Clippers: Lakers: 72: 34

[MexicanMamba]

It's been a long time. For this league, for this franchise, and for my time running things. As I head into my 34th season running the city of Los Angeles, I've seen and done pretty much everything. This off-season saw more of all of the things that I've done all these times before.

Guys signed here. Others didn't. Some got better, others got worse. I talked some trades. Agreed to some, failed to make others work. I watched teams get better and worse and things get shaken up. I've scratched my head, shrugged, and needed aspirin to comprehend moves all around the league.

Last season for us barely mattered and this season could very well be much of the same. There's no title run in store, no draft pick to be excited about, and certainly no likely surprises in store for the end game of this season in the whole league.

It's a hostage situation.

But the Lakers season will come down to three words.

Blaze

Trayce

Jody

Kinsella is the best player on the roster and should perform like it. Trayce is looking to finally start playing like the star that his potential shows he can be. They'll be the source of pride and any excitement. Blaze is the wild card. He will ball out this season as the starting Point Guard, but, he's doing it to audition for his next team because both of us agree that his skillset will be better elsewhere this season than here. We hope to find the right home for his next step.

Everyone else are either temporary assistance, a future cap casualty, or too far away from their potential to matter right now.

We'll take your questions, comments, raps, poems, dissertations, and mean tweets here.


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[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: You've been vocal about the way that value has changed on the trade market, and I agree that certain types of players have become much harder to move than they should be. What are the factors that have changed the market, and do you see it correcting or overcorrecting itself any time soon? How does your answer inform your long term plans for the Lakers?

[MexicanMamba]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: You've been vocal about the way that value has changed on the trade market, and I agree that certain types of players have become much harder to move than they should be. What are the factors that have changed the market, and do you see it correcting or overcorrecting itself any time soon? How does your answer inform your long term plans for the Lakers?

I think the Pistons are obviously one part of it, due to folks just not wanting to engage or spend when they know their moves don't move the needle much. However, even before that, things were already shifting. One part of it is probably the influx of new folks, combined with the inactivity of other GMs. mostly in regards to the sticker shock of the contracts that are required to keep high-level players. I think people are seeing $90-$110mil salaries for one season and panicking about how to ship that out or build around it. It's obviously possible since a $100mil contract now is no different than a $50mil contract seasons ago since it's all based on % of the ever rising salary cap. Still, I understand that the numbers freak people out. Another thing that ties into the fresh faced folks, but still sticks with some vets too, is an overrating of cap space to save for big free agency spending. Yes, sometimes big names move, but if you haven't already created a winning culture as a GM, the game software will almost never reward you those big ticket changes. Trades are the fastest switch to building a winning culture, point blank.

And no, I honestly don't see it ever fully course correcting. Once more teams feel like they've got a chance again, I'm sure activity will trickle back in, but we've built habits now and these contract numbers are going nowhere but up. We better adjust our expectations or be miserable or die ... in sim terms.

Oh and I forgot to include the response to part about my long-term plan. Honestly, I don't even know what that is currently. Hard to when we still don't REALLY know how long this Pistons thing lasts. Ware gone, and Hoyt is next, but the other 3 aren't which include 2 of the best 3 players in the game currently. I'd love to say Trayce and Kinsella are a foundation for another championship run but Kinsella and Trayce may either need re-signed or begin showing some age by the time it's feasible and I would have to reset my tax bill now to prep and we'll see how that goes.

So, right now, I'm just trying to use energy on each move in front of me. I'll try worrying about long-term ... eventually.


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[Black Superman]

desert here,

You've built a big man tandem, how do you answer to your lakers fandom?
They're used to their team being great, not scrapes of leftovers on a half eaten plate.
Do you have any goals in mind to bring a guard to the slate, I mean 240 divided by 5 is still 48.
That's 48 minutes you'll need someone else to play, at the 1 or the 2 or prepare to be ate

[MexicanMamba]

desert here,

You've built a big man tandem, how do you answer to your lakers fandom?
They're used to their team being great, not scrapes of leftovers on a half eaten plate.
Do you have any goals in mind to bring a guard to the slate, I mean 240 divided by 5 is still 48.
That's 48 minutes you'll need someone else to play, at the 1 or the 2 or prepare to be ate

I answer to them by telling them to not act like spoiled brats and have a bit of patience. No, I do not imagine any major boost in talent or help coming this season. If that were the plan, Mac McClung would also still be in Los Angeles instead of being shipped off to Phoenix. Trayce and Kinsella will get to show off, Blaze and JR can try to audition for their next teams, and we keep our eyes on whatever comes next.

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[K-100]

Where would you place the odds on moving AJ Blaze this season at this point?

[RPF]

The Net of Brooklyn: Has the AJ situation been a distraction for the team this off season?

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[greepleairport]

Your front court probably beats my front court today, and they're the best part of my team. Is there any reason to think that if you shore up a few more positions that you wouldn't be a formidable test for most of the league today?

[MexicanMamba]

Where would you place the odds on moving AJ Blaze this season at this point?

Dunno about odds since I'm bad at math, but between the lack of teams wanting to add talent, lack of interest to this point in the player, and my lack of pushing to find homes for him... I'd say low.

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[MexicanMamba]

The Net of Brooklyn: Has the AJ situation been a distraction for the team this off season?

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AJ is a professional and still balling out (if preseason is to be believed) so, i don't think individual performances are being impacted. However, we did lose to the Magic, so ... maybe they are all in it for themselves.

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[MexicanMamba]

Your front court probably beats my front court today, and they're the best part of my team. Is there any reason to think that if you shore up a few more positions that you wouldn't be a formidable test for most of the league today?

I'm sure we would be hell with a full roster, and I made a push to go all-in but it just didn't work. So, yes, we could be a problem but given taxes and league circumstances, I don't see us making those moves.

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[Eazy P]

Will you trade or load manage players throughout the season to make your pick a lotto pick for the Spurs?

[MexicanMamba]

Will you trade or load manage players throughout the season to make your pick a lotto pick for the Spurs?

I'll answer your question with a question: Do you plan to send me assets to trade for Blaze or Smith?

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[Eazy P]

Will you trade or load manage players throughout the season to make your pick a lotto pick for the Spurs?

I'll answer your question with a question: Do you plan to send me assets to trade for Blaze or Smith?

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If I am tanking like last season I can send the Lakers pick or Lester lol.