Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 36545 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2024 2:57 pm Post subject: What if the Chris Paul trade had not been vetoed? (And other what if scenarios)
Since it’s the off season, what do you guys think would have happened in these various “what if” scenarios?
1) Chris Paul trade is never vetoed.
2) Lakers successfully sign Kawhi in 2019 offseason.
3) Instead of Kawhi, Lakers sign Butler in 2019 offseason.
4) Lakers successfully sign Paul George in 2018 offseason to pair with LeBron.
5) Lakers never trade Danny Green and first rounder for Schroeder or get rid of Dwight/McGee, and instead draft Desmond Bane and run the team back.
6) Bynum does not have chronic knee issues.
7) Lakers don’t trade Marc Gasol in the Pau deal, instead giving up Sun Yue. _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 23020 Location: La Jolla, San Diego
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2024 4:28 pm Post subject:
What if Jerry West had his way and drafted Sidney Moncrief? There'd be no:
- No Showtime lore.
- No launching of Riley's career.
- No big stage for Big Game James.
- Kareem sits at 1 title.
- Jerry West loses shine.
- Without Showtime, does Shaq still want LA?
- Does Kobe still force his way to LA?
That's why despite his front office hiccup, and the Magic Johnson Hour talk show... Magic, IMO, is Laker's GOAT.
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 145048 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2024 5:36 pm Post subject:
Runway8 wrote:
What if Jerry West had his way and drafted Sidney Moncrief? There'd be no:
- No Showtime lore.
- No launching of Riley's career.
- No big stage for Big Game James.
- Kareem sits at 1 title.
- Jerry West loses shine.
- Without Showtime, does Shaq still want LA?
- Does Kobe still force his way to LA?
That's why despite his front office hiccup, and the Magic Johnson Hour talk show... Magic, IMO, is Laker's GOAT.
Jerry West didn’t draft anyone that year, he wasn’t the GM until 1982. And he wanted to draft Magic, he scouted him. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
(bleep) you Stern. Rest in piss you piece of (bleep). _________________ Lakers Offseason Goal:
- Draft Edey or Ware (Another guard)
- Sign Jonas or Claxton (NOBODY)
- sign and trade DLO (nobody wants him LMAO!)
- sign a coach that’s not an idiot (JJ: LeBron Bestie/might be a racist)
What if we didn't blow up our 2020 championship winning team?
3-peat? 4-peat? 5-peat?
Prior to coming to the Lakers, Lebron had already shown that he could take even a lowly franchise like the Cavs to a championship and having been to 9 consecutive NBA Finals. Almost like NBA Finals was a guaranteed unless a team like the Lakers could screw it up. Then add in AD who today is still "the best" NBA player. I mean with Lebron and AD healthy, we should have won back-to-back championships the last two years. _________________ Los Angeles Lakers 2025 NBA Champions!! Go JJ!
Joined: 15 Jul 2002 Posts: 6985 Location: searching for the mojo of Dr. Buss
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:40 am Post subject:
With Paul, Pau and Kobe... would have won 1-2 more rings. Perfect combo of playmaker, scorer and modern big man. But instead, we got "fool man's gold" Dwight Howard and broken down Steve Nash. _________________ "He may say it's not you, it's him.... but it's really you."
Joined: 04 May 2017 Posts: 3084 Location: The Left Coast
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:48 am Post subject:
silkwilkes wrote:
With Paul, Pau and Kobe... would have won 1-2 more rings. Perfect combo of playmaker, scorer and modern big man. But instead, we got "fool man's gold" Dwight Howard and broken down Steve Nash.
Pau was part of that 3 team trade. Would've been no Pau. _________________ “You can't be held captive by the fear of failure or the fear of what people may say.” - Kobe Bryant
(bleep) you Stern. Rest in piss you piece of (bleep).
. Kobe gets two more rings (over time, with more big personnel changes with Pau gone), gets GOAT status, Lakers financially and draft pick set up nicely, future setup nicely, and as a result we get Giannis Luka AD and Wemby at various times or another to play or mentor with each other. Boom 7 more rings.
But I am serious about the two more rings and Kobe part.
Joined: 15 Jul 2002 Posts: 6985 Location: searching for the mojo of Dr. Buss
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 11:32 am Post subject:
Mamba Mentality wrote:
silkwilkes wrote:
With Paul, Pau and Kobe... would have won 1-2 more rings. Perfect combo of playmaker, scorer and modern big man. But instead, we got "fool man's gold" Dwight Howard and broken down Steve Nash.
Pau was part of that 3 team trade. Would've been no Pau.
