D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle: Lakers Players Removed From Starting Lineup

[Rondo9]

While Lar's argument seems to make some sense (getting the young guys minutes without Kobe), it could just be that Russell sucks and Randle [possibly] has a bad attitude. Lou Williams was 6th man of the year last year - it's not implausible that he should start on the 2nd worst team in the NBA. I imagine Nance is the kind of guy who gives it his all and doesn't complain.

Sure, this is temporary, but the Lakers are a joke right now and the young guys shouldn't automatically be given a starting gig just because they were high picks. I can't imagine the Lakers really want to win, but they are making a change because they should.

Russell and Randle look great.  I think they could be heading for a full-tilt player's revolt.  This Kobe situation could boil over at some point.  It's disgusting. 

"Los Angeles Lakers:  Civil War"... coming to a theater near you.

That's funny because they actually don't.

Would gladly trade for either right now.  Given that it's their first month of NBA basketball, I'd say they have nothing to worry about.

Wiggins' first month:  12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.1 steal 40%/42%/74%
Randle's first month:  12 points, 9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1 steal 45%/x/69%
Russell's first month:  11 points, 5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1 steal, 41%/32%/80%
Smart's first month:  6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.5 steals, 27%/24%/100%

So what? They don't look "great". Randle is a one dimensional player who can't play a lick of D and has a tendency to not only overdribble (the ball sticks to him), but he takes a lot of bad shots.

Russell lacks athleticism and looks like that lone Ohio St. year was an aberration and the player that was a decent HS prospect, that was overshadowed by Ben Simmons, is the realization.

Since you deleted this...

Russell lacks the lateral quickness to turn corners and that explosive first step to just blow by opponents, limitations that contribute to his struggles on defense. He also hasn't shown enough in the first few weeks of the regular season, preseason or even summer league to suggest that he will match the success of Paul or Irving, perennial all-stars at their positions. But he was taken No. 2 with the hope that he would at least come close, especially as the Lakers prepare for life without Bryant. Scott's decision to sit Russell late in games is confounding even for some members of the Lakers’ front office who were swayed to bypass Kristaps Porzingis and Jahlil Okafor because Scott favored the flashy point guard from Ohio State, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The season already is lost for a franchise that desperately needs to hold on to its top-three protected first-round pick, and Russell would like the chance to find some solutions on the floor.

Agreed, I've seen plenty of Laker games to know that Randle has a lot of work to do in his game. He's at best an 8th man on a good team right now.

Exactly. That's the problem when you try to base arguments strictly on stats instead of watching actual games. Randle also has a very interesting habit of stealing rebounds from teammates.

LB33 is huge into fantasy basketball so he overrates players that produce stats on bad teams (a very common occurrence) while underrating players like Smart who does so many things that don't show up in the boxscore (particularly his D) and don't produce the same numbers because they play for a winning team.

Yeah I just saw Randle trying to steal rebounds from his teammates at times yesterday.

[LarBrd33]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

[Eddie20]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value" or "stats" that's the fantasy basketball manager in you talking. Why don't you instead try to analyze a players strengths and weaknesses from a scouting perspective? That's where you'll start seeing the true value of certain players (namely those wearing green) you are always dismissive of.

[LarBrd33]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value"

I'd be shocked if Marcus Smart goes on to have a better career than D'Angelo Russell.   Feel free to make that quote your new fan signature.   

I think Smart's our best asset, but I'd trade him right now for 19 year old Russell without hesitation.  But who knows... maybe I'm wrong like the time I suggested trading our all-star bricklaying PG Rajon Rondo for some young injury prone softie named Steph Curry.   I got buried for that opinion too. 

[Eddie20]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value"

I'd be shocked if Marcus Smart goes on to have a better career than D'Angelo Russell.   Feel free to make that quote your new fan signature.   

I think Smart's our best asset, but I'd trade him right now for 19 year old Russell without hesitation.  But who knows... maybe I'm wrong like the time I suggested trading our all-star bricklaying PG Rajon Rondo for some young injury prone softie named Steph Curry.   I got buried for that opinion too.

