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MJST
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 Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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I think it would be wise to use Knecht as the bench scorer we want Rui to be, and see if you can move Rui's 18M contract for a two-way wing that can also hit threes.
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Inverse
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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| MJST wrote: | | I think it would be wise to use Knecht as the bench scorer we want Rui to be, and see if you can move Rui's 18M contract for a two-way wing that can also hit threes. |
I agree with this and its a reason why I'm in favor of attaching the 2031 FRP to Rui in hopes of getting Cam Johnson. I think Cam does way more for our team than Rui, and is a upgrade in foot speed on the perimeter. Hes also a more natural SF than Rui
If it was up to me I would not trade Dalton. He has 6moy potential
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LakersMD
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| Posted: Sun May 25, 2025 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| MJST wrote: | | I think it would be wise to use Knecht as the bench scorer we want Rui to be, and see if you can move Rui's 18M contract for a two-way wing that can also hit threes. |
Agree. Move Rui and a draft asset for a guy who can actually guard wings or a starting caliber center.
Assuming he’s still on the team next season, let Dalton take his lumps and learn. He can be our floor spacer and has a lot more gravity than Rui provides. Plus he needs consistent PT to preserve whatever trade value he has. Another year collecting DNPs would turn him into dead money. |
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manlisten
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| Posted: Mon May 26, 2025 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Knecht reminds me of Kuzma more than anything. Both older rookies and low IQ guys who need shots to impact the game and struggle with role player tasks. It's also ironic because Rui is a better version of what people were expecting Kuz to be as a starter and still a better and bigger version of Knecht. Knecht is another one of those tweeners who plays like a first option but isn't quite good enough overall to justify that role and doesn't really fit as a 3rd option because they don't do enough of the little things. Not the worst player to have but he really needs to work on his ancillary game to have a real impact on a contender.
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Hanging from Rafters
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| Posted: Mon May 26, 2025 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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| LakersMD wrote: | | MJST wrote: | | I think it would be wise to use Knecht as the bench scorer we want Rui to be, and see if you can move Rui's 18M contract for a two-way wing that can also hit threes. |
Agree. Move Rui and a draft asset for a guy who can actually guard wings or a starting caliber center.
Assuming he’s still on the team next season, let Dalton take his lumps and learn. He can be our floor spacer and has a lot more gravity than Rui provides. Plus he needs consistent PT to preserve whatever trade value he has. Another year collecting DNPs would turn him into dead money. |
Without an actual player to consider, it’s difficult to tell what would be more valuable on the Lakers;
Rui as a starter and a player traded for using Knecht;
Or
A starting player traded for using Rui and Knecht.
Since the Lakers got the 3rd seed using Rui as a proven significant contributor while not using Knecht consistently, I lean toward keeping the contributor in Rui to build on the limited success rather than counting on a new player while expecting Knecht to step up to contributor status. It ultimately depends on who the Lakers could get for Rui tho. It would have to be someone good enough to be comfortable with a ship plan being legitimate if counting on Knecht to be a consistent contributor at this stage of his development.
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RI Laker
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 3:32 am Post subject: |
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| I would NEVER trade DK this offseason. We would be selling low. Trading him makes no sense. Trading Rui on the other hand makes sense to me. I like him and he had a good season. At least we would be selling high which I can understand. Rui went from having negative value to a decent plus value in one year. NEVER sell low. |
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Four Decade Bandwagon
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 5:42 am Post subject: |
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I prefer they stop sending out assets like Knecht and 1st rounders.
As mentioned, they were the 3rd seed in a tough very competitive conference.
Keep as much of the roster together as possible to build some chemistry. Add as good a center or two as cap allows. Attempt to build some bench trust and contributions (Knecht?).
Rely on Luka carrying the MVP chase, James the Retirement Tour sidekick, and the development of the roster with some changes around the edges. Perhaps a season of continuity and less talk about dramatic roster makerovers at the Trade deadline allows the team to gel and trust each other. Talent is there, just not enough consistency of effort as a team.
