(07-19-2025, 06:51 PM)omahen Wrote: Also, I think the Lakers situation this season is much different than Mavs situation in first Luka years. Remember first offseason? They had Luka and traded for KP at TDL. They had max cap space. Their target was Kemba, who decided to sign for someone else (I don't remember who, was it Boston?): Mavs finished the season without doing anything with that cap space, but rather operate over the cap and signed Delon Wright as "next best player". Than we had another season with max cap space and Mavs result was giving a huge deal to THJ after failing to get Lowry. Somewhere in there was also that Danny Green fiasco.

I don't think this Lakers offseason is anywhere comparable to those. I think they are getting the best out of a season where they didn't have any cap space and very few tradeable assets. They are basically executing their plan A or B, not their plan Z. I think expectations that they would make some earth shattering moves with what they had were unrealistic. Of course, they can still utilize that FRP and pick swaps, if something right materializes. It is very obvious, it has not so far.

(07-19-2025, 07:03 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Oh, I agree. 

The similarity I see is with the s*** sandwich of a situation after the colossal blunder to bring Porzingis here. What a terrible trade that turned out to be.

(07-19-2025, 06:04 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I guess I'm dumb. I don't follow, sorry.

(07-19-2025, 07:22 PM)Jmaciscool Wrote: Just a play on words I probably stretched too far. You indicated you weren't a fan of Smart, so I was just saying that the wizards moving on from Smart was a smart move on their part.

(07-19-2025, 07:07 PM)omahen Wrote: Two general ways Lakers can clear room for full BaE Smart will reportedly get:
Option 1: waive Goodwin, who is guaranteed for only 20k. This move would get them at 14 players with Smart and basically zero room to do anything else unless they are sending out more salary than receiving in a trade. They will be right at the apron and will not be even able to sign a vet min guy to that 15th spot.

(07-19-2025, 10:11 PM)F Gump Wrote: I am wondering about this part. Using Spotrac totals, I'm seeing them with Smart at full BAE and 13 players costing 193.763M total (after waiving Goodwin and Milton). That isn't enough room for even 1 minimum salary player (they cost min 2.296M each) and they are required to employ 14. 

So do we have an assumption that Smart has agreed to take a reduced amount? Or is the total off? Or another move looming? Or what?

(07-20-2025, 11:23 AM)omahen Wrote: Some rumors now, that the trade would be Maxi+Knecht. The more I think about it, I am thinking this is Thybulle or Rob Williams.

(07-20-2025, 11:51 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: I don’t see how Maxi+Knecht can get Rob. 

But Thybulle maybe. I’d imagine Portland would be asking for draft compensation as well.

(07-21-2025, 02:47 AM)omahen Wrote: Lakers decided to waive Goodwin, so their roster is set at 14 players and 1 million below the apron. Trade will happen only if something good comes along till TDL. The only interesting thing before season start remains, if it will be Smart or Hachimura starting. Overall I am satisfied. They managed to build a roster with a bunch of guys able to play different positions and lots of flexibility related to playing style (play traditional, play small, 5 out, play more defensive units or more offensive units). I think their potential ceiling is higher than last season, so looking forward to the season.

Luka, Smart, Bronny
Reaves, Vincent
Hachimura, Knecht, Thiero
LeBron, LaRavia, Vando
Ayton, Maxi, Hayes

(07-21-2025, 08:36 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Not enough D amongst the starters and the bench is uninspiring.  Success in the regular season seems more likely than success in the playoffs.