Why did the Lakers not keep Drummond?

[King Baron]

He played with the toe injury last season and seemed to have good chemistry with LeBron considering he imitated his posting up on the sidelines.

Yes, they got Dwight but surely they could have kept Drummond too and saw what happened this season when he was fully healthy. Especially considering there's rumors Gasol might opt to play overseas instead of the Lakers next season.

Also, Drummond is still young at 28 and considering how injury prone this Lakers team is, it couldn't have hurt to have another option.

It's a bit strange Drummond chose the 76ers too considering his rival history with Embiid.

[Xiao Yao You]

he's a dinosaur. There's a reason he had to settle for a minimum deal. On the verge of going to China at this point

[1987_Lakers]

Empty stats & an average defender, he doesn't pass the eye test at all, much rather have a legit rim protector down there like Dwight.

[Rick Bottom]

....who cares?

[ArbitraryWater]

I was higher on him before the signing.

He truly doesn't seem to have that much impact out there.

[Spurs m8]

....who cares?

OP does

[bladefd]

I don't care for Drummond. He didn't fit the role Lakers needed from him and he doesn't exactly fit modern nba. If he has no range then he has to be able to play defense if he is to have a role in modern nba. He has no range, is soft and can't play defense so he will never get big minutes.

[FireDavidKahn]

Because he isn't any good.

[Spurs m8]

Because he isn't any good.

Hes basically KAT lite at this point.

When's ya other loser hero gonna make the playoffs?

[Xiao Yao You]

Hes basically KAT lite at this point.

When's ya other loser hero gonna make the playoffs?

Kat can shoot the 3 so he actually fits in today's game

[Spurs m8]

Kat can shoot the 3 so he actually fits in today's game

Is that why Rudy gets exposed in the playoffs?

[Xiao Yao You]

Is that why Rudy gets exposed in the playoffs?

didn't know he had

[FireDavidKahn]

Hes basically KAT lite at this point.

When's ya other loser hero gonna make the playoffs?

what?:roll:

KAT is a generational scoring bigman from anywhere on the floor. KAT obviously isn't a #1 (no big men in the NBA can be) but he is just fine as a second banana.

[Xiao Yao You]

what?:roll:

KAT is a generational scoring bigman from anywhere on the floor. KAT obviously isn't a #1 (no big men in the NBA can be) but he is just fine as a second banana.

2nd banana on a lottery team anyway

[FireDavidKahn]

2nd banana on a lottery team anyway

When Butler was here we were 3rd in the conference until he got injured. KAT was by far and away the second best player.

[Full Court]

Lakers made a bunch of dumb moves last year. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...yet they revamped almost their whole team after winning the championship in 2020. They were top seed before Davis got injured, and here they are revamping yet again. Westbrook was a good pickup, and so was Howard, but I'm not sure how this new team of theirs is going to play out.

[Xiao Yao You]

When Butler was here we were 3rd in the conference until he got injured. KAT was by far and away the second best player.

yeah and he'd rather lose than play with Butler :facepalm

[King Baron]

I don't care for Drummond. He didn't fit the role Lakers needed from him and he doesn't exactly fit modern nba. If he has no range then he has to be able to play defense if he is to have a role in modern nba. He has no range, is soft and can't play defense so he will never get big minutes.

Drummond's an elite level rebounder averaging 13.7 boards a game over his career. Yes, his average went down to 10.2 boards on the Lakers (with the toenail injury) but it was only a 24 game sample size. Surely, that kind of rebounding is worth a veteran's minimum contract for a 28-year old.

If Gasol decides not to return to the NBA, you're looking at either playing Dwight heavy minutes at C or Anthony Davis, which is a position on the floor he's not a fan of. And if Gasol does return you're still relying on two Centers in their mid-30s to play heavy minutes potentially.

You should be managing their time wisely so they can be max-effective in the Playoffs and reduce chance of injury.

It also seems misguided for the Lakers to not resign a talent who got along in the locker room. You can't expect every Center to be efficient shooting 3's like Brook Lopez.

