[giddyup123Participant]

The Lakers are in the midst of quite an important 2-3 weeks for both this coming season and also the future of the franchise. It seems that contrary to media reports following the trade, the Lakers and Pelinka were aware of timing/money concerns on the AD trade and it seems are working behind the scenes on looping in the Hawks, who traded for their #4 pick (to select DeAndre Hunter), into the trade with the Pels to clear cap space and have the deal completed on July 6^th-ish so that they can look into signing 1 of Kemba, Kyrie, Jimmy Butler or less likely Kawhi, Russell.

Now, I don´t want to argue about which max agent they sign IF they clear max space… In fact, I hope for the League´s and the Lakers sake, decide AGAINST (or can`t swing) going for a max level player. I would even argue that the Lakers would be better suited in avoiding another max level free agent and instead investing in providing better support and continuity for the next 3 seasons for and around AD/Lebron and depth for their roster.

With that said, IF the Lakers are NOT able to rework the trade AND AD does NOT wave his 4 million dollar trade kicker, the Lakers would seem to be sitting with 24 million dollars in space. If AD WAVES his kicker and the trade is NOT reworked, that would put them at about 28 million. Again if they can trade Jones, Wagner, Bonga and clear cap space, they would be sitting at 32 million.

For my preferred scenario let´s say they unlikely can´t get max space but AD waves the trade kicker and the Lakers end up getting about 28 mil in space (and again I believe they should go down a route like this REGARDLESS of whether they can get a max guy). *Note: I believe this all makes sense financially, please correct me if I´m wrong…

A few fan sites are projecting Danny Green and Pat Beverly as ideal additions to the Lakers. I agree 100 percent- as tough guards, playoff-proven, knockdown shooters, good defenders, and versatile (Pat could defend and play 1 and 2, and Green 2 and3). I know if Kawhi goes back to the Raptors, Danny Green may follow. Similarly, Beverly really played well with the Clippers and may want a return. That said, let´s say the Lakers could convince Danny Green to sign at 3 years/33 million (for a guy about 30 years old, I feel like this offer would be appealing for him). After the season Pat had, he may be in for a big pay day… Could the Lakers get him for 2 years/20 million with a player option 3^rd year for 7 million (this would offer him some injury insurance and the chance to still look for another contract if he believes he could get more longterm money after 2 years). I also believe another shooter, backcourt creator would be good. How about Seth Curry at 10 million/2 years + team option for an extra 5 million/year.

So under this assumption, we´d have Danny Green at 11 million AAV and Pat Beverly at 9 million AAV, with Seth Curry at 5 million … total of 25 million AAV. And how about Ed Davis on a 2 year, 6 million deal (3 million AAV). The Lakers would still have the MLE for about 5 million a year and then minimum contracts. For the MLE, how about Trevor Ariza? (others to conside: Reggie Bullock ,Thad Young, Marcus Morris, Darren Collison)… For minimum contracts, give me Tyson Chandler, Markieff Morris, Derrick Rose with Caruso and Zach Norvell (who I think has some upside in a knock down shooter role this year) on 2-ways.

5s: Ed Davis, Tyson Chandler

4/5s: AD, Markieff Morris, Wagner

3/4s: Lebron, Kuzma, Isaac Bonga

2/3s: Danny Green, Ariza, Zach Norvell

1/2s: Beverly, Curry, Derrick Rose, Caruso

I think this would be even be better than a potential Kemba/Kyrie partnership with Lebron/AD/Kuzma and a bunch of veteran minimums. (though as a Lakers fan I wouldn´t complain about this outcome) To me, this above lineup provides versatility, shooting, defense, some playmaking potential, veterans, and would be much better to protect against injuries, ´load management` for AD/Lebron. (and personally, I like the notion of not going superteam while providing more balanced and complementing team play)

Thoughts?

[giddyup123Participant]

 Not saying that is the starting lineup… just positional fits. I think a starting lineup of Beverly, Green, Lebron, Kuz, and AD is more reasonable to expect. With the bench rotation primarily being Davis, Morris (if healthy recovery), Ariza, Curry, and Rose. Growth and contributions from Caruso, Norvell, Bonga, Wagner, (and good health from Chandler) would be great 

[r377Participant]

 Dear NBAdraft.com  admin staff,

Can we please just sticky a Lakers thread to this forum ?

