If I’m the Lakers, I don’t go for a third MAX guy. I get a couple mid level quality players to fill that roster. Who’s even on their team anymore?
Besides AD and LeBron, under contract next season are: Kyle Kuzma Moritz Wagner Isaac Bonga Jemerrio Jones (non-guaranteed) That's it. 5 maybe 6 (if you count Jones) guys under contract so they have up to 10 spots to fill.
I wouldnt, not even a shred, he could demand a trade and sit out two years and thats a bad deal. They choose quantity over quality, they got a lot of stuff, but none of its very good.
If we don't learn about other offers we cannot really judge if the return was good or not. From what I've read Clippers never included Shai and Celtics never included Tatum. The return seems ok. Although I don't really like Ingram and Lonzo and I also see 0 fit with Zion I'd take those and no.4 pick over CJ. Maybe CJ and his 25M are not that great of an asset for a team that is not already good and it's not they could easily trade him away because good teams don't have much cap space or assets they would trade for him.
I think its a bad return even if we dont know what others offered. I think what this proved was that Rich Paul did his job, he tanked AD’s value league wide to the point other GM’s werent willing to offer much. In the end this may have been the best offer, but what that really says is AD’s agent did his job, and scared off all other GM’s to the point of them not being willing to put their jobs on the line.
Well yes I agree for example Celtics would flip Tatum for AD in a second if not for those comments that he would only sign an extension with Lakers or Knicks. What I'm talking about is offers on table, because otherwise to get a top5ish player even CJ+Nurk+Zach etc would not be enough under normal circumstances.
Basically every team in the NBA including the lakers coulve given a better package, and thrown in a bunch of 1sts out in the future. I have said it before but the fact New Orleans couldnt even manage to dump Hill (their worst contract), couldnt get someone like Kuzma (not that Im high on Kuzma), but New Orleans may walk away from this and the best player they get is Brandon Ingram... Which just seems crazy to me... I keep hearing / reading national guys talk about it like oh what a haul for AD, and Im like really? They got a bunch of firsts for a superstar thats not even in his prime yet... If AD stays in LAL, and they put a team around him those picks will not be worth much.
Those picks are quite a haul. Have we ever seen more potential #1 overall selections dealt? I think this is the second most after the Garnett Pierce trade. That Nets deal brought together a collection of 5 all stars, Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Brook Lopez. This trade brought together two. Sure if all goes right for LAL they could be less valuable end of the first round selections. But same as in Brooklyn, if all doesn't go well.... LAL could've just decimated the next decade of that franchise.
Notice the word "swap" next to these picks! If the Pelicans will do worse than the Lakers during some of those years (which is likely considering Pels are a trash organization), the Lakers get better picks! Unbelievable!
People are underestimating Ingram and Ball. Both are still super young but have shown plenty of promise already. Ball is a fantastic passer and defender, he makes players around him better. Ingram was fantastic last season before the illness. The pick this year is very high, they can also flip that one for two or more picks. Atlanta will certainly give them #8 and additional assets for it so that they can take Culver. Lakers pick in 2020 is going to be very late as they will have a great team but from 2021 onwards their outlook isn’t really that great. If they sign Butler or Kemba, they are both about to start descending into decline. They will have zero cap flexibility for the next several years too. Those picks could really end up being tasty.