Smart will take Russell's lunch money, man.

Rondo for Curry has been probably the only thing you've correctly said in last few years. In fact, I was actually on that move Rondo train too. Would you like to bring up your other Nostradamus like predictions? Let's just say your not very good at it and we'll leave it like that.

[Rondo9]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value"

I'd be shocked if Marcus Smart goes on to have a better career than D'Angelo Russell.   Feel free to make that quote your new fan signature.   

I think Smart's our best asset, but I'd trade him right now for 19 year old Russell without hesitation.  But who knows... maybe I'm wrong like the time I suggested trading our all-star bricklaying PG Rajon Rondo for some young injury prone softie named Steph Curry.   I got buried for that opinion too.

Because back then it was unsure that Curry would even have a career.

[LarBrd33]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value"

I'd be shocked if Marcus Smart goes on to have a better career than D'Angelo Russell.   Feel free to make that quote your new fan signature.   

I think Smart's our best asset, but I'd trade him right now for 19 year old Russell without hesitation.  But who knows... maybe I'm wrong like the time I suggested trading our all-star bricklaying PG Rajon Rondo for some young injury prone softie named Steph Curry.   I got buried for that opinion too.

Because back then it was unsure that Curry would even have a career.

And right now it's not clear if smart will even have a career beyond defensive role player.  It's actually going to be interesting to see if he ever regains his starting role.  We have played very well without him.

[LarBrd33]

23 points for Russell.

20 and 12 for randle.

I'd say the laker kiddies are responding fine so far.   20 games into their careers.  Encouraging signs for for a couple rookies who aren't drinking age yet.

[Rondo9]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value"

I'd be shocked if Marcus Smart goes on to have a better career than D'Angelo Russell.   Feel free to make that quote your new fan signature.   

I think Smart's our best asset, but I'd trade him right now for 19 year old Russell without hesitation.  But who knows... maybe I'm wrong like the time I suggested trading our all-star bricklaying PG Rajon Rondo for some young injury prone softie named Steph Curry.   I got buried for that opinion too.

Because back then it was unsure that Curry would even have a career.

And right now it's not clear if smart will even have a career beyond defensive role player.  It's actually going to be interesting to see if he ever regains his starting role.  We have played very well without him.

What does that have to do with my point?

[MJohnnyboy]

23 points for Russell.

20 and 12 for randle.

I'd say the laker kiddies are responding fine so far.   20 games into their careers.  Encouraging signs for for a couple rookies who aren't drinking age yet.

And yet the Lakers still lost. But hey atleast the kids look good!

[crimson_stallion]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value"

I'd be shocked if Marcus Smart goes on to have a better career than D'Angelo Russell.   Feel free to make that quote your new fan signature.   

I think Smart's our best asset, but I'd trade him right now for 19 year old Russell without hesitation.  But who knows... maybe I'm wrong like the time I suggested trading our all-star bricklaying PG Rajon Rondo for some young injury prone softie named Steph Curry.   I got buried for that opinion too.

You also said:

* That the Nets would be playoff contenders
* That Boston would be a lottery team (didn't you learn from last season?!?!)
* That the Milwaukee Bucks would be a powerhouse
* That Joel Embiid's injury concerns were a fabrication, and he wouldn't miss this season
* That the 76ers tank would be an great success (recent staff appointment suggests otherwise)
* That Embiid would be a beast
* That Parker would be a beast
* That Gordon would be a beast
* That Boston has no All-Star caliber players (Thomas / Bradley are challenging that idea)

Now, we are all wrong sometimes (we aren't fortune tellers, after all) but I think you're stretching it a bit, trying to draw credibility from the one thing you said that actually proved legit.

You have also hinted that Jahlil Okafor is going to be a huge superstar - I call myth on that one (I believe he'll be Brook Lopez 2.0 at best) but we will see. 

