28 May 2016 01:10:36
Hopefully Brandon Ingram falls to #2 in the draft, because he provides a better fit for the Lakers. The 2 most realistic free agent targets worthy of a max contract are DeMar DeRozan and Hassan Whiteside. Both are great young players who are just entering their primes at age 26. Both provide length at their position 6'7 and 7'0, athleticism, playoff experience, can attract future free agents, and are excellent on one side of the court and consistently improving on the other.

I'm addition to signing DeRozan and Whiteside as free agents, we should try to get Kent Bazemore or Evan Turner or Jeff Green.

We should use our 32nd pick for a backup SG if Thon Maker isn't available and resign Roy Hibbert (his price tag will be the cheapest it's ever been and mentored our young guys last year), and try to get Tarik Black, Ryan Kelly, and Marcello Huertas to sign for near the minimum. Trade Nick Young for a 2nd round pick in next year's deep draft.

Lakers go into the 2016-17 season fighting for a playoff spot with a talented young roster that will grow together, possibly the best bench in the league, and leave cap space for a great free agent next summer.

Russell / Clarkson / Huertas
DeRozan / Williams / 32nd pick
Ingram / Bazemore or Turner or Green / Brown
Randle / Nance Jr. / Kelly
Whiteside / Hibbert / Black

I look forward to reading your guys' comments and inputs, thank you.

1.) 28 May 2016
28 May 2016 04:31:47
Okay everything and all, but best bench in the league? lol

2.) 28 May 2016
28 May 2016 19:09:51
I'm interested to hear who you think has a better bench than a lineup of former 1st team all rookie Jordan Clarkson at PG, former 6th man in Lou Williams at SG, former starter Kent Bazemore or Jeff Green or Evan Turner at SF, Larry Nance Jr. At PF, and former all star Roy Hibbert at C

3.) 28 May 2016
28 May 2016 21:20:26
Eglago - I am sorry but I don't see this bench being the best in the league. In fact it is probably one of the worst. You may ask why? Well for a bench to be great it must get stops and provide good defense. Clarkson and Williams are primarily scorers. Larry Nance shows some signs but not enough to be a defensive threat. If you have Hibbert coming off the bench then you have admit he would be in a decline then. So overall I say that bench would be 22nd to 25th in the league. It really depends on how much better other teams get.

4.) 29 May 2016
29 May 2016 05:57:39
Citydude- I understand your perspective and agree that defense is key for a bench, although remember that they would be typically guarding the others team bench. I agree that Lou Williams doesn't care to play defense. Clarkson on the other hand stated in his exit interviews that defense would be his main priority this off-season and he has good length at 6'4 to guard opposing point guards. I agree with you regarding Larry Nance Jr. That he shows promising signs, but remember he doesn't have to be a lock down defender as a bench player. Hibbert is absolutely on the decline, his play last year spoke for itself. He was surrounded by great perimeter defenders with the Pacers and got exposed playing with one of the worst defenses last year. He still has the tools and ability to be a great defensive center off the bench. I understand what you're getting at, but I think you exaggerated their ranking, its impossible that their bench is one of the worst 5 benches in the league.

5.) 29 May 2016
29 May 2016 15:17:22
Last season the bench was last or close to last in every category. If you view other teams bench you will see a big difference in talent, experience, and consistency. The big issue for some of the bottom teams was injuries so some of the players had to move from the bench and into the starting lineup. To add Clarkson to the bench would be a plus but there is still question marks to keep up with many other teams.