April 13, 2016
Kobe Bryant scores 60 points in his final game of his NBA Career.
The Lakers roster at that time includes Russell, Randle, Clarkson, and Nance.
In the NBA Draft Lottery, the Lakers (with the 2nd worst record in the NBA) land the 2nd pick by winning essentially a coin flip to retain their pick. Thanks to The Great Byron Scott and Mitch Kupchak. The Lakers select Ingram with the 2nd pick and Ivica Zubac with the 32nd pick.
Pre-draft comments:
BSR:
I've finally distilled the main cause of my anxiety over this Lakers off-season and I can best explain it like this:
- Jim Buss and probably Mitch, by association, have self-imposed an asinine deadline on themselves: that the Lakers will be contenders by the end of the 2016-17 season.
- This could cause a shift to a "win now" mentality whereas, in reality, it should be a "build now" mentality.
- Keeping the 4 young studs (counting this year's draft pick) we have along with Nance is exactly how you "build now."
Feared conclusion: Jim and Mitch mortgage our future to win now. Meaning, because of self-imposed pressure they trade our young core to win now. This will have to mean that we go from having 5-7 building blocks to 2-3.
Both NVE and BSR exchange positive remarks on Russell’s off-season.
June 30, 2016
Free agency begins.
BSR: “Who does Mitch call at 12:01? Mozgov”
NVE: Jackie Chan photo meme with “DAFUQ?”
After terms of the deal (4y/$65m) are reported…
BSR:
(After a long email about how Lakers must over-pay and how pro-rated dollars make it not so expensive)
It's not bad at all. It's maybe about 15% more than other teams would pay. But, it's not insane by any stretch, said the Kool Aid patron at the Lakers bar.
NVE:
Did we overpay him? Probably a bit. The Mavs or Heat could have probably nabbed him for $12-13M. But that's the shit tax the Lakers have to pay to get someone to come.
July 2, 2016
Luol Deng signs with the Lakers for 4y/$72m
NVE and BSR surprisingly like this signing. But, realize it’s a necessary too-expensive-too-long.
NVE:
Mahinmi. Same contract as Timofaay.
Sigh
July 6, 2016
NVE:
This is my fear.
Mitch/Jim fall into the trap mindset: "The Lakers need a marquee star now to re-establish themselves as the glamour NBA franchise and to attract other free agents"
And as a consequence, we mortgage all our young (read: cheap) talent that is usually the foundation of all good teams (see: Golden State Warriors)
I am really worried about this because if you listen the sports radio idiots as a barometer of the general sports public (and possibly our FA), it's a no-brainer that we trade D'Angelo or Ingram and Julius and picks for Westbrook.
To me, it's a no-brainer that we don't, particularly that he'll be a FA after the season.
July 10, 2016
After Summer League game, BSR blogs “The Beginning.”
July 20, 2016
Sam Presti asks the Lakers for Ingram + Russell + Picks in exchange for Westbrook.
BSR: “Ridiculous request.”
NVE: “I don’t see Mitch doing this trade… Ingram is.. untradeable”
Other teams also seek a trade for Westbrook. When no one bites, Presti signs Westbrook to an extension in August 2016.
Both BSR and NVE are shocked that Westbrook signed an extension.
October: Preseason 2016
BSR:
We still stink; but, here's my final pre-season take on this team:
• We will get exposed on the boards; we're a very poor rebounding team right now.
• Randle is pretty much Lamar Odom 2.0. Final conclusion. Lots of promise, but little substance. That's ok, though. That was a very weak draft class. I'm not sure who was available that I would have rather had? Maybe Rodney Hood? Questionable. Randle is probably one of the 3 best players from that draft and we should be good with that.
• Lou Williams is so bad. So so bad. This is the yelling voice in my head every time he touches the ball: "PASS THE FUCKING BALL"
• Russell is the player closest to being a super-star. He's far from it, but he shows flashes of promise. Most people cite his mental make-up as a weakness saying he's too immature. I actually think that's one of his strengths. He generally doesn't care what most people say and he's got just enough "crazy" in him to help him become great, if he so chooses.
• This 2nd string lineup will be very fun to watch (and hopefully frequently used): Calderon (or Huertas or Russell), JC, Ingram, Nance, Black. When they are playing well, they can be a bear to handle.
NVE (emailed after first game vs HOU):
1) Holy smokes, that was baaaad defense. Like D'Antoni level bad defense. I get that playing a D'Antoni team you kinda get sucked into that style of play, but seriously?! Simple stuff too, like missing switches or getting back in transition D. I guarantee that Luke's first order of business today will be to work on screen/lob defense. Good news, is that I think a lot of those gaps are fixable with just reps and playing together. Now some of the 1st half disaster was skewed by Houston hitting a ton of LONG threes that you can live with; we tightened things up in the 2nd half, which was only slightly below average.