The Lakers are who they are until James retires. Hopefully Luka can patiently wait for that to happen to see roster changes. |
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LakersMD
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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| RI Laker wrote: | | I would NEVER trade DK this offseason. We would be selling low. Trading him makes no sense. Trading Rui on the other hand makes sense to me. I like him and he had a good season. At least we would be selling high which I can understand. Rui went from having negative value to a decent plus value in one year. NEVER sell low. |
I’m with you on this and I’m not even sold on Knecht. But holding onto guys on cost controlled contracts is so huge nowadays, you have to see what you’ve got with Knecht.
And I’m not excited about tying up so much capspace on guys who can only guard 4s. LeBron, Rui and even DFS struggle against 3s. That’s a roster imbalance that has to be addressed. That’s why I’m out on extending Rui to a neutral at best 3 year $18-20M AAV contract, which is in the ballpark of what he will likely be looking for and won’t be moveable until 2028-2029, unless you know for sure this is LeBron’s final season and Rui can guard 4s full time for the remainder of his deal. |
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BILBJH
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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On the one game that JJ actually let Knecht play against OKC, he scored 20 points and led the team in scoring.
Food for thought for those of you who want to use him as a throw in for trades.
OKC will be the dominant team for awhile so it's not nothing he could go 6 for 13 from three against the league's best defenders |
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tox
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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I also totally agree Knecht should not be traded unless he is valued as a good first rounder. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but we need to internally value him highly because frankly we are too short on assets to sell low. It'd be like trading Christie after his second year instead of when he had his breakout season.
There's no guarantee Knecht will have that breakout season but they need to assume he will. |
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LakerLanny
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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There was a story today that Knecht tested out better athletically in the NBA Draft process than Cooper Flagg.
And if you have watched Cooper Flagg, he is plenty athletic.
Again, I am not saying he is untradeable but I would keep him unless whatever was coming back was very very good.
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manlisten
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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| LakerLanny wrote: | There was a story today that Knecht tested out better athletically in the NBA Draft process than Cooper Flagg.
And if you have watched Cooper Flagg, he is plenty athletic.
Again, I am not saying he is untradeable but I would keep him unless whatever was coming back was very very good. |
It doesn’t really matter if it doesn't translate on the court. We've got plenty of tape on Dalton to know how he functions athletically during games. Not saying he's a bad athlete or player but being a combine athlete isn't the same as being an in-game athlete.
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It was reminiscent of one of those Most Interesting Man in the World advertisements: "I don't always shoot 6-for-28 from the field, but when I do, I become the youngest player in league history to score 28,000 career points." |
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tox
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| I think Dalton has decent functional athleticism tbh, unfortunately lateral movement is slow and that's so huge |
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MJST
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| tox wrote: | | I think Dalton has decent functional athleticism tbh, unfortunately lateral movement is slow and that's so huge |
His lateral movement vs other forwards was fine, against shifty guards it was not. Rui and him aren't extremely far apart in that regard. Rui's problem is effort, Dalton's is timing and knowing where to be and working on his body.
I don't doubt his lateral movement, which was also good athletically at the combine, improves as he gets his NBA body and works on it, which has been something he has apparently been working on and will be continuing to work on in the off-season.
Also Dalton's pretty athletic, and showed that this season.
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Hanging from Rafters
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Four Decade Bandwagon wrote: | I prefer they stop sending out assets like Knecht and 1st rounders.
As mentioned, they were the 3rd seed in a tough very competitive conference.
Keep as much of the roster together as possible to build some chemistry. Add as good a center or two as cap allows. Attempt to build some bench trust and contributions (Knecht?).
Rely on Luka carrying the MVP chase, James the Retirement Tour sidekick, and the development of the roster with some changes around the edges. Perhaps a season of continuity and less talk about dramatic roster makerovers at the Trade deadline allows the team to gel and trust each other. Talent is there, just not enough consistency of effort as a team.
