Lakers @ Suns 3-9-17

[elindholm]

For Pete's sake, you'd think after 7 years of being in purgatory, you'd be aching at the chance to get the most ping-pong balls, especially in a great draft where we might actually draft that difference maker who can start moving us OUT of the hell we've been in.

The funny thing is that getting a top pick matters more in a shallow draft than in a deep one. If this draft has several difference-makers, each team that gets one will fail to gain any ground on the other teams that get one.

 

[Yuma]

I was very happy because a loss is a loss. We gained ground on the Lakers and THEY need to lose more than we do.

It would be fun if for some reason the Lakers were to lose their pick this year. I know it won't happen, but if we were in the position to have them lose the pick, it would really be worth a loss!

 

[pokerface]

The funny thing is that getting a top pick matters more in a shallow draft than in a deep one. If this draft has several difference-makers, each team that gets one will fail to gain any ground on the other teams that get one.

Yeah well I'd still prefer the suns get more of the choice they want. Plus getting a higher pick allows us to trade down.

Still I get your point and somewhat agree with it. It's an optimistic way to look at this draft.

 

[pokerface]

It would be fun if for some reason the Lakers were to lose their pick this year. I know it won't happen, but if we were in the position to have them lose the pick, it would really be worth a loss!

Oh yeah absolutely! That would be so sweet.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It would be fun if for some reason the Lakers were to lose their pick this year. I know it won't happen, but if we were in the position to have them lose the pick, it would really be worth a loss!

Had we traded Bledsoe it might have played out this way. Even still, if we were to sit him we'd have at least a slight chance of losing out and moving into the 2 spot. If that were to happen, the Lakers would likely lose their pick this season along with their 2019 pick and that would be a wonderful thing AFAIC.

 

[Mainstreet]

It would be fun if for some reason the Lakers were to lose their pick this year. I know it won't happen, but if we were in the position to have them lose the pick, it would really be worth a loss!

Then we would be torturing ourselves because that Lakers pick could have been ours if McDonough had not traded for Knight.

 

[pokerface]

Then we would be torturing ourselves because that Lakers pick could have been ours if McDonough had not traded for Knight.

Ouch...Didn't realize we gave that pick for Knight.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ouch...Didn't realize we gave that pick for Knight.

Yes. This is one one of the reasons I don't care if the Lakers keep the top three protected pick because then I can rationalize it away... that the Suns did not trade a top draft pick for Knight.

Here is a link:

http://www.businessinsider.com/suns-gm-explains-lakers-pick-sixers-2015-2

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Ouch...Didn't realize we gave that pick for Knight.

What?!? You're just joking, right? How could you be a member of this board and NOT know that?

 

[AzStevenCal]

What?!? You're just joking, right? How could you be a member of this board and NOT know that?

I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it.
I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it.
I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it.
I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it. I didn't know it.

 

[pokerface]

What?!? You're just joking, right? How could you be a member of this board and NOT know that?

I don't know but I wish I didn't know! Now I'm a Brandon Knight hater on even a newer nastier level!!

 

[Phrazbit]

Then we would be torturing ourselves because that Lakers pick could have been ours if McDonough had not traded for Knight.

Eh, I'd still prefer they lose the pick, what is done is done. Screw the Lakers.

 

[Yuma]

Then we would be torturing ourselves because that Lakers pick could have been ours if McDonough had not traded for Knight.

I don't care. Just to mess with the Lakers in anyway possible.

 

[Mainstreet]

Eh, I'd still prefer they lose the pick, what is done is done. Screw the Lakers.

The only thing, I think posters would be complaining about losing a top pick for Knight into perpetuity, especially if that player became a star. It would be sort of another KT trade moment. The trade for Knight is already bad enough.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't care. Just to mess with the Lakers in anyway possible.

I understand. Perhaps I'm not feeling the Lakers rivalry right now because both teams are so bad.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The only thing, I think posters would be complaining about losing a top pick for Knight into perpetuity, especially if that player became a star. It would be sort of another KT trade moment. The trade for Knight is already bad enough.

Philly is going to get that pick sometime. So it might as well be now.

 

[hcsilla]

Yes. This is one one of the reasons I don't care if the Lakers keep the top three protected pick because then I can rationalize it away... that the Suns did not trade a top draft pick for Knight.

Here is a link:

http://www.businessinsider.com/suns-gm-explains-lakers-pick-sixers-2015-2

McD's evaluation about the Lakers' future proved to be simply wrong. Even if it would have been right, Knight was a terrible choice as a cashing-in asset.

Both Hammond and McD were outplayed by Hinkie who is simply a better GM.

