Westbrook Trade: Yay or Nay?

[yinoma2001]

Simple poll, no caveats or explanations needed.

[dont_be_a_wuss]

We got an MVP and GOT RID OF KUZMA in the deal???? Hell yeah, I'm all in.

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

It's a close call for me. I grew to like KCP a lot, Kuz has always been almost there. Westbrook can put up crazy stats but flames out every year in the playoffs, he is a superstar for a reason though and he's competitive. He will be washed up soon, but he might have a good year or two left if he learns to play alongside LBJ and AD.

Draft pics - meh. We get some we lose one.

Barely favorable on this one.

[epic_]

TBD. But yay for now.
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[wolfpaclaker]

Nay at first, but then when learning he, AD and Bron talked about AD-Bron moving to the 5-4, if we get two 3nD wings that can help the chemistry of that unit, you went from Drummond (not a floor spacer), Dennis (again, not a floor spacer) and an inconsistent KCP to AD at the 5, Bron, two 3nD wings and Westbrook. If we can pull of that, I will say it could be a yay. However if we go out and re-sign Drummond and then sign an average 3 point shooting wing, and then keep AD at the 4, Imma go to Nay.

I need to see this AD-Bron at the 5-4 plan, and the players we sign to start next to Wesbrook-AD-Bron before I really form an opinion. Right now I am just cautiously optimistic that Rob understands the importance of getting at least two quality 3nD wings ......

[AD23]

[Dr. Laker]

I was initially a "nay" as well, but I can see the conditions under which it could work. In any event, I voted yes because from a talent perspective, that was a nice haul for a guy who was out the door (Trezz), a guy who needs a new start (Kuz) and a guy who was mostly our 5th or 6th best player. Non-lottery draft picks are a crapshoot.
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[MookieBetts50]

Yet again Rob got swindled in draft capital. If you're gonna take on $90m for a fading 33 year old "superstar" at least keep or swap picks in a loaded draft.

[AD23]

[Four Decade Bandwagon]

Not liking the fit and chemistry of WB on the team with James. Or a fan of WB in general. One of those players that annoys me when I see him in a game.

Some serious issues will need to be figured out. Will those compromises of style, fit, roles work? Will be interesting to watch!

Would have preferred they use the limited assets in a different way. But I have no clue how or if that was even realistic. Bottom line, he is a Laker now. Not much I can do about it.

I understand the “why”, not understanding the “how “ at the moment. Hope they surprise me.

[cathy78]

As long as the rest of the roster spots get filled with capable personnel - it's all yay.

[Megaton]

Currently a big nay. I absolutely hope I'm wrong, but trading that draft pick in the deal felt very unnecessary for the players we were already giving up.

Between trading that pick that would have landed us Desmomd Bane last year, and now this year with even more depth in the draft, for a player like Schroder, who's a very questionable fit next to Lebron?

Yeah not a fan. I do see the potential on how IT CAN work, and how it could be brilliant. Yet that's a much bigger IF than the possibilities of it failing.
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[fansincemagic]

Yay but it's close for many reasons mentioned. He is a game vjanget that will tip the scale for quality ver min guys. They may even get a descent player with the exception due to what Russ and LBJ can create for them to showcase.

[KindCrippler2000]

Lebron will make it work, so yay.

Any other situation, it's a nay.

[jodeke]

Yay.

If AD moves to the 5 it will change the offense to inside out. I've always been an inside-out believer. Brook rushing the rim will allow AD to get off his mid-range. He has a great mid-range jumper.

Russell is a great passer teams will have to stop his rim rush freeing AD to use his mid-range jumper.

He'll take a lot of pressure off of Bron. West will bring the ball up and set up the offense. He's a triple-double machine.

Kenny Smith made a point this morning. He'll give our perimeter shooters an extra second to set their feet and get off good shots. I expect our outside game to improve.

The only thing I don't like is his poor 3pt shooting. Smith kinda eased my mind on that when he mentioned Bron won 2 rings with DWade who only shot 30%.

Our rosters not set. I believe Pelinka will be looking for shooters. If the basketball gods will let us be healthy we have a great shot at the Larry O'Brien.

Sorry OP
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[hydrohead]

Yay because of all he naysayers about Russ.
I’m ready, let’s go!!
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Darvin

[LakerSD]

Yes. Saves LBJ legs.

[Halflife]

Love it.
Love him.

[audioaxes]

[2019]

Easy yes.

We lost:
(a) Harrell - an unplayable playoff big who can't shoot or defend who also we all fully expected and wanted to opt out unless it was to facilitate a trade. Addition by subtraction but his contract made the deal happen.

(b) Kuzma - and his whopping 28% playoff career 3pt shooting average with 3.3 rebound and .9 assists. On the biggest stage he plays his smallest. In meaningless games where there's no pressure, he puts up numbers. 99% of LG wanted him banished

(c) KCP - the only semblance of an important piece to this team. We will miss his shooting and defense but it was feast or famine with him. He's white hot or terrified to shoot. Still, only a role player that's easily replaceable.

(d) #22 - people are really complaining about this as the straw that broke the camel's back but we also got back two 2nd rounders. Are they in 24 and all the way in 28, sure. But those are the years we'll start to need to address our lack of assets to add youth and without question they will be in the the 30-40 range.


I'm sorry but I'm not seeing what others are seeing as this being a bad deal. How well it works will come down to how Westbrook approaches his style of play and what pieces Rob puts around these guys. Obviously we need shooting (Gay, Porter, Burks, etc) but we also didn't hard cap ourselves and can now bring back AC and THT. Oh and we kept our best trade asset in THT and still have the ability to move Dennis in a S&T for depth or a TPE which could be huge down the road. Excited to see how Rob approaches filling out the roster.

[Baron Von Humongous]

[Halflife]

Losing kcp is the only bummer, but that’s the sacrifice. Plus his slump last year was season long.

[TDRock]

[JUST-MING]

[waterman40]

I trust in the Lakers. Time will tell if this a great move like getting AD in a big trade, or if this is a Mosgov like transaction. Only time will tell.

I voted YES because I trust the Lakers - you know Rob has a plan and this had to at least been run by Lebron and AD.

We need to fill out the roster well, get some shooting, and get guys to play for less money, but give us productive minutes and depth.

And most importantly, Russ needs to buy in. He needs to buy into Vogel's system and direction, and he needs to be able to adapt playing with Lebron, etc. Points in our favor:

Russ is very talented, but has some glaring weaknesses.

Russ is very intense and driven, I think he rivals Kobe in some ways with his focus. If he wants this to work, he will be very motivated to make it work.

Russ can and will dish the rock much better than DS.

Russ is a high IQ player and plays the game at a very fast pace.

Russ wants to be home, wants to play in LA. If this works well, I could see him next year opting out, and signing a smaller three year deal to close out his career.
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