Silver Screen and Roll - Who will the Lakers sign on the 2022 NBA buyout market?A Blog devoted to Lakers News, Commentary, and Analysishttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/13178/silver-fave.jpg2022-02-28T17:09:32-08:00http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/rss/stream/227022732022-02-28T17:09:32-08:002022-02-28T17:09:32-08:00Lakers cut DeAndre Jordan, plan to sign DJ Augustin
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<p>In addition to cutting DeAndre Jordan to make room for DJ Augustin, the Lakers will also sign Wenyen Gabriel to a two-way contract. </p> <p id="g5br6L">The <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Los Angeles Lakers</a> are cutting DeAndre Jordan, freeing up a roster spot for midseason free agency in the process, and will use the newfound space to sign DJ Augustin, according to multiple reports.</p>
<p id="I9LKJW">Today was the final day teams could waive a player by and allow them to be playoff eligible for another team. In addition to Augustin, Charania reports that the team will add Wenyen Gabriel — the all-time leading scorer in the team’s predraft <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2018/5/31/17414530/2018-nba-draft-la-lakers-mentality-drill-prospects-landry-shamet-liangelo-ball-tony-carr">“Lakers Mentality” drill</a> — on a two-way contract.</p>
<p id="iaXqkp">To create an open two-way spot to sign Gabriel, the Lakers will be waiving Sekou Doumbouya.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Lakers also intend to sign forward Wenyen Gabriel on a two-way NBA contract, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAthletic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Stadium?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Stadium</a>. Gabriel has had stints with the Nets, Clippers and Pelicans this season, showing flashes of athleticism and versatility at 6-foot-9. <a href="https://t.co/XCCc1MxC2B">https://t.co/XCCc1MxC2B</a></p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1498452754813100034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Lakers are waiving forward Sekou Doumbouya to make room to sign forward Wenyen Gabriel to a two-way contract, league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAthletic</a>.</p>— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) <a href="https://twitter.com/jovanbuha/status/1498723826208624641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Augustin is a career 38 percent three-point shooter -- a desperate need for the Lakers right now</p>— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/1498453297002287105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">D.J. Augustin (apparently headed to Lakers) was No. 15 on my buyout board. Still 24 hours left in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/buyoutszn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#buyoutszn</a><a href="https://t.co/XH6YcNTH7b">https://t.co/XH6YcNTH7b</a></p>— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status/1498463516612771842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lakers cost themselves roughly $5M in tax payments and a small trade exception by not just sending cash to another team to take DeAndre Jordan at the trade deadline. Hey, it's the Buss's money, but that's some FO malpractice right there.</p>— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status/1498464638748483585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a>
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<p id="czy0Tx">Augustin is obviously unlikely to fix all this team’s issues, but after <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/10/22927821/lakers-rumors-nba-trade-deadline-no-moves-john-wall-christian-wood-cam-reddish">standing pat at the trade deadline</a>, the Lakers didn’t really have any other options outside of this to add to their roster. And after last night’s <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/28/22954404/lakers-pelicans-recap-reaction-score-lebron-james-russell-westbrook-frank-vogel-podcast">lifeless loss to the Pelicans</a>, this team was clearly in need of a shakeup. </p>
<p id="JBc7WM">The Lakers are also unlikely to miss Jordan much. In 32 appearances, he had the worst net rating (-12.3) of any player to play more than 40 minutes for the team this season. That somehow undersells how washed he usually looked. </p>
<p id="WdUXVh">Augustin played in 34 games for the Houston Rockets this season (starting twice) before being cut last month, and he averaged 5.4 points, 2.2 assists and 1.2 rebounds while shooting 40.6% from deep in this appearances. It’s not really clear he totally addresses a need for this team, but hey, maybe some new blood can inject a bit of energy into this roster. And with how bad Jordan has been this year, the 5’11 Augustin may actually be an upgrade at center, much less at backup point guard. </p>
<p id="ODfFyh">Still, this is very funny:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">By adding DJ Augustin and waiving DeAndre Jordan, the Lakers managed to get older. (Augustin is 34, Jordan 33)</p>— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/1498459460645228545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a>
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<p id="nu3u06">It sounds like Jordan will follow in the footsteps of Dwight Howard and Andre Drummond, and become the third Lakers center in a row to join the Sixers as Joel Embiid’s backup:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 76ers have been in the market for a backup center and will be aggressive in pursuit of DeAndre Jordan — either placing a waiver claim or working to sign him as a free agent should he clear waivers, sources tell ESPN.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1498459756217913344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a>
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<p id="721Y1Q">Either way, the timing of this cut also means that, hilariously, Jordan’s almost astoundingly errant lob attempt vs. the Pelicans will be one of the final plays he made during his ignominious Lakers tenure.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Lakers finally saw enough.<a href="https://t.co/9D1v1YUH8t">pic.twitter.com/9D1v1YUH8t</a></p>— Silver Screen and Roll (@LakersSBN) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersSBN/status/1498456648980987906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a>