2) James Harden might be the most annoying/unwatchable player in the NBA...how do the refs keep falling for this guy who's trying to plow/flail into guys more than actually make shots. 70% of his FT attempts can be remedied by playing defense with your feet and not your hands. I hope he develops a Staph infection in that beard. Seriously.
3) Mozgov...yes! He did exactly what we thought he would do. Ate up space in the middle and challenged shots. Nice little flurry in the 2Q and showed some soft hands on the S/R looks that Roy Hibbert is still reaching around his shoelaces for). MOZGOD!
4) At halftime, my first thought was..the player that seems most out of sorts is Clarkson. Don't know WTF happened during halftime, but Holy Moses. God, I hope Luke can figure out how to use him and D'Angelo on the floor at the same time because that is a spacing nightmare for other teams, especially once Ingram gets going as a spot-up threat. Speaking of which...
5) A nice, solid, unspectacular performance for Ingram. But what I like...he can clearly get his own shot. We need a frontcourt player like that to bail us out when the shot clock is running down. Kinda like the idea of him playing a little point forward...call me crazy, but a small-ball PF/C Ingram/Nance S/R would be pretty tough to defend in terms of length/mobility
6) Not sold on Randle still, but...that was impressive. Showed a really nice touch around the basket that I have never seen before. More importantly, he was waaay more under control. I only counted one charge. Even penetrated and pulled up for a few kick-out assists!
7) D'Angelo's mid-range and post game. Like.
8) Lou Williams...see James Harden, sans Staph infection
9) Overall, a good start. Hard to draw any conclusions, partially because Houston isn't a real squad. They're a gimmick team that doesn't play defense. But it's a W. And Nick Young dove on the floor on defense!
10) By far, #1 highlight from last night...not seeing this on the sideline
Oct 2016 - Jan 2017
An angry/elated mix of emails lamenting the bad and over-excited about the rare sparks of good.
Jan 27, 2017
Published on Blog: State of the 2016-2017 Lakers: 50 games Later with an ID Fellowship Twist.
Feb 2, 2017
Lakers hire Magic Johnson and senior advisor
Feb 21, 2017
Lakers fire Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss
Feb 23, 2017
NBA Trade deadline passes with no Lakers moves, despite efforts to trade Mozgov, Deng, Nick Young, and Lou Williams.
May 16, 2017
Lakers end the season with a winning streak, marring their chances at the lottery.
Yet, with Magic and Rob Pelinka in attendance for their first big front office move, we land the 2nd pick (would have been a lost pick outside the top 3).
May 17, 2017
BSR:
I watched 2 highlight videos of his (same one we watched of Randle, Russel, Ingram).
I feel stupid; this kid's video is head and shoulders above any of our other picks.
This kid is dope. I'm still not sure if this is my happy/drunken response to us keeping the lottery pick, but watching him I'm reminded of a former player: Kobe.
June 20, 2017
Lakers trade Russell and Mozgov to the Nets for Brooke Lopez and the Nets’ 27th pick.
June 22, 2017
Lakers select Lonzo Ball (2nd), Kyle Kuzma (27; thanks Nets), and Josh Hart (30).
Summer League
October 19, 2017
(After blowout opening night loss to Clippers)
BSR:
Holy gawd, man.
We are SO bad!
Chris Webber had this quote that is so dead on: “this is like playing pickup with guys you don’t know.”
What on earth are we doing on offense??!!
And, oh god what are doing on defense?!!
Clarkson is absolute trash. He never passes and ONLY goes one v 5.
And Randle. Wow, man. Getting benched may kill this kid.
He looks like he’s moping out there. He didn’t even chase an easy ball going out of bounds!
Is Luke not going to last the season?
I mean we are NOT improved by any stretch. We have regressed.
And I’m not talking about this one game. I think over pre-season it’s hard to see any direction here.
Alright. I’m done over-reacting for 24 hours (until Phoenix clowns us).
