**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins

pmatic said:


Kings left exploring their Buddy Hield options after deal with Lakers doesn’t materialize

Imagine being Buddy Hield and having people congratulating you on becoming a Laker and having the chance to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Or being Kyle Kuzma with a chance to be a starter again under the coach you were the most productive under, Luke Walton, escape being the Los Angeles scapegoat and have a chance to shine.

Or Montrezl Harrell, who opted into his $9.7 million option with the idea of joining the Kings, where he has a good friend in assistant coach Rico Hines, and was going to be a featured part of Sacramento’s bench — unlike last season with the Lakers when he would go from key player to DNP-CDs.

But things change quickly in the NBA.

A deal to send Hield to the Lakers for Harrell and Kuzma seemed all but certain, until it wasn’t Thursday when The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the Lakers instead are sending Kuzma and Harrell to Washington as part of a deal to acquire Russell Westbrook.

League sources said all the players involved in the much-discussed Lakers-Kings deal expected that trade to happen.

Hield, the 3-point specialist, would have been a Laker playing with two All-Stars and for general manager Rob Pelinka, who was Hield’s agent before becoming a team executive. Kuzma and Harrell would have been in Northern California, joining a coaching staff that would likely know how to maximize their talents and provide much-needed frontcourt depth.

The Lakers-Wizards deal (which would also send Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and their 2021 first-round pick to Washington) cannot be completed until the new league year on Aug. 6.

That leaves time for more discussions. Perhaps more teams are added to the deal and Hield is still dealt to the Lakers or elsewhere. For now, the Kings do not have an imminent deal to move Hield, who signed a four-year contract extension worth up to $106 million in 2019 and still has three more years left on the deal.

Hield averaged 16.6 points last season, but with the team high on Tyrese Haliburton and adding Delon Wright in March, dealing Hield for frontcourt help makes sense.

Hield is a career 40.6 percent shooter from 3-point range, but his production on offense didn’t always make up for his defensive shortcomings, especially on a Kings team that finished with the worst defensive rating in the NBA last season.

Hield’s habit of searching for his offense, even at the sake of running the play that was called, has also frustrated teammates and coaches for years. Teammates jokingly nicknamed Hield “Thirsty” for his penchant to hunt for shots at all costs. His decision-making in searching for shots also left coaches and teammates puzzled at times.

Hield, however, does have traits that make him attractive, namely his shooting ability and work ethic. When he’s in a good shooting groove, there aren’t many players better.

But after shooting 43.1 percent from 3-point range in 2017-18, Hield’s percentage has decreased each season, down to 39.1 percent last season. That’s not terrible by any stretch, but also not so good to cover up for Hield’s other flaws on offense, especially if they can get production from other players that are close to Hield’s shooting while freeing avenues to revamp the roster.

Trading Hield would allow Haliburton to move into the starting lineup with De’Aaron Fox, giving the Kings two playmakers in the backcourt at the beginning of games.

Hield actually flourished under Walton coming off the bench in 2019-20. He was much more efficient player in 28 games as a reserve, shooting 45.4 percent overall and 45.1 percent from 3, averaging 17.9 points. Hield shot 41.6 percent as a starter that season, 36 percent on 3-pointers.

It was the second time Hield shot better coming off the bench for Sacramento. Dave Joerger used Hield as a reserve most of 2017-18 and he shot 45.7 percent, 44.5 percent from beyond the arc.

It’s a reason many league observers believe that is Hield’s best role. It allows him to be featured while being more likely to be defended by second-unit players. It’s not a role Hield wants in Sacramento.

Hield was so frustrated by being benched by Walton he wouldn’t take his calls last offseason and liked social media posts suggesting he be traded to Philadelphia.

General manager Monte McNair can still explore deals for Hield and forward Marvin Bagley III, who was available at the trade deadline in March. Bagley’s future might be tied to what happens with center Richaun Holmes, who is a free agent.

But if anything, the Kings were reminded no deal is done until it’s done.
Click to expand...

Good **** them.


man so many good players left on the board. Hope lakers buy a pick but I doubt it. Team will be heavily taxed and they don’t wanna pay any more money
 
My expectations are so low now that I wouldn’t be surprised if we give Westbrook a 4/250 million dollar extension as soon as the trade is official
 
yeah so maybe the kings deal was about to be cone but kings kept playing and so they started working on the wiz deal
maybe kings thought they was bluffing and rob said **** you lol
 
drewsone said:
yeah so maybe the kings deal was about to be cone but kings kept playing and so they started working on the wiz deal
maybe kings thought they was bluffing and rob said **** you lol
Click to expand...
Ya man

it’s possible the two deals were:

1) kuz Harrell pick for Hield

2) kuz kcp Harrell and pick for Westbrook

When looked at it like that: it’s a no brainer have to go with Westbrook
 
I kinda like it. Russ is a lovable loser. Sign some shooters and pray you can rehabilitate Russ evil ways in the clutch. He's fasho a solid playmaker if nothing else
 
I'm trynna watch some wizards games from last season. That team was awful smh. I think russ will look better defensively with us
 
AD being able to stretch should help Russ like when Houston got rid of capela. Maybe Gasol has some juice left too. Russ was great with the rox until teams started doubling harden at half court and he would check out. Bron is more capable playing off ball so that should help negate that strategy
 
The clippers running circles around us this draft. They bought a second rounder and for Brandon Boston at 51. That’s a steal. Lakers asleep at the wheel. They do know that the free agent wings are super scarce
 
Sooo we
Delusionallakerfan said:
The clippers running circles around us this draft. They bought a second rounder and for Brandon Boston at 51. That’s a steal. Lakers asleep at the wheel. They do know that the free agent wings are super scarce
Click to expand...

i’ll be shocked as hell if clippers get past the second round.

They still waiting on a kawhi decision (which i think he will opt in) but they running around with PG definitely think they are no more than a 5th see next season.

Unless they get lucky like they did with Mann. They not doing much imo YET
 
D_eezus said:
Sooo we


i’ll be shocked as hell if clippers get past the second round.

They still waiting on a kawhi decision (which i think he will opt in) but they running around with PG definitely think they are no more than a 5th see next season.

Unless they get lucky like they did with Mann. They not doing much imo YET
Click to expand...
I’m talking draft.
 
MVP said:
Play in tourney team
Click to expand...
Again I’m talking draft.

We only have 5 on the roster right now with McKinnie and Gasol being 1 of them. I’d rather pick a 23 year old rookie with a late 2nd round pick (Jared butler) then play McKinnie.

if Caruso signs elsewhere. We will basically have all vet min guys plus 5.9 for mini mid and tht and his overhyped sorry ***
 
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