How the Lakers can Construct a Championship Contender and Maintain Future Flexibility

[BallsOut]

Some people are wondering how the Lakers can construct a contender with Kobe's last year with the Lakers approaching and still maintain future flexibility to sign Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook once they hit free agency. Well it's definitely possible. Below are my ideas:

1) Lakers S&T Jordan Hill to the Pacers for George Hill. George has 2 years/8 mill per remaining on his contract which frees up the same year that former UCLA Russell Westbrook becomes a free agent. George brings veteran experience, great 3pt shooting, good ball handing and solid defense needed to mentor the younger Clarkson.

2) Lakers sign Jahil Okafor or Karl Anthony Towns with #2 draft pick.

3) Lakers sign Jimmy Buter or Kawhi Leonard to max offer sheet expecting either the Bulls or Spurs not to match.

4) Lakers resign Ed Davis, Tarid Black and Wayne Ellington.

5) Lakers sign Tom Thibodeau as a defensive assistant coach

PG: George Hill (8) | Jordan Clarkson (800k)
SG: Kobe Bryant (25) | Nick Young (5.2) | Wayne Ellington (1)
SF: Jimmy Butler (16.6) | Ryan Kelly (1.7)
PF: Julius Randle (3.1) | Ed Davis (1.1)
C: Jahil Okafor (5) | | Tarid Black (1)

2015-16 salary cap projected at 67 mill and the Lakers still have their 27th and 34th picks to fill out the roster.

Coaching philosophy:
Byron Scott implements triangle offense with Tom Thibodeau orchestrating the defense ala 07-10 Celtics.
Okafor plays the Pau Gasol post scoring role.
Randle plays the versatile Lamar Odom role of a rebounding/ball handling PF.
Butler plays the Trevor Ariza/Ron Artest defensive stopper and role and also being the 1st/2nd/3rd scorer.
Kobe being Kobe.
Hill playing the Derek Fisher role.
Boasted bench with Clarkson/Young running showtime break and Davis/Black as workhorses on the glass.

How far would this team go? What do you guys think?

[Asiantastic]

Would be amazing, but extremely unrealistic.

1. Kobe is no longer Kobe. He won't average 28-30 PPG anymore and can't lead the team on that same level.

2. Okafor and Randle need time to develop.

3. Thibodeau will probably want a head coaching job. I don't really see him dropping down to an assistant right away.

4. No Phil + No Tex + No Shaw + No Rambis = No functional triangle

Pipe dream

[ISHGoat]

Amnesty kobe

[fragokota]

1. How on earth can you believe that Bulls won't match for Butler?

2. Thibs isn't going to accept a job being an assistant coach

3. Let it go...

[YouGotServed]

Lakers, contender? These lottery kids running rampant all over the forum.

Mods.

[Fallen Angel]

These lottery children talking about championship?

Mods.

[BallsOut]

Would be amazing, but extremely unrealistic.

1. Kobe is no longer Kobe. He won't average 28-30 PPG anymore and can't lead the team on that same level.

2. Okafor and Randle need time to develop.

3. Thibodeau will probably want a head coaching job. I don't really see him dropping down to an assistant right away.

4. No Phil + No Tex + No Shaw + No Rambis = No functional triangle

Pipe dream

1. Agreed, he probably won't average 28-30 per season anymore but he would have Jimmy Butler and Jahil Okafor to shoulder the load. They have proven to be more than capable scorers for a nice 1/2/3 punch.

2. Agreed, but I see Okafor coming in and putting up a double/double right away. He has an NBA ready offensive game.

3. We don't know for sure what he wants. He's still getting paid by the Bulls for the next 2 years so maybe he wants to take a back seat.

4. Disagree. Byron Scott is another proponent of the triangle and has played in the system during his showtime Laker days with Magic and Kareem.

[Bandito]

After Kobe retires maybe if they sign Westbrook, they might be able to win in 2018 or later bar injuries depending on who's the coach or starter PG.

[kamil]

Another entitled Lakers fan.

[T_L_P]

As if the Pacers are gonna give up an arguably top 10 PG for Jordan fcking Hill. What the fck bro.

[BallsOut]

As if the Pacers are gonna give up an arguably top 10 PG for Jordan fcking Hill. What the fck bro.

Hill is a Top 10 PG?

Curry
Rose
Cp3
Westbrook
Lowry
Wall
Irving
Conley
Parker
Teague
Bledsoe
Dragic
Thomas
Lawson


That's already 14 PGs better than Hill and that's just off the top of my head. Thanks for playing

[T_L_P]

Hill is a Top 10 PG?