It would save a new lakers thread being posted every second day on here…  with the same repetative questions and the same boring answers

[kobyzParticipant]

 I think Wes Matthews is better player than Danny Green and that Lakers should prefer him…

[HitsterParticipant]

I think the Lakers need one more guy who is better than or an elite complimentary starter to be the 3rd/4th string behind AD and LBJ depending how you rate Kuzuma.

The names they are looking at have all been banded about so I’m not going into specifics but I think they will want durable guys who can do a lot of the heavy lifting so sadly a D-Rose might be out of the picture unless he took veteran’s minimum.

Maybe the Lakers will look to do what Toronto did with Kawhi and sit AD or especially LBJ for some games. Get a top 4 or 5 seeding and have the big two fresher for the play offs.

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

All with only 23 million in Total Cap Space???

We need to start a Thread that expains how the Salary Cap/CBA and Player Contracts work 

[halfdecayedParticipant]

we need to explain you that AD will waive his trade kicker, he wouldn’t be actively recruiting stars with Bron right now if he wasn’t planning on doing so. Second, Pelinka is planning at the moment on dumping Wagner, Bonga and the other dude to create more cap space. If everything works out, they should have 32 millions in cap space. They can give 5.6 in cash if a team is willing to take these 3 guys too. Do a little research smh.  

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

Again, you’re assuming All 8 of these Free Agents are signing with the Lakers, all because they landed AD in a Trade?

Why would Markief Morris wanna take a pay cut to backup AD? How many millions does he turn down to do so?

I’ll give you Tyson Chandler(who can be signed for cheap IF he doesn’t retire)

Seth Curry though? Derrick Rose? They’re coming off solid seasons where they took less money than they were likely worth, Rose will want to get paid and he’s a Terrible fit with Lebron (and we saw that in Cleveland too)

Danny Green just won a title and will be in high demand as 3 and D Winner! He’s gonna get at least 10 million per season, how do the Lakers afford him along with 7 other Free Agents?

And please tell me how you’ve spoken to AD and he’s told you personally that he’s planning on waiving a Multi Million Dollar Trade Kicker???

[giddyup123Participant]

 To respond to your points…

1) yes, Markieff Morris had a poor injury-filled year… the thunder signed him for about 560 thousand after he was bought out by the Wizards. So while he technically earned 8.6ish million, he was bought out which is to say they didnt think he brought even enough to see his last year out. So yes, I think him on a 1 year veterans min deal makes sense as a "prove-it" type of deal. So, no I dont think he’ll end up turning down big money (or any money) to play in LA

2) Seth Curry made 2.75 million a season last year… I’m proposing the Lakers double that and give him some long term security. I’m not sure that Seth Curry gets much more than 6 million AAV on the market. And yes, D-Rose had (statistically speaking) a good year… for the lowly Wolves. If someone wants to give him anymore than the vets min, I’d be surprised with his injuries and general lack of team success. I proposed him going to the Lakers where he could play 15 min per game as a 4th or 5th backcourt option… (not sure fit with lebron matters at that point)

3) I agree Danny Green should get paid 10+ million dollars this year… which is why I said the Lakers should pay him 11 million per year for 3 years. As for your question about affording it all, I explained that in the OP

4) despite your condescending response to the posters intelligence I also believe that if waiving his trade kicker is the difference to getting a max player (and in his mind drastically increasing his title chances, and thus immense more financial potential) then AD would waive it

[giddyup123Participant]

 And on that note wtf… 8 of the top free agents? Sure, Green and Beverly are probably top 20ish free agents this summer, maybeeee. Curry and Ariza I suppose you could argue are top 35-40… who else in that 8 is a "top free agent"? Markieff didnt get off the bench for the Thunder in the playoffs (are you confusing him with Marcus?), Davis’s ceiling is a backup big man known for his offensive rebounding/screening/good teammate, Chandler can give you 10-15 min per game for 50 of 82 games, Rose is a shell of himself who really hasn’t proven himself since his injuries (probably more of a league average backup slasher/playmaker type these days)

[Snatalini247Participant]

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How lakers fans see their team every offseason

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