The Lakers are who they are until James retires. Hopefully Luka can patiently wait for that to happen to see roster changes. |
Some fans want to continue to wait patiently and some don’t. It is what it is. I for one have been waiting patiently since the bubble ship and think it’s reasonable to expect a legitimate ship commitment this off season as opposed to more patience. I like what Knecht can provide, but I don’t foresee him providing enough input for a ship next season with the roster constructed as is. I think Knecht’s value would be best used in a trade for someone that contributes enough to put the Lakers in position for a ship.
Keep Knecht and develop him and who knows what it amounts too in the future, trade him for a C and it looks like that would amount to the Lakers competing for a ship next season. If the Lakers can keep him and compete for a ship next season I’d be all for that too! Positioning the team in the best case scenario to compete for a ship next season tho should be a priority.
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When reasonably possible, I expect the Lakers to go after a ship like it can’t be denied. I haven’t seen a completely committed effort by the GM for the last 2 off seasons nor the last 2 trade deadlines. What is going on? |
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manlisten
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 1:44 am Post subject: |
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| tox wrote: | | I think Dalton has decent functional athleticism tbh, unfortunately lateral movement is slow and that's so huge |
Yea not saying he doesn't, what I'm saying is that if you had no knowledge of the combine results, would you think Knecht was more athletic than Flagg just from watching them play? Probably not so I wouldn't expect him to take a leap in that area. Athleticism is mostly fixed by the time a player enters the league so what you see is what you get.
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It was reminiscent of one of those Most Interesting Man in the World advertisements: "I don't always shoot 6-for-28 from the field, but when I do, I become the youngest player in league history to score 28,000 career points." |
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MJST
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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I'm just going to say that Rudy Gobert is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Lakers fans have been screaming about wanting, and OKC just nullified him useless. Which has happened 3 Playoffs in a row.
But players like Knecht always seem to have value in the Playoffs regardless.
Something to think about.
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Inverse
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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It's a numbers game. Every team is playing moneyball in this current CBA. Dalton is the one player on the roster who can significantly outplay his rookie contract. I dont think its even close (Besides AR who we may need to trade if he doesnt sign the extension). Im firmly in the camp that you keep players like Dalton, who showed crazy flashes during his rookie season which usually makes front offices and fans salivate over prospects. He will take a leap next season, I have no doubt about it. He can be our super 6th man off the bench or even a starter depending on what the roster construction looks like. Dalton is potentially a long term piece next to Luka. If you go back to the Minny series, how many wide open 3's did AR clank that were generated from Luka's gravity? in a few years, a 25-26 year old Knecht is probably nailing those at a 42%+ clip. Give him time to develop his NBA strength. He strikes me as a gym rat, and someone who will work hard in the offseason to improve his weaknesses. I really hope he survives this summer
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Updated "Realistic" Summer 2025 wishlist:
Luka Doncic/Deanthony Melton
Austin Reaves/Bradley Beal
Herb Jones/Jake Laravia/Adou Thiero
LeBron James/Vando
Deandre Ayton/Maxi Kleber/Hayes |
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ThePageDude
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:23 am Post subject: |
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| MJST wrote: | I'm just going to say that Rudy Gobert is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Lakers fans have been screaming about wanting, and OKC just nullified him useless. Which has happened 3 Playoffs in a row.
<snip>
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The issue isn't whether Gobert is a useful player, the issue is how much he's paid.It's a no-brainer that Gobert on this Lakers team would have elevated them to easily the next level - if all else remained the same.
(And of course a Gobert-like center isn't the end all or be all, he doesn't fix all the Lakers' problems, he just fixes the most glaring one) |
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MJST
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| ThePageDude wrote: | | MJST wrote: | I'm just going to say that Rudy Gobert is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Lakers fans have been screaming about wanting, and OKC just nullified him useless. Which has happened 3 Playoffs in a row.
