The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Mike Muscala prior to the trade deadline. What can fans expect from the newest Laker?
Up until 3 pm on Thursday afternoon, the Los Angeles Lakers news everyone pretty much wanted to hear was that New Orleans Pelicans actually picked up the phone and had a two-way conversation about making a counter offer for Anthony Davis.
Lake Show Life already knew that was not going to happen in two weeks.
Fortunately for Lakers fans, the front office knew that as well and pursued other options. After trading for Reggie Bullock on Tuesday after getting rolled by the Indiana Pacers, the front office followed that up by trading Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac to the Los Angeles Clippers for Mike Muscala.
The deal was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Clippers are trading Mike Muscala to the Lakers for Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2019
It’s been a long time since these two teams did any business. The last time these two franchises made a deal was way back in 1983. That deal sent very popular point guard Norm Nixon, Eddie Jordan and a future draft pick to the Clippers for Byron Scott, Swen Nater (guess who stuck in this trade!) and a draft pick.
The Reggie Bullock trade looked very promising. This deal, on the other hand, has another plan in mind. The Lakers made this move to open up a roster spot. In my opinion, barring some serious laziness by this individual, look for this guy to fill the roster spot.
Los Angeles Lakers: 4 reasons to buy or sell Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony may have played his last game for the Houston Rockets. Melo is LeBron James' boy! Should he play for the Los Angeles Lakers?
If this does happen and Carmelo Anthony joins the team, this really had better work. Ivica Zubac was really coming into his own and would have been a very valuable player for the playoff run. I totally get the Lakers need shooting. But Muscala is now on his third team in like six months.
Here are some highlights of his career high in scoring when he was in Atlanta.
What the Lakers will sell the fans is Muscala is a stretch five that will space the floor. Okay, that’s fine but, Mike Muscala is not shooting as well as Reggie Bullock has this year.
He is only shooting 34 percent from 3-point country on four attempts. To put this in perspective, the Lakers let Brook Lopez, who would have come back if given the choice, walk out the door with just memories of the time left behind.
Muscala barely got traded from the Sixers in the Tobias Harris trade before being moved again. Lopez is playing some good ball in Milwaukee contributing outside shooting to the point he has a nickname, “Splash Mountain”.
Ivica Zubac will probably walk to the Clippers starting lineup. Michael Beasley may have to walk out. The Clippers are probably going to waive him and he’ll be a free agent.
Hopefully, the locker room incident with the Lakers doesn’t mess up his chances on the buyout market. That is one of the things you can expect to see from Muscala on the roster.
This has much more to do with that Walton/McGee/Beasley dust-up than his talent
With all the drama going on around the organization and with Anthony Davis not coming, the Lakers front office needed to show good faith to Luke Walton.
This move has everything to do with the Saturday night loss to Golden State. Michael Beasley was one of the veterans that had an issue with his role and the substitution patterns. I got out to the media (like again!) and there were conflicting stories.
As uncertainty surrounds Lakers into deadline week, several veterans -- including Michael Beasley -- had an emotionally-charged verbal exchange with head coach Luke Walton postgame tonight, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium. It stopped short of turning physical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2019
The argument went past the normal NBA discussions and got close to being something extra. With Ramona Shelburne saying different.
Texted a few folks about whatever it was that happened in Lakers lockeroom tonight. One described it as typical lockeroom stuff & said, “It never got close to getting out of control, people are always emotional after a loss.”
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 3, 2019
Michael Beasley may have seen the writing on the wall when he made it a point to talk to Yahoo! Sports.
"“This past Saturday after the Warriors game, Coach Walton and our team had a conversation after a tough loss. Despite reports to the contrary, there was nothing physical between Coach Walton, me, or any other teammate,” Beasley said. “I’ve sat back in the past when stories have been twisted and misreported, but I won’t do that this time. I respect Luke and I respect this team. We are trying to win a championship together.”"
But let’s be clear here, this is a message to the players and everyone else involved especially LeBron. Luke Walton has the support of the franchise and the man is not going anywhere.
But with LeBron James (or his camp…) already leaking the “preference” of a coaching change.
Plus media reports of Walton’s demise, this trade shows one thing.
Here’s what Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said about Coach Luke Walton...
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) February 8, 2019
“Luke’s done an amazing job,” he said, adding that the front office and Walton were “totally unified.”
“Our communication is lockstep,” he said.
Look for the Carmelo Anthony signing to appease LeBron James if things start to go south.
Office politics at it’s finest!
The offseason signings are starting to catch up with the Lakers!
The Lakers basically got an older version on Moe Wagner, their draft pick out of Michigan. I really don’t see this guy making an impact on the Lakers.
Zubac was just playing too well to justify Muscala as a replacement. Is this a veteran that can keep his head down and not cause drama? Okay, but this looks more like an addition by subtraction move right here.
Mike Muscala is going to allow the Lakers to spread the floor.
— Hollywood Holguin 🎃 (@HollywoodHOLG) February 7, 2019
Some great rim protection in this video as well.
Definitely need to run a lot of PNR with him.#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/p9AMeDEib0
If he can provide solid defensive rotations as you see in this video, he can be a help to the Lakers going forward. Tyson Chandler‘s minutes will be monitored for the rest of the season with his back problems. Also, Muscala can be a viable option if JaVale McGee gets in foul trouble or draws Luke Walton’s ire.
If he can execute the pick and roll and keep the ball moving, okay maybe he can help.
The real story here is that the Lakers had 15 roster spots. Now they have 14. Carmelo Anthony with his pro-rated salary in the Lakers eyes is a higher skilled player with Beasley’s skills at a lower price.
Plus he’s LeBron James’ best friend.
Carmelo Anthony, hope you are in shape. This move was basically to get you on the team. If this does not work out if you thought the treatment you got in Houston was bad…
No. I’m going to channel my LaVar Ball and speak this into existence…
Carmelo Anthony will help the Lakers after the All-Star break!
Does anyone believe me?
The Los Angeles Lakers are now past the halfway point in their long journey through the NBA season. Lake Show Life will be there every step of the way. Continue to check in for Lakers news, previews and reviews.