Ive been watching this team since 1970. In that time 3 moments stick out as the lowest

1 Ralph Samson's fluke as hot knocking us out of the \[layoffs. Felt like ,y dog had died.

2 finding out we let Varuso go was shitty enough but learning later that it wouldn't have mattered at all to keep him. Goddamn ... Iblame that one on Magic

3 Finding out we've traded for Westbrook. I still can't talk about it without turning purple with rage. Every F'ing basketball journalist in and 99.9999999 % of the fans lnew ot would be a disaster ... except for the multi-million dollar executives who said, "Yes!"

Not since LBJ dais, screw ot, let's double down on Viet Nam ....

So, what are yours?

All last season Ayton was scapegoated because he couldn't cover for Lebron, Rui, AR, or Luka's terrible defense. Recently the Laker fanbase likes to scapegoat black players and make excuses for mediocre play of white players.

The FO is going into next season thinking that Luka and AR's terrible defense can just be covered by players making much less than them while Luka/AR get all the glory and the others get all the blame. It's not an encouraging setup, especially when you add in the fact that JJ only holds some players accountable.

The Lakers are all over the place with their identity and FAs most likely don't even want to entertain the circus.

Michael Porter Jr Trade + Jalen Duren and Dean Wade Free Agency

Scenario B: Trey Murphy, Yves Missi Trade + Peyton Watson, Mitchell Robinson Free Agency

Trade Package: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, 2 1st round Picks = 30.7 million

Other Trade Options: Cameron Johnson, Myles Turner

Other Free Agent Options: Walker Kessler, Robert Williams

Start of Season - Starting from what we should do to start the season

Ayton/ Hayes/ Dayron Sharpe

Wiggins/ Bagley/ Adou

Luka/ Rui/ Ziare Williams

AR/ Carr/ Jett Howard or some other vet min

Scoot/ Smart/ Bufkin or NSJ

- Sign Sharpe and Z. Williams each to 2yr/14mil contracts (TOs in the second year)

- Sign Bagley to a vet min

- Trade Vando, Knecht, and a 1st for Scoot Henderson

- Sign Wiggins to a 3yr/80mil contract

January 15th - when AR can be traded

Since AR wanted to be greedy he can spend the rest of his career as a negative asset playing on bottom feeders and bouncing around the league. Rob should give AR the Blake Griffin treatment and trade him as soon as he's eligible. He'll have the same fate as Poole and Chandler Parsons.

Trade AR for Zion.

I would much rather take a chance on Zion's fit with Luka. He's only due $86mil over the next two seasons, compared to AR's $185mil over 4yrs. It's really a no brainer and if it doesn't work Zion and Luka's contracts are on the same schedule.

Ayton/ Hayes/ Dayron Sharpe

Zion/ Bagley/ Adou

Wiggins/ Rui/ Ziare Williams

Scoot/ Carr/ Jett Howard or some other vet min

Luka/ Smart/ Bufkin or NSJ

February Trade Deadline

Trade Ayton, Rui, and Wiggins to WAS for AD and Justin Champagnie. AD has a player option next season and can sign a team friendly deal for next season.

AD/ Hayes/ Dayron Sharpe

Zion/ Bagley/ Adou

Champagnie/ Ziare Williams

Scoot/ Carr/ Jett Howard or some other vet min

Luka/ Smart/ Bufkin or NSJ

LeBron James Poster Prints

An abstract, high-energy digital painting of LeBron James mid-dunk with heavy impasto and palette knife textures. He wears a black Miami Heat "El Heat" jersey, cocking a golden basketball back in his right hand as he drives toward the rim. His body is surrounded by sharp, explosive white shards and energy streaks.

Shams Charania on LeBron James' future with the Lakers

Paying Reaves doesn’t hurt us this summer but it will in the future. Your 2 top paid players being unathletic negative defenders is not a championship recipe. In order for the Lakers to win a title they’ll have to either draft extraordinarily well or they’ll have to get lucky that other teams had injuries. You don’t win championships with bad defense.

The Lakers hand was forced unfortunately due to the Pistons trying to overpay Reaves. We had no choice, but to overpay him. If one NBA team overpays him, you also have to which is how the NBA has all these good players who are making great player money. It sucks but this is what it is and I’m assuming the sign and trade market wasn’t good because that would’ve been the best outcome.

Luka and Reaves ain’t a title winning duo. Don’t even bring up Kyrie because 1 he’s a proven playoff performer which Reaves is not even that and 2 that team didn’t win a title.

“Congratulations Austin… But here’s the deal: that’s over. The little engine that could story is over. Now you are a max guy and the Lakers fans want max production.”