Offseason Thread

[Moranis]

Smart to Lakers. Good move for them

Makes me want to puke

I kinda love it.

When rival teams take on your teams washed out players, it?s a bit of a nod. They want what we had but can only have a worse version. It?s like Lawyer Malloy or Bledsoe to the Bills (without the draft pick fleece). Smart is not bringing LA a championship. But if by (slim) chance he does, hat tip.

Btw, Smart was a great player for us. He helped establish a workman, gritty culture in his early years and his best season helped put us on the brink of a Championship. Great draft pick, we maxed out his value as a player and an asset.

Idk about that, Rondo and Avery Bradley both won championships with LA picking up our scraps. Hate that they picked up Smart, just hope he doesn't redefine his youth again

Sure, Rondo was important to that LA championship. They still got a worse version of him but he was def a ceiling raiser throughout his career. I actually think it?s kinda cool that he got a championship w bitter rivals.

I?d point out Rick Fox as the worst (for us) Celtic to Laker. He was an awesome role player and ceiling raiser that helped the Lakers get championships but did nothing for us because we didn?t have the talent around him. They got the best of him. That?s the one that breaks the heart.

Still standby that Smart is not enuff of a player anymore to raise the ceiling of this current Lakers squad.

I think his value depends a good deal on how you view the Lakers. If you already had them as a top 4 team in the West on roughly the same tier as Denver and Houston I don't think Smart raises their ceiling at all, but if you have the Lakers behind those 2 trams, then I think Smart could help the Lakers hit that level.

I think the Lakers will be good regular season team, top 4 sounds possible. Their offensive star talent will carry them to a nice regular season record. You?re right Smart does little to change that.
But they will not be a top 4 playoff team, they will likely get exposed defensively. 2nd round, maybe even 1st round exit depending on draw. I could see Smart elevating them a bit in the playoffs, maybe ?winning them? a game or 2 but def not a series.

I stand by my assertion that Smart isn?t bringing the Lakers a championship. They?re getting our used, wet, left in the sand beach towel to try and dry off with.

If he is good enough to win a game or two in the playoffs, that raises their ceiling.  You seem to be saying two different things at the same time.  If the Lakers win a championship it won't be because of Smart, it will because Doncic plays like a MVP caliber player, Lebron plays like an All NBA player and they get good solid play from Reaves, Hachimura, and Ayton.

A player that raises the ceiling of a team is more significant than a game or two. Sorry, if that?s too nuanced for you.

Smart can help them win a game or two, sure, anything is possible. Olynk won us a game in the playoffs, Leon Powe gave the Lakers a death kiss in the finals. Would we have lost those games or series without them, probably not.  Olynk and Powe weren?t the missing piece to a championship and neither is Smart, esp now.

Missing piece and raising the ceiling aren't the same thing in my view.  But if Smart wins a game or two in the playoffs he absolutely raises the ceiling of the Lakers.  If Denver was a game better against OKC, Jokic would have his 2nd title, putting him on another level historically.  Or for that matter Indiana would have beaten OKC if they were a game better.  If you truly believe Smart is worth a game or two in a playoffs, then he raises the ceiling of the Lakers because that game might be the difference between a title and no title, but to me that doesn't make him a missing piece, it just means he can help them win. 

I personally don't think Smart is going to raise their ceiling.  I think they will reach the same point whether Smart is on the team or not.

[SparzWizard]

Laker fans are gonna love Smart if he plays his role. I?m just happy that we?re not ?contending? next season as it would be very hard to swallow a Celtics loss to the Lakers with Smart playing a big role. I could already envision him coming to the garden with his hair dyed purple or gold and making big plays. Ugh. Fox, AB, Rondo, IT?and now Smart. Which leads to an interesting question, has there ever been a beloved Laker who joined the Celtics and helped them win a crown?

Add:
https://x.com/Fullcourtpass/status/1946955808467546412

Looks like the lakers need to make another move before signing Smart.

Shaq but that guy ran out of fuel by midseason

[mobilija]

Smart to Lakers. Good move for them

Makes me want to puke

I kinda love it.

When rival teams take on your teams washed out players, it?s a bit of a nod. They want what we had but can only have a worse version. It?s like Lawyer Malloy or Bledsoe to the Bills (without the draft pick fleece). Smart is not bringing LA a championship. But if by (slim) chance he does, hat tip.

Btw, Smart was a great player for us. He helped establish a workman, gritty culture in his early years and his best season helped put us on the brink of a Championship. Great draft pick, we maxed out his value as a player and an asset.

Idk about that, Rondo and Avery Bradley both won championships with LA picking up our scraps. Hate that they picked up Smart, just hope he doesn't redefine his youth again

Sure, Rondo was important to that LA championship. They still got a worse version of him but he was def a ceiling raiser throughout his career. I actually think it?s kinda cool that he got a championship w bitter rivals.

I?d point out Rick Fox as the worst (for us) Celtic to Laker. He was an awesome role player and ceiling raiser that helped the Lakers get championships but did nothing for us because we didn?t have the talent around him. They got the best of him. That?s the one that breaks the heart.

Still standby that Smart is not enuff of a player anymore to raise the ceiling of this current Lakers squad.

