The ‘Shop: Trade Rumors, HOF & Lakers Talk

Alright folks, we’re back here in The ‘Shop with another special guest for the week. Allow us to welcome Harrison Faigen, the Associate Editor in Chief of Silver Screen & Roll (among a host of other cool things and places we will undoubtedly get into), to this holiday edition of our weekly discussion.

Jabari: Harrison AKA Pau Gasol’s little brother Faigen, thanks a lot for joining this week. Since the holiday season is upon us, let me start you off by asking what your perfect “gift” would be from the NBA this season? Our Joel Brigham did a fun collaborative piece with the Basketball Insiders team on this very subject, so I’m eager to see your response to this.

Harrison: Thanks for having me and happy holidays to both of you as well. The NBA has given me some solid gifts already, from a new CBA (Yay no lockout!), to a surprisingly fun start to the Lakers’ season (we’ll ignore the lump of coal that is their last 11 games). Aside from turning injuries off, I think the main thing I’d like to see from the NBA is a more reasonable schedule. It sounds like the new CBA will at least partially address this, but I’m tired of it being the “smart” move to rest players when it would seem like it wouldn’t be that hard to stretch the season out a bit more to make doing so a little bit less necessary (except in case of injuries or real wear and tear).

What about you guys? What do you want from Adam Silver-Claus?

Lang: Welcome to The ‘Shop Harrison. Appreciate the time. This NBA season has been good to me. Seeing guys like Russell Westbrook and James Harden put up these historical type of numbers has been awesome to watch. I know some people are nitpicking in the moment, but I’m not. When you have two certified goodie monsters putting in top level work, just sit back, shut up and enjoy the show.

One thing I want from Adam Silver-Claus goes back to the topic of resting guys. Overall, I don’t like what’s been going on because it hurts the product from a fan’s perspective. But anytime I go too far down that road I start to sound like old school bitter artists that complain about this generation’s music. I don’t want to be the “get off my lawn” guy, but I do think Silver-Claus should enforce the guys at least showing up to the arena, unless the rest is announced with sufficient notice. That way the player can still be available for fans to sign autographs, take pictures and what not. What are you thinking Jabari, is this wishful thinking? To, at the very least, have guys accessible and in the building even if they’re supposed to be “resting?”

Jabari: I actually agree about players being available for fans and even the media when simply “resting” here and there. Not sure the league will enforce it, but I would like to see that happen for the fans that wind up paying the exorbitant prices for the tickets. In order to avoid simply echoing what each of you said, I’ll agree the NBA has been very good to us so far this year and thus far under Silver-Claus, in general. Just like I asked for in Joel’s article, can we just get some great games to enjoy on Christmas Day? No blowouts, no duds. That’s all I ask.

For the sake of today’s discussion, let me get each of you to choose just three of the potential Basketball Hall of Fame candidates (NOT an actual limitation) from the group that was recently announced. For me, although “Twitter” will foolishly argue against it at times, Tracy McGrady is an absolute no-brainer. I also cannot tell you how much the fanboy (since the “Fab Five” days) in me appreciates that C-Webb (20.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, ROY, 5x AS & All-NBA) is finally being nominated.

I also think Ben Wallace (6x All-Defensive Team, 4x DPOY) makes a lot of sense for those of us that actually watched his career. Either of you putting Sir UTEP 2-Step, AKA Tim Hardaway, in? Is he far enough away from his post-career controversial commentary (let Google be your friend) and does he have a strong enough resume (17.7 PPG, 8.2 APG, 5x AS & All-NBA) to finally make it in?

Harrison: I agree that McGrady is a shoe-in. The only argument against him is going to come from the “RINGZZZZ” crowd but prime McGrady was unbelievable for some truly godawful Orlando Magic teams. Easily one of the best scorers I’ve ever seen, and it was incredible to watch him and young Kobe Bryant cook on the same nights back in the day.

The other two guys Jabari went with probably mirror my list (Webber is arguably the best passing big man ever and keyed a Kings’ attack I loved to hate as a kid and Wallace was one of the most imposing defenders in league history), but just to keep this interesting I’ll throw out Bill Bertka’s name as someone who should already be in the Hall of Fame. Bertka is a basketball lifer who has not only continued to be a part of the Lakers’ draft process well into his 80’s, but he was a pioneering coach who helped bring the first advance film study to the NBA as well.

Jabari: GREAT mention of Bertka, Harrison. I actually forget that he’s not already a member because I think that’s an absolute absurdity. He’s in great shape at the age of 89, but it sure would be great to see him be able to enjoy this honor rather than slipping him in after-the-fact. But I figure the Hall would know about honoring the historical greats throughout history more than I would. Last thing about the HOF before moving on, now that players only have to wait four seasons (one less than before) to become eligible for candidacy, should we expect to see Rasheed Wallace’s name on next year’s ballot?

Harrison: After growing up as a Lakers fan, my main memory of Rasheed is him beating up on a young Luke Walton like he wanted his lunch money, so as painful as this is for my inner child to admit, yes Rasheed should at the very least be nominated for the Hall of Fame next year. He was a stretch four-five before the term even existed and a great player in the era he played in, and he’s easily a top-ten among guys you’d like to see get a chance to play in this era because they’d fit better.