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<p id="4UlF1O">Forget his atrocious efficiency metrics and on-off numbers, or the team doing him a favor and letting him go join a contender. No. I Instead choose to believe that this was the final straw for Rob Pelinka. </p>
<p id="jQKoG6"><em><strong>This breaking news story may be updated with more information, analysis and reaction as it continues to develop. For more </strong></em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/los-angeles-lakers"><em><strong>Lakers</strong></em></a><em><strong> talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/silver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans/id1439479212?mt=2&xcust=___sb__p_22688418__t_w__d_D" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>iTunes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XJK0kM4pR2uUy7WDmAybb?si=WZwWClvKRZeHeSTnuxdYrw"><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/silver-screen-and-rollcast"><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></a><em><strong> or </strong></em><a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9zaWx2ZXItc2NyZWVuLXJvbGw%3D"><em><strong>Google Podcasts</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/28/22927755/lakers-rumors-deandre-jordan-cut-sign-dj-augustin-signing-wenyen-gabriel-two-way-contractHarrison Faigen2022-02-27T11:21:54-08:002022-02-27T11:21:54-08:00Report: Lakers not being actively connected to players on ‘quiet’ NBA buyout market
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<p>While the Lakers have not been linked to hardly anyone in the buyout market, it’s largely been because there is no buyout market.</p> <p id="E3GDmf">Much how the trade deadline came and passed without the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Lakers</a> making any kind of movement, the buyout market has nearly entirely come and gone without the Lakers making any sort of moves.</p>
<p id="t7rgnT">There are many similarities between the two scenarios with the Lakers having very limited options in both situations. At the deadline, it was a lack of supply that led to teams not being interested in trading with the Lakers. In the buyout market, though, it’s been a lack of demand.</p>
<p id="jTNaYb">For a variety of reasons, the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/17/22938232/lakers-buyout-market-candidates-free-agent-goran-dragic-tristan-thompson-gary-harris">buyout market has been relatively non-existent</a> ahead of the March 1 deadline. Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/getting-ready-for-the-nbas-stretch?utm_source=url">provided the latest update/non-update on the Lakers</a> and the buyout market, noting the team has been linked to virtually nobody.</p>
<blockquote><p id="L1TXJA">“On the buyout front, I haven’t heard the Lakers really mentioned with anyone, but that’s also because the buyout market has gone pretty quiet. I mean, we had Tristan Thompson, we had Dragic, the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com">Sixers</a> obviously signed Willie Cauley-Stein on a 10-day, but he was a free agent, that wasn’t really a buyout thing. There just isn’t much action right now in terms of difference-making players who have been set free yet. We still have time though.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="CcQGWC">The Lakers had been linked to both Tristan Thompson and Goran Dragic, but the former <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/15/22936546/tristan-thompson-buyout-lakers-pacers-klutch-lebron-james-cavs">immediately signed with the Bulls after his buyout</a> and the latter <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/e/22695181">did not consider the Lakers for too long</a>, seemingly, before signing with the Nets.</p>
<p id="lAkT8X">Outside of that, though, there have been few buyouts options and even fewer impactful ones. As was the nature of the Lakers gambling on using the buyout market to improve their roster, the chance of there not being players available to sign always existed.</p>
<p id="MeLAZt">The result is the Lakers remain a heavily flawed team without an opportunity to fix those flaws once again. The deadline for players to be bought out and still be eligible for the playoffs is the end of the day on March 1, which gives the Lakers a few more days to find upgrades.</p>
<p id="o869tp">But there also isn’t any players that will be imminently available that could impact things for the Lakers. Gary Harris is <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/gary-harris-not-really-pushing-143118305.html">not pushing for a buyout in Orlando</a>, There has been little mention of one for Robin Lopez with the Magic either. Rodney Hood, Ben McLemore or Gorgui Dieng all could be bought out, but not make a notable difference for the Lakers.</p>
<p id="SzHimZ">The Lakers certainly knew this was a risk when they held pat at the trade deadline. Short of landing Dragic or Thompson, there was unlikely to be an impactful player available for the team to sign. Largely speaking, the Lakers will have to make do with what they have and hope for the best down the home stretch.</p>
<p id="YaysvS">And if that’s the case.....oof</p>
<p id="sixSxq"><em><strong>For more </strong></em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/los-angeles-lakers"><em><strong>Lakers</strong></em></a><em><strong> talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fsilver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans%2Fid1439479212%3Fmt%3D2" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>iTunes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XJK0kM4pR2uUy7WDmAybb?si=WZwWClvKRZeHeSTnuxdYrw"><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/silver-screen-and-rollcast"><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></a><em><strong> or </strong></em><a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9zaWx2ZXItc2NyZWVuLXJvbGw%3D"><em><strong>Google Podcasts</strong></em></a><em><strong>. You can follow Jacob on Twitter at </strong></em><a href="https://twitter.com/JacobRude"><em><strong>@JacobRude</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/27/22953594/report-lakers-buyout-market-candidates-free-agent-tristan-thompson-goran-dragicJacob Rude2022-02-25T12:58:29-08:002022-02-25T12:58:29-08:00Where are all the buyout candidates?
