Los Angeles Lakers: Pros and cons of keeping or signing 14 players
By Ed Schrenzel
Tis the season for speculation, gossip and rumors about what the Los Angeles Lakers will and should do when the free agent signing period begins in July.
Fans of the Los Angeles Lakers and media have expressed widely disparate opinions that run the gamut regarding who to sign, who to keep and who to trade for, and why.
Here is a quick synopsis of the pros (keep or sign) and cons (trade or avoid signing) of the 14 players whose names are most often discussed:
Current Roster
Forwards
Pro: He showed tremendous improvement in virtually every area of his game during his recently completed second season. He is well on his way to becoming not only an All-Star but one of the league’s best all-around players.
Con: He will never excel enough in any one aspect of the game to be a true star, so the team would be wise to trade him now while he has the most value.
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Pro: He had an outstanding rookie campaign, and still only scratched the surface of his abilities. He showed he can score in many different ways and he’s probably the team’s best 3-point shooter. He is another potential All-Star and he also displays strong leadership qualities.
Con: Much like Ingram, the Lakers should attempt to trade him as part of a package to acquire an existing all-star.
• Julius Randle (included here because he is a restricted free agent)
Pro: He was arguably the best Laker this past season, leading the team in points, rebounds, shooting percentage and games played. He was a huge force in the paint, dominating and punishing opponents at the rim, and his defense was mostly first-rate. Still only 23, he likely hasn’t peaked yet and will develop an even better all-around game.
Con: He is a one-dimensional player who excelled during his contract year but might fall off after he gets a big money contract. He will probably want more money than he’s worth. The Lakers should either let him walk or do a sign-and-trade deal.