<snip>
|
The issue isn't whether Gobert is a useful player, the issue is how much he's paid.It's a no-brainer that Gobert on this Lakers team would have elevated them to easily the next level - if all else remained the same.
(And of course a Gobert-like center isn't the end all or be all, he doesn't fix all the Lakers' problems, he just fixes the most glaring one) |
My main point is how easily that style of center is nullified by the top teams in the league to the point they are consistently played off the court.
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Hanging from Rafters
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| MJST wrote: | | ThePageDude wrote: | | MJST wrote: | I'm just going to say that Rudy Gobert is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Lakers fans have been screaming about wanting, and OKC just nullified him useless. Which has happened 3 Playoffs in a row.
<snip>
|
The issue isn't whether Gobert is a useful player, the issue is how much he's paid.It's a no-brainer that Gobert on this Lakers team would have elevated them to easily the next level - if all else remained the same.
(And of course a Gobert-like center isn't the end all or be all, he doesn't fix all the Lakers' problems, he just fixes the most glaring one) |
My main point is how easily that style of center is nullified by the top teams in the league to the point they are consistently played off the court. |
The contrasting point…with specific details…is that a Gobert type center with Luka/LBJ would be different than he was with Ant/Randle. It seems as if both Lakers would be more effective than both TWolves, individually and in utilizing the skills of that center.
Of course we’re all speculating…no one knows for sure…but I think the Lakers would be much better as constructed if they added a Gobert type center than the TWolves were. The Lakers made Hayes look like a starting center for awhile for Pete’s sake lol! An actual legitimate rim protecting, rebounding, post scorer, would catapult the Lakers…if they kept all significant contributors and perhaps upgraded SG1…to one of the ship favorites imo.
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When reasonably possible, I expect the Lakers to go after a ship like it can’t be denied. I haven’t seen a completely committed effort by the GM for the last 2 off seasons nor the last 2 trade deadlines. What is going on? |
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MJST
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Hanging from Rafters wrote: | | MJST wrote: | | ThePageDude wrote: | | MJST wrote: | I'm just going to say that Rudy Gobert is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Lakers fans have been screaming about wanting, and OKC just nullified him useless. Which has happened 3 Playoffs in a row.
<snip>
|
The issue isn't whether Gobert is a useful player, the issue is how much he's paid.It's a no-brainer that Gobert on this Lakers team would have elevated them to easily the next level - if all else remained the same.
(And of course a Gobert-like center isn't the end all or be all, he doesn't fix all the Lakers' problems, he just fixes the most glaring one) |
My main point is how easily that style of center is nullified by the top teams in the league to the point they are consistently played off the court. |
The contrasting point…with specific details…is that a Gobert type center with Luka/LBJ would be different than he was with Ant/Randle. It seems as if both Lakers would be more effective than both TWolves, individually and in utilizing the skills of that center.
Of course we’re all speculating…no one knows for sure…but I think the Lakers would be much better as constructed if they added a Gobert type center than the TWolves were. The Lakers made Hayes look like a starting center for awhile for Pete’s sake lol! An actual legitimate rim protecting, rebounding, post scorer, would catapult the Lakers…if they kept all significant contributors and perhaps upgraded SG1…to one of the ship favorites imo. |
I mean not necessarily, Randle and LBJ have similar playstyles in terms of where they like to be on the court. LeBron might shoot more threes though, but ultimately you want him getting to the basket and playing bully ball Or you want him drawing the defense and passing out, which is if Randle does consistently he is great at.
In terms of style it's not too different in terms of the 4-5 fit.
Luka is obviously better than Ant and his role would be different. But it's more how OKC nullified whatever advantage Gobert could have given on defense because they knew exactly how to exploit those kinds of centers and make them useless to the point they are played off the court.
the problem wasn't Gobert being a lob threat, it was that defensively he was render ineffective, because on the perimeter he isn't really that skilled, as he is just a center that is for rim protection and lacks footwork along the perimeter (like a Mark Williams). JJ was good at also exploiting these types during the season till he threw the gameplan away in the Playoffs.