October 20, 2017
(After Game 2 win vs PHX)
NVE:
Well, it appears we've found a solution: play a team with a worse defense than us
But a W is a W, especially after that giant turd vaguely resembling basketball on opening night
We are not going to be a good team, particularly the first 25-30 games
But like you said, a team that doesn't compete...that has to fall on the coach, eventually
We won't play crappy teams every night, but if we play hard like that, I can live with that
The big question: against the real teams, who is going to get buckets? Do we anybody who can legitimately stretch the floor in our starting lineup and open up lanes? Is Ingram gonna be that guy, because he looks like more of a slasher. I found myself half wishing Magic had tried the Lonzo/D'Angelo backcourt. Because at the very least, D'Angelo would space the floor and get buckets. If we don't land a premier FA this summer, them we gave D'Angelo away for nothing
Watching Clarkson is maddening but I've come to accept what he is. He's developed tunnel vision, like he's intent on becoming the cliche 6th man gunner. Every third shot attempt is going to be stupid and forced. It might be exactly what we need him to do. He's one of the few guys for us that can get buckets when the play breaks down. We're probably better off with him not trying to "facilitate", which usually ends up as a TO. Throw him out there with the 2nd unit energy guys and have them scrap around while he chucks. He's our new Lou
Randle has not progressed one iota. Everything is a bullyball straight line for him. He shot puts his outside shots like his left arm is in a cast. There was a glorious sequence in the 2Q when he gets stripped from behind holding the ball carelessly, doesn't pick up his guy in transition defense (who scores) then he clanks an ill-advised 18 footer. Luke calls timeout and drops two F bombs on camera. Let's not ever compare him to LO, because that's a slap in the face to LO. I don't know what's going on with that guy..you see sequences and keep thinking that he has the skills to be a really useful player, and yet most of the time he's just complete schiet. I throw up in my mouth a bit every time when he gets the ball in the open court or tries to initiate the break. I really think he's just a low IQ basketball player who's not capable of playing with anything more than physical tools and instinct
Surprised Luke has not implemented some quasi-triangle sets with Lopez Initiating at the elbow
Best part of the night: seeing that Lonzo and Kuzma are two guys that are not afraid of the moment. Obviously Lonzo was going to be out there, but telling that Luke let Kuzma close out the game. There's no room with Nance and Kuzma, and I think someone out there will see Randle physical tools and be seduced into thinking he can be reclaimed into Draymond 2.0. Best to dump him early before the league realizes Magic won't re-sign him and his value plummets
BSR:
The two best quotes I've heard about the Lakers so far in 2017: (1) Chris Webber comparing the Lakers play to "playing pickup with guys you don't know.” and (2) NVE: "Clarkson is our new Lou."
Both are so perfectly spot on.
We are, currently, a 4-16 team. That's how the first quarter of the season will go. Luke has pretty much said it: "we are playing unstructured offense." That much is obvious. He firmly claims he's preaching defense. We've yet to see the effects of that. Bad for Luke. Good for Magic and Rob. The way Luke is playing it out, it will be easy to expect improvement over the season. Good luck with that Luke!
I'm equally surprised Luke hasn't gone to some form of offense with Lopez. He's preferring to let them play 1v5? Shocking. Especially since last year started with a great offensive scheme that fizzled after injuries and rookie fatigue.
I've said this before and I'll say it again now after only two games: Lonzo has an extra Kobe gear that I've not seen in many other players. You could see this in his UCLA highlights too. He completely takes over games at times. Rebounds, steals, dimes, buckets. Whatever it takes. He'll wreck your team somehow. Did you catch that stretch against the Suns where he went off for like 6 plays in a row to put us up big? He wasn't even done, but got called for a 4th foul (bad call) and had to sit in the 3rd.
Also loved that Patrick Beverly sequence in the first quarter. He basically got Beverly a 2nd foul and without flinching forced Beverly to sit.
Obviously, Lonzo's most glaring downside is inexperience. He's not as NBA-ready as other stars that have come out of the draft. But, we can live with that. Also, Lonzo... get physically stronger. You're going to get fouled hard a lot in this league.
Ingram. Awesome, yes, but he is still a weakling and could still be a massive bust. Sky high talent, sky high effort, sky high mental toughness. Body of a high school player.
I'm starting to get that Randle is not going to be here next year. The way Magic and Luke have set the stage and talk about him. The way he plays. His attitude. He's gone. I wouldn't mind trading him now to dump a contract (Deng) so long as we don't get a bad contract in return. I actually am 99% sure I'd feel the same about D'Lo. He would not have made it past next year with us (he would have been due a qualifying offer). And both these guys are players that will not yield a superstar in a trade, anyway.
By the way (I mean this as a compliment): guys like Randle, Russell, Clarkson would actually be excellent players in Golden State, Cleveland, OKC, Houston, San Antonio. They would be awesome as 4th or 5th options or even second unit stalwarts. But, you can't expect them to reliably help your team. Only to fill in gaps at times.
Bottom line:
Looks like all our eggs are (again) in one basket: Summer Free Agency. If we keep playing like this the whole season without improvement, we'll have to be the first team to attract 3 big FAs in one offseason. Let's say Lebron and PG13 agree to join forces. Why would they do that in LA compared to any other place?
We have to hope that Magic and Rob have some special magical powers.
Various Exchanges at Various Times
“Is Kuzma for real?”
“Josh Hart is solid.”
Analysis of the 2017-18 Season by Quarters
Block A: First 20 games: 8-12
Block B: Next 20 games: 5-15
Block C: Next 20 games: 13-7
(Record after 60 games: 26-34; Lakers 2016-17 record: 26-56)
Block D: Final 20+2 games: TBD
