D'angelo Russell: You've gone!

[realmofotalk]

I never like giving away young talent to dump an otherwise immovable contract, and I still hate that the Lakers essentially punted the #2 overall pick in 2015 to get rid of a stiff that the Short Buss and Mitch should have never signed in the first place. No matter what you think of Russell's potential, he was still a controllable asset, and the fact that the Lakers can only lure the likes of Mozgov and Deng in free agency proves they need to hold on to their controllable assets and not give them away.

Trade grade: F. Becomes F-minus if Russell returns to Staples and drops 39 on Lonzo.

[HollywoodLeo]

It apparently sets them up to be able to afford 2 max contracts in free agency next year.

Big picture wise, yeah, they shouldn't have signed him in the first place. But the deed was already done and it was probably the best they could have done in response.

Trade still becomes useless if they can't convince anyone worthwhile to sign for that max contract room, though.

[Hammer]

It apparently sets them up to be able to afford 2 max contracts in free agency next year.

Big picture wise, yeah, they shouldn't have signed him in the first place. But the deed was already done and it was probably the best they could have done in response.

Trade still becomes useless if they can't convince anyone worthwhile to sign for that max contract room, though.

im fairly certain paul george is a foregone conclusion. im not all that sure about lebron... but allegedly his wife is pushing for la. so... we'll see.

[Kingdom]

BroLo at least gives you the most useful front court player since...pre-sad pants Gasol? And you got rid of a huge mistake in Mozgov. I think Ingram has loads more potential than Russell, even if Russell scores 20 plus ppg for the Nets, better to trade him plus I really don't think a Ball-Russell backcourt would click in an efficient way. Given that he and Lin could jack up 120 shots s game..he should average 20ppg.

[realmofotalk]

Even if Brook Lopez is useful for a year, then what? They won't be re-signing him to an extension nor should they if they want maintain cap room for 2 max contracts. All he is an expiring contract or midseason trade bait for a non-lottery pick.

[HollywoodLeo]

I don't think he was the centerpiece of the deal

[realmofotalk]

The late first round pick may be the longer term asset, but that's not why they made the deal. If the Nets played hardball, I imagine the Lakers would have settled for just Lopez's expiring contract since they were so eager to dump Mozgov's salary.

[HollywoodLeo]

Right. And while you're right that in the grand scheme of things they should have never signed him, but they did sign him and their choices were to either sit on it or find a way out of it and they did the latter in a way that didn't hurt too bad.

[realmofotalk]

Wow, the Nets found somebody to take on Mozgov's two remaining years. He must be as dumb as the GM who originally signed Mozgov to that contract.

[Kingdom]

Kupchak and Mozgov, the bromance the world needs.

[realmofotalk]

A team led by Russell, Randle, Lou Williams, and Ingram (blood clots notwithstanding) probably makes the playoffs right now, no? Thanks again, Magic.

[Kingdom]

and brook lopez!

[realmofotalk]

But had they kept D'lo and Mozgov, then there's no Brook Lopez. But sure, going against Luke's wishes in letting BroLo go and replacing him with McGee was another Magic blunder. And somehow the pinkhat Lakers fans think that a coaching change without a front office change will solve their problems.

[Kingdom]

gd kupchak

[realmofotalk]