Lakers: Thoughts on the Lakers' future core?

[whitemamba]

Will that gif ever stop being funny?

its really incredible how much humor you can get out of a 5 second clip.

[gambit1990]

it's a core that isn't gonna get them anywhere tbh.

[Killakobe81]

it's a core that isn't gonna get them anywhere tbh.

You might be right.
To early to tell.
But if you mean anywhere close to contending.
I cant disagree but we will see ...
You cannot contend without a legit #1 and I only see a couple potential #2's ...and maybe a #3

[LkrFan]

As long as they keep pushing we'll eventually be fine:

[Killakobe81]

As long as they keep pushing we'll eventually be fine:

That is one thing these guys have been grinding.
Randle is my biggest worry because for him to be great as a slightly undersized PF he has to get a jumper and a right hand counter ...
clarkson really just needs range and better defense to be fine.
Ingram needs muscle and more "suddenness" tohis game
Russ needs to work on explosion and undoing the damge that Byron did to him ...

Liek I said fringe playoff contender in 2017.
2016 Will be rough but promising.
I expect us to end better than we start.

[ambchang]

That is one thing these guys have been grinding.
Randle is my biggest worry because for him to be great as a slightly undersized PF he has to get a jumper and a right hand counter ...
clarkson really just needs range and better defense to be fine.
Ingram needs muscle and more "suddenness" tohis game
Russ needs to work on explosion and undoing the damge that Byron did to him ...

Liek I said fringe playoff contender in 2017.
2016 Will be rough but promising.
I expect us to end better than we start.

I say no playoffs in 18 ( I think that's what you meant). Wanna bet?

[Killakobe81]

I say no playoffs in 18 ( I think that's what you meant). Wanna bet?

I say we can make it 3 years from now.
But no, I'm not gonna bet that now ... hit me up in two years from now right before the season starts.
To many variables for me to make that bet today ... just saying that is what I expect.
for me to bet that means im very confident and i am not
i will say Im cautiously optimistic but not confident yet.

[ambchang]

I say we can make it 3 years from now.
But no, I'm not gonna bet that now ... hit me up in two years from now right before the season starts.
To many variables for me to make that bet today ... just saying that is what I expect.
for me to bet that means im very confident and i am not
i will say Im cautiously optimistic but not confident yet.

Three years is too much for me too. Too many variables. Mostly about what the other teams will do than what the lakers will do. Kings, blazers, clippers, wolves, jazz, pels, Suns nuggets, thunder and Grizzlies can all go up or down. I think Mavs are done. I'm pretty confident Spurs, Warriors, rockets will still be in the playoffs three years from now, barring major injuries.

[RsxPiimp]

I'm down for another lottery season. I'd rather get another top 3. We're not getting any Notable FA anyway.

[LkrFan]

[ambchang]

I'm down for another lottery season. I'd rather get another top 3. We're not getting any Notable FA anyway.

You went from yi jianlian turning you down to getting mosgov. So you are trending up

[DPG21920]

With Pau and LMA guarding the Spurs yard...



...I could see this a few times this year. incoming!

Don't be a chicken . You act like you know basketball, where do you think the Spurs defense ranks this year? You seem to act like they will be terrible so go on record with your basketball knowledge.

[DPG21920]

I'm down for another lottery season. I'd rather get another top 3. We're not getting any Notable FA anyway.

My friend, you don't have another choice . The only chance of that changing was free agency this year but it was cemented that LA no longer has any FA advantage. That is a game changer and something most of us were 99% certain of, but Kobe being there left room for that 1% chance it was all Kobe's fault

This year with no Kobe and a ton of money and not only whiffing so badly, but being embarrassed (no meeting from KD despite being "The Lakers") proved that LA no longer has any advantage.

That is not to say they won't ever sign good FA's again- it's just that they have to have equal money and a really good team in order to draw players. No longer players lining up to come to LA because they are a mess and everyone is on equal footing now.

[DPG21920]

This is such a big year for LA. If they can't prove that their young core has a lot of promise it will be extremely damaging to their FA hopes yet again.

Especially because they likely lose their draft pick this year so very little shot at adding to the team other than FA. I don't like their core. Not just the skill set, but as I said last year, they learned the worst habits from the worst kind of "leader". They learned that you are above the franchise. They learned how to not take things seriously and how much of a business this really is (putting Kobe above all else because he sells tickets knowing you would be an awful team).

Then on top of questionable ceilings you have rampant immaturity with your leader in Russell. I get guys are young, but he strikes me as the type of stupid that never goes away (like Dwight). You just can't teach certain things and even in the Summer League he's more about looking cool than putting his head down (still doing that stupid ice in my veins stuff). Even after all he's been through he still can't help himself in the moment from being a dummy.