Curry
Rose
Cp3
Westbrook
Lowry
Wall
Irving
Conley
Parker
Teague
Bledsoe
Dragic
Thomas
Lawson


That's already 14 PGs better than Hill and that's just off the top of my head. Thanks for playing

The Pacers were 27-16 with Hill in the lineup this season (11-28 without him). That's a 51 win pace without their best player (Paul George).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...15&p4=&p5=&p6=

Hill played less games than both of them this season but had more Win Shares, a much higher PER, a much higher WS/48, a much better Box +/- (Rose and Parker are both in the negatives whereas Hill is top 5 in the stat for PGs).

2nd in PPG of that group, 1st in RPG/APG/SPG/BPG, least Turnovers, 1st in TS%.

Parker was literally the worst player in the entire league this postseason. Rose at this point is nothing more than a mediocre guard who still takes as many shots as a star.

Get real.

You have 12 there (the only 12), and Hill has arguments over a handful of them.

So yes, he is arguably a top 10 PG.

Still, you still haven't answered why the Pacers would even think about this. Jordan Hill is basically a scrub. What good does this trade do for Indiana?

[fragokota]

Still, you still haven't answered why the Pacers would even think about this. Jordan Hill is basically a scrub. What good does this trade do for Indiana?

Nothing, it'll be just a little gift from Larry to his beloved Lakers...

[BallsOut]

The Pacers were 27-16 with Hill in the lineup this season (11-28 without him). That's a 51 win pace without their best player (Paul George).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...15&p4=&p5=&p6=

Hill played less games than both of them this season but had more Win Shares, a much higher PER, a much higher WS/48, a much better Box +/- (Rose and Parker are both in the negatives whereas Hill is top 5 in the stat for PGs).

2nd in PPG of that group, 1st in RPG/APG/SPG/BPG, least Turnovers, 1st in TS%.

Parker was literally the worst player in the entire league this postseason. Rose at this point is nothing more than a mediocre guard who still takes as many shots as a star.

Get real.

You have 12 there (the only 12), and Hill has arguments over a handful of them.

So yes, he is arguably a top 10 PG.

Still, you still haven't answered why the Pacers would even think about this. Jordan Hill is basically a scrub. What good does this trade do for Indiana?

If you think George Hill is better than Derrick Rose and Tony Parker, there's nothing I need to convince you of.

[TheGreatDeraj]

Some people are wondering how the Lakers can construct a contender with Kobe's last year with the Lakers approaching and still maintain future flexibility to sign Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook once they hit free agency. Well it's definitely possible. Below are my ideas:

1) Lakers S&T Jordan Hill to the Pacers for George Hill. George has 2 years/8 mill per remaining on his contract which frees up the same year that former UCLA Russell Westbrook becomes a free agent. George brings veteran experience, great 3pt shooting, good ball handing and solid defense needed to mentor the younger Clarkson.

2) Lakers sign Jahil Okafor or Karl Anthony Towns with #2 draft pick.

3) Lakers sign Jimmy Buter or Draymond Green to max offer sheet expecting either the Bulls or Warriors not to match.

4) Lakers resign Ed Davis, Tarid Black and Wayne Ellington.

5) Lakers sign Tom Thibodeau as a defensive assistant coach

PG: George Hill (8) | Jordan Clarkson (800k)
SG: Kobe Bryant (25) | Nick Young (5.2) | Wayne Ellington (1)
SF: Jimmy Butler (16.6) | Ryan Kelly (1.7)
PF: Julius Randle (3.1) | Ed Davis (1.1)
C: Jahil Okafor (5) | | Tarid Black (1)

2015-16 salary cap projected at 67 mill and the Lakers still have their 27th and 34th picks to fill out the roster.

Coaching philosophy:
Byron Scott implements triangle offense with Tom Thibodeau orchestrating the defense ala 07-10 Celtics.
Okafor plays the Pau Gasol post scoring role.
Randle plays the versatile Lamar Odom role of a rebounding/ball handling PF.
Butler plays the Trevor Ariza/Ron Artest defensive stopper and role and also being the 1st/2nd/3rd scorer.
Kobe being Kobe.
Hill playing the Derek Fisher role.
Boasted bench with Clarkson/Young running showtime break and Davis/Black as workhorses on the glass.

How far would this team go? What do you guys think?

Couple things...

1) Clarkson > George Hill. Clarkson has tons of potential and needs playing time.

2) Lakers need Towns. Towns is legit. Okafor is questionable on defense and from the FT line. If not Towns, perhaps they they should take Russell or Mudiay and try to sign Marc Gasol.

Clarkson/Mudiay
Russell/Clarkson
Kobe
Randle
Gasol

What do you think?

3) Neither Butler nor Green is leaving

4) sure, none of these players has a future in LA imo. Maybe Ed Davis off bench.

5) I doubt Thibodeau would go back to being assistant.

6) Byron Scott did not play in the Triangle in LA. Showtime Lakers ran a fast paced offense based around Magic/Kareem. The triangle was introduced to LA when Phil Jackson became the coach in 2000.