[Xiao Yao You]

Drummond's an elite level rebounder averaging 13.7 boards a game over his career. Yes, his average went down to 10.2 boards on the Lakers (with the toenail injury) but it was only a 24 game sample size. Surely, that kind of rebounding is worth a veteran's minimum contract for a 28-year old.

If Gasol decides not to return to the NBA, you're looking at either playing Dwight heavy minutes at C or Anthony Davis, which is a position on the floor he's not a fan of. And if Gasol does return you're still relying on two Centers in their mid-30s to play heavy minutes potentially.

You should be managing their time wisely so they can be max-effective in the Playoffs and reduce chance of injury.

It also seems misguided for the Lakers to not resign a talent who got along in the locker room. You can't expect every Center to be efficient shooting 3's like Brook Lopez.

Davis should be at the 5 rather he likes it or not

[Kblaze8855]

didn't know he had

The DPOY needing to be pulled(for at least the third year) for defensive reasons in the playoffs is about as “exposed” as it gets. The term “exposed” is almost always used poorly. But if ever it fit….this was it. When your calling card is defense and teams can make you a defensive liability who can only contribute in any way at that point by setting screens “exposed” is the right word. You have been arguing against him being played off the court for like 4 years and finally conceded that one of the options they should have considered was benching him. That’s game over.

Hes still obviously a great defender….but guys like he and worse versions like Drummond simply are not the centerpieces they could be in theory in a league where teams can go small and use them against their own teams.

Its not a failing of these old style dinosaur centers exactly….it’s the league and rules they find themselves playing in.

In this league….pretty much all of them can be rendered a liability if they don’t have the ability to pay it back on the other end like a Jokic or Embiid.

Paint protecting 7 footers who can’t do anything useful with the ball are always a hot shooting small lineup from being an absolute liability….and almost every team can put such a lineup on the floor in this league. So much so that one missing it’s best player ran circles around a DPOY by getting a good night from a role player.

If the impression one had of Rudy was that of a great player and defender who could not be rendered irrelevant through small tactical changes then he absolutely was exposed as less than that.

Him personally and all his kind.

When teams can play 5 shooters a guy preventing layups doesnt do shit but leave a shooter open or get his ankles taken trying to defend in space at 25 feet.

Its as apt a use of the term “exposed” as has ever been attempted in this place of usually shitty arguments. He exposed his entire archetype to anyone who didn’t already see how such players can be abused when it counts. His performance may trigger the destruction of his species as a team centerpiece.

Terance Mann may turn out to be the asteroid that wiped out the giant paint clogging big who can’t score as a max player in this league.

[Xiao Yao You]

The DPOY needing to be pulled(for at least the third year) for defensive reasons in the playoffs is about as “exposed” as it gets. The term “exposed” is almost always used poorly. But if ever it fit….this was it. When your calling card is defense and teams can make you a defensive liability who can only contribute in any way at that point by setting screens “exposed” is the right word. You have been arguing against him being played off the court for like 4 years and finally conceded that one of the options they should have considered was benching him. That’s game over.

Hes still obviously a great defender….but guys like he and worse versions like Drummond simply are not the centerpieces they could be in theory in a league where teams can go small and use them against their own teams.

Its not a failing of these old style dinosaur centers exactly….it’s the league and rules they find themselves playing in.

In this league….pretty much all of them can be rendered a liability if they don’t have the ability to pay it back on the other end like a Jokic or Embiid.

Paint protecting 7 footers who can’t do anything useful with the ball are always a hot shooting small lineup from being an absolute liability….and almost every team can put such a lineup on the floor in this league. So much so that one missing it’s best player ran circles around a DPOY by getting a good night from a role player.

If the impression one had of Rudy was that of a great player and defender who could not be rendered irrelevant through small tactical changes then he absolutely was exposed as less than that.

Him personally and all his kind.

When teams can play 5 shooters a guy preventing layups doesnt do shit but leave a shooter open or get his ankles taken trying to defend in space at 25 feet.

