✅ Answers
? Best Answer
Go for some role players. Lakers have about the worst bench in the nba. Really the only decent person that comes off the bench for lakers is Jamison. They can go for guys like Stephn Jackson, jarret jack,kyle korver,nick young
Theres no fixing this mess.
For one thing, LOL GM does NOT have that much power. Is like being a Governor, but your boss is the owner which makes him or her the President. Sometimes is better for is to keep my mouth shut & follow the owners rules since I do not want to lose my job. The only thing that I could do, is have a sat down face to face & talk business about to make the team successful & who should leave. Other then that, my hands are tide.
1.) fire Dantoni. I’m sorry but his offensive schemes and rotations just are not working. Plus he doesn’t know how to use big men. He tried to turn Gasol into dirk Nowitzki earlier in the year lol. Go after Byron Scott, Doug Collins, Jeff van gundy, Brian shaw, and obviously Phil Jackson if he wants to come back.
2.) GET YOUNGER. Lakers are running a senior home. Keep Howard, Jordan Hill, Earl Clark, Andrew Goudlock. Everyone else is on the bubble. Kobe has a year left but idk when he’ll return. Nash needs to retire. I love him but he can’t stay healthy anymore, and is too old to be a starting PG. I heard they may amnesty pau or world peace. Either way you needs more speed on the perimeter. We are dead last in transition defense.
3.) get a guy who can create his own shot and create for others off the bench. Maybe use pau as trade bait? He’s our only valuable trade asset. When we had odom he was that guy, people under value how key he was.
Just look at th warriors with Jarrett Jack, clippers with Crawford, Knicks with Smith, Heat with Allen.
Honestly I feel the lakers have way too many problems to be solved in 1 offseason. I’d be satisfied with being younger and having chemistry. This team lacked chemistry all year long. And I thought the 24 lakers had problems. At least they made the finals..
We have bad contracts and a crappy president in Jim Buss running the show. He didn’t get his fathers genes lol! After 2014 though EVERYONE’s contract comes off the books
I don’t envy Kupchak right now because he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, Kobe Bryant — let’s face it — is overpaid and is going to be coming off of ACL surgery, something from which he may not recover fully. It would be fiscally wise to amnesty him, saving the team a bunch of money in cap-space/luxury taxes. On the other hand, losing Kobe would yield a substantial decrease in ticket sales, tv ratings, and merchandise sales, among other things. Kobe has a humongous following. Even non-Lakers fans love him, similar to how lots of non-Heat fans love Lebron.
Now, if I were the GM of the Lakers, I would amnesty Kobe contingent upon whether or not he’ll be willing to re-structure his contract:
1. In doing away with Kobe, I feel like I would have a great shot at retaining Dwight Howard. I have a feeling that Dwight doesn’t enjoy playing alongside Kobe. I’ve been watching them all season long, and Dwight just doesn’t have that fun personality with the Lakers that he had with the Magic, during his Orlando days. He’s not smiling and goofing off anymore. I also feel like Dwight wants to be the “man” of the team. As long as Kobe’s there, he’ll never be assume that role.
2. As had been mentioned, Kobe is overpaid, getting up there in age, and will be coming off of ACL surgery.
3. With the freed up money from amnestying Kobe, the Lakers can build around Dwight and Gasol (Nash’s time is almost up). History suggests that the Lakers are a desirable team for lots of high-profile free-agents (Shaq, Kareem, etc.). I’m sure the Lakers will have no problem wooing a solid all-star SG, one who will cost only about half of what Kobe’s currently earning.
If Kobe’s willing to re-structure his contract, taking significantly less money, I’ll be happy to retain him. I don’t think that’ll sit well with Kobe, though, seeing as how he’s been pandered to his whole career.
It goes without saying that I would also can Mike D’Antoni, a guy who completely neglects defense.
Like I said, I don’t envy Kupchak right now, but that’s why he’s getting paid the big bucks.
Unfortunately, the Lakers Front-Office is in a “damned if I do; damned if I don’t” situation in that if they keep Kobe Bryant around, fans all over the NBA (not just Lakers fans) will call them a bunch of pushovers for pandering to Kobe’s every request. However, if they amnesty Kobe, fans all over the NBA will call the Lakers’ F.O. unloyal and disingenuous. The Lakers are the most hated organization in the NBA and will be subject to harsh criticism no matter what decision they make. It’s a no-win situation.
To summarize the clusterf*ck that I had written above:
1. Whether or not I amnesty Kobe hinges on his willingness to re-structure his contract. If he says ‘no’, adios to him. I’ll be looking to sign a FA SG who costs only a fraction of what Kobe does.
2. Mike D’antoni needs to get canned. HC of the Lakers has and always will be a sexy job opportunity. There will be several quality coaches vying for that vacant position.
3. Keep Dwight Howard by any means necessary! At only 27-years-old, he is our future!
1. Re-Sign Howard
2. Move Steve Nash for younger players with potential
3. Trade Metta World Peace and Gasol for draft picks (they need to get younger and Kobe is nearing retirement)
4. Sign FA Jose Calderon
5. Fire D’Antoni, Hire Phil Jackson!!
Step one remains the same for both plans. If Dwight Howard chooses to stay then my moves revolve around keeping the main core generally intact while trying to put pieces around them that fit in a way that could make the chemistry better. If Dwight Howard leaves, the second plan is all about dumping the older parts of the core except for Kobe, saving money so they can have cap space in a year, and bringing in a couple decent young players to help the rebuilding process.
Step 1: Try to resign Dwight Howard
If he chooses to resign plan:
Step 2: Resign Earl Clark, pickup team option on Meeks, extend qualifying offers to Morris and Goudelock.
Step 3: See if a team with a large trade exception would give up a late first round pick for World Peace
Step 4: See how much teams like Pau. Only trade him if what comes back fits better with current pieces.
Step 5: Free agent options that may be affordable under CBA provisions for teams over the salary cap: Nazr Mohammed, Nate Robinson, Daniel Gibson, Anthony Morrow, Jarrett Jack, Samuel Dalembert, Mike Dunleavy, Beno Udrih, Dorell Wright, Mo Williams, Chris Douglas-Roberts.
If Dwight Howard chooses to leave plan:
Step 2.: Actively shop Pau to team with an expiring contract or tons of cap room, try to get a late lottery pick or solid young player.
Step 3: Shop Nash, only accept a deal if you can get an intriguing young prospect.
Step 4: Actively shop Metta World Peace, try to get a late first round pick or a shooting specialist with a cheaper contract.
Step 5: Sign whatever free agents are a decent value. But don’t sign anyone to a multi year contract, so there is cap space in summer 2014.
________________________
” I would unload my starters ,
bite the ‘ Salary C a p Bullet ‘
by trading their First Round
pick for two Second Round
picks , sign ‘ free agent ( s ) ‘
veteran ( s ) to already sign
at a bargain , and resign my
‘ one – ACE – in – the – deck ‘
ALL – STAR Team Starter . “
_______________________
1. Give the Sports Medicine staff a bonus. They earned it this year.
2. Focus on more depth and youth in the roster. Focus on making a good team 1-12 as opposed to 1-5. Emphasis on outside shooting and ballhandling. If you do a good job scouting and researching, you can find what you need without giving up your big names. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the Spurs. Duncan and Tracy McGrady are the only lottery picks on the Spurs roster, and McGrady is only getting garbage time right now. Everyone else was late-first round and second round picks.