 

[elindholm]

McD's evaluation about the Lakers' future proved to be simply wrong.

The storied franchises have a mystique that confounds even experienced experts. It seemed like everyone thought that Phil Jackson would return the Knicks to prominence, even though their fundamentals were terrible. The error in judgment was partly because it was Phil Jackson (ooh, ahh), but I think the larger issue was that it was the Knicks, and the assumption was that somehow it was only a matter of time until they got good again.

The Bulls, during the Derrick Rose era, were consistently overrated. Same situation. And now it's the Lakers, who surely are right on the doorstep of being a power again, because they just hired ... um, hold your applause ... Magic Johnson.

You need a lot of things to make a great NBA team, with luck probably being at the top of the list. "Names" in the front office, on the coaching bench, or gracing the front of the uniform are among the least important.

 

[hcsilla]

Yes, and times change.

For FA's winning means more, traditional markets like LA and NY lost a lot from their former allurement and have a much harder time to entice big-time free agents.

 

[Mainstreet]

McD's evaluation about the Lakers' future proved to be simply wrong. Even if it would have been right, Knight was a terrible choice as a cashing-in asset.

Both Hammond and McD were outplayed by Hinkie who is simply a better GM.

If the Lakers pick proves lackluster (presuming they draft in top three in 2017) wouldn't the evaluation of the Lakers' pick prove right? The Knight trade was terrible. I'm only looking at the value of the pick if it is conveyed in 2018 which could be mediocre.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If the Lakers pick proves lackluster (presuming they draft in top three in 2017) wouldn't the evaluation of the Lakers' pick prove right? The Knight trade was terrible. I'm only looking at the value of the pick if it is conveyed in 2018 which could be mediocre.

why do you think the Lakers could be mediocre next season... even with a Top 3 pick? They're still atrocious and none of these rookies are going to move the needle that much in his first year, especially playing with that trash.

 

[Mainstreet]

Philly is going to get that pick sometime. So it might as well be now.

It reality it does not matter since the Suns no longer own the pick.

I just didn't like the idea the Suns may have traded away a top ten pick for Knight if the Lakers did not land in the top three. It's already bad enough dealing with the Knight contract.

 

[Mainstreet]

why do you think the Lakers could be mediocre next season... even with a Top 3 pick? They're still atrocious and none of these rookies are going to move the needle that much in his first year, especially playing with that trash.

I think the Lakers will be improved next season with a top draft pick and likely a quality free agent. How good remains to be seen but they will better next season. However, the Lakers should be close to ordinary. I really like their young center in Zubac.

 

[Phrazbit]

Hard to argue that Hinkie is "simply a better GM" than anyone. If you want to lose on purpose it isn't hard, that part is EASY, the rebuilding and actually stock piling young talent... on that end he was an obscene failure. They've been historically bad for years and as of now what do they have to show for it? A guy who has played less games than Greg Oden through his first 3 seasons? (seriously) And Ben Simmons, who is also injured, recovering much slower than they anticipated and had a lot of red flags coming out of college. So, they've got them, and all their question marks and literally nothing else of value.

Hinkie did a nice job of follow Presti's tanking blueprint... but failed at the "evaluate talent" portion of it, which is the only part that really matters.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The storied franchises have a mystique that confounds even experienced experts. It seemed like everyone thought that Phil Jackson would return the Knicks to prominence, even though their fundamentals were terrible. The error in judgment was partly because it was Phil Jackson (ooh, ahh), but I think the larger issue was that it was the Knicks, and the assumption was that somehow it was only a matter of time until they got good again.

The Bulls, during the Derrick Rose era, were consistently overrated. Same situation. And now it's the Lakers, who surely are right on the doorstep of being a power again, because they just hired ... um, hold your applause ... Magic Johnson.

You need a lot of things to make a great NBA team, with luck probably being at the top of the list. "Names" in the front office, on the coaching bench, or gracing the front of the uniform are among the least important.

It is always assumed that the Lakers have an advantage because they are the Lakers. They have the story, the stars, the SoCal, location. But the death of Dr. Buss, and the insane commitment to Kobe took them to the depths. Still they have an advantage over other teams because of those things. Unfortunately for them, I do not think Magic will be that good of a GM and the turmoil in the Buss family makes for uncertainty that players will not trust.

McD's evaluation at the time was well-founded. The Lakers were just about to rebuild Miami style. Lot's of players wanted to be in LA. I think it was a reasonable conclusion that the pick would have been a lotto pick that one year and then they would have added a couple of free agents and then had a pick in the 12-15 range. It was a gamble with pretty good odds.