I don't think there will be much change if they lose the pick... The cost of what it would take for a PG or JB would make it impossible to build a winner around either of those two with what would be the peak in their career.
That would make Russell, Ingram, Randle, Zubac absolutely safe... Clarkson & Nance Jr. likely safe...... Black ends up as odd guy out because of no room with Randle / Nance + Zu & Moz, and even small lineups where Deng or Ingram are at the 4.... Also Tarik is in line for a 100% salary increase come July 2018 that the Lakers should avoid, even if he's probably worth it under most circumstances. (We're not far enough in our young guys development to give him double the money)
(If they lose the pick) Take 28,33, Tarik Black + Denver & Chicago 2nds that we got for Calderon (Also have Corey Brewer in case there's a large salary on a 1 year deal) to get somewhere in the 15-20 range for a pick...
Milwaukee, Chicago, Pacers, Hawks, Blazers x 2 are currently in that range..
If that's not there, then use 28 & 33 to get us an early 20s pick..
Would have somewhere between $20-30mil in cap depending on what they do with Black & whether or not Swaggy accepts his player option...
Russell / Clarkson / Ingram / Randle / Zubac
???? / Nwaba / Deng / Nance Jr. / Mozgov
1st Round Pick & Brewer
2017 Free Agency
Could look at PG or SG....
PG: Jrue Holliday, George Hill, Jeff Teague, Patty Mills, Darren Collison
SG: Nick Young
Jrue, Hill & Teague likely cost more than they are worth.... Patty Mills is a great 3 point shooter, but isn't a good enough player for what the team needs... If you could get Collison for somewhere between $8-10mil in first year of the deal, it's a pretty solid investment.
If you grab one of those PGs, Swaggy then isn't in the plans going forward. If you don't get a PG, you pay Swaggy huge money on 1 year, and look for cheap projects on a 1 + option year deal.
My choice would be to go after Collison quick, and see if anyone falls through the cracks (Put a feeler out for Gordon Hayward & Kyle Lowry beforehand and be sure they're not interested)
Can go into 2018 with....
Russell, Collison, Clarkson, Nwaba in the backcourt
Ingram, Randle, Nance Jr. at the forward spots
Zubac at Center..
1st in 2017, 1st in 2018
Do not extend Randle.... Wait until RFA and then keep him.
Mozgov gets stretched to give us room + $5mil extra for Paul George..
Deng gets stretched to give us room to look for a Starting Center with defensive prowess..
Russell / George / Ingram / Randle / ????
Collison / Clarkson /Nwaba / Nance Jr. / Zubac
2017 non-lottery first & 2018 Lottery first.
* Can always look to move Clarkson to open up more space, or even move both Clarkson & Collison for picks, smaller contracts to open up space
I'm sure all that **** is rigged so it really don't matter. Whatever was gonna happen, is gonna happen
