young--he's their only contract that extends past next summer. Milwaukee probably should--Ilyasova an option? Boston already is--maybe they want to shed Bass? Phoenix of course--Gortat and Beasley (Dudley and Scola's contracts are too reasonable to be worrisome) Sacramento--Thornton, Thompson and Hayes could all be tank-mode castoffs One that isn't in tank mode but probably should be is Toronto. They're in bad shape cap-wise thanks to Gay, Bargnani, and DeRozan, and there's no indication that they'll be any good any time soon. I pity Raptors fans.
I agree that the Lakers could tank also, they would be smart to amnesty Kobe and trade Pau. I doubt that will happen though. I'm a little perplexed as to why they refuse to sign and trade DHO, might just be posturing but seems like they could net some serious assets for him.