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<p>The Lakers were hoping to get some help after whiffing at the trade deadline. So, what happened to the buyout market?</p> <p id="Sn6MBC">Not too long ago, teams getting ready for a playoff run could look forward to some help on the margins by way of veterans getting bought out for one last shot at a ring. Almost none of those players ever swung a title, but there are plenty of instances where they helped. This year, however, that market as basically dried up, with the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/22/22946355/lakers-buyout-market-goran-dragic-dennis-schroder-rockets-nets-nba-rumors">most impactful player moving being Goran Dragic</a>, who hasn’t played all season.</p>
<p id="4DR0b8">This week on “The Hook,” Aaron Larsuel and I dove a little deeper into the topic to figure out what might be going on there.</p>
<p id="9qBZTi">We started, however, with an important discussion about “Love Is Blind.” Well, OK, I explained the show to Aaron, and marveled at what I consider one of the shadiest moves in my far-longer-than-it-should-be history watching reality TV. As Harrison and I <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/24/22950024/lakers-podcast-lebron-james-rob-pelinka-rich-paul-russell-westbrook-trade-rumors">mentioned yesterday</a>, moments of brevity are critical in seasons like this one.</p>
<p id="FwdOFc">Alright though, back to reality. What this disappointing buyout market comes down to, in my opinion, are three factors:</p>
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<li id="B7W48v">By adding two potential playoff spots, the NBA convinced several more teams that they have a chance at playoff revenue. Owners don’t want to just give potentially useful players away if it might help their competition benefit from a home play-in or a couple playoff games.</li>
<li id="JABmFN">Those advising players have wised up to the reality that once you get signed to a minimum contract, it’s hard to convince anyone you should be making more than that from there on out. Add to that how players who get bought out no longer have the benefit of Bird Rights, and it seems many players would rather stick out the rest of the season and hope to find a better situation next year.</li>
<li id="UhigBl">The <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Lakers</a> suck. Hard to convince players to leave their current situations when you don’t really have a shot at a title.</li>
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<p id="nGwkwP">There’s more to all those things, but that’s the gist.</p>
<p id="DOBGsY">From there, we jumped into a fun look at the rest of the league through the lens of who we think have actual chances at a ring this year. Aaron and I both gave our top five title contenders, and argued about the order we had them in. It also provided a look at how far the Lakers still have to go to get back into that conversation.</p>
<p id="z5GFQU"><em><strong>You can listen to the full episode below, and to make sure you never miss a show, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/silver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans/id1439479212?mt=2&xcust=___sb__p_22714065__t_w__r_silverscreenandroll.com_" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>iTunes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XJK0kM4pR2uUy7WDmAybb?si=WZwWClvKRZeHeSTnuxdYrw"><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/silver-screen-and-rollcast"><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></a><em><strong> or </strong></em><a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9zaWx2ZXItc2NyZWVuLXJvbGw%3D"><em><strong>Google Podcasts</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
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<p id="gfK7PR"><em><strong>And for a short-form recap pod, check out </strong></em><a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/"><em><strong>Lakers</strong></em></a><em><strong> Lowdown, in which Anthony Irwin recaps the previous day’s news and gets you ready for the day ahead in LakerLand, every weekday morning on the </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/silver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans/id1439479212?mt=2&xcust=___sb__p_22714065__t_w__r_silverscreenandroll.com_" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>Silver Screen & Roll Podcast feed</strong></em></a>.</p>
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https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/25/22951226/lakers-free-agent-rumors-buyouts-lebron-james-rob-pelinka-finals-favorites-love-is-blindAnthonyIrwinLA2022-02-22T14:06:33-08:002022-02-22T14:06:33-08:00Dennis Schroder unlikely to be bought out by Rockets, Goran Dragic signs with Nets
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<p>If the Lakers are going to sign a point guard in the NBA buyout market, it won’t be either Goran Dragic or Dennis Schröder.</p> <p id="hsndwX">If the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Lakers</a> are going to upgrade at the point guard position in the buyout market, it’s not going to come from one of their main targets. After news that Goran Dragic signed with the Nets came out on Monday, longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported on the status of Dennis Schröder in Houston, and it doesn’t sound like either side is interested in a buyout.</p>
<p id="r5fygH"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/e/22702273">Both Dragic and Schröder were linked</a> to the Lakers, <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/11/22929251/lakers-rumors-dennis-schroder-buyout-market-free-agent-nba-trade-deadline">either at the trade deadline for the latter</a>, or in <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/12/22931140/lakers-rumors-goran-dragic-buyout-market-spurs-contract-dennis-schroder-russell-westbrook">the buyout market for the former</a>:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dennis Schroder is on course to finish the season in Houston, league sources say.<br><br>Neither the Rockets nor Schroder favor a buyout, sources say, with a March 1 deadline looming for any buyout candidate leaguewide to be released to ensure playoff eligibility with his next team.</p>— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1496208073249148935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a>
