A New Day in LA - LTS Presser

[LazyTitanSmash]

A New Day in LA

It's a new day, a new commissioner, a new league, and a new franchise. While I'm going to miss seeing what type of player Angel Reese was going to turn into, I changed my vote from keeping the current league going and instead voted to go back in time to the 1980s for the good of the league.

Now, let's look at the 1980s Lakers team and why I selected them. First, I wasn’t sure if we were going to get the team as it was and draft normally, so I went with the Magic/Kareem combo. Once I figured out what was going on, it was too late. I tried to switch to the NY Knicks, but it's cool — Now, I get to make sure @greepleairport never wins the West. LOL.

Now, onto the actual team construction. I was toward the bottom of the draft, and most of the most promising young prospects had been gobbled up. So I went in a different direction. I picked a 30-point-per-game scorer in WORLD B. FREE. Now, he hasn’t produced in the preseason when I switched him to SG, but I think I’m going to keep him there to see if he can handle the position. Since he first draft pick, I wanted to draft a win-now team.

The rest of my draft was predicated on picking the best player possible to trade later, as well as scorers (we have 5 players who average over 20 points per game per season, and 1 who averaged 30). We might have been the only team to draft in real-time without a list.


So, here's where we’re at and what I was thinking during the draft:

World B. Free – Has just started his win-now window. 30-point scorer. Quick enough. Solid defender, still improving. Can he play SG, or is he more productive at point guard?
Bill Cartwright – All-around solid with athleticism. (Let’s train his speed and see how far we can get this guy. Speaking of which, can we train players to purple or not? @BigDaddyd8720 ) A 20-point scorer in his rookie season! (I feel like he might be my steal of the draft.)
Jamaal Wilkes – A peaking, win-now player who can score 20 points a game and defend. Should make for some good trade bait, since I already have World B. Free at SG. Although, he might be my SF. (Check his SF stats in the preseason — out of this world! 50+ points.)
John Drew – Let’s get some bench scoring. He averages 20 points a game….
Mike Bratz – Wait, we don't have a point guard on the team…
George Johnson – Wait, no one on this team can rebound or defend inside, besides Cartwright, so let's get George Johnson. Plus, he's young and could develop into something.
Larry Kenon – Wait, there's still a legit 20-point scorer available in the 7th round!!!!!
Campy Russell – He's fast “ish”... Two seasons ago he averaged 20 points a game.
Len Elmore – Block “ish,” rebounding “ish,” defender “ish.”

Now if we just add a second basketball to the sim games and the Lakers would score 260 points a game and win the ship.

[JNR]

Generic Wolves Reporter: Tell me the specifics on how you plan to stop the Warriors from winning the division.

[WigNosy]

Now, onto the actual team construction. I was toward the bottom of the draft, and most of the most promising young prospects had been gobbled up. So I went in a different direction. I picked a 30-point-per-game scorer in WORLD B. FREE. Now, he hasn’t produced in the preseason when I switched him to SG, but I think I’m going to keep him there to see if he can handle the position. Since he first draft pick, I wanted to draft a win-now team.

Steve Duin, the Oregonian: Do you felt you were able to secure a win-now team in the draft, or do you think you will need to test the trade market in order to level up your talent?

Also, how will you deal with all of the ... distractions ... Los Angeles is known for?

Finally, the Lakers led the league in fouls in the preseason and gave up more offensive rebounds than anyone... do you feel this lack of defensive intensity may come back to bite you, and if so, does that mean your first order of business on the win-now front is to trade for a lock-down defender?

[LazyTitanSmash]

Now, onto the actual team construction. I was toward the bottom of the draft, and most of the most promising young prospects had been gobbled up. So I went in a different direction. I picked a 30-point-per-game scorer in WORLD B. FREE. Now, he hasn’t produced in the preseason when I switched him to SG, but I think I’m going to keep him there to see if he can handle the position. Since he first draft pick, I wanted to draft a win-now team.

