lakerevolution wrote:Ok, corny topic title but it fits. Aside from gameday posts, this wil be the new "Lakers Discussion Thread" heading into this season. Facts, truths, analysis, opinions and of course discussion. First up: KCP and his relative worth to Vogel and the team . . .
Next season, the Los Angeles Lakers will have six returning players on their roster, the fewest number of returning players they’ve had since the 2015-16 season. Of those six players, only two of them have at least two years of experience with the team: Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
While Kuzma will enter the season on the third year of his rookie contract, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be playing on his third one-year deal in three years. Unlike previous years, though, Caldwell-Pope will have a player option worth $8.4 million at the end of next season. In total, he’s accumulated $37.8 million in guaranteed money with the Lakers - a far cry from the rumored 5-year $80 million deal the Detroit Pistons were offering. Is playing for a shot at a ring alongside LeBron, Unibrow, Dwight, D. Green and Kuzma worth millions?
Caldwell-Pope has shown flashes of being the prototypical 3-and-D wings so many teams covet in today’s NBA, but he hasn’t been able to do it on a consistent basis. After seemingly turning a corner in his first season with the Lakers, Caldwell-Pope’s 3-point percentage went from 38.4% to 34.7%, and his defensive rating dropped from 108 to 112.Outside of Danny Green and Alex Caruso, the Lakers don’t have many serviceable defensive guards on their roster. In fact, with the exception of Green and Caruso, every one of their guards posted a negative defensive real plus-minus, according to ESPN.
At 26 years old, Caldwell-Pope probably could have played starters minutes on a lowly team like the Charlotte Hornets or Memphis Grizzlies next season, but with the Lakers, he’ll get the chance to show his value on a contending team, which is more likely to get him paid in 2020 than putting up inflated numbers on a bad roster.
3Peatkb24 wrote:LeBron should immediately defer to AD IMO. AD would appreciate the respect and chemistry. AD is a 27 and 12 guy like Shaq was. LeBron should just let the game come to him and he would still get something like 25/8/7, he is that great. Yeah I know it's LeBron, arguably a top 5 player ever but AD is a youngster and ready. This will be AD's team for the next 7 or 8 seasons now. The problem the Heat had in 2011 was Wade and LeBron couldn't figure out who's team it was and Dirk stuck it to them when it counted. Wade should've just deferred to LeBron at that time because LeBron was the better player. I do not want to see a repeat of that with Leonard sticking it to us. I expect a Championship this season, those are my expectations. How can I not with players like LeBron and AD.
3Peatkb24 wrote:LeBron should immediately defer to AD IMO. AD would appreciate the respect and chemistry. AD is a 27 and 12 guy like Shaq was. LeBron should just let the game come to him and he would still get something like 25/8/7, he is that great. Yeah I know it's LeBron, arguably a top 5 player ever but AD is a youngster and ready. This will be AD's team for the next 7 or 8 seasons now. The problem the Heat had in 2011 was Wade and LeBron couldn't figure out who's team it was and Dirk stuck it to them when it counted. Wade should've just deferred to LeBron at that time because LeBron was the better player. I do not want to see a repeat of that with Leonard sticking it to us. I expect a Championship this season, those are my expectations. How can I not with players like LeBron and AD.
lakerevolution wrote:Dwan-yay joining the Purp & Gold . . ?
Wade made some statements that he's keeping in shape and will "join LeBron in pre-game shoot-arounds" . . and is keeping his options open for un-retiring to join James on the Lakers. Unless we wave Boogie to make an open spot, there's no room for him . . but if that happens he'd make a great backup. Thoughts?
KobeMVP888 wrote:lakerevolution wrote:Dwan-yay joining the Purp & Gold . . ?
Wade made some statements that he's keeping in shape and will "join LeBron in pre-game shoot-arounds" . . and is keeping his options open for un-retiring to join James on the Lakers. Unless we wave Boogie to make an open spot, there's no room for him . . but if that happens he'd make a great backup. Thoughts?
If Dwayne Wade is in shape and gets that itch again, that would be awfully tempting if Iggy can't talk his way into a buyout and wants to play with the Bron-Brow Connection. HAVING SAID THAT, D-Wade's second go around with LeBron in The Land didn't exactly go as planned. As for the roster spot, they can still waive Boogie and can free up yet another one by trading the rookie or waiving Troy Daniels. Frankly, I still think they need another big and definitely need another small forward. It's a fluid process, if you will.
NuggetsCountry wrote:Frankly, I am exhausted with the retreads we keep signing over the past 6 or so years..........................when we had a bunch of younguns it was fun to see them progress. If they get rid of Kuzma I quit. I still think something has to be done at ownership/GM level to get us another ring run. What? I don't know - beyond my pay grade.
KobeMVP888 wrote:NuggetsCountry wrote:Frankly, I am exhausted with the retreads we keep signing over the past 6 or so years..........................when we had a bunch of younguns it was fun to see them progress. If they get rid of Kuzma I quit. I still think something has to be done at ownership/GM level to get us another ring run. What? I don't know - beyond my pay grade.
On the one hand, I agree, but with LeBron at the very end of his prime (if not entering an injury prone end), I don't have a problem with pairing him with a generational talent like Anthony Davis. This was like acquiring Kareem back in the day. I do feel bit shell shocked after a series of seasons that were more about injuries than anything else and I also have huge questions about LeBron and Anthony Davis having chemistry. I have a very tough time seeing it. I wish we had kept Lonzo instead of Kuzma though and I don;t understand why we didn't hold our ground on Josh Hart, too. I also think we should not have let Kawhi Leonard play us; clearly D'Angelo Russell was going to sign for the max somewhere with all that money out there and I would have been thrilled if we had made that move. We'll see what happens, but I don't see a championship. The fucking Clippers though ...
lakerevolution wrote:After falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft, teams will regret passing on Talen Horton-Tucker.
The Lakers had no draft picks going into the NBA draft this season, but they traded cash considerations and their 2020 second round pick to Orlando to select Horton-Tucker at the 46th spot. With options like Jaylen Hands(UCLA) and Kyle Guy (Virginia) it was seen as an interesting pick.
Horton-Tucker bet on himself by entering his name in the draft and as of now it has paid off. The Lakers took him and seem to have high expectations. The 6”4 wing is a jack-of-all-trades player. He is strong (233 lb), and a terrific athlete who can defend multiple spots on the floor.
Horton-Tucker is an intriguing option due to a number of reasons, the first being that he is only 18 years old. It’s not common for a player of that age that played a year of college to go in the second round. Usually these players either go top 15 or return to college for another year.
At Iowa State he averaged 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. He showed signs of being a top-notch defender with sneaky playmaking ability. Horton-Tucker’s build and ability to track down loose balls can make him a good rebounder in the league despite being undersized.
https://youtu.be/V7ccT3xSlV0
The question with Horton-Tucker is whether he will be a good shooter in the league. In one year with the Cyclones he shot 31% from deep. The positive is that he made 1.4 threes per game and displayed confidence shooting it.
Unfortunately for the Lakers and their fans he missed the Summer League with a foot injury. The injury doesn’t seem to be too serious as he’s expected to participate in the preseason in October.
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