Things like that bother me personally and while many young players grow up and mature, he has questions about his talent and mentality and he's supposed to be the leader.

[Bynumite]

This is such a big year for LA. If they can't prove that their young core has a lot of promise it will be extremely damaging to their FA hopes yet again.

Especially because they likely lose their draft pick this year so very little shot at adding to the team other than FA. I don't like their core. Not just the skill set, but as I said last year, they learned the worst habits from the worst kind of "leader". They learned that you are above the franchise. They learned how to not take things seriously and how much of a business this really is (putting Kobe above all else because he sells tickets knowing you would be an awful team).

Then on top of questionable ceilings you have rampant immaturity with your leader in Russell. I get guys are young, but he strikes me as the type of stupid that never goes away (like Dwight). You just can't teach certain things and even in the Summer League he's more about looking cool than putting his head down (still doing that stupid ice in my veins stuff). Even after all he's been through he still can't help himself in the moment from being a dummy.

Things like that bother me personally and while many young players grow up and mature, he has questions about his talent and mentality and he's supposed to be the leader.

If anything the rookies saw the Lakers take care of their own but you gotta earn that kind of status through years of dedication. You wanna see your jersey up in the rafters, you gotta put in the work, same way Kobe did. Lakers don't retire the jersey of Bruce Bowen type players

Your criticism of a 19 year old kid is that he celebrated a game winning shot. Really? He was one of the best players in the summer league and his demeanor during interviews has been nothing but professional. Strong nit picking. Curry is 10 years older than Russell, would you question his mentality and say he's immature because he does the shimmy and crip walks all over the court after game winners too? Welcome to the new NBA and social media era old man, where every star has their own trademark celebration.

[DPG21920]

Curry didn't get caught snitching out teammates and never played a role in a team losing so many games. I have no problem celebrating but when you have done nothing but lose and create locker room problems, you might want to just do your damn job and no, Summer League doesn't count.

[Killakobe81]

This is such a big year for LA. If they can't prove that their young core has a lot of promise it will be extremely damaging to their FA hopes yet again.

Especially because they likely lose their draft pick this year so very little shot at adding to the team other than FA. I don't like their core. Not just the skill set, but as I said last year, they learned the worst habits from the worst kind of "leader". They learned that you are above the franchise. They learned how to not take things seriously and how much of a business this really is (putting Kobe above all else because he sells tickets knowing you would be an awful team).

Then on top of questionable ceilings you have rampant immaturity with your leader in Russell. I get guys are young, but he strikes me as the type of stupid that never goes away (like Dwight). You just can't teach certain things and even in the Summer League he's more about looking cool than putting his head down (still doing that stupid ice in my veins stuff). Even after all he's been through he still can't help himself in the moment from being a dummy.

Things like that bother me personally and while many young players grow up and mature, he has questions about his talent and mentality and he's supposed to be the leader.

Relax. Plenty of young players celebrated like ass clowns in their youth including LeBron and his dancing and prancing and turned out fine. You sound like a get off my lawn type right now

[DPG21920]

Relax. Plenty of young players celebrated like ass clowns in their youth including LeBron and his dancing and prancing and turned out fine. You sound like a get off my lawn type right now

Again, what Laker fans keep skipping over is the "other" stuff. I have no idea how Laker fans are being so dense here. They keep comparing Russ to Lebron (you) & Curry (the other poster I've never seen before). Russ is not those guys so why do you compare him to players who actually look like franchise players?

If he came out like Lebron did and surpasses expectations and stayed out of trouble fine. You can do whatever you want. But if someone does all the knucklehead stuff that Russ did (especially the filming debacle) you would expect them to put their head down and go to work.

Like I said (again) I'm fine with players doing whatever, but you better bring it and Russ strikes me as that Dwight Howard kind of stupid and immature that never goes away (which LA fans hated Dwight for that).

[DPG21920]

Laker fans acting like I'm the one that needs the burden of proof to back up my claims when they are literally ignoring everything "in hopes" that he turns out like Lebron / Curry .

1) Had questionable work eithic and maturity coming out of college

2) Was called out on this last year as a pro

3) Was in the most poisonous situation of any NBA franchise last year learning terrible habits, with terrible development and no accountability on top of learning that losing is ok (you can just goof off because it's a business and its all about the big name players and selling tickets/jerseys).

4) Gets caught filming a private locker room conversation and has teammates turn on him. Refusing to sit with him at dinners, ignoring him at practice and freezing him out of games.