Steve Duin, the Oregonian: Do you felt you were able to secure a win-now team in the draft, or do you think you will need to test the trade market in order to level up your talent?

Also, how will you deal with all of the ... distractions ... Los Angeles is known for?

Finally, the Lakers led the league in fouls in the preseason and gave up more offensive rebounds than anyone... do you feel this lack of defensive intensity may come back to bite you, and if so, does that mean your first order of business on the win-now front is to trade for a lock-down defender?

One thing we'll be looking to do is trade one of our 20+ scorers for a defensive, shot-blocking, rebounding big man. That's what we need. We have a few extra scorers that should probably be moved since there’s only one ball. Our guard defense is solid; what we really need is an inside blocker/rebounder.

We embrace the distraction... big lights, big celebs, and big money. The SHOW is open! Whatever it takes to keep the Warriors and @greepleairport as the second-best team in California.

I don't mind fouling the crap out of the other teams—that’s how they learn what happens when you come to the SHOW. But getting defensive rebounds is our #1 problem, and it needs to be addressed. The sooner, the better. Power forward needed immediately.

[Eazy P]

How does it feel having the only purple on the team being the team's color? This is your 1st season in a long time not having a player with either purple potential or current, will purple players still matter?

[AngryBanana]

Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News: Will your plan be to horde younger players again, similar to the Mavs of old (future?)? or will you embrace the more senior players in this new (past) time period?

[greepleairport]

Moses Malome, Bay Area News Group: Hi Mr. Lazy. What's up with the hostility toward the Bay, bro? That rivalry is SOO 80 yrs later.

[LazyTitanSmash]

How does it feel having the only purple on the team being the team's color? This is your 1st season in a long time not having a player with either purple potential or current, will purple players still matter?

Mostly it sucks, no dream of a championship... but the upside is I feel a lot freer to make trades...

[LazyTitanSmash]

Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News: Will your plan be to horde younger players again, similar to the Mavs of old (future?)? or will you embrace the more senior players in this new (past) time period?

I will not be hording anyone outside of a top 5 draft pick.

[LazyTitanSmash]

Moses Malome, Bay Area News Group: Hi Mr. Lazy. What's up with the hostility toward the Bay, bro? That rivalry is SOO 80 yrs later.

We are division rivals; If you win I lost; If I win it will be at your expense... Plus LA has got to big brother the Bay and keep him in check, its just how it is...

[greepleairport]

Moses Malome, Bay Area News Group: Hi Mr. Lazy. What's up with the hostility toward the Bay, bro? That rivalry is SOO 80 yrs later.

We are division rivals; If you win I lost; If I win it will be at your expense... Plus LA has got to big brother the Bay and keep him in check, its just how it is...

[NY_Magic_Garrett]

Vinny Tagliano -- The Big Apple Bulletin

With all due respect to your ‘win-now’ strategy, you’ve built a team full of scorers but hardly any true defenders— You say you are going to be looking to move one of your 20+ point scorers for an inside presence, but only one of your players avg. over 20 in the preseason. Many of these so called scorers wont see enough playing time to sniff 20 a game either. Early days, but seems like you may have be a real salesman to get the defender you truly need to 'win now.' Especially in a competitive division. How quickly do you think you will be looking to make a move and are you worried at all about not being able to put together an attractive enough offer before its too late?

[LazyTitanSmash]

Vinny Tagliano -- The Big Apple Bulletin

With all due respect to your ‘win-now’ strategy, you’ve built a team full of scorers but hardly any true defenders— You say you are going to be looking to move one of your 20+ point scorers for an inside presence, but only one of your players avg. over 20 in the preseason. Many of these so called scorers wont see enough playing time to sniff 20 a game either. Early days, but seems like you may have be a real salesman to get the defender you truly need to 'win now.' Especially in a competitive division. How quickly do you think you will be looking to make a move and are you worried at all about not being able to put together an attractive enough offer before its too late?

I hope to make a deal soon for a big man. I really need rebounding....