Lang: Man, I’m coming off as a Debbie Downer this week. Guess I’m not the same when I’m hungry. But Rasheed wouldn’t get my vote for the Hall of Fame. I don’t believe we ever got to see the true potential of Rasheed Wallace manifest, which is a damn shame. From 2000-2003 we saw consistent flashes of what he could have been but at the end of the day, only four All-Star appearances in 16 seasons and no All-NBA or All-Defensive nods to leverage speaks volumes. But respect to ‘Sheed. He helped transform the way power forwards are expected to play in today’s game. Definitely one of his era’s best. Definitely a trendsetter. NBA champion. Great teammate. But just not a Hall of Famer in my view. Ball Don’t Lie.

Jabari: I also get where you are coming from with ‘Sheed, Lang. He’s one of my favorite of that generation of players, but I’m not sure the actual resume will get him there. Selfishly, I want him to make it because I think the speech and moment would be epic, but I’m not certain it will happen.

Alright, last topic of the day will have to do with some trade talk. Even though my standard position on trade rumors is to take them with a grain of salt, I think the Lakers may actually be in a position to potentially capitalize on one (or more) situations where a disgruntled and/or dissatisfied, veteran player may be actively campaigning for a change of zip code. Harrison, I’ve heard you discuss some of the options that could be out there for them on your @LockedOnLakers podcast (S/O to Anthony Irwin, and be sure to follow the show on Twitter), so let me get you to put on your honorary ‘Jim Buss’ hat to rank each of these players in terms of the order of interest the Lakers SHOULD have and tell me what you’d be willing to part ways with: DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, Greg Monroe (why are you smiling?), Nerlens Noel, Arron Afflalo. Lang, tell’em why he’s spot-on or crazy in response.

Harrison: I get to wear the cap Jim Buss wears everywhere he goes? All right, I knew it was a good idea to come to the ‘Shop.

1. Paul George: The perfect fit for what the Lakers need out of their off-guard/wing position in just about every way. An All-NBA level defense with ball-handling and shooting skills to boot, George would slide in seamlessly alongside D’Angelo Russell to create the best Lakers ballhandling combination since prime Kobe and whoever the Lakers wanted to put next to him. Unfortunately, the giving up assets thing is the tough part here. The Pacers would be unlikely to bite for much short of the entire Lakers’ young core in a deal and George isn’t good enough to mortgage your entire franchise over.
2. DeMarcus Cousins: A similar case to George, but a slightly less clean fit schematically and more potential off-the-court issues (and to be fair, probably more raw talent). Recent press blowup related fines aside, the Kings seem dead set on keeping Cousins. But if I’m wearing my Jim Buss cap, I do check in around the deadline to see if Vivek Ranadive has an irrational love for any of the Lakers’ non-Russell or Ingram young players. If he’s willing to make the trade for something like Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson (unlikely but who knows, it’s the Kings), then I think you have to take the risk. However, the new CBA making even more gargantuan extensions possible for George and Cousins makes trades for either seem unlikely.
3. Nerlens Noel: Our first (and possibly only) real trade candidate! I’ve seen a lot of Lakers fans suggest a Clarkson for Noel deal, and I could see some merit in that for both sides. That being said, Noel’s injury issues concern me quite a bit, as does his restricted free agency, which will force the Lakers to pony up big money for him with only half a season to see how he fits with the rest of the young group.
4. Arron Afflalo: If you can’t tell by now, I’m not very pro-trade with this Lakers team. I think I (Jim Buss for right now) should show patience and see what this young Lakers’ core can be. Arron Afflalo is having a pretty mediocre season in Sacramento, and I’m not sure what or why the Laker would trade for him. He’s only not last on this list because of the last name.
5. (986th) Greg Monroe: Ah, Greg Monroe. He whose signing with Bucks birthed actual columns on the internet suggesting the Lakers’ big market advantage was dead because “superstar” free agents like him were signing with the Bucks. That seems a bit premature, in hindsight. Monroe is playing less than 20 minutes per game for the Bucks, and while to be fair to him he’s a pretty horrible fit for their roster, I don’t see any way he’s a better fit in Los Angeles, or really the modern NBA. As a post-up and nothing else specialist, Monroe is part of a dying breed of defensively inept giants who are going to continue to get run off of the floor in all but the most special cases, and I do not endorse the Lakers offering anything of value for his $17 million contract this year with an option to make nearly $18 million next year.

Am I totally off on those, or being a giant TRADE RUMORZZZ buzzkill? Is homerism coloring my view of the Lakers’ young core?

Lang:  Very strong take my man. I tend to agree. It’s weird to watch the decline of Greg Monroe. I will say this, people are totally trying to go away from back to the basket big men but I think the giants still have place in the league, especially come playoff time where the refs bite the whistle and games become ground and pound affairs. The ability to score easy baskets inside is magnified in the postseason.

I think the only player the Lakers need to be targeting on the above list is Nerlens Noel. I would give up a Larry Nance and Jordan Clarkson package to get the job done. Philadelphia may bite. They desperately need a guard to go along with their talented collection of young frontcourt players. The Lakers still need a center, even though Timofey Mozgov is only in the first year of a four-year deal.  I would definitely pick up the phone, at the very least, if I’m the Lakers to gauge what Philly needs in order to make the trade happen. It’s apparent he is unhappy with how the “process” is going.

Jabari: You guys are probably both right in terms of what the Lakers could realistically grab on the market, unless they wanted to essentially gut the roster for a really big name. As I often say, even though they’ve hit a bit of a rough patch while dealing with some injuries over the last couple of weeks, they are in the position of actually having choices in terms of how they want to rebuild. We’ll certainly keep an eye on that situation over the course of the year, but on behalf of the site and obviously my guy Lang, allow me to thank Harrison for joining us for this week’s discussion. From each of us to all of you, enjoy your holidays…and hopefully with some great basketball in the background.