LTS Lakers Presser 1981 - Lakers Almost Had a Starting 5

[LazyTitanSmash]

Lakers Almost Had a Starting 5

We’ve got an interesting new team this season. First, we swapped our scoring center, Bill Cartwright, for a defensive-minded player, James Donaldson. I still feel good about this trade, even though Cartwright—along with Wigs—absolutely dominated my entire team in the playoffs. (How Wigs took a one-blue-player team to the finals, I’ll never know.) Anyway, Donaldson should anchor the center of our zone defense.

Offense has never been this team’s problem—we were the second-highest-scoring team last season. To push things even further, we added a true point guard. I’m hoping Brad Davis will finally unlock World B. Free’s full potential. With World B. Free and Jamaal Wilkes leading the way, we’re in full win-now mode. The center position is in good shape, and the point guard spot looks solid. That just left power forward and the bench as areas of concern. The bench is a lost cause—I’ve spent the entire offseason trying to buy decent guard/forward defenders and defensive rebounders, but no one is selling.

The power forward position was supposed to be filled with the 12th pick in the draft. There were a bunch of good options available when it was time to make the selection. The problem? I had Kelly Tripucka ranked as the 5th best player in the draft. How could I pass on the 5th best player at the 12th spot? Kelly Tripucka should add even more firepower to an already ridiculous offense. So instead of filling a need, I took the best talent available. Now, I’m still searching for that defensive/rebounding PF/C this season.

P.S. If World B. Free or Jamaal Wilkes haven't been moved by the end of the season, I didn’t do my job.

[Mike Lowry]

Totally get the decision to take the best available talent, but in 80 big men were dominant in this league.
Donaldson is solid though.
How good of a PF do you need to add in order to feel comfortable competing?
And why don't Free or Wilkes fit your long term build?

[IamQuailman]

WBF & Wilkes would be a great way to remove yourself from the publicly broadcasted Bucks No Trade List. Have you tried reaching out?

[WigNosy]

Steve Duin, Blazer beat writer with the Oregonian

What is the Lakers' backup plan if Brad Davis doesn't work out? Also, how confident are you in Donaldson's ability to log heavy minutes this season, considering he spent a month on IR last season?

What level of production would you have to see from Herb Williams or Steve Johnson (still on the board when you picked at #12) to make you regret the decision to take Kelly Tripucka over them?

[NY_Magic_Garrett]

Dick Grayson, Gotham Gazette

Tough division with Magic and now Portland pairing Cartwright with Kareem in the sunset of his career, but you did a great job putting together a more competitive team on paper. How many wins do you think it takes to win the Pacific this year?

[LazyTitanSmash]

Totally get the decision to take the best available talent, but in 80 big men were dominant in this league.
Donaldson is solid though.
How good of a PF do you need to add in order to feel comfortable competing?
And why don't Free or Wilkes fit your long term build?

At minimum I need a Dave Corzine type player. Basically, I want a top notch defender but would settle for a defensive rebounder. But the price has to be right.

Free and Wilkes are to similar. They are both microwave scorers, but I need defense and rebounds. Like you said its a big mans league!

[LazyTitanSmash]

WBF & Wilkes would be a great way to remove yourself from the publicly broadcasted Bucks No Trade List. Have you tried reaching out?

I plan too, but I think I going to test the water with the team I have first. The price didn't seem right last time, but there is probably room to get a deal done.

[LazyTitanSmash]

Steve Duin, Blazer beat writer with the Oregonian

What is the Lakers' backup plan if Brad Davis doesn't work out? Also, how confident are you in Donaldson's ability to log heavy minutes this season, considering he spent a month on IR last season?

What level of production would you have to see from Herb Williams or Steve Johnson (still on the board when you picked at #12) to make you regret the decision to take Kelly Tripucka over them?

If Davis doesn't work, I've got a couple of ideas, but they require some trade partners, and those are hard to come by.

Looks like Steve Johnson already died. Herb Williams was always the more interesting of the two. I guess if he pulls 10 rebounds a game, and defend well that would kinda suck. But really getting Tripucka just makes it way more important for me to swap Free or Wilkes for a bad ass big man. If I can't get a trade done for a big that will be my regret.

[LazyTitanSmash]

Dick Grayson, Gotham Gazette

Tough division with Magic and now Portland pairing Cartwright with Kareem in the sunset of his career, but you did a great job putting together a more competitive team on paper. How many wins do you think it takes to win the Pacific this year?

I have no idea. The trailblazer put the fear of god in me! Who know what happens in the Pacific, we are a stacked division right now.

My guess, I'll get like 48 wins and hold the second spot. The trailblazers will figure out how to get 52 wins and win the division.

[Eazy P]

What are your thoughts about on the Bucks no trade list? Also are you looking to make a run for the post season this year?

[LazyTitanSmash]

Thoughts on bucks...we should do a trade this season but after the initial offer I suspect we will not. But there is definitely a trade that makes sense for both of us. I'm very torn.


Unless I get a sweet offer for either Free or Wilkes, I think I going to trying to put together a team that can go deep into the playoffs.

[greepleairport]

What is Kelly Tripucka's favorite meal? Does World B. Free have a favorite hobby outside of basketball? Does Bill Cartwright miss the warm sun of Los Angeles? Will Brad Davis elevate this team to NPBSL Championship glory??

[LazyTitanSmash]

Spaghetti and rice!!! He needs those carbs to keep his scoring up!

B. Free teaches at his local community college in his free time.

Yes he wants to go back to LA so bad! We will try to make it happen!

God damn I hope so...I shipped out a pretty penny to get him! But so far he's not fitting in yet! We might be trying some new strategies...if that doesn't work, he's gone! But we'll give him a season to see if he can figure it out!

[Darth Vegito]

Trade deadline comes around and you still have B Free, Wilkes, and Tripucka. No offers for Free or Wilkes but you could swap Tripucka for a young long term PF that completes your team.

Is Kelly the type of player that you'd call untouchable?

And without a 4 going into the season, how do you think you'll manipulate the lineups in a way that all 3 of those guys have considerable impact?

There's no clear 4, but all 3 of those guys are 6'6" and shorter, so someone will probably be a bit undersized playing the wing as well. Do you think if you stumble a bit out of the gate, you'll feel pressured to get a deal done?

[LazyTitanSmash]

Trade deadline comes around and you still have B Free, Wilkes, and Tripucka. No offers for Free or Wilkes but you could swap Tripucka for a young long term PF that completes your team.

Is Kelly the type of player that you'd call untouchable?

And without a 4 going into the season, how do you think you'll manipulate the lineups in a way that all 3 of those guys have considerable impact?

There's no clear 4, but all 3 of those guys are 6'6" and shorter, so someone will probably be a bit undersized playing the wing as well. Do you think if you stumble a bit out of the gate, you'll feel pressured to get a deal done?

Kelly is not untouchable but there are only a few players I like better. Honestly the better my team is the more likely I am to move Kelly. I'll be shopping the tanking teams at the trade deadline. But Kelly and Donaldson are my core pieces right now.

I'm close to figuring this out. Right now I'm in lineup manipulation. My entire bench is a PF/C. I'm going to figure out which one can fit best with the team and ride it out until the trade deadline. I should be over .500 and than figure out the next trade.