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<p id="nKXVIZ">Point guard isn’t an area of dire need for the Lakers, certainly not more so than help at the center position or on the wing. But since trading away Rajon Rondo earlier in the season, the Lakers have not added another point guard.</p>
<p id="FplGyd">Russell Westbrook and LeBron James eat up effectively all the point guard minutes, which is why it hasn’t been a need for the Lakers to sign one, and Dragic — the only one of these two players to come available so far — made his decision on Monday to sign with the Nets, officially joining former teammate and Brooklyn head coach Steve Nash in the process.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Boosted the backcourt today <br><br>Let's roll, <a href="https://twitter.com/Goran_Dragic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Goran_Dragic</a>! <a href="https://t.co/9VZTYeDIUd">pic.twitter.com/9VZTYeDIUd</a></p>— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1496231489758973963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a>
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<p id="Qi0YxC">With both names off the board, the options for point guards are dire. The Nets waived Jevon Carter to make room for Dragic, but Carter <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/2022/2/22/22946431/report-jevon-carter-to-join-bucks">will reportedly sign with the Milwaukee Bucks</a>. Eric Bledsoe could be bought out by the Blazers in the coming week, but he would hardly be a good fit in Los Angeles with his lack of shooting, even if he’s a Klutch Sports client. Tomas Satoransky is another option, but a less appealing one, and certainly much further down the list than other non-point guard names likely will be.</p>
<p id="Cmzwe6">The Lakers targeting point guards mainly felt like the team going after some of the top talent available and less about needing to replace a hole in the roster. The team has chugged along without Rondo perfectly fine — at least at point guard — and it feels unlikely they’ll be eager to add another one unless it’s a very obvious upgrade.</p>
<p id="K3Toaa">Instead, expect them to be seriously targeting other bigs and wings with the March 1 deadline approaching when players have to be bought out in order to still be eligible for playoff rosters.</p>
<p id="cGJAAk"><em><strong>For more </strong></em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/los-angeles-lakers"><em><strong>Lakers</strong></em></a><em><strong> talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fsilver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans%2Fid1439479212%3Fmt%3D2" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>iTunes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XJK0kM4pR2uUy7WDmAybb?si=WZwWClvKRZeHeSTnuxdYrw"><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/silver-screen-and-rollcast"><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></a><em><strong> or </strong></em><a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9zaWx2ZXItc2NyZWVuLXJvbGw%3D"><em><strong>Google Podcasts</strong></em></a><em><strong>. You can follow Jacob on Twitter at </strong></em><a href="https://twitter.com/JacobRude"><em><strong>@JacobRude</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/22/22946355/lakers-buyout-market-goran-dragic-dennis-schroder-rockets-nets-nba-rumorsJacob Rude2022-02-18T08:11:39-08:002022-02-18T08:11:39-08:00With Anthony Davis out, the Lakers need to prioritize adding a center on the buyout market
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<img alt="Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NG0skYRbYgl6oP1qxgnsxmh0GS8=/0x0:4032x2688/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70525349/1236611848.0.jpg" />
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<p>With Anthony Davis injured and the Lakers center rotation behind him already proving too porous to rely on, the Lakers need to sign another big man sooner rather than later.</p> <p id="GzRtdz">The basketball gods giveth, and the basketball gods taketh away. </p>
<p id="6acdSy">No good result ever seems to come for these <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Lakers</a> without some corresponding misfortune. <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/16/22938542/lakers-vs-jazz-final-score-anthony-davis-injury-cursed-season-continues">A rousing win</a> over the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com">Utah Jazz</a> on Wednesday night — a win that featured a 4th quarter comeback, a triumphant LeBron closeout with sideline celebrations from Aaron Donald, and an Austin Reaves dagger — cost the team Anthony Davis to the type of ankle inversion<strong> </strong>that looked gruesome on replay and after being helped off the court without putting any weight on his leg, and <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/17/22938619/anthony-davis-ankle-sprain-injury-lakers-jazz-frank-vogel-lebron-james-russell-westbrook">reportedly required crutches</a> to help him walk at halftime.</p>
<p id="d3Lb0X">Late Thursday evening we got the news we’ve been waiting for, and it’s not great. Davis has a sprained foot, and <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/17/22939340/lakers-injury-report-anthony-davis-sprained-foot-mri-results-return-date-timeline-ankle">won’t be re-evaluated for another month</a>. Welp.</p>
<p id="gQj2HI">If you’re looking for a silver lining in what comes next for these Lakers, it’s that they already have experience in playing without Davis. He has missed 20 games already this season, and had appeared in exactly 10 games since his return from the sprained MCL that sidelined him for over month. In that period of time, the Lakers learned a lot about what work and what doesn’t, and should be putting all their efforts into figuring out ways to do more of the former.</p>
<p id="bcsGVi">Part of that, however, is knowing that you actually do not have enough depth or talent in the front-court to carve out enough functional minutes where you avoid critical failures. If the team sticks with what they have, they’ll lose more than they’d like. If that sounds excessive or dramatic, that’s fine. But it doesn’t make it less true. </p>
<p id="OUDflW">With DeAndre Jordan basically unplayable, Dwight Howard only useful on some nights due to his declining athleticism, and Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, and Stanley Johnson all (basically) 6’8 — and thus not viable “bigs” in most any lineup that doesn’t include LeBron James — the Lakers need another big man, and they need one <em>now.</em></p>