That's right. They were hell-bent on a trade for Dwight Howard with Bynum as the centerpiece after that... my bad.
Well, Paul-Kobe-D12 would have been crazy too. But with Dwight wanting to be the alpha despite not being one, it likely would have failed because of his attitude. _________________ "He may say it's not you, it's him.... but it's really you."
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 11:45 am Post subject: Re: What if the Chris Paul trade had not been vetoed? (And other what if scenarios)
CandyCanes wrote:
Since it’s the off season, what do you guys think would have happened in these various “what if” scenarios?
1) Chris Paul trade is never vetoed.
The Lakers win several more rings and CP3 remains a lifelong Laker for the rest of his career.
CandyCanes wrote:
2) Lakers successfully sign Kawhi in 2019 offseason.
They'd have won the Championship in the Bubble and then dealt with his injuries the next few years not winning another Championship because of it and lack of depth. Essentially what the Clippers did but if they had won the Championship in the bubble instead of choking.
CandyCanes wrote:
3) Instead of Kawhi, Lakers sign Butler in 2019 offseason.
Would probably have won a second Championship given Jimmy pulling the Miami Heat from the Playin to the Finals on his back. With LeBron and AD we could argue we may have won another Championship, but ADs + LeBron's injuries are still a factor.
CandyCanes wrote:
4) Lakers successfully sign Paul George in 2018 offseason to pair with LeBron.
Do not know. George is kind of a wild card even with Superstars next to him.
CandyCanes wrote:
5) Lakers never trade Danny Green and first rounder for Schroeder or get rid of Dwight/McGee, and instead draft Desmond Bane and run the team back.
We'd be in a good place as far as a prospect went. Danny Green's career is likely never ended by Embiid's flopping.
CandyCanes wrote:
6) Bynum does not have chronic knee issues.
The Lakers would have three-peated a second time and beaten Boston twice, Kobe would have had 6 rings and would be going for 7-8. Doc Rivers wouldn't continue to have the longevity he has to this day.
If the CP3 trade doesn't get vetoed and the Lakers have Kobe, CP3 and a healthy Bynum, they'd be in at least 2 more Finals past that point and win at least one of them. So Kobe would have retired with 7 rings minimum.
CandyCanes wrote:
7) Lakers don’t trade Marc Gasol in the Pau deal, instead giving up Sun Yue.
Then the Lakers have Marc Gasol come off the bench for Bynum and Pau. Would Marc Gasol have found himself the way he did in Memphis, coming off the bench for Pau and Bynum? Who knows. But it would have been a three-headed dragon at the center and PF position with Marc and Bynum being defensive savants.
Two of those three likely get traded for Dwight though or made part of a Cp3 deal that wouldn't be vetoed, likely in the 2011 season. But Dwight's back problems would have derailed a Championship run that year. And then things would likely play out similar to how they did irl. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 36545 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 1:01 pm Post subject:
Let’s say the Lakers had gotten CP3… They really only have that lockout shortened 11-12 season to make a run with the Kobe/CP3/Bynum trio, and they would have run into the Heatles in the finals plus the OKC big three in the west playoffs (that the Kobe/Pau/Bynum trio lost to in five).
After that, Bynum’s knees would have broken down. If we still went through with the Dwight trade, we would have had the same diminished Dwight that we had in 12-13. And still had to get past both the Spurs and Heatles.
It doesn’t seem to me CP3 would have fit particularly well with either Bynum or Dwight. Neither were good pick and roll players. Dwight in particular was notorious in the 12-13 season for being a poor screen setter.
Not a guaranteed ring unless other changes happen. _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 36545 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 1:06 pm Post subject:
RI Laker wrote:
What if the NBA did not gift Benson the #1 pick in 2019 and we ended up getting it?
We could have traded Zion + salary filler for AD straight up and kept Ingram, Ball, Hart, and our picks. Ball was healthy for two more seasons after we traded him, and we would finally have had our #3 scorer in Ingram. Having both available would have given LeBron more time to recover after the Solomon Hill ankle injury. So we would have won the bubble + the next season.
And we never would have made the disastrous Westbrook trade. _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
What if the NBA did not gift Benson the #1 pick in 2019 and we ended up getting it?
We could have traded Zion + salary filler for AD straight up and kept Ingram, Ball, Hart, and our picks. Ball was healthy for two more seasons after we traded him, and we would finally have had our #3 scorer in Ingram. Having both available would have given LeBron more time to recover after the Solomon Hill ankle injury. So we would have won the bubble + the next season.
And we never would have made the disastrous Westbrook trade.