Its as apt a use of the term “exposed” as has ever been attempted in this place of usually shitty arguments. He exposed his entire archetype to anyone who didn’t already see how such players can be abused when it counts. His performance may trigger the destruction of his species as a team centerpiece.

Terance Mann may turn out to be the asteroid that wiped out the giant paint clogging big who can’t score as a max player in this league.

we saw in the olympics he could make a team pay for playing small and that he could guard the perimeter. Got to have a coach and teammates that play their part. The Jazz didn't

[warriorfan]

LeBron’s lack of midrange game necessitates that he needs floor spacing 5’s that won’t post up in the paint.

[Kblaze8855]

You see role players who will never play 15 minutes defeat lineup of Hall of Famer’s in the Olympics. It’s irrelevant to the NBA. I said before they played team usa that Rudy is more useful internationally and the reasons are clear. He would also be more effective in an ncaa rules environment. Has nothing to do with the NBA playoffs. The Nba is designed to make games turn to shootouts. His getting destroyed in the playoffs isn’t strictly his fault. He’s fighting an uphill battle against the rules and team design of the era he’s in.

His team could potentially win but it would require his guards to go apeshit to offset his giving up threes. Even good defenders are at a league designed disadvantage. Average to poor ones get lit up and light you up back. When they can turn Rudy into an effectively bad defender by rules and small ball and he can’t do what a Mitchell, Lillard, Jokic or whoever can….make it up on the other end?

Hes….wel not useless…but not of much use.

Put Gary Payton in this league and don’t let him impede anyone’s progress he’d get blown by a lot. They artificially lowered the ceiling of point of attack defensive impact by making them play soft. Asking guards today to keep people out of the lane with spacing limiting double teams and rules all but eliminating physical perimeter defense is just unrealistic. That’s why a guy like him is so effective….until nobody cares to attack the basket to begin with and just rain threes and have him looking like an amateur chasing guys half his size when they do pump fake and drive.

The league is rigged against him but that doesn’t matter on the bottom line. All the bottom line knows is the DPOY gets shit on defensively when it matters and it’s happened too many times for him to maintain his status.

Hes gonna need those guards to win for him when it counts the rest of his career. It’s unlikely but possible. It’s approaching impossible for him to win for them. They can make up for his deficiencies easier in a league rigged in their favor. He can’t make up for theirs when shooting hits a certain level.

Just reality. And it goes for everyone like him. He’s the best left of his type….but his type isn’t as useful as you want it to be when it matters. The league wants it that way and they made it happen.

[bladefd]

Drummond's an elite level rebounder averaging 13.7 boards a game over his career. Yes, his average went down to 10.2 boards on the Lakers (with the toenail injury) but it was only a 24 game sample size. Surely, that kind of rebounding is worth a veteran's minimum contract for a 28-year old.

If Gasol decides not to return to the NBA, you're looking at either playing Dwight heavy minutes at C or Anthony Davis, which is a position on the floor he's not a fan of. And if Gasol does return you're still relying on two Centers in their mid-30s to play heavy minutes potentially.

You should be managing their time wisely so they can be max-effective in the Playoffs and reduce chance of injury.

It also seems misguided for the Lakers to not resign a talent who got along in the locker room. You can't expect every Center to be efficient shooting 3's like Brook Lopez.

Dwight has career rebound average of 12.1 and plays vastly better tough defense. He is a better fit. I expect Gasol to return for a final season he is under contract for.

There was too much politics involved with Drummond last season to forcefully feed him minutes he had no business getting. It is the right move moving forward without him.

[L.Kizzle]

Did anyone actually think he was a good pick up for the Lakers?

[Xiao Yao You]

Did anyone actually think he was a good pick up for the Lakers?

many

[Mr. Woke]

He isn't that good lol.

[Axe]

He was a bust. Lmao.

[HylianNightmare]

Cause Dwight's better

[King Baron]

Dwight has career rebound average of 12.1 and plays vastly better tough defense. He is a better fit. I expect Gasol to return for a final season he is under contract for.