So no, I"m not being some "cranky old guy". I'm looking at the fact that Russ has underwhelmed, came out with work eithic/maturity problems and then we saw them mainfest themselves last year along with him being in the worst situation possible for a guy like him (under Kobe's Lakers).

If you can't see all of that, I don't know what else you would need. That doesn't mean he can't be good or can't overcome - but LA fans should be way more worried and less dismissive. They needed a leader along with a mega talent from their last 3 years in the lottery and they really may end up with very little talent and Absoultely zero leadership and it's me that's crazy. Ok.

[Bynumite]

Again, what Laker fans keep skipping over is the "other" stuff. I have no idea how Laker fans are being so dense here. They keep comparing Russ to Lebron (you) & Curry (the other poster I've never seen before). Russ is not those guys so why do you compare him to players who actually look like franchise players?

If he came out like Lebron did and surpasses expectations and stayed out of trouble fine. You can do whatever you want. But if someone does all the knucklehead stuff that Russ did (especially the filming debacle) you would expect them to put their head down and go to work.

Like I said (again) I'm fine with players doing whatever, but you better bring it and Russ strikes me as that Dwight Howard kind of stupid and immature that never goes away (which LA fans hated Dwight for that).

He ed up with the Nick Young situation but the thing is he did go to work. His stats went up after the all star break despite being in a toxic situation and he recently put up good numbers in the summer league. Oh and miss me with that "summer league doesn't count" bull . Summer league was enough for spurfan to label him a bust last season.

Also, you're welcome to point out the other knucklehead stuff Russell did besides the Nick Young situation but i know you won't because you're clearly grasping at straws. By the way, we already established celebrating game winners doesn't really count unless you're 80 years old, right?

But go ahead and keep pushing your idiotic points because Lakers

[DPG21920]

He ed up with the Nick Young situation but the thing is he did go to work. His stats went up after the all star break despite being in a toxic situation and he recently put up good numbers in the summer league. Oh and miss me with that "summer league doesn't count" bull . Summer league was enough for spurfan to label him a bust last season.

Also, you're welcome to point out the other knucklehead stuff Russell besides the Nick Young situation did but i know you won't because you're clearly grasping at straws. By the way, we already established celebrating game winners doesn't really count unless you're 80 years old, right?

But go ahead and keep pushing your idiotic points because Lakers

What?

I literally listed numerous things beside the Nick Young incident. Spur fans had an entire NBA season, not just SL, to label him a bust FYI..

[DPG21920]

And this is not just about Russ. As I and many others pointed out, Lakers not only got questionable talent with their 3 years in the lottery (could be very solid, but the floor is also very, very low) but the franchise is a mess.

Young players with questionable talent need a great spot to grow and be nurtured. Russ and the other youngsters have only known losing, chaos, bad coaching and terrible front office management. They have learned life in the NBA is a circus and about players over the franchise.

Losing became acceptable. Being embarrassed became the norm. It's not just on Russ but the culture in LA now and how much damage was done to these young players.

LA really seems to be on the Dallas Cowboy franchise plan. Once proud franchise that has become more known for it's players stupidity, lack of discipline and terrible hype despite really doing nothing for a long, long, time (maybe you get the occasional playoff appearance, maybe).

[Bynumite]

What?

I literally listed numerous things beside the Nick Young incident. Spur fans had an entire NBA season, not just SL, to label him a bust FYI..

You mean to tell me rookies are questionable? That's usually how it works for non-NBA tested players.

You said it yourself, Russell was in a poisonous situation last season and when a coach's gameplan consists of giving the ball to Kobe and bench the rookies when they get hot, what exactly do you expect from a rookie? Just from the sample of games under Luke, you can clearly see Russell already looks better outside last season's poisonous situation.

[DPG21920]

Well, LA fans have no choice but to be invested so I can see how you would want to erase all the negative due to a little Summer League action, but I'm not so fast to just assume everything is ok.

It's not because I am a Spur fan either; I listed all the serious problems and those aren't really arguable. I'm not saying he's a bust - I'm saying I have more than enough reasons to be concerned and I do think he's closer to Dwight Howard's mentality than Lebrons.

[LkrFan]

Don't be a chicken . You act like you know basketball, where do you think the Spurs defense ranks this year? You seem to act like they will be terrible so go on record with your basketball knowledge.

Spurs interior defense will plummet without Jim guarding the yard. LMA and Pau are not anchors. I also expect TP to lose another step this year. So when players like Dame goes to the rack, Pau or LMA will be in foul trouble - because TP can't stay in front of his man.

Kiwi is great v defensely, so you guys should still hover around top 10 but not top 5 like y'all had been.