Danny Ainge and the Celtics didn’t exactly deliver on the fireworks promised by owner Wyc Grousbeck this summer, but at least we’re not the Lakers:
What are the Lakers doing? Fewer contracts raised more eyebrows around the Las Vegas Summer League than this one. The Lakers continue to overvalue their own players. They seem determined to languish in mediocrity.
This is Millsap money, even though (Jordan) Hill’s contribution pales in comparison to players of this pay grade. RPM is brutal on Hill, a guy whose sparkly box score numbers were inflated by Mike D’Antoni’s system. Making matters worse, Hill’s defensive contribution is next to nil. His contract figures to be salary filler before it eventually develops into a trade greaser a year from now.
The Lin trade was a nice predatory move, but it’s unclear why they decided to toss so much money at Hill and Young instead of going hard for a young talent like Thomas, Stephenson, Lowry, or any number of restricted free agents. The Lakers are just filling the roster with short-term contracts until they land a star, and they couldn’t get any big names to bite this time around. If they don’t land Love next summer, who is the next realistic target?
The bright side: They have a shot at being bad enough to keep next year’s first-round draft pick, which they owe to Phoenix if it falls outside the top five.
The big difference between the Celtics and Lakers transition years is Kobe Bryant. Or shall I say soon to be 36-year old Kobe Bryant. Next season will be a total waste for Bryant and who knows what he’s going to have left in 2016. Instead of reloading for Kobe’s sunset, the Lakers are languishing.
Oops, I almost forgot – the Lakers still do not have a coach.
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