[Rhyso]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value"

I'd be shocked if Marcus Smart goes on to have a better career than D'Angelo Russell.   Feel free to make that quote your new fan signature.   

I think Smart's our best asset, but I'd trade him right now for 19 year old Russell without hesitation.  But who knows... maybe I'm wrong like the time I suggested trading our all-star bricklaying PG Rajon Rondo for some young injury prone softie named Steph Curry.   I got buried for that opinion too.

Well, aside from the fact that Curry is only 2 years younger than Rondo, and also the notion the warriors would happily have traded the number 7 pick for a 21st pick in Rondo....

What good is trading for a younger, less experienced, oft injured shoot first PG on a contending team with a small window? If Ainge trades Rondo in 2010 or whenever you say you said it, sure you get better talent, but you take away in the short term to contend with the aging HOFers.

Now if it was Chris Paul trade, that would have been unreal and pushed us back up again.

[LarBrd33]

Fantasy basketball has nothing to do with both having more trade value than Marcus smart. But whatever...

Actually, I still give smart the SLIGHT edge over randle, but that's mostly the Celtic homer in me.   I spend too much time talking to you fellas.

Everything you talk about is "trade value"

I'd be shocked if Marcus Smart goes on to have a better career than D'Angelo Russell.   Feel free to make that quote your new fan signature.   

I think Smart's our best asset, but I'd trade him right now for 19 year old Russell without hesitation.  But who knows... maybe I'm wrong like the time I suggested trading our all-star bricklaying PG Rajon Rondo for some young injury prone softie named Steph Curry.   I got buried for that opinion too.

You also said:

* That the Nets would be playoff contenders
* That Boston would be a lottery team (didn't you learn from last season?!?!)
* That the Milwaukee Bucks would be a powerhouse
* That Joel Embiid's injury concerns were a fabrication, and he wouldn't miss this season
* That the 76ers tank would be an great success (recent staff appointment suggests otherwise)
* That Embiid would be a beast
* That Parker would be a beast
* That Gordon would be a beast
* That Boston has no All-Star caliber players (Thomas / Bradley are challenging that idea)

Now, we are all wrong sometimes (we aren't fortune tellers, after all) but I think you're stretching it a bit, trying to draw credibility from the one thing you said that actually proved legit.

You have also hinted that Jahlil Okafor is going to be a huge superstar - I call myth on that one (I believe he'll be Brook Lopez 2.0 at best) but we will see.

Out of those 9 "predictions/opinions" you choose to take out of context and highlight... 4 of them are still very much up in the air, 1 of them was half-accurate, and at least three of them I never actually made.  The only one you can snarkerect about is my belief Boston didn't have any all-stars.   They don't.  But maybe Thomas and Bradley sneak in?  That'd be cool.  I've always stood by the belief that Smart was our best asset and likely the only player with star potential long term.  He might get there some day.

That said, I'd trade Smart for D'Angelo Russell quicker than it took to read that post.  I guess you're lucky I'm not the GM of the Celtics.  Good news is, no GM in their right mind would trade D'Angelo Russell for Marcus Smart... so don't worry about it.  While Marcus has been sensational defensively, he's done little to suggest he'll develop beyond that and is quickly developing an injury-prone label.  Russell might never get their either, but he's the better gamble right now.   

I said in the offseason.  Russell vs Smart is a non-starter anyways.  More interesting will be to see how the Smart vs Randle debate evolves.   That gap is closing. I still have Smart ahead of him.  We'll see how Smart performs in the bench role when he gets back... and see if Randle keeps throwing up nightly double-doubles.  We'll see if Smart finds some offense and if Randle finds some defense.  By the end of the season, they might be closer than you'd imagine.  So far this month, Randle is averaging 15 points, 12 rebounds and 1.2 steals with 45% shooting and 68% from the line in 28 minutes... not bad for a rookie.  He's only played 23 NBA games, but so far, he seems to be living up to the long-term Z-Bo expectations.