Wow…
It’s hard to believe how the last 72 hours have pretty much re-defined how I thought Rob and Magic were doing as the Laker brain trust. It’s not a very high opinion right now. The true feather in their cap is signing LeBron, which if we’re being honest wanted to come here as much as Magic “sold” him on coming here. If anything we can thank the kids and family as much as Magic.
Trading Zubac (upside still developing, ceiling still unknown) for Mike Muscala (firmly in the ‘mediocre’ range) is just silly. You could simply waive Alex Caruso if you really want to free up a spot for Melo. Beasley…I dunno what happened to that guy, dude looks like an ungrateful heel to me right now but still has his uses on our roster.
Reggie Bullock for Svi was solid. Improved an area that needed improving and all it cost was a guy who could barely crack the rotation. These are the kind of moves a savvy executive makes. But this kind of move is no the norm for Magic and Rob. They’re just as likely to let players like Brook Lopez and Julius Randle walk for nothing and that’s not what smart teams do.
But the capper is how NOLA schooled us. The entire AD fiasco is still mind-boggling to me. That whole thing goes beyond ‘rookie mistake’ into ‘desperately stupid’. De-valued your own players, big time. Made your coaches job harder. For all the shyte I laid at Jim and Mitch’s feet (and they helped create a lot to lay) this is worse than anything they ever did. Maybe the rotating coach every 9 months comes close but that’s it. But this has a ripple effect up and down the roster, around the NBA and into the public perception of their general competency.
Magic Johnson is and will always be a Laker Legend. Nothing will ever change that. But these moves are just…really dumb. I no longer have any sense of the direction the team wants to go in or faith that Magic has anything resembling a plan outside of ‘get really good player here with the help of a sports agency’ which is a really lame plan. You have to be a lot smarter than this, Earv, you’re setting yourself for future burns on the trade market.
Things will look up if we beat Boston so let’s speak that mo-fo into existence. I need a scotch to wash out the taste that the last 72 hours has left in my mouth…where’s 63 footer when you need him?
keen observer, 
DJ2KB24, 
Magicman (Editor), and 8 others are discussing. 
NBA4ever 2:33 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
The Clippers somehow improved their roster, while getting deeper and acquiring additional draft assets. And also shedding salary to create Max Space in the summer. Grest work by the front office… Jerry West is laughing at the Lakers smh
Caliphilosopher 2:43 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Single malt Jamie? We got some good stuff up in Scotland (unless you prefer Irish whiskey). I prefer more of a peat and smoke flavor.
LakerTom (Publisher) 2:55 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
I have to respectfully disagree with much of what you’re saying in this post, Jamie. Not that I don’t understand why you might feel the way you do. This entire trade deadline has been full of anguish and doubt and second guessing. Anyway, here’s where I differ with you:
1) I think trading Zubac and Beasley for Mike Muscala was a smart move because it will enable us to play five out to give LeBron more spacing to attack the basket and setup open 3-point shooters. I suspect he’ll play low 20’s minutes like with the Clippers and shoot a couple of threes per game. There have been teams who’ve been able to wall off the paint from LeBron at critical moments mainly because we just did not have enough shooters on the floor to create good spacing. This is a late makeup for not keeping Brook.
2) I adamantly disagree with the characterization that New Orleans ‘schooled’ us, especially since the Pelican are going to end up getting a whole lot less for AD than what the Lakers offered. Magic and Rob had one prime objective in trying to trade for AD, which was to make sure they did not repeat the mistakes that cost them Paul George and Kawhi Leonard by being hesitant to go all in. The Celtics may have won this battle by convincing New Orleans to wait but the war for AD is far from over and one thing that Rich Paul and Anthony Davis know for sure is the Lakers put everything on the table. That will be one of the key reasons they will ultimately end up with Davis this summer or next.
3) I think Magic and Rob for the Lakers and Rich Paul for Klutch Sports did everything they could have done to get Anthony Davis to the Lakers before the trade deadline. The truth is the Pelicans never had any intention of trading AD to the Lakers. The villainous duo of the Lakers and LeBron led them to cut off their nose despite their face. They will regret this move and it will cost Dell Demps his job. And to cap it off, Anthony Davis will likely still end up on the Lakers but as an unrestricted free agent. Trust is why it will happen.
Anyway, I’m as much relieved as bummed by not getting AD right now. I think the young core and remaining and new vets are going to rally around LeBron starting tonight in Boston and finish the year strong and make it into the playoffs. I’m also not buying the LeBron is ‘toxic’ argument and think the Lakers will be successful in landing a second superstar this summer or next via free agency. We may trade some of the young core like we did Svi and Ivica but it will be to strategically upgrade the team. Someday, we’re all going to look back on this day and realize not making the trade was best. Anyway, that’s how I see things.
Magicman (Editor) 3:00 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Tom, that’s some Trump facts #2
We got ‘Played’
Magicman (Editor) 3:05 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
We could have waived Beasley…and not have to throw in Zu.