I think his value depends a good deal on how you view the Lakers. If you already had them as a top 4 team in the West on roughly the same tier as Denver and Houston I don't think Smart raises their ceiling at all, but if you have the Lakers behind those 2 trams, then I think Smart could help the Lakers hit that level.

I think the Lakers will be good regular season team, top 4 sounds possible. Their offensive star talent will carry them to a nice regular season record. You?re right Smart does little to change that.
But they will not be a top 4 playoff team, they will likely get exposed defensively. 2nd round, maybe even 1st round exit depending on draw. I could see Smart elevating them a bit in the playoffs, maybe ?winning them? a game or 2 but def not a series.

I stand by my assertion that Smart isn?t bringing the Lakers a championship. They?re getting our used, wet, left in the sand beach towel to try and dry off with.

If he is good enough to win a game or two in the playoffs, that raises their ceiling.  You seem to be saying two different things at the same time.  If the Lakers win a championship it won't be because of Smart, it will because Doncic plays like a MVP caliber player, Lebron plays like an All NBA player and they get good solid play from Reaves, Hachimura, and Ayton.

A player that raises the ceiling of a team is more significant than a game or two. Sorry, if that?s too nuanced for you.

Smart can help them win a game or two, sure, anything is possible. Olynk won us a game in the playoffs, Leon Powe gave the Lakers a death kiss in the finals. Would we have lost those games or series without them, probably not.  Olynk and Powe weren?t the missing piece to a championship and neither is Smart, esp now.

Missing piece and raising the ceiling aren't the same thing in my view.  But if Smart wins a game or two in the playoffs he absolutely raises the ceiling of the Lakers.  If Denver was a game better against OKC, Jokic would have his 2nd title, putting him on another level historically.  Or for that matter Indiana would have beaten OKC if they were a game better.  If you truly believe Smart is worth a game or two in a playoffs, then he raises the ceiling of the Lakers because that game might be the difference between a title and no title, but to me that doesn't make him a missing piece, it just means he can help them win. 

I personally don't think Smart is going to raise their ceiling.  I think they will reach the same point whether Smart is on the team or not.

Tomayto Tomahto

[JBcat]

League sources say that the Suns have also had some recent dialogue with former All-Star Ben Simmons, who I'm told has drawn interest since free agency began from Boston, New York and Sacramento.
marcstein

I?d only take Simmons on as big man depth. To rely on anything more at this point is fools gold. He fell out of the rotation for the Clippers in the playoffs and ended his season on a down note. I dropped him in my dynasty fantasy league for the same reasons. Ha Simmons passes to Simons would be a trip.

[Birdman]

Please no Ben Simmons

[Moranis]

Simmons would be the best big man on the roster.  Thst is how sad the big men in the roster are.

[snively]

Simmons' ballhandling would be a nice boost. Plenty of shooters on this team.

[Roy H.]

Simmons' ballhandling would be a nice boost. Plenty of shooters on this team.

Simmons' skills, at least at their peak, would fit on every NBA team.  Playmaking, rebounding, defense. 

But, Simmons' motor + brain + broken body aren't worth the hassle.  There's a reason that teams keep moving on from him.

[Roy H.]

Shams Charania: Twelve-time All-Star Chris Paul has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, CAA's Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan and Jessica Holtz told ESPN. Paul had multiple suitors, but chose the contending Clippers and their shared history in L.A. for his likely final, 21st NBA season.

[perks-a-beast]

Shams Charania: Twelve-time All-Star Chris Paul has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, CAA's Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan and Jessica Holtz told ESPN. Paul had multiple suitors, but chose the contending Clippers and their shared history in L.A. for his likely final, 21st NBA season.

Despite Leonard and Hardens age, this may be the most talented Clips team of all time.

PG: J. Harden , C. Paul
SG: B. Beal , K. Dunn
SF: K. Leonard , B. Bogdanovic , N. Batum
PF: D. Jones Jr. , J. Collins
C: I. Zubac , B. Lopez

Tons of depth and flexibility there - maybe even enough for a top 4 seed even with Harden and Kawhi inevitably missing a ton of games.

Would I be surprised to see them winning it all? Yes, very. But CP3 and Kawhi are my two all time favorite non-Celtics, so I?ll be pulling for them, even if they are from L.A.

[Who]

Perk's takes on Smart to LAL

(1) Smart will be a bigger difference maker for LAL than Bradley Beal will be for LAC

(2) Smart is the 1st top level defensive guard LAL have had since Alex Caruso left. LAL needed a guy like that. Luka & LeBron needed that. Smart will be the guy to defend SGA or J Murray. LAL needed that.

[Vermont Green]

Perk's takes on Smart to LAL

(1) Smart will be a bigger difference maker for LAL than Bradley Beal will be for LAC

(2) Smart is the 1st top level defensive guard LAL have had since Alex Caruso left. LAL needed a guy like that. Luka & LeBron needed that. Smart will be the guy to defend SGA or J Murray. LAL needed that.

I tend to agree, particularly with the first part.  Neither Smart or Beal have been good the last few seasons but somehow, I just feel that Smart will find a way to help the team.