In a comprehensive new mailbag covering the Lakers, Jovan Buha of The Athletic discussed the impending free agency of second-year shooting guard Talen Horton-Tucker, the team’s unwillingness to meet the Raptors’ asking price for point guard Kyle Lowry, and more.
Buha expects the Lakers to match any contract offer extended to Horton-Tucker this summer, even if a rival team were to offer a backloaded contract using the Arenas provision. The promising 20-year-old guard’s athleticism and ball-handling abilities are intriguing enough to warrant a wager on his future potential.
There’s more out of the Staples Center:
- Lakers head coach Frank Vogel discussed how he would utilize reserve big men Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol, with Andre Drummond set to become the long-term solution as the team’s starting center, Jovan Buha of The Athletic tweets. Vogel anticipates using Gasol, known for his passing and jump-shooting, as a power forward on offense while the rim-rolling Harrell would function as a de facto center. Vogel plans to reverse their assignments on the other end.
- LA coach Frank Vogel indicated that the Lakers could use their final open roster spot to add any kind of player regardless of position or skill set, Dave McMenamin of ESPN tweets. The recent signing of center Andre Drummond and the club’s abundance of competent veterans at the power forward and center positions would seem to make adding a guard or wing the most pragmatic option.
- The Lakers have been struggling to stay afloat in a crowded West without injured All-Stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James, writes Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register. The team is 2-5 since James suffered a high-ankle sprain on March 20, though the club boasts a solid 104.8 defensive rating across those seven games. With L.A. embarking on a seven-game road trip, the team is hoping to get improved offensive performances from its role players. “We know what we capable of,” power forward Markieff Morris said. “We know that this was a quick turnaround from winning a championship last year, so nobody got any rest, and we know our two top guys are down right now, but we know they [are] coming back well-rested.”
They mention how the Lakers defensive rating the last 7 games is fourth best in the NBA, but their offensive rating without LBJ and AD is probably 24th or worse.
Bron’s injury was the best thing that could happen to the Lakers.
These role players need the extra offensive practice, Lebron and AD don’t.
That’s a good point. It’s how they won it last yr. Going deep on their bench.
Gasol should still start and Vogel knows it. He just has been forced into this scenario and has to say certain things.
I expect Drummond to get those DNPs once Davis and LeBron come back. Make sure Gasol is healthy until then, although Drummond is a significant downgrade from him, which could hurt them a bit. That being said, Gasol had been out for a while anyway, so they could use the body after getting rid of Damian Jones for no reason, but now Drummond is hurt, so we’ll see with that. Regardless, of all their bigs, he should be more of a matchup based option as a lob threat and rebounder
As I’ve said for a while, they could use a wing. I could see them adding a depth scoring guard, but I think that wing option is more necessary
You think Drummond is a downgrade from Gasol? Have you watched Gasol play this season? Drummon is a huge upgrade. The guy can get rebounds and score. Not saying he’s some big star player but he’s still pretty good at this stage of his career and definitely better than Gasol at this stage of both of their careers. I love Gasol, big fan and I know even without the numbers he is still valuable to the team but definitely not better than Drummond.
He doesnt need to contribute offensively besides being a non ball stopping playmaker, and occasional catch and shoot guy. He is also still one of the best defenders in the league. Drummond scores, which doesnt matter on that team, but not nearly efficiently, he rebounds, but that team is already one of the best rebounding teams, he isnt nearly the playmaker Gasol is from multiple areas of the floor, he cant space the floor the way Gasol can, and he isn’t nearly the defender as Gasol, doesnt have near the basketball IQ as Gasol, and doesnt play with anywhere near the same effort as especially Montrezl Harrell, or Gasol, so ya…its a downgrade
Drummond is not a downgrade from Gasol. How did you even arrive at that conclusion
Maybe it’s in the several comments where it’s been explained…
Gasol over Drummond might be the dumbest thing I’ve heard this week and WallyWood has been throwing heat
“Look at the counting stats” is all I hear
I agree with @Thronson5 that Drummond isn’t a downgrade from Gasol, but I do agree with you that there is a chance Drummond might find himself on the outside of the rotation looking in come playoff time. Even though he is a beast on the glass, turnovers, poor shooting, low offensive IQ, and sometimes sluggish effort will drive LeBron (and Vogel) nuts!!!!
But who knows with this team as injuries might force him onto the court to play if others can’t. Also, who knows if he does end up turning his play around, since he has never played with great players (sorry Pistons and my Cavs)
Dude I actually watch games and Gasol is a big reason for their D rating. Though on offense he is not as good without two stars, he can be such a star amplifier with his passing when there is actually someone who can score for LA.
I totally agree that Drummond will get DNP in the playoffs
LeBron and AD are getting the rest they need while the rest of the tean gets time to build their game. Lakers will be fine. Drummond AD LeBron frontcourt is going to be scary, with KCP and Schröder. Then they have a second unit that has Gasol/ Harrell/Kuzma/THT/Caruso. thats a pretty deep squad. If AD and LeBron are healthy you gotta like their chances. i hope they get Isaiah Thomas for that last roster spot. i hear he’s finally healthy. give the man a shot!!!
i like isaiah thomas to get his redemption with the lakers similar to what dwight & rondo did. it’s a wishful thinking but it’s a good story, if it succeeds!!
Scary? Lol it would only be scary had we been in 2004. come playoff time my center depth chart for LA would look like:
1.AD
2 or 3(depending on matchup). Gasol or harrell
4.Drummond
Yep agreed
Lakers win the west when it counts, everything between now and then is tryouts for playoff time.
Drummond needs the mins to get acclimated to team. He will be part of rotation for the playoffs. I still think AD, Bron, Harrell make the best small ball front line. They are big and as athletic as any line. Maybe Giannis with Middleton, PJ now. Are as tough. The West this yr won’t be as easy for Lakers. It’s why they got Drummond. They want the depth. It was a very good move.
ThT is a priority, I think he should be starting over Dennis or Kcp right now and is our best guard. The guy is a potential 20-25 point a night scorer in the near future. Everything hinges on the health of the two big guns. If those guys our healthy our Frontline will dominate other teams defensively and on the glass come playoffs
Has it ever been a good decision to either grant or match an Arenas (backloaded) offer sheet for a 2nd year player? I’m sure there must be at least one, but I can’t think of it.
I doubt Masai ever even wanted to trade Kyle. I don’t think Lowry wanted to be traded either. Hence the exorbitant asking price.