<p id="SPC94B">And not just any big man, but a big man who still has enough juice to run the floor, challenge some shots around the basket, and capably finish inside on lobs and/or the types of dump off passes that LeBron and Russell Westbrook create. While this sounds straightforward enough, it’s actually harder than it seems, because several teams are hoarding big men and there’s not many options left on the open market.</p>
<p id="s0FEox">In saying that, here’s a couple of options that could help, even if they (obviously) won’t be able to fill the Davis-sized hole.</p>
<h3 id="er4B3R"><strong>Willie Cauley-Stein </strong></h3>
<p id="BI7nHD">The former lottery pick found himself in a numbers crunch with the Mavs, and was released so they could keep Marquese Chriss, who’s range as a shooter proved more beneficial than WCS’ more roll-heavy game. Cauley-Stein is also someone who seemed to think of himself as more skilled offensively than what he actually is, undercutting his value by trying to diversify his offensive attack in ways that actually did not help his team. </p>
<p id="mu3uEA">If he were to join the Lakers, there’s no guarantee he changes his ways at all, bringing the same baggage he carried in Sacramento and Dallas to Los Angeles. That said, the Lakers need a run-and-jump big man, and WCS is probably the best one available. He can move his feet defensively, and can play above the rim on both ends. His motor comes and goes, but at least it starts in the first place. I’d certainly give him a shot, if not for the rest of the year, than on a 10-day contract after waiving someone (DeAndre Jordan).</p>
<h3 id="uxwvFq"><strong>Moses Brown</strong></h3>
<p id="F7QAFB">As a third-year player who is already on his third NBA team after only playing a single college season, Brown is way more of a project big than someone you can trust to play real rotation minutes at this point. That said, he has the measurables (7’2” height, 7’3.5” wingspan, 9’3” standing reach) and enough physical tools to be a presence in the paint and someone who could potentially give you a shift of good energy and activity in the paint. </p>
<p id="XbxIsQ">He’s not the most fluid athlete, and some of his movements do look genuinely awkward. So, if that, plus his inexperience turn you (or the Lakers) off, I’d get it. But in the pursuit of a live body whose asks will be small next to guys like LeBron, Russ, Monk, and THT who will make his job easier, he could be worth a flyer.</p>
<h3 id="WzJIuV"><strong>DJ Wilson</strong></h3>
<p id="s7kz0P">Wilson isn’t a center and, really, would be more of an Ariza alternative/insurance than someone who you’d ask to defend another team’s big man. That said, one the things the Lakers learned when AD missed time with his knee injury is that they’re better off playing smaller and faster than trying to shoehorn another traditional big onto the floor. </p>
<p id="iNlJqp">Wilson, then, could be another forward in the rotation who can play with pace and compete with a baseline level of activity by going to the glass and simply leveraging his youthful legs to defend with some spirit. He brings good size (6’10), has some pedigree as a former first-round pick, and has been on the fringes of the league this year after getting a 10-day contract with the Raptors earlier this season. If only signing one player, I’d prioritize a big over Wilson, but if the Lakers find that big elsewhere and end up with an additional open roster spot too, Wilson would be a guy I’d consider.</p>
<h3 id="aJ7YTY"><strong>Tristan Thompson</strong></h3>
<p id="2pIwey">I know that Thompson will <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/2022/2/17/22939081/bulls-head-into-the-break-with-news-on-future-reinforcements">reportedly sign with the Chicago Bulls</a> after getting his <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/2022/2/17/22940011/pacers-links-cheers-and-goodbyes-for-tristan-thompson-haliburton-delivers-lance-nba">release from the Pacers</a>. And, if that ends up happening, good for him. But, Thompson would also be a nice fit on these Lakers, both in the short term with AD out, and in the long term as a potential backup who can still really rebound the ball and be a finisher via dump offs and deep post-ups after after rolling via P&R’s. </p>
<p id="9ApAO7">Thompson isn’t an above the rim player, and there’s real questions how much juice he still has defensively, particularly in switches. But, as a guy with veteran know how and playoff experience, a history of playing with LeBron, and someone who is likely to get some extra motivation playing for a team with something at stake, there’s real potential there. If a potential major role with the Lakers while AD is out is enough to alter his decision to joining the Bulls, I’d welcome him on this roster.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="3pSIBh">
<p id="0So2sn">I fully understand that none of the above names are particularly sexy and it’s not even entirely clear any of them would actually help the Lakers enough to justify signing them in the first place. </p>
<p id="vsqwuE">That said, we know that DeAndre Jordan doesn’t help the Lakers. Just as we know that Dwight Howard cannot be an every night player, that you cannot play the Ariza/Melo duo at as the lone front-court players without getting butchered defensively, and that LeBron can’t play 48 minutes each night. So with AD out at least a month, the Lakers need assistance in the form of a backup center, and they need it now. </p>
<p id="3TIjVR">These guys are be the best of a flawed pool of options. They may not be perfect, but as this season has taught the Lakers time and time again, perfection is not something this team can count on, anyway.<strong> </strong></p>
<p id="CyfAK7"><em><strong>For more </strong></em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/los-angeles-lakers"><em><strong>Lakers</strong></em></a><em><strong> talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/silver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans/id1439479212?mt=2&xcust=___sb__p_22475481__t_w__r_bing.com__d_D" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>iTunes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XJK0kM4pR2uUy7WDmAybb?si=WZwWClvKRZeHeSTnuxdYrw"><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/silver-screen-and-rollcast"><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></a><em><strong> or </strong></em><a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9zaWx2ZXItc2NyZWVuLXJvbGw%3D"><em><strong>Google Podcasts</strong></em></a><em><strong>. You can follow Darius on Twitter at </strong></em><a href="https://twitter.com/forumbluegold"><em><strong>@forumbluegold.</strong></em></a></p>