There was too much politics involved with Drummond last season to forcefully feed him minutes he had no business getting. It is the right move moving forward without him.

Marc Stein reported Gasol might not be a lock to return 2 days ago, that he might want to play in Spain next season. I'm not saying Dwight's not also a great rebounder. I'm saying you might be down to solely Dwight as your primary center at age 35, when you could have had insurance at literally the veteran's minimum.

This will only put pressure on Anthony Davis to play the 5 when he really doesn't want to see minutes there, slowly breeding resentment. Not to mention opening up further injury possibilities. Could have all been avoided by just signing Drummond.

Say Gasol doesn't play next season, whoever the Lakers sign to play backup Center is very unlikely to be as good of a rebounder as Drummond. Also, I don't feel Drummond's limited game sample while injured necessarily told the whole story. There was pretty much zero risk for the Lakers in signing him at the minimum.

[Xiao Yao You]

Marc Stein reported Gasol might not be a lock to return 2 days ago, that he might want to play in Spain next season. I'm not saying Dwight's not also a great rebounder. I'm saying you might be down to solely Dwight as your primary center at age 35, when you could have had insurance at literally the veteran's minimum.

This will only put pressure on Anthony Davis to play the 5 when he really doesn't want to see minutes there, slowly breeding resentment. Not to mention opening up further injury possibilities. Could have all been avoided by just signing Drummond.

Say Gasol doesn't play next season, whoever the Lakers sign to play backup Center is very unlikely to be as good of a rebounder as Drummond. Also, I don't feel Drummond's limited game sample while injured necessarily told the whole story. There was pretty much zero risk for the Lakers in signing him at the minimum.

can get someone that stretches the floor or defends the rim instead of Drummond who does neither. Rebounding should not be a problem with Lebron, Davis and Westbrook

[bladefd]

Marc Stein reported Gasol might not be a lock to return 2 days ago, that he might want to play in Spain next season. I'm not saying Dwight's not also a great rebounder. I'm saying you might be down to solely Dwight as your primary center at age 35, when you could have had insurance at literally the veteran's minimum.

This will only put pressure on Anthony Davis to play the 5 when he really doesn't want to see minutes there, slowly breeding resentment. Not to mention opening up further injury possibilities. Could have all been avoided by just signing Drummond.

Say Gasol doesn't play next season, whoever the Lakers sign to play backup Center is very unlikely to be as good of a rebounder as Drummond. Also, I don't feel Drummond's limited game sample while injured necessarily told the whole story. There was pretty much zero risk for the Lakers in signing him at the minimum.

Dwight 20mpg, AD 15mpg at center. If it's not Gasol we can find another 3rd string center if we really needed to for 10mpg. I don't want Lakers forcing Drummond down our throats. We can alas go small run-and-gun for 10mpg. You don't need a center out there all 48mins.

There will also be the trade deadline to find a bought out player who is a better fit. We will be fine at the 5.

[SaintzFury13]

I don't know why the idea of having Drummond at the minimum is a bad thing. If it isn't working out then you just sit him. Otherwise I don't see the downside.

When he was with Cleveland, they were one of the better defensive teams in the league until injuries plagued them. Obviously Drummond is not your ideal center of the future, but in LA he doesn't have to be. As long as he can keep other teams off the boards and is able to tire out opposing teams bigs that they rely heavily upon, Drummond is serviceable and can still at least benefit your team.

In regards to why the Lakers didn't keep him...well I kind of figured Westbrook was the reason why. It was bad enough having LeBron there especially this late in his career, but now to bring in Westbrook on top of that? I see no justification at that point for wanting Drummond on the team. Westbrook and LeBron are already an extremely questionable fit, they don't need to make it any worse by having Drummond there. This is going to cause some issues for the Lakers since they don't have a true starting center at the moment, and I don't think Howard is the answer they're looking for. If Gasol doesn't come back, they are going to need to figure something out.