Who Should the Lakers Target as Their "Missing Piece(s)"?

[A Mad Chinaman]

Noting that the 76ers had identified Paul George as the "Missing Piece" to their "Big Three" (Embiid, Maxi & PG) and to be one of the Top 3 teams that have a legitimate title-contending team coming out of the Eastern Conference (translation: beat the Celtics after defeating Knicks/Bucks/Pacers/etc.) and win Da Ring (against the likes of OKC, TWolves, Nuggets, etc.) - as noted in this article at https://global.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40478287/inside-paul-george-free-agency-showdown-how-philadelphia-76ers-landed-nine-all-star

In the "Ideal World" where all CBA issues are addressed (know that is a Big Reach), what would the Lakers' "Missing Piece" (Realistically, hence avoiding listing Luka, Greek Freak, Joker, AntMan, Shai, Embiid, etc. who would deman d being the 1st Option) be

Noting that the following are NOT that final piece
* Klay (declining skills with other options are younger)
* Demar (not a 3pt shooter, any great differences from Dinwiddle?)
* Grant (stats are not much better than what we already have or others that are cheaper)
* Harden (GAWD NO!!)
* Markkensen (Great Offense, but no D)
* Jonas Valanciunas (your starting center and forcing AD to play PF - LOL)
* Caruso (great complimentary piece, hopefully Vincent will be the defensive stopper The Bald Eagle was for the Lakers)
* Hield (No Defense, Great Shooter)
* CP3 (he was my hope!)
* Bruce Brown (Great D and adequate offense)
* KAT (Great Talent, Unfulfilled Potential and a Duplicate AD)
* Alperen Şengün (worth monitoring this talented Big)

Maybe Christie will be our next AR or next the next Tyrus Maxey?
Maybe Rui will be our "MJP?"
Maybe CWood will find his missing 3Pt shot
Maybe Vando will become a Rodman-Meet-Bruce Brown-like player

[alleyoop]

[governator]

DLo for Marcus Smart
Gabe for Stephen Adams
Rui for Cam Johnson
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“The main goal for the Lakers is to win a championship. All I care about, all we care about, is to raise another banner in the rafters.“

[lakersfan32]

giannis

[defense]

[Halflife]

it comes down to expectations.
If the goal is to win a ring and only a ring: booker and jokic

If its to start to build a foundation to set ourselves up for success, we need to sign young guys.
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Kobe.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Clw9scopegx/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[MJST]

The last 3 Championships won have had less stars on it than the Lakers currently do. They just had far better Coaching.

The Lakers have the same scoring setup from their 3 main stars than LeBron had in Miami and Cleveland in the "3 star" format, but is also surrounded by a lot of depth.

Seriously, go look at what Wade, LeBron and Bosh, and LeBron, Kyrie and Love put up. Then look at what LeBron, AD and DLO put up. Then consider that the Lakers have far more depth than both of those teams.

The Lakers HAVE ENOUGH to Win a Championship, based on the last 3 Champions and the teams that made it to the Finals.

The only differences is that LeBron is going to be 40 and isn't 32-35 anymore, and the Coaches have sucked, or we haven't been healthy. Those are the reasonings. The only reason the Lakers weren't a 55+ win team last season was Ham wasting a month of the season on horrible lineup ideas. But when he didn't, the Lakers in spite of him were one of the best teams in the league down the stretch of that season.

The true question of this season outside of staying healthy is if Redick is a better Coach than Ham and if Nate turns out to be a far better defensive mind that helps our team in that aspect.

The "missing piece" wasn't on the roster, it was on the Coaching Staff.
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How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk

[Knecht4]

[Halflife]

[Knecht4]

[kfkilla]

I just want a guy who is legit 7 feet and weighs more than 260. Doesn’t have to be a star or a big name. Just someone to put in the middle so AD doesn’t take on all the wrestling. If I see AD crumble to the ground after being bumped hard on his shoulder or back one more time….

[wolfpaclaker]

They should consider moving Vanderbilt and DLO for better fits in the top 6.
They're not going to get better players than DLO/Vanderbilt, but maybe they can get better fits around AD/Bron/Austin/Rui. Even if they get 1 starter that plays on both sides of the ball, they may be able to do more damage next year.

That's all you can really do here, get a bit better. You can't get a lot better. You're already good. Bron is 40. So if you can get a bit better without giving up draft picks, that's what you do.

If you give up FRPs, you do it for younger players who fit the same window as Knecht, Austin, Christie ... post-Lebron/AD. You already don't have picks in 2025 and likely the 2027 draft.

[unleasHell]

The sad reality is that the Lakers are pretty much stuck with what they have, unless they are willing to add first round draft picks!

Those first round draft picks are for AFTER Lebron retires, so they could be quiet valuable!

But there is a BRIGHT side, a reason to be optimistic!

Prince did not add much, nor did Dimwiddy, so their departures will open up playing time for a player like Christie. Christie performed great, nearly every time on the floor, but still Ham (RIP) would not play him big minutes.

ALSO: Vincent missed most of the year and Cam and Vando, our two best defenders missed a ton of time, including the entire playoffs..

ALSO, ALSO: I really like and hope the lakers first round pick (Connect) can step in and perform...! At 23, he may be ready!!!

So, with a new coach, and a few line-up changes and good health, I think the Lakers can improve on last season...!
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What does Marcellus Wallace look like?

[A Mad Chinaman]

[unleasHell]

[quote="A Mad Chinaman"]

[CandyCanes]

[quote="unleasHell"]

[A Mad Chinaman]

[quote="CandyCanes"]

[Hanging from Rafters]

[A Mad Chinaman]

[ducasse]

[Hanging from Rafters]

[PICKnPOP]

Starting to think the lakers want to run it back with a new coach. Blake pinson, dalton kenecht, bronny James, dlo, rui, gabe…they all have one thing in common they can shoot coming off screens. They don’t need the ball to be effective.

All this talk about developing a program makes me think they are gonna try and maximize the role players they have using JJ reddick.

I like the idea of running more plays for the roll players and using lebron/AD PnR as foundation of your offense but having some off ball action going on. Lebron AD PnR on one side with DLO, max, kenecht running off screens on the other end.

I think we should be using Christian wood much more often. He’s better than a minimum player. I think the backup center position should be his.


I know this sounds crazy but I think this team can compete as is if you can figure out how to keep the role players engaged. Nobody wants to just stand around waiting at the 3 point like.

I think jj will run plays for the role players to keep them involved and engaged. That will motivate them to stay engaged defensively. I’m excited.
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“like I never left”

#1

[PICKnPOP]

Max getting a bigger role, Gabe, vando, wood being healthy. Kenecht…new coaching staff.

Basically a different team than last year even if it doesn’t seem like it.

We got more defense this year

Gave
Max
Vando
AD

Legit defenders.

I think we will be ok even if they make no moves. I hope they make some move but we don’t really need much imo
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“like I never left”

#1

[CandyCanes]

[quote="A Mad Chinaman"]

[A Mad Chinaman]

[quote="CandyCanes"]