But OKC not only had the personnel, they excelled at doing it. The Warriors also would have, if Curry didn't get hurt.
But the main point, is the plodding, rim protecting big that can't move their feet along the perimeter is nullified by the top teams in the league to the point their defensive advantages mean little to nothing when it comes to the top of the league. It's not just "Jokic" you need to worry about, it's teams that nullify those kinds of centers and leave them sitting on the bench.
So if you're scheming, it's probably best not to invest in those as your solution, as chances are, if you're against those top teams, they'll eventually be on the bench, then it's about what you have outside of them in the series that they are rendered useless. And THAT is where the most importance is and should be focused on.
That's why I said that those kind of centers consistently get played off the court by top teams in the league, but players like Knecht consistently continue to have value throughout the Playoffs against any matchup. And that is a constant.
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Hanging from Rafters
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2025 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| MJST wrote: | | Hanging from Rafters wrote: | | MJST wrote: | | ThePageDude wrote: | | MJST wrote: | I'm just going to say that Rudy Gobert is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Lakers fans have been screaming about wanting, and OKC just nullified him useless. Which has happened 3 Playoffs in a row.
<snip>
|
The issue isn't whether Gobert is a useful player, the issue is how much he's paid.It's a no-brainer that Gobert on this Lakers team would have elevated them to easily the next level - if all else remained the same.
(And of course a Gobert-like center isn't the end all or be all, he doesn't fix all the Lakers' problems, he just fixes the most glaring one) |
My main point is how easily that style of center is nullified by the top teams in the league to the point they are consistently played off the court. |
The contrasting point…with specific details…is that a Gobert type center with Luka/LBJ would be different than he was with Ant/Randle. It seems as if both Lakers would be more effective than both TWolves, individually and in utilizing the skills of that center.
Of course we’re all speculating…no one knows for sure…but I think the Lakers would be much better as constructed if they added a Gobert type center than the TWolves were. The Lakers made Hayes look like a starting center for awhile for Pete’s sake lol! An actual legitimate rim protecting, rebounding, post scorer, would catapult the Lakers…if they kept all significant contributors and perhaps upgraded SG1…to one of the ship favorites imo. |
I mean not necessarily, Randle and LBJ have similar playstyles in terms of where they like to be on the court. LeBron might shoot more threes though, but ultimately you want him getting to the basket and playing bully ball Or you want him drawing the defense and passing out, which is if Randle does consistently he is great at.
In terms of style it's not too different in terms of the 4-5 fit.
Luka is obviously better than Ant and his role would be different. But it's more how OKC nullified whatever advantage Gobert could have given on defense because they knew exactly how to exploit those kinds of centers and make them useless to the point they are played off the court.
the problem wasn't Gobert being a lob threat, it was that defensively he was render ineffective, because on the perimeter he isn't really that skilled, as he is just a center that is for rim protection and lacks footwork along the perimeter (like a Mark Williams). JJ was good at also exploiting these types during the season till he threw the gameplan away in the Playoffs.
But OKC not only had the personnel, they excelled at doing it. The Warriors also would have, if Curry didn't get hurt.
But the main point, is the plodding, rim protecting big that can't move their feet along the perimeter is nullified by the top teams in the league to the point their defensive advantages mean little to nothing when it comes to the top of the league. It's not just "Jokic" you need to worry about, it's teams that nullify those kinds of centers and leave them sitting on the bench.
So if you're scheming, it's probably best not to invest in those as your solution, as chances are, if you're against those top teams, they'll eventually be on the bench, then it's about what you have outside of them in the series that they are rendered useless. And THAT is where the most importance is and should be focused on.
That's why I said that those kind of centers consistently get played off the court by top teams in the league, but players like Knecht consistently continue to have value throughout the Playoffs against any matchup. And that is a constant. |
Similar play styles for LBJ/Luka vs Ant/Randle? Not in the way it counts for a C. Either ONE of those Lakers gets about the same assists as both of those TWolves COMBINED. AR also gets more assists than either of those TWolves top two assist getters. The Lakers have 3 players that get more assists than any of the TWolves.
