I noticed the interest in the Lakers by some guys here, so since I ran across this, thought it would fit.

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After Saturday spending spree, Lakers have players, not answers

https://theathletic.com/1065411/

Here is what the Lakers had on June 30, at the dawn of free agency: Two of the greatest forwards in the modern NBA and a whole lot of uncertainty about the team that would surround them.

Now, here is what they have on July 6, after a flurry of free-agent additions: pretty much the same thing.

Kawhi Leonard? A Clipper.

Big three? Still two.

Betting favorites for the title? No more.

Spurned by Leonard in prime Las Vegas gambling hours, Rob Pelinka was forced to Plan B and quickly went to work locking up commitments from Danny Green, Quinn Cook, JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. On Saturday, he added Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins, who will soon be two years removed from a torn Achilles. Alex Caruso, who spent the past two years on a two-way contract, was also brought back.

The question oft asked about the Lakers and their hard-earned $32 million in salary-cap space before free agency was answered for them: spend it all on one player or split it up? The Lakers tried for the former and were forced into the latter in a picked-over market. Players such as Seth Curry and Patrick Beverley were gone. Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington and Taj Gibson were Knicks.

Anything was going to feel like a letdown if the Lakers missed on Leonard. But at the same time, the Lakers went into July with a core of James, Davis and Kyle Kuzma and the cap space to assemble a roster that would contend for a championship.

Did they do that here? Or did waiting for Kawhi cost them that opportunity? And if so, would they have been better off never clearing the cap space that allowed them to pursue a max free agent? Or, rather than chasing a third MVP-caliber star, should they have simply pursued a third All-Star in Jimmy Butler or Kemba Walker?

These are questions that will be asked. But as I wrote Friday night, the Lakers knew the game they were playing and they knew that there was a risk they wouldn’t land Leonard. They bet on themselves, on the lure of forming an all-time great Big Three, on the brand of the Lakers. They lost.

Pelinka likely salvaged the best offseason he could once Leonard finally came off the board, but it is far from a finished product.

Green, who signed for a reported $15 million a year for two years, was the most important piece. He is among the best 3-and-D wings in the league. He shot a career-best 45.5 percent from 3 and won a title in a contract year with the Raptors. Even if he regresses to his career average of 40.4 percent, that would be better than the Lakers’ best 3-point shooter from a season ago — when Lance Stephenson made 37.1 percent.

Green has been a key member of title teams in San Antonio and Toronto. The only criticism of Green is a great indictment of the Lakers’ depth. He was, generously, the fifth best player on those championship teams.

With the Lakers, he’s arguably third.

A year ago, the Warriors were lauded for attracting Cousins. Even coming off the most devastating injury a basketball player can suffer, Cousins was viewed as the fifth member in a quintent of All-Stars. The Lakers are receiving no such plaudits in the immediate aftermath, and it’s fair to wonder if that has more to do with Cousins’ injury in the playoffs or a general negativity toward the Lakers. Sometimes, it seems like it’s an organization that can’t win for losing.

Another reason this feels like a bigger risk for the Lakers than it did for the Warriors: In Golden State, Cousins was absorbed into an organization with a strong culture and clearly delineated hierarchy. There was no room for Cousins to rock the boat with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. He served at their pleasure.

With the Lakers amid a full organizational reboot, from the front office to the coaching staff to the roster overhaul, there is no such structure. It will be up to coach Frank Vogel to make sure the pieces work on the floor, and up to James and Davis to set the tone for the culture.

The history between Cousins and Davis is encouraging. The Pelicans were +5.3 with Cousins and Davis on the floor in 2017-18.

But …

That number plummeted to -1.3 when Rondo was on the floor.

On a value contract, Cousins will have the opportunity to show he is still the player he was with Davis in New Orleans. That high ceiling could be the X-factor to a deep playoff run for the Lakers.

After the Lakers ranked 29th in 3-point percentage, it was clear the team had two key areas in which it needed to improve in the offseason — from the perimeter and defensively.

Did the Lakers get better from 3? With Green, Troy Daniels (career 40 percent), Jared Dudley (39.2 percent) the answer is unquestionably yes. The roster boasts shooting at all five positions.

And defense? Vogel is a defensive coach, for starters, and Davis and Green should anchor a much stronger unit on that side of the ball.

In general, you can talk yourself into all of the Lakers’ signings in a vacuum, especially as consolation prizes. The question remains how it will all come together on the court and whether it will be good enough to remove the sting of losing out on Leonard and everyone else who came off the board while they waited.

NBA Fans During Free Agency 2019 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/HhFCvKxO3C

— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) July 6, 2019

A @cnn commentator just said @JoeBiden is right—the majority of Americans DON'T support #MedicareForAll. New poll out shows 55% support M4A if they can keep their doctors/hospitals. Of course, @DanaBashCNN didn't correct this lie https://t.co/m2LMQCFDVc

— Jordan (@JordanChariton) July 5, 2019