<p id="xrsToF"></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/18/22939402/lakers-buyout-market-free-agency-targets-tristan-thompson-dj-wilson-moses-brownDarius Soriano2022-02-17T09:29:18-08:002022-02-17T09:29:18-08:003 buyout candidates that could help the Lakers
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<img alt="NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ebz9mVyeIqn_NsOI8BART18Fk_4=/0x0:2289x1526/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70518977/usa_today_17542640.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Lakers are going to need to make a big splash in the buyout market in the coming weeks if they intend on making a run for the playoffs this season.</p> <p id="4tS7gD">Once an afterthought of a way to sign players midseason, the buyout market has morphed into a real resource for contending teams to potentially find a key piece that could help put them over the top. The <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Lakers</a> are well aware of the impact a buyout player can have, with Markieff Morris serving a vital role with the title-winning team in 2020. Nailing those types of signings <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/4/1/22362526/lakers-nets-buyout-market-nba-rumors-rule-change-andre-drummond-blake-griffin">is rare</a>, but can prove vitally important in late-season runs.</p>
<p id="SQA23R">This year, the Lakers placed a bigger emphasis on landing that type of player in the buyout market by not making any moves at the trade deadline. With a roster featuring too many players who are unable to contribute anything meaningful, the team can certainly make plenty of roster spots available to upgrade, but which players should they target?</p>
<p id="cWXuv0">A number of names have already been mentioned as potential candidates, and the Lakers will be linked to many based on their needs. But for the purposes of this exercise, Bobby Marks of ESPN <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/e/22702273">released a list of potential buyout candidates</a> on Wednesday as part of his <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/33288846/what-2022-nba-offseason-looks-trade-deadline">extensive article previewing the 2022 NBA offseason ($$$)</a>, and we will be using that pool of players as guidelines of who might realistically be available for the Lakers. </p>
<p id="z7SLbv">Here are three names that could help the Lakers the most as buyout signings.</p>
<h2 id="GBNdXK"><strong>Goran Dragic</strong></h2>
<p id="6wNalS">Dragic will be the prize recruit on the market for contending teams in the coming days and weeks. While he hasn’t played since Oct. 25, Dragic has been an impactful player in recent seasons with the Heat, helping lead them to the Finals against the Lakers in 2020.</p>
<p id="wC0WYr">The Lakers don’t have a reliable backup point guard on the roster with LeBron James generally occupying that role, and Dragic has experience playing next to — and succeeding with — a ball-dominant wing in Jimmy Butler. In two seasons with Butler in Miami, Dragic shot 36.9% from the 3-point line, a stark, stark contrast to the 30.1% Russell Westbrook is shooting this season in Los Angeles.</p>
<p id="VI58CL">Dragic could come in and add a new dimension to the Lakers as both a facilitator and scorer and could help alleviate some of the team’s issues at the guard position, particularly given Westbrook’s recent struggles. That’s probably why L.A. has already <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/12/22931140/lakers-rumors-goran-dragic-buyout-market-spurs-contract-dennis-schroder-russell-westbrook">been linked to him</a>, a distinction he shares with our next possible target...</p>
<h2 id="U4aKHd"><s><strong>Tristan Thompson</strong></s></h2>
<p id="fK3Jkx">(The <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/15/22936546/tristan-thompson-buyout-lakers-pacers-klutch-lebron-james-cavs">Lakers were reportedly likely to pursue Thompson</a>, and while he was bought out by the Pacers, <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/2022/2/16/22938397/pacers-expected-to-waive-tristan-thompson">he’s expected to sign with the Chicago Bulls</a>)</p>
<h2 id="9cpQXA"><strong>Gary Harris</strong></h2>
<p id="Infaju">The player on this list whose buyout might be least likely, Gary Harris has had an interesting career. Once seen as a young guard with loads of potential, Harris has struggled to fulfill that promise, instead offering only brief flashes of talent, or short-but-impressive stretches of play.</p>
<p id="cWJnFY">This season with the Magic, Harris is averaging 11.5 points per game on 38% 3-point shooting, both his best marks since the early years of his career in Denver. He’s still a solid defender on the wing as well, where the Lakers can also use help.</p>
<p id="SJXrlL">Orlando would have liked to get an asset for him at the deadline but Harris’ $20.4 million contract this season made that too difficult. Instead, he could be bought out, and would absolutely be a top priority for any number of teams across the league.</p>
<p id="XtzpVb">For the Lakers, he very well could walk into the starting lineup — please don’t <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/6/9/22525651/lakers-rumors-andre-drummond-promised-starting-job-in-buyout-free-agency">promise him one, though</a>, Lakers — on day one and provide an instant injection of shooting and defense, two things the team has lacked for large stretches of the season.</p>
<h2 id="aeI1Np"><strong>Robin Lopez</strong></h2>
<p id="kvpJZ7">Perhaps the Lakers can turn the Orlando Magic into the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/8/29/22647179/nba-rumors-grizzlies-buyouts-lakers-contracts-salary-analysis-rajon-rondo">Eastern Conference version of the Memphis Grizzlies</a> this month and have <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/8/29/22647179/nba-rumors-grizzlies-buyouts-lakers-contracts-salary-analysis-rajon-rondo">a feeder team</a> in each conference.</p>
<p id="qkJXPv">Even prior to <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/16/22938472/anthony-davis-injury-lakers-vs-jazz-ankle-exit-out-report-two-weeks-timeline">Anthony Davis going down with an injury on Wednesday</a>, an upgrade at the center position was of great need for the Lakers. DeAndre Jordan has been an entire non-factor this season, Dwight Howard can provide spot minutes on a nightly basis and Davis was the lone true playable center the Lakers had.</p>