Teams may be able to nullify a Gobert type with other players but with Luka’s and LBJ’s ability to get assists, and their ability to get their own basket, it would be completely different. A team focusing on nullifying a C with the Lakers, would allow LBJ/Luka and even Rui to cook, if that same team focused on LBJ/Luka or closing out 3pt shooters then Luka/LBJ would exploit that with pick and roll lobs to the C. We saw that with Hayes despite his limited skills.
That’s just on the offensive end, if considering the impact on the defensive end as well…with a legitimate C…the Lakers would limit the other team’s scoring such that the Lakers’ points would far outpace the opposition. It’s not reasonable to just look at how a particular type player is defended, the context of a teams construction has to be taken into account. You’re looking at how a Gobert type was defended with the TWolves roster construction and inappropriately projecting that on how he the type would be defended on a team constructed like the Lakers.
LBJ/Luka and even AR for the Lakers, would get that C involved so much more than the TWolves. And if an opponent had to focus that much attention on defense for 5th option the top 4 options would thrive. Again tho, that’s just considering scoring, perhaps the best advantage of the Lakers having that type of C would be better rebounding for multiple 2nd chance opportunities on offense and more one-n-done missed shots by the opponent for the Lakers on defense. All that, plus there would be an increased advantage in blocked shots, altered shots, contested shots, and no shots.
TLDR, The bottom line:
Your focus is on shutting down the offensive impact of that type of C on the TWolves roster…who would be a 5th/6th option on the Lakers at best…when the impact for the Lakers would mostly be on defense and rebounds.
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When reasonably possible, I expect the Lakers to go after a ship like it can’t be denied. I haven’t seen a completely committed effort by the GM for the last 2 off seasons nor the last 2 trade deadlines. What is going on? |
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MJST
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2025 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Hanging from Rafters wrote: | | MJST wrote: | | Hanging from Rafters wrote: | | MJST wrote: | | ThePageDude wrote: | | MJST wrote: | I'm just going to say that Rudy Gobert is pretty much exactly the kind of center that Lakers fans have been screaming about wanting, and OKC just nullified him useless. Which has happened 3 Playoffs in a row.
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The issue isn't whether Gobert is a useful player, the issue is how much he's paid.It's a no-brainer that Gobert on this Lakers team would have elevated them to easily the next level - if all else remained the same.
(And of course a Gobert-like center isn't the end all or be all, he doesn't fix all the Lakers' problems, he just fixes the most glaring one) |
My main point is how easily that style of center is nullified by the top teams in the league to the point they are consistently played off the court. |
The contrasting point…with specific details…is that a Gobert type center with Luka/LBJ would be different than he was with Ant/Randle. It seems as if both Lakers would be more effective than both TWolves, individually and in utilizing the skills of that center.
Of course we’re all speculating…no one knows for sure…but I think the Lakers would be much better as constructed if they added a Gobert type center than the TWolves were. The Lakers made Hayes look like a starting center for awhile for Pete’s sake lol! An actual legitimate rim protecting, rebounding, post scorer, would catapult the Lakers…if they kept all significant contributors and perhaps upgraded SG1…to one of the ship favorites imo. |
I mean not necessarily, Randle and LBJ have similar playstyles in terms of where they like to be on the court. LeBron might shoot more threes though, but ultimately you want him getting to the basket and playing bully ball Or you want him drawing the defense and passing out, which is if Randle does consistently he is great at.
In terms of style it's not too different in terms of the 4-5 fit.