What if we selected Tatum and Brown with our second overall picks instead of Ball and Ingram?
What if Jeanie didn't alienate Jerry West and he was still our GM/advisor? Those picks might have come true.
Jerry West was like the Lakers' answer to the Celtics' Danny Ainge. Too bad Jeanie got in the way and f'd everything up. _________________ Los Angeles Lakers 2025 NBA Champions!! Go JJ!
Last edited by lakersfever714 on Sun Aug 04, 2024 1:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
I never thought that Kobe and Chris Paul could coexist
OFC not. Kobe and CP3 are both ball dominant. I can't see Kobe being an off-ball player. Awkward. I mean he made a killing driving to the hoops and posterizing players. He wouldn't be able to do that playing off-ball. CP3 is a natural PG so he needs the ball as well. _________________ Los Angeles Lakers 2025 NBA Champions!! Go JJ!
I never thought that Kobe and Chris Paul could coexist
Dunno why. Kobe never had a true point guard next to him and always wanted one. Remember he advocated for Jason Kidd. He wanted CP3 as a teammate for years because it made his life easier and gave him less roles to have to play.
He was happy we got Steve Nash because of that reason, but due to Steve Nash's injuries, and only having one leg after the injury caused by Thomas and then Lillard, Nash had to take an off-ball role and off-ball threat.
When Nash came back the ball was in his hands to run the offense and Kobe was off-ball, if Nash was able to be healthy that's how it would have remained.
So please, spare me the "Kobe was too selfish to play next to a scoring point guard" ESPN stuff. Every owner in the NBA was terrified because they knew he would and it was a near guaranteed Championship. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
I never thought that Kobe and Chris Paul could coexist
OFC not. Kobe and CP3 are both ball dominant. I can't see Kobe being an off-ball player. Awkward. I mean he made a killing driving to the hoops and posterizing players. He wouldn't be able to do that playing off-ball. CP3 is a natural PG so he needs the ball as well.
That's how I feel when I think on the topic but Harden/CP3 combination had to go 0-27 from 3 in a deciding, hotly contested game 7 against the Warriors + KD at their absolute epoch. If that's what Harden/CP3 could do, I think Kobe/CP3 with Dwight instead of Clint Capela would have nuked teams. Granted, that all goes out the window if Dwight doesn't buy in. _________________ KOBE
I never thought that Kobe and Chris Paul could coexist
OFC not. Kobe and CP3 are both ball dominant. I can't see Kobe being an off-ball player. Awkward. I mean he made a killing driving to the hoops and posterizing players. He wouldn't be able to do that playing off-ball. CP3 is a natural PG so he needs the ball as well.
That's how I feel when I think on the topic but Harden/CP3 combination had to go 0-27 from 3 in a deciding, hotly contested game 7 against the Warriors + KD at their absolute epoch. If that's what Harden/CP3 could do, I think Kobe/CP3 with Dwight instead of Clint Capela would have nuked teams. Granted, that all goes out the window if Dwight doesn't buy in.
I think if Dwight got into a "I don't wanna pick and roll so I can prove Shaq wrong" mentality, I think CP3 would have been on his arse about it very early on. Nash reached a breaking point with Dwight vs Miami when he set bad screens and didn't commit to the role because of his own personal want to prove Shaq wrong, CP3 would have handled Dwight a lot sooner. Also would have been healthier so that he would have nipped that early. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 145048 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2024 6:58 pm Post subject:
MJST wrote:
venturalakersfan wrote:
I never thought that Kobe and Chris Paul could coexist
Dunno why. Kobe never had a true point guard next to him and always wanted one. Remember he advocated for Jason Kidd. He wanted CP3 as a teammate for years because it made his life easier and gave him less roles to have to play.
He was happy we got Steve Nash because of that reason, but due to Steve Nash's injuries, and only having one leg after the injury caused by Thomas and then Lillard, Nash had to take an off-ball role and off-ball threat.
When Nash came back the ball was in his hands to run the offense and Kobe was off-ball, if Nash was able to be healthy that's how it would have remained.
So please, spare me the "Kobe was too selfish to play next to a scoring point guard" ESPN stuff. Every owner in the NBA was terrified because they knew he would and it was a near guaranteed Championship.
No, owners were against the deal because they had just negotiated a CBA that would include luxury taxes and many of the owners would profit more off of the tax payments. Jeanie Buss helped negotiate that. The proposed deal would have dramatically cut taxes that the Lakers would have to pay, that is why the owners opposed the trade. As usual with franchise owners, decisions are made based on money. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