<p id="atk3Tn">Lopez’s situation in Orlando is interesting. He is not actively in the rotation, and has played just five times since Jan. 21. He’s behind both Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr. on the depth chart, and would be a coveted player if he hit the open market.</p>
<p id="rRp8DQ">Even in his limited action, Lopez is averaging 7.7 points and 3.6 rebounds on 57.1% field goal shooting this season. He can provide energy, a big body to bang against, someone who <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/12/sport/why-does-nba-player-need-to-fight-with-mascots/index.html#:~:text=The%207-foot%20Stanford%20graduate%E2%80%99s%20war%20against%20NBA%20mascots,the%20locker%20room%20hallway%20leading%20to%20the%20court.">occasionally fights mascots</a> and a generally reliable big man for 15-20 minutes a night.</p>
<p id="cYaiJ7">The Bucks would be a strong contender in the buyout market with him having played there two seasons ago. But since then, he’s also played — and excelled — alongside Westbrook in Washington. And with the Lakers, he’d be guaranteed a starting spot in the near future and almost certainly a rotation spot in the long term.</p>
<p id="4w2BlK">And if <a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2021/09/28/orlando-magic-center-robin-lopez-says-hes-been-to-disney-world-100-times/">being around Disney theme parks is a priority for him</a>, the Lakers may be the only team in the world who could pry him from Orlando.</p>
<p id="euDAft"><em><strong>For more </strong></em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/los-angeles-lakers"><em><strong>Lakers</strong></em></a><em><strong> talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fsilver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans%2Fid1439479212%3Fmt%3D2" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>iTunes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XJK0kM4pR2uUy7WDmAybb?si=WZwWClvKRZeHeSTnuxdYrw"><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/silver-screen-and-rollcast"><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></a><em><strong> or </strong></em><a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9zaWx2ZXItc2NyZWVuLXJvbGw%3D"><em><strong>Google Podcasts</strong></em></a><em><strong>. You can follow Jacob on Twitter at </strong></em><a href="https://twitter.com/JacobRude"><em><strong>@JacobRude</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/16/22937887/buyout-candidates-options-players-lakers-free-agent-goran-dragic-tristan-thompson-gary-harrisJacob Rude2022-02-15T19:13:36-08:002022-02-15T19:13:36-08:00Tristan Thompson expected to be potential Lakers buyout target
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<img alt="Sacramento Kings v Los Angeles Lakers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dXi6P9KxCxQgzAG84fAwh2mKGOw=/0x0:3543x2362/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70515202/1236844638.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Former LeBron James teammate and fellow Klutch client Tristan Thompson could be a buyout target for the Lakers in the coming weeks</p> <p id="mBvVjh">By not making any moves at the trade deadline, the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Lakers</a> placed an immense amount of focus and pressure on the buyout market. The team has been active in recent years in signing buyouts, ranging from Markieff Morris to Andre Drummon and Ben McLemore.</p>
<p id="0HdWV2">But none of those teams were as deeply flawed as this Lakers’ team is and none of those teams needed as much help as this team does. Perhaps the biggest hole on the roster is at the center position where the team only has one player that can play the position in Anthony Davis.</p>
<p id="c2FgdP">While LeBron James has had success at times at the position, the Lakers are desperately in need of at least one traditional center. With Drummond unavailable to promise a starting spot to (for now), a different type of familiar name could be available.</p>
<p id="l9RqGi">On Monday, Shams Charania of <em>The Athletic</em> appeared on Bally Sports’ “The Rally” and revealed that, on top of Goran Dragic, the Lakers are expected to be in on Tristan Thompson as well.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"They will be active in the Goran Dragić and Tristan Thompson's of the world."<br><br>Stadium <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA</a> Insider <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> on what the Lakers could do in the buyout market. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheRally?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheRally</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ecst6hfMrh">pic.twitter.com/Ecst6hfMrh</a></p>— The Rally (@TheRally) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRally/status/1493374499764404224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="dzmYVG">Thompson was a part of the deal that sent Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com">Pacers</a> for Domantas Sabonis. As is, the Pacers have four centers on the roster in Thompson, Myles Turner, Goga Bitadze and Isaiah Jackson. With Thompson being the oldest of the four, he makes sense on paper as a buyout candidate.</p>
<p id="NZg4Kt">The only report about Thompson’s future, though, came from James Boyd of <em>Indy Star</em> who said <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnba%2Fpacers%2F2022%2F02%2F09%2Fpacers-keep-buddy-hield-still-weighing-tristan-thompson-buyout%2F6728963001%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.silverscreenandroll.com%2F2022%2F2%2F15%2F22936546%2Ftristan-thompson-buyout-lakers-pacers-klutch-lebron-james-cavs" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">the team was mulling on the idea of potentially buying him out</a>. With the Pacers way, way out of contention and Thompson capable of contributing, all signs would point to him being bought out.</p>
<p id="KF1wqz">This season, the 30-year-old Thompson has averaged 5.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in just 15.2 minutes per game across 32 games in Sacramento and Indiana. While he has his limitations, Thompson still has value and certainly way more value than a player like DeAndre Jordan.</p>