Luka is obviously better than Ant and his role would be different. But it's more how OKC nullified whatever advantage Gobert could have given on defense because they knew exactly how to exploit those kinds of centers and make them useless to the point they are played off the court.
the problem wasn't Gobert being a lob threat, it was that defensively he was render ineffective, because on the perimeter he isn't really that skilled, as he is just a center that is for rim protection and lacks footwork along the perimeter (like a Mark Williams). JJ was good at also exploiting these types during the season till he threw the gameplan away in the Playoffs.
But OKC not only had the personnel, they excelled at doing it. The Warriors also would have, if Curry didn't get hurt.
But the main point, is the plodding, rim protecting big that can't move their feet along the perimeter is nullified by the top teams in the league to the point their defensive advantages mean little to nothing when it comes to the top of the league. It's not just "Jokic" you need to worry about, it's teams that nullify those kinds of centers and leave them sitting on the bench.
So if you're scheming, it's probably best not to invest in those as your solution, as chances are, if you're against those top teams, they'll eventually be on the bench, then it's about what you have outside of them in the series that they are rendered useless. And THAT is where the most importance is and should be focused on.
That's why I said that those kind of centers consistently get played off the court by top teams in the league, but players like Knecht consistently continue to have value throughout the Playoffs against any matchup. And that is a constant. |
Similar play styles for LBJ/Luka vs Ant/Randle? Not in the way it counts for a C. Either ONE of those Lakers gets about the same assists as both of those TWolves COMBINED. AR also gets more assists than either of those TWolves top two assist getters. The Lakers have 3 players that get more assists than any of the TWolves.
Teams may be able to nullify a Gobert type with other players but with Luka’s and LBJ’s ability to get assists, and their ability to get their own basket, it would be completely different. A team focusing on nullifying a C with the Lakers, would allow LBJ/Luka and even Rui to cook, if that same team focused on LBJ/Luka or closing out 3pt shooters then Luka/LBJ would exploit that with pick and roll lobs to the C. We saw that with Hayes despite his limited skills.
That’s just on the offensive end, if considering the impact on the defensive end as well…with a legitimate C…the Lakers would limit the other team’s scoring such that the Lakers’ points would far outpace the opposition. It’s not reasonable to just look at how a particular type player is defended, the context of a teams construction has to be taken into account. You’re looking at how a Gobert type was defended with the TWolves roster construction and inappropriately projecting that on how he the type would be defended on a team constructed like the Lakers.
LBJ/Luka and even AR for the Lakers, would get that C involved so much more than the TWolves. And if an opponent had to focus that much attention on defense for 5th option the top 4 options would thrive. Again tho, that’s just considering scoring, perhaps the best advantage of the Lakers having that type of C would be better rebounding for multiple 2nd chance opportunities on offense and more one-n-done missed shots by the opponent for the Lakers on defense. All that, plus there would be an increased advantage in blocked shots, altered shots, contested shots, and no shots.
TLDR, The bottom line:
Your focus is on shutting down the offensive impact of that type of C on the TWolves roster…who would be a 5th/6th option on the Lakers at best…when the impact for the Lakers would mostly be on defense and rebounds. |
It's not about the offense, it's about how they are nullified defensively.
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How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk |
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Hanging from Rafters
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Joined: 31 Jul 2018
Posts: 7022
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2025 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| MJST wrote: |
It's not about the offense, it's about how they are nullified defensively. |
I wouldn’t have believed I’d be in an actual discussion about how a C like Gobert would NOT be an effective addition to the Lakers roster. I just wouldn’t have thought that someone would argue against it. Even tho it hasn’t been specifically said…but to even insinuate it…that perhaps it might not be a good move. For the cost of course, no thank you, but for the cost of players not used it seems like it would help the Lakers toward a ship.
Anyway, I hope Rob gets a rebounding, shot blocking, lob threat, like Gobert, like Luka asked for, at a reasonable price. The most effective trade piece would be using a promising player that was used the least, like Knecht.
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When reasonably possible, I expect the Lakers to go after a ship like it can’t be denied. I haven’t seen a completely committed effort by the GM for the last 2 off seasons nor the last 2 trade deadlines. What is going on? |
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