Would love a guard, someone who could be an above average in-ball defender. We have enough size now, it may not be elite but it’s what we have to work with. I can see some things will need to be worked out, especially if Ayton has another 40 some odd game season. My hope, and it’s pinning a lot on the fact that Portland is rebuilding, is that he missed as many games as he did because of an over-abundance of caution. It’s not a lotta hope, tho.
All in all, unless we add another young talent that can likely crack the rotation, it feels like we’re done and they’ll fill the roster out not having waived Shake (which is kinda odd, all things considered) with a low impact, minimum contract.
That would make my grade a C+. This off-season created as many questions as answers, left everyone wondering what direction the Lakers are going in, and makes me feel like Rob has a very, very short leash going forward.
One positive is that, come the deadline, we’ll have roughly 110-111 mil in expiring money (not counting Luka). Hard for me to see him not negotiate SOME kind of deal in August, if only to protect himself from injury, but you never know. If August comes and goes and no extension, Laker brass will be sweating atom bombs.
All of that is pressure in a GM who, historically, has under-performed in his role as a visionary and crafter of team identity. All of that is pressure on a second year coach who got his ass handed to him in the playoffs and seems to have a hard time doing the basic function of the job: connecting with his players. All of this is pressure on an incoming owner who will undoubtedly want to come in hot and ready for banner winning.
So we’ll see. If Reddick can grow, quickly, as a coach it would go a very long way in helping the team overall and get to where they want to be. If Luka comes in healthy, motivated and in full on leadership mode it’ll help. If Ayton plays like he did in his last contract season it’ll help.
So here’s hoping.