Jamie Sweet (Local Ne'er-Do-Well) 3:17 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Or Alex Caruso, Beasley has value on our roster as a scorer off the bench. I don’t give a rats a$$ if he likes his role or not. he was free to not sign with us in the summer and chose to come to the Lakers whereupon all we did was give him as much time as he needed to deal with personal issues while going above and beyond to publicly support him.
Jamie Sweet (Local Ne'er-Do-Well) 3:38 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Thanks LT.
1) Why not trade Wagner for Mike? Zubac was/is playing well with the players we currently have. Mike is a career back up, one-dimensional nobody. Ivicia, for all his obstacles, was still developing nicely and had supplanted both McGee and Chandler as the starting center. Nope, this was a move that I don’t get. You want a stretch 5? Sign Brook Lopez. Small ball center? Julius Randle. Both were allowed to walk and everything that you often bring up as issues with the offense has suffered since. McGee made up for some of it with great defense, that has gone away since his bout with pneumonia.
2) Schooled in every sense of the word. You have no idea what haul NOLA will get for AD this summer or next season so that’s pure speculation. What is tangible and real was the devaluing of pretty much our entire roster, the blow to our young player’s psyche (the debate as to whether they should buck and be professional about it could just as easily be laid at Magic and Rob’s feet who looked like teenagers playing with the ESPN Trade Machine for the last week). Bad optics, bad for moral, bad all around. And for what? Nothing.
3) If you don’t think that they were schooled than it’s illogical to think 3 is true. They didn’t do everything because they couldn’t perceive the idea that they were simply being toyed with. Rookie mistake is putting this fiasco kindly, in my opinion. If rumors are to be believed Demps is gone this summer anyhow. Trust didn’t get us Paul George, won’t get us Davis, either, because another team will get court and woo him for an entire season, possibly into a nifty post-season run.
What I don’t think is being considered enough is how this not only makes our players look but our front office. You’re looking at a group that already had the pieces for the team they assembled at the deadline this summer. They let it all walk. Honestly, if you take the LeBron James signing out (which I tend to because he’s said it was a family decision first and that Magic and he had a great conversation, as well). They’ve created controversy where none needed to be created, made Luke’s job harder thus paving the way for his firing this summer.
If, someday, we end with Anthony Davis than we can re-debate this. But until that becomes reality (and I’m not talking wishful thinking/Poppa Ball ‘speaking it into existence’ reality, either) than this is a dark day for the franchise. I don’t see that reality as being an absolute and we’re looking at wasting just about all of LeBron’s first season here. For a ‘win now’ franchise they’re still making tread water, kick the can style moves.
I sure hope you’re right about Boston tonight. A win against Boston could galvanize us for a nice stretch and turn the playoff hopes around. Hard to expect your team to give it’s all, though, when you boss has made it obvious you’re all expendable and then can’t even trade you. Let’s see how Luke gets these guys to re-believe in being Lakers. Might save his job in the doing.
p ang 5:19 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Tell you one thng, this AD trade fiasco was so bad I considered maybe its Magic that has to go. Bring in Kobe instead. Nobody works harder than Kobe.
mclyne32 (Director) 4:14 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Trading away Zu for almost nothing was a HUGE FAIL.
This one’s going to hurt for awhile.
Seely_Iggy (Director) 4:55 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
With ya on that, Matt. So bummed!
p ang 4:57 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Trading against Jerry West is always a bad idea.
DJ2KB24 6:40 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Totally don’t understand that at all (Zub)?
keen observer 8:48 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Give me a break. That was a minor deal at most and gave us a 6’11” stretch 4/5 in his prime at 27 years old while ridding us of useless Beasley. Zubac was improving but here’s an example of emotional fans falling in love with their players. Muscala gives us some outside shooting and now Luke will go back to the formula that worked until JaVale got sick, which is start McGee and back him up with Chandler, while sprinkling in Muscala depending on match ups. Moe Wagner simply is too inexperienced for that role. So lighten up over a whole lot of nothing, McWhyne and anyone else who thinks this was a “HUGE FAIL.” smh
MongoSlade 4:58 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Earv & Rob will be right back on the phone offering all the youngins again for AD 4 months from now. Why are they so desperate? Because history has already shown that nothing is guaranteed and alot can change between now & July 1st 2020.
Magicman (Editor) 5:05 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
As we saw time and time again, there’s always a Star or Superstar who will be disgruntled or frustrated.
This time can they keep f*****g quiet?
The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room- Frank Lucas
Magicman (Editor) 5:06 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
After I heard that line in American Gangster (Epic film), did some reflecting and found it to be 100% from then on.
Magicman (Editor) 5:27 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Funny when Tatum signs with Klutch in two years. Lol.
MongoSlade 5:40 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Also..if they manage to convince any of Lebron’s all star draftees to come here this summer they’ll gladly give em the money earmarked for AD. They ain’t voluntarily passing on these dudes in the hopes that AD will still be there in 2020.
Magicman (Editor) 5:53 PM on February 7, 2019 Permalink
Excellent point. Wasn’t thinking about that part.