So... What the heck are the Lakers going to do?

[JSD]

If they miss out on these key free agents, how do they spend their cap money to make the league minimum, but still maintain flexibility for next season? Just a bunch of one year deals? I am fascinated to see that narrative play out.

[BleedGreen1989]

I agree. The Lakers are in a very interesting position.

Was listening to Grantland podcast the other day and I agree with Bill and Zach'a approach. Sign everybody to match with Kobe. Even if you have to overpay on a yearly basis. Just stay competitive until 2016 when you can really rebuild.

[D.o.s.]

Cry

[BudweiserCeltic]

Offer max to Bosh, offer max to Gordon Hayward, offer max to Monroe, offer max to $$$ to Pierce, offer $$$ to Lance Stephenson.... Pray.

[KGs Knee]

Hopefully suffer a 22 year drought.   Let their fans suffer for a change.

[SparzWizard]

Hopefully suffer a 22 year drought.   Let their fans suffer for a change.

I like the sound of that!

[Future Celtics Owner]

Hopefully suffer a 22 year drought.   Let their fans suffer for a change.

I like the sound of that!

I'd like it better if we had their picks when they sucked. That would really be the twist of the knife.

[CelticSooner]

Do what Dallas did the last few years. Sign guys on short term deals until you can make a splash.

[Who]

I think Monroe will be the backup plan.

[LarBrd33]

Way to jinx it... They will probably trade for Kevin love and sign Lebron.

[dreamgreen]

They are going to suck hahahaha. Way over paid Kobe and losing DH12 was it for them, no one wants to go there now.

[Who]

After LAL misses out on main targets, I said I think they switch to Greg Monroe. I still think that. A skilled big man with upside who can play center position is tantalizing opportunity for a work in progress team like LAL.

If LAL then miss out on Monroe, I think Eric Bledsoe could be a target. If LAL misses out on Bledsoe too, I think the Lakers will do something similar to what Dallas did last summer and the year before.

Keep Kobe (Dirk) and then try to surround him with a few well priced veteran role players. Maybe take a chance on a young guy if reasonably priced (OJ Mayo). For LAL, I think that young guy will be Isaiah Thomas. I think they'll resign Pau Gasol to a better contract than he'll get elsewhere (mostly MLE offers, maybe odd $8mil per offer). By that point they will probably only have around $6-8 million left for a SF or PF. Maybe Ariza, Evan Turner, Frye. Maybe Kris Humphries.

[GreenWarrior]

i'm fully expecting the lakers to get LeBron, melo, bosh.

saw a quote scroll across the bottom of my screen on NBA TV yesterday from Kobe saying - "the criticism of Lebron isn't fair".

i'm sure Lebron feels picked on and has felt picked on so he'll find comfort in the arms of kobe. 

[bknova]

i'm fully expecting the lakers to get LeBron, melo, bosh.

saw a quote scroll across the bottom of my screen on NBA TV yesterday from Kobe saying - "the criticism of Lebron isn't fair".

i'm sure Lebron feels picked on and has felt picked on so he'll find comfort in the arms of kobe.

Lebron cares too much about his legacy to go to any franchise where his accomplishments will be scrutinized against his predecessors.  He will never play for the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, or Spurs because he can never outdo what the players before him did, and therefore can never be the greatest player in franchise history.

[Sketch5]

If they miss out on a big name FA this summer is serves them right.

They went all in, in the tank lottery last year, and didn't fair well at all. And now rumors of Melo staying in NY and Lebron heading to Cleveland. They might get burned twice.

But of course they are LA. Either something good will happen this year. Or they get the number one pick next.

But man, what FA would want to go there right now. They're roster is garbage, and all the good roll players are getting signed up quickly.

People wigged on DA for not gutting the team to tank, but man, we are in better shape as of right now. I mean at least we could put a team, a full team on the floor.

I wonder what Kobe will do if they don't do anything this year. It's not like he can wait for them to get some one in FA next summer and the summer after that. He doesn't have that much left in the tank.