18mil is something that I dont really want for vet. Yet, I still think we need some vets. Is Matt Barnes free?
I think the comment was in response to the notion of getting a pick along with Deng, suggesting that the pick would just be wasted on another WABC.
I'd rather just start Vonleh at the 4 and move Aminu to the starting 3 than take on a broken down Luol Deng and his ridiculous contract. At this point, what would Deng give us that Aminu can't? It's hard to imagine that Timofey Mozgov at $64 million over 4 years was not the worst contract the Lakers handed out during the summer of 2016, but it wasn't. At least they were able to find someone willing to take Mozgov off their hands. BNM
They got rid of him because they offered Russell, a number two pick from two years ago who also had two good years. If they offered Ingram and Deng for Harkless and a late first, I am taking that too. Amazingly they also got Kuzma from that deal but that was a freak coincidence.
I was thinking that Deng and Noah would start and Aminu would come off the bench for either depending on the matchups. But I agree with you that there is not much difference between he and Aminu. Whose contracts we were getting rid of was also a factor. I think a another vet presence on this team would only be a plus. In the end, I concede we can do better.
Good points. They had to "pay" someone to take Mozgov off their hands. They will have to pay someone to take Deng, as well. The problem is, do they have anything else left they would be willing to give away in order to dump Deng? I'm guessing not enough to get it done. In the end, waiving Deng and using the stretch provision may be their best option (they should have done tat before the season started). Although they can afford him right now, due to having so many young players on cheap contracts, his salary may become a roadblock to signing multiple big name free agents next summer. BNM
I think Julius Randle has some value around the league. That should be enough especially if the Lakers have to take back some unwanted contracts....which I assume they will have to.
If we could just sign Deng, post-waiving (eating contract by Lakers), I'd agree to sign him for league minimum. Otherwise, I would not give up assets (even Meyers Leonard) to help the Lakers create salary cap space for next summer. Just not into helping them!!!