<p id="jaGQRv">There’s also the connection with Thompson being a Klutch client and friends with James, which would conceivably give them an upper hand if he hits the market. Earlier this season in a game against the Kings, James was sure to throw some trash talk in Thompson’s direction much of the night, including after a clutch basket late.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Go ahead and save this for future use <a href="https://t.co/Z0jRXWQ4nh">pic.twitter.com/Z0jRXWQ4nh</a></p>— Jacob Rude (@JacobRude) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobRude/status/1478842899144101894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2022</a>
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<p id="80kfLL">Thompson has his limitations, as any buyout player would, but he also has value as a rebounder and would be an improvement on the Lakers current roster. And considering how little the Lakers are getting out of multiple players on the current roster, it’s a move that makes plenty of sense, if it goes down.</p>
<p id="Tqa5lm"><em><strong>For more </strong></em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/los-angeles-lakers"><em><strong>Lakers</strong></em></a><em><strong> talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fsilver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans%2Fid1439479212%3Fmt%3D2" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>iTunes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XJK0kM4pR2uUy7WDmAybb?si=WZwWClvKRZeHeSTnuxdYrw"><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/silver-screen-and-rollcast"><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></a><em><strong> or </strong></em><a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9zaWx2ZXItc2NyZWVuLXJvbGw%3D"><em><strong>Google Podcasts</strong></em></a><em><strong>. You can follow Jacob on Twitter at </strong></em><a href="https://twitter.com/JacobRude"><em><strong>@JacobRude</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/15/22936546/tristan-thompson-buyout-lakers-pacers-klutch-lebron-james-cavsJacob Rude2022-02-13T23:15:44-08:002022-02-13T23:15:44-08:00How appealing will the Lakers be to buyout candidates?
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<img alt="Los Angeles Lakers v Orlando Magic" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lQjge7RalaG_G_7oUVcyNPqYcJ0=/16x0:4288x2848/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70506145/1237892658.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>After punting on the trade deadline, the Lakers will need to make moves in the buyout market to improve, but how appealing will they be?</p> <p id="NiKgAS">The <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Lakers</a> decision to not make a move at the trade deadline was a surprising one given the current state of their team and roster. As a result, the Lakers will now have to turn to the buyout market to improve the remainder of this season, a proposition that isn’t all that encouraging.</p>
<p id="OMqzWX">In today’s episode of <a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ssr-lakers?selected=VMP1444185320">“Can U Dig It,” a podcast by the Silver Screen & Roll network</a>, Christian and I discuss the Lakers adventurous last four days, but not before discussing the big news of Sunday in the Rams bringing another title to Los Angeles with their <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> win over the Bengals.</p>
<p id="EFVZB4">We then recap the Lakers’ loss to the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com">Golden State Warriors</a> on Saturday, which included <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/12/22931242/lebron-james-leading-scorer-nba-history-lakers-vs-warriors-final-score-passes-kareem-abdul-jabbar">LeBron James becoming the all-time leading scorer in NBA history</a>, regular season and playoffs combined. The two take a minute to appreciate his greatness before diving into whether Saturday’s game is any different than other positive performances this season.</p>
<p id="1BIzLn">Then, we look back on the trade deadline, the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/10/22927821/lakers-rumors-nba-trade-deadline-no-moves-john-wall-christian-wood-cam-reddish">Lakers’ decision to stand pat and not make any moves</a>, whether it was the right call given how bad the Lakers roster is this season and the margin assets they had available and their decision to <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/11/22929763/lakers-free-agent-rumors-podcast-goran-dragic-russell-westbrook-jeanie-buss-rob-pelinka-lebron-james">focus on the buyout market and how that could pan out</a>.</p>
<p id="xncP6J">The Lakers will face the stiffest competition of the James Era in the buyout market and it’s a question of just how appealing free agents will find a Lakers team more likely to be in the play-in game than contending for a title.</p>
<p id="by1WaP"><em><strong>You can listen to the full episode below, and to make sure you never miss a show, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/silver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans/id1439479212?mt=2&xcust=___sb__p_22669869__t_w__r_silverscreenandroll.com_" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>iTunes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XJK0kM4pR2uUy7WDmAybb?si=WZwWClvKRZeHeSTnuxdYrw"><em><strong>Spotify</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/silver-screen-and-rollcast"><em><strong>Stitcher</strong></em></a><em><strong> or </strong></em><a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS9zaWx2ZXItc2NyZWVuLXJvbGw%3D"><em><strong>Google Podcasts</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
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<p id="IJs2SE"><em><strong>And for a short-form recap pod, check out </strong></em><a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/"><em><strong>Lakers</strong></em></a><em><strong> Lowdown, in which Anthony Irwin recaps the previous day’s news and gets you ready for the day ahead in LakerLand, every weekday morning on the </strong></em><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/silver-screen-roll-for-los-angeles-lakers-fans/id1439479212?mt=2&xcust=___sb__p_22669869__t_w__r_silverscreenandroll.com_" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em><strong>Silver Screen & Roll Podcast feed</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/2/13/22932705/lakers-trade-deadline-rob-pelinka-lebron-james-buyout-gary-harris-goran-dragic-dennis-schroderJacob Rude