S71 Lakers Presser: And Another One

[MexicanMamba]

We're back.

Back again.

Mamba's back.

Cause this shit just won't end.

It's season 71 and I've now lost track of what season it is for me in particular, but it's a lot. At this point, there's nothing I've not seen or experienced. So, last season's continued push to just buy time until my 2 young, budding stars can be ready to fully pop had a predictable ending. The Pacers were bigger, tougher, better. But it was okay because TJD got playing time, Kinsella played like a star, and we made the playoffs. All good things.

Coming into this off-season, I had a very simple goal knowing that both the youngsters mentioned above were hitting RFA and a guaranteed max contract. Sell off some pieces, stay under the apron, and try to wait for this boring monopoly of winning in Detroit to fade away and let the future best front court combo in the league to pick up.

And yet, somehow, very little of that happened and here I am looking at an above $400mil team salary and new, veteran pieces to play with my other 2 guys. It's been quite a road.

Mac McClung is incredibly exciting. A man that I had in his youth who never saw the court in LA, but returns a champion and Playoff MVP. AJ Blaze, a scoring savant and alpha personality. Tony Newland, a man whose all around game reminds me a lot of a more athletic version of Safi Fino-A-Laself. It's one hell of a starting 5 that should give almost anyone fits.

Unfortunately, we share a division with the two best teams in the league. Still, we're prepared to give them everything they can possibly want and let the chips fall how they may.

Preseason showed some of what we have to offer, but it's never fully reliable but can be a fun conversation starter, at the very least.

The end result of this season may be a forgone conclusion, but let's at least drop a few mines in the road for folks to avoid, yeah?


Now, ask away, if you have the questions.

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[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Your opinion is one of the most highly respected opinions in the league because of your calm personality and expertise in dealing with people, but your presser shows that even as one of the most competitive rosters in the league, you believe the outcome of S71 is a foregone conclusion. What's your take on all of the offseason discussion that a team as powerful as the Pistons is ruining the league?

[K-100]

Did you entertain any trade talks with the Pistons for TJD during RFA or was it always going to be an auto-match?

[MexicanMamba]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Your opinion is one of the most highly respected opinions in the league because of your calm personality and expertise in dealing with people, but your presser shows that even as one of the most competitive rosters in the league, you believe the outcome of S71 is a foregone conclusion. What's your take on all of the offseason discussion that a team as powerful as the Pistons is ruining the league?

"Ruin" is probably too strong a word, since Scott's 4-peat didn't bring down the league either. However, I don't think it helps the trade market in any way (which really is the primary lifeblood of the league, IMO) as GMs become far less willing to go all the way in when there's a feeling that they still wouldn't have a realistic shot in the near future. The big determining factor in all of this will be how long Doug keeps it going. He's just won 2 chips and re-signed all 3 core pieces longterm. Which means, if he really wanted to go all-in, tax bill be damned, it's likely he could go for AT LEAST the 4 that Scott did. If not more. Which really ruins MY interest in the league.

The key to all of that though? It's MY interest. I find it most interesting when I have a shot, for sure, but when there's a healthy competition for the top spot. But I'm just one person. It's obvious based on the chat throughout this off-season that's there's plenty of people who don't care how stacked the Pistons are and are enjoying themselves and the game. If that's the case, then no, the league won't be ruined. Just specific people's interests will ebb and flow, and we have to either adjust or find new ways to stay engaged.

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[MexicanMamba]

Did you entertain any trade talks with the Pistons for TJD during RFA or was it always going to be an auto-match?

There was a 0% chance TJD was going to Detroit. For one, at the time of RFA, the only player they could've flipped for him was Hoyt Timmerman and while he's a great player, I wouldn't consider that move. Then I just wouldn't have been part of shifting a guy that has MVP potential to Detroit in the middle of what they're already doing.

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[Black Superman]

Desert here,

Where do you rank yourselves amongst all the teams in the association? I think most people have the pistons #1. After them, where do you think you land? Great job on the quick turnaround btw.

[MexicanMamba]

Desert here,

Where do you rank yourselves amongst all the teams in the association? I think most people have the pistons #1. After them, where do you think you land? Great job on the quick turnaround btw.

Unless proven otherwise, and the preseason doesn't count, 1 and 2 are firm in my mind coming into the season.

1. Detroit
2. Suns

After that, the Wizards deserve respect and will almost certainly take the 2 seed, so I'll give them the 3rd slot.

But then there's the Lakers in 4th.

We'll see if we can climb that ladder any though.

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[greepleairport]

So, right back atcha, kinda...

How does your front court stack up against mine? Also, would you consider Tony Newland part of your front court, or more of a versatile force?

[MexicanMamba]

So, right back atcha, kinda...

How does your front court stack up against mine? Also, would you consider Tony Newland part of your front court, or more of a versatile force?

The big difference between the two sets is the size, since Kinsella and TJD are taller, bigger, however, Claxton is a better rebounder than Kinsella and TJD and Stewart look fairly similar all around. I'll take my pair just because they're mine already, but there's no wrong answer.

Newland is certainly set to play backup minutes at PF but he'll be starting at SF. He's probably best at PF if I'm completely honest, BUT he's just the best player I could trade for this off-season and has the flexibility to play on the wing too.

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