When a defending champion gets knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, it usually means changes are coming, but Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka hopes to keep the core of this year’s team intact, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Injuries played a large role in L.A.’s downfall this season, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis both missing long stretches and being less than 100% for the playoffs.
The Lakers will have eight free agents this summer and possibly nine if Montrezl Harrell turns down a $9.7MM player option. Pelinka indicated that he will try to re-sign most of those players and said the front office is committed to paying the luxury tax to keep the team in title contention.
“I’m convinced that, again, without some of the unforeseen circumstances this year, the challenges that we had to face, that we’d be a championship-caliber team,” he said. “So the goal is to try to keep that core group together.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- At Friday’s exit interviews, Dennis Schröder made it clear that his decision to turn down an $84MM extension during the season wasn’t in retaliation for being part of trade talks involving Kyle Lowry, McMenamin adds. Schröder has expressed a desire to return to the Lakers, but he will see what offers are available in free agency. “I didn’t decline the extension because I was in trade talks,” he said. “I own a (basketball) team in Germany as well. I try to run my organization in Germany as fair as possible, but end of the day, it’s still business. … That’s what Rob did as well. He told me the story. He listened to it. It wasn’t even right by the trade deadline, but he talked to them to see. … I would listen to offers as well. … You don’t know what you can get, and you see what your options are.”
- Finding a dependable center should be the focus of the Lakers’ offseason, states Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times. They installed Andre Drummond as their starter after signing him in March, but he wasn’t used in Thursday’s close-out game. Marc Gasol signed a two-year contract during the offseason, but his role diminished significantly after Drummond was added.
- With three NBA head coaching jobs now open, Frank Vogel said he believes Jason Kidd deserves another shot, according to Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. The Lakers’ assistant is Damian Lillard‘s first choice to take over the Trail Blazers and may be a candidate for other teams. “Jason has become one of my closest friends, you know, really a trusted advisor on my coaching staff and someone that has just been integral to our success in the last two years,” Vogel said. “He should be at the top of everybody’s list that has an opening in the NBA.”
Based on Kidd’s history of duplicitous and manipulative behavior, I’m *sure* Vogel wants him to work somewhere else.
Run it back while the rest of the West gets better, great strategy.
That was the Rockets plan for 8 years while winning nothing.. Lakers actually have stars that can win a title.
Schroeder would have negative trade value if Lakers offer him 4 years $92 million contract
Schroeder was absent against the Suns, Drummond was an awkward fit, and I’m sure Trez wasn’t happy about being out of the rotation in the playoffs so I could see all 3 of them not returning. I’d love to bring Dwight back and grab a 3 and D wing. Caruso can start at PG and THT looks like he is the real deal. With AD and LBJ healthy and a couple tweaks I have no doubt we’ll be back in the hunt next season.
If Knicks or other team offer $90m to Schroeder, What should Lakers do?
I’m hoping Knicks don’t offer Schroeder a contract.
They should let him go. I don’t see the appeal at all.
Offer more money of course! (Response from a non-Laker fan)
Smile and politely say thank you.
And when you leave the room then you can jump up and down yell and scream and hooray hooray hooray and pop the champagne
Don’t see Drummond and Schroeder returning. Schroeder should be signed and traded for some assets… could see a Miami deal with Schroeder for Dragic and Okpala…
Lakers should also bring back Rondo, flip Kuzma and a salary filler for a stretch 5 like Al Horford
C Horford, Gasol
PF Davis, Harrell, Morris
SF James, THT, Okpala
SG Caldwell Pope, Caruso
PG Dragic, Rondo
Gasol was reaching new career lows until they replaced him then it suddenly occurred to him that his last name doesn’t entitle him to the starting job even if he plays poorly but he still complained to the press about it. Weirder still, the media assult on Drummond for taking Gasol’s job and the campaigning to give it back to him. Drummonds a flawed player but so is Gasol at this point. I’ve been a Laker fan for 30 years and I’ve never seen such hate towards a guy who was pretty much as advertised. Drummond would be a fool to return here under those circumstances.
As long as Gasol’s on the team any player who comes in is setting themself up for heavy criticism if they take the media darlings starting job away from him despite the fact he lost it himself in the first place.
If I were a betting man, I would wager that Schroder never wears a Lakers uniform again. Everyone claims LeBron makes the decision for the team. He probably has input, but the former player with the real pull is Magic. Magic publicly called out Schroder. There is no way Jeanie Buss would ever sign him again and basically slap Magic in the face. It won’t happen.
Magic has zero pull today in the Laker org;
Genie, Rob, Rambis, and even Mrs. Rambis took turns slapping Magic in the face before he forcefully resigned (And sold all his shares in the team) just 2 years ago
AD needs to man up and play the 5 all year, with Gasol as a backup.
Schoeder needs to be sign and traded for a real PG or a wing. Let’s be honest, LBJ runs the point most of the time.
Drummond should only come back if it is cheap.
Harrell should pick up his option since he was very spotty last season.
Resign AC Fresh.
Can’t afford THT with his ceiling getting higher by the month.
Trade Kuzma if at all possible.
Bring back Morris on a vet min, he was one of the only players with any fire this year.
I’m not a LBJ fan but it’s clear the Lakers may have made a mistake letting Green and Rondo go. These are players that are winners.
Without AD, those guys wont change the result, lakers would still lose to the suns.
Rondo looks absolutely horrible these days –
2/15 mill….No thanks
AD doesn’t play C. He’s soft. Players who don’t get you have to play D. And you have get dirty and bang. If you want to Rings. AD only wants the glamor and stats. Lakers are done. No Bron it’s over. Age always wins for an athlete. I doubt AD would even stay when Bron leaves. Probably would go to team that is more ready. Drummond is gone. No reason to keep him. McGee is a much better fit for them. I’m curious to see who will sign Drummond. Hornets is best fit to me.
Are you saying Anthony Davis doesn’t play defense ?
So many players tried to ride the wave for an easy chip and failed. McDyss with the pistons a year after they won, Barkley with the rox a year after they won back to back, Beasley returned to the heat the year before they won their second, Cousins with warriors, signed to lakers before they won last year but waved, Harrell, Schroder,Wes Mathews but failed…. Harrell likely won’t get that big payday he thought he would get if they won the chip. Some desperate team will of course overpay Schroder….