Lakers Insiders
@LALInsiders
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Unfiltered fan blog for the greatest sports franchise in the world. Not actually Insiders but y’all knew that. 8💜24💜2 #MambaForever #LakeShow #RamsHouse
Los Angeles, CA
Joined December 2017
Great point and probably factored into the Lakers’ decision to go after Deandre Ayton. Hard to find skilled high level athletes at the 4 & 5 spot in the NBA. Ayton is one of them.
Lawrence Frank mentioned that sometimes you have to pick between skill and athleticism. While Collins should give Clippers both in the front court. Specifically mentioned struggling with Aaron Gordon in the playoffs at Denver.
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Got a chance to check up on this - Jake Laravia has an extensive injury history. Not really any major structural issues but he is constantly missing games due to small ailments. Last year was his healthiest - 66 games played. Hopefully that’s a sign of things to come.
Anyone know why Jake Laravia has such few games played each season?. Injuries? Or he just can’t hold down a rotation spot?.
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Last thing the Lakers needed last season was a “Jake Laravia” lmao. I like the upside and it’s good value but he legit fills 0 gaps on this roster. Just another guy who can shoot and attack a close out. Most of our team can do that.
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Been very patient with Pelinka and don’t even think he’s some terrible GM but I am ready for a change. Lakers have been disastrous around the margins and with role players for years and years. It never gets better.
@LALInsiders Sooner we get a new gm under new ownership the better.
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At a certain point in 2021 I understood Rob Pelinka wasn’t the only dude building the Lakers roster. LeBron & AD had a strong hand in roster building up until the Russ trade. So I was critical of those guys too. Similarly, Luka & JJ are clearly a part of this build.
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Don’t even dislike the Ayton and Laravia deals. They make sense next to Luka especially moving forward. But losing DFS for no reason is ridiculous. Bad asset management after you traded 3 2nd round picks for him. And he’s a winning player! One of the few guys JJ trusted.
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Starting to believe that story that Rob went behind DFS back and talked shit about his injuries. Just don’t see why he’d leave if the money was the same. It’s either that or the Lakers decided Ayton and Laravia contribute more to winning basketball 🤣 won’t put it past them.
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Can’t believe these idiots just let DFS go for no reason. You could’ve convinced Ayton to take less considering nobody in the NBA wants him. It’s crazy how little the Lakers organization understands winning basketball. All they know is names, clout, and stats.
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Finney Smith Houston contract - all upside. If he’s great, they have him for 3 or 4 seasons at a reasonable cost. Ayton contract - little upside. If Ayton is great, he’ll opt out and leave in free agency. If he sucks, we have a $8M anchor on our books next offseason.
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DFS got a TWO year deal. Not a 4 year deal. This is all semantics. Massive fumble by the Lakers here. Rockets get a steal and there’s literally no downside. If he falls off significantly they can cut him after year 2 with no debt.
Update: The Houston Rockets signed Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year, $53 million deal, which is fully guaranteed the first two seasons, has a third-year non-guaranteed salary, and a fourth-year non-guaranteed salary and player option, league sources told @hoopshype.
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“I’d straight up rather have Rui Hachimura than Andrew Wiggins” - @ryenarussillo 🤝.
Rui Hachimura is just as good as Andrew Wiggins. Different players and Wiggins fills more of the Lakers holes, but they should have the same value. Tall, consistent shooters are super valuable.
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Really smart marginal move by Miami too. Norm Powell has a chance at being a playoff contributor and they got him basically for free.
The Heat just got Norman Powell (expiring) and only gave up Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love… it doesn’t look like they are going to budge on their asking price for Wiggins. Rob need to get more creative in these deals to get something done.
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Yup.
Brad Beal gonna be a Clipper after that buyout unless they get outbid. Fit makes sense and the Clippers always go after these big names when they can.
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John Collins is a great fit for the Clippers. Brings in the athleticism and speed that they’re lacking and won’t force them into a specific playstyle. Good target for them. Losing Norm Powell isn’t nothing though. He was great there.
BREAKING: The Clippers, Jazz and Heat have agreed to a trade that sends Norman Powell to Miami, John Collins to Los Angeles, and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick to the Jazz, sources tell ESPN.
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Letting a Hayes contract mess with financial flexibility would be all time stupid. There has to be a trade coming where we shed some salary and re-open full BAE. Still tho - who were we bidding against for Jax Hayes? 🤦♂️.
I had heard Hayes wasn’t for the min meaning the Lakers don’t have access to the full BAE because of the first apron (even if they waive Milton). Certainly complicates their pursuit for defensive help on the wing.
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RT @Jumpshot8: Basically come back and play 8 mins a game and have these Jokic stat nerds blame you with a plus/minus of how you are failin….
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Correction here - Bazley would have to get a legit roster spot. No longer eligible for 2 way.
@LALInsiders 4 or less years of NBA experience for two-ways and he has 5, so no shot.
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Bronny might be ready for some spot minutes in the regular season. High IQ defender and energy guy for this SL team. If that 3 ball falls at a decent clip, he may find a small role on the parent team.
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Darius Bazley looks great out there. Might be worth a look on a 2 way contract.
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