Mannix: Rival execs believe Lakers will make "strong run" at Rondo

[jonaslopes]

OH WAIT. Smart, Thornton and Zeller for Davis, Melo, Rose, Harden and a rim protector. And then we tank to get the first pick.

[Fred Roberts]

I honestly find that Lakers organization to be laughable at this point in time. They've morphed from the most feared to one that I'm not very concerned about for at least two years time.

What is the draw for someone like Rondo, other than cash? Does playing connect four with the Hollywood stars really appeal to him? Kobe is a rapidly declining asset to the team with a killer contract in this and next season. After that, it's start from scratch with bare cupboards.

The Celts have a broad and solid foundation, good coaching and better management in place than L.A.L. If people think Rondo would leave Boston bc it's not a contender, why would LA be more appealing. By most measurements, they are in far worse shape. I scoff!

[IlCapitano]

Jordan hill and davis for rondo

Seriously Tanguay, just come out of the closet.

[Smokeeye123]

If Rondo just leaves in free agency and we get nothing in return for him Danny Ainge should be IMMEDIATELY fired.

I am completely serious. You dont let a fringe allstar player just leave without getting something in return.

[chambers]

If Rondo just leaves in free agency and we get nothing in return for him Danny Ainge should be IMMEDIATELY fired.

I am completely serious. You dont let a fringe allstar player just leave without getting something in return.

depends what the max price he commands is.
I believe with bird rights, we can also sign him to one more year than any other team on his new contract. So he'll want that extra year and demand his new team trades something for it.

Danny will get something but I doubt he leaves. Very unlikely at this stage.

[D.o.s.]

If Rondo just leaves in free agency and we get nothing in return for him Danny Ainge should be IMMEDIATELY fired.

I am completely serious. You dont let a fringe allstar player just leave without getting something in return.

depends what the max price he commands is.
I believe with bird rights, we can also sign him to one more year than any other team on his new contract. So he'll want that extra year and demand his new team trades something for it.

Danny will get something but I doubt he leaves. Very unlikely at this stage.

Correct: as of now the Celtics can offer him five years, any other team can offer him four.

[zimbo]

The Lakers organization is just pathetic. Why don't they just admit they screwed up with letting Kobe chase Dwight out and giving him that horrible deal. They have to wait til the Kobe contract is over to seriously think about being an attractive FA market and being a playoff team again.

They are going to have to be in rebuild mode until then. Stop throwing big name FAs out each year and act you actually have a chance at signing them. 

[pearljammer10]

Jordan hill and davis for rondo

Stop.

Seriously.

[D.o.s.]

The Lakers organization is just pathetic. Why don't they just admit they screwed up with letting Kobe chase Dwight out and giving him that horrible deal. They have to wait til the Kobe contract is over to seriously think about being an attractive FA market and being a playoff team again.

They are going to have to be in rebuild mode until then. Stop throwing big name FAs out each year and act you actually have a chance at signing them. 

I actually think that the Kobe contract helps the Lakers land free agents as much as it hurts them.

[zimbo]

The Lakers organization is just pathetic. Why don't they just admit they screwed up with letting Kobe chase Dwight out and giving him that horrible deal. They have to wait til the Kobe contract is over to seriously think about being an attractive FA market and being a playoff team again.

They are going to have to be in rebuild mode until then. Stop throwing big name FAs out each year and act you actually have a chance at signing them. 

I actually think that the Kobe contract helps the Lakers land free agents as much as it hurts them.

Oh you mean by overpaying for mid-level talent guys like Nick Young?

ETA: Ahh I think you mean by using them as leverage in contract negotiations. Then you are correct.

[D.o.s.]

The Lakers organization is just pathetic. Why don't they just admit they screwed up with letting Kobe chase Dwight out and giving him that horrible deal. They have to wait til the Kobe contract is over to seriously think about being an attractive FA market and being a playoff team again.

They are going to have to be in rebuild mode until then. Stop throwing big name FAs out each year and act you actually have a chance at signing them. 

I actually think that the Kobe contract helps the Lakers land free agents as much as it hurts them.

Oh you mean by overpaying for mid-level talent guys like Nick Young?

Sort of. Stop thinking like an armchair GM, and think about it like a prospective employee (i.e. a player).

Kobe helps the Lakers' quest for free agents by being a tangible example of the kind of contract you can get from the Lakers if your play proves you're an essential part of the franchise. Players (and agents) pay attention to that sort of thing. There are going to be players that would rather play in LA based on how they've treated Kobe than in Chicago, based on the way that franchise treated Luol Deng.

edit: I see your edit, and yes, that's part of it too.

[wdleehi]

The Lakers organization is just pathetic. Why don't they just admit they screwed up with letting Kobe chase Dwight out and giving him that horrible deal. They have to wait til the Kobe contract is over to seriously think about being an attractive FA market and being a playoff team again.

They are going to have to be in rebuild mode until then. Stop throwing big name FAs out each year and act you actually have a chance at signing them. 

I actually think that the Kobe contract helps the Lakers land free agents as much as it hurts them.

Oh you mean by overpaying for mid-level talent guys like Nick Young?

Sort of. Stop thinking like an armchair GM, and think about it like a prospective employee (i.e. a player).

Kobe helps the Lakers' quest for free agents by being a tangible example of the kind of contract you can get from the Lakers if your play proves you're an essential part of the franchise. Players (and agents) pay attention to that sort of thing. There are going to be players that would rather play in LA based on how they've treated Kobe than in Chicago, based on the way that franchise treated Luol Deng.

edit: I see your edit, and yes, that's part of it too.

Except this past season proved no one wanted to play there.  From the reports out there, guys didn't even want to hear the Lakers pitch. 

[D.o.s.]

you're talking about the guys who were "alienated" by Kobe? It's a lot of BS, from what I've heard -- the reason no one wants to play with the Lakers is because they suck, but they wouldn't suck any more or any less than if they hadn't given Kobe a sweetheart deal. And had Stern not had a post-lockout moment of weakness and veto'd the Chris Paul trade, it'd be an entirely different story (and Kobe still would've been signed to a hefty deal).

IMO, YMMV, etc.

[zimbo]

The Lakers organization is just pathetic. Why don't they just admit they screwed up with letting Kobe chase Dwight out and giving him that horrible deal. They have to wait til the Kobe contract is over to seriously think about being an attractive FA market and being a playoff team again.

They are going to have to be in rebuild mode until then. Stop throwing big name FAs out each year and act you actually have a chance at signing them. 

I actually think that the Kobe contract helps the Lakers land free agents as much as it hurts them.

Oh you mean by overpaying for mid-level talent guys like Nick Young?

Sort of. Stop thinking like an armchair GM, and think about it like a prospective employee (i.e. a player).

Kobe helps the Lakers' quest for free agents by being a tangible example of the kind of contract you can get from the Lakers if your play proves you're an essential part of the franchise. Players (and agents) pay attention to that sort of thing. There are going to be players that would rather play in LA based on how they've treated Kobe than in Chicago, based on the way that franchise treated Luol Deng.

edit: I see your edit, and yes, that's part of it too.

Yeah  agree I with you if they are signing a player after his contract ends (a la Durant). But I don't see players wanting to play with Kobe. Not only due to multiple reports of being demanding of teammates, but he is also an aging superstar. That's not a very appealing sale.

[LarBrd33]

This doesn't mean they want to trade for him.  It means that they'll try to sign him as a free agent.  I think the Knicks are the frontrunner to sign him next season.  Boston gets nothing.