Malone & Payton will probably join Lakers.

[Jackal]

If the Lakers do manage to sign these veteran stars, it would just be a temporary solution.

The Lakers formula for success all these years is credited largely to their superstars, Shaq & Kobe, but not all their success came from these two players. What I'm trying to say here is that the Lakers need a change, sumthing different. They need to bring in some younger role players. Their success all these years is because of their role players and ofcourse the 2 stars. Role players such as; Horace Grant, Glen Rice, Horry etc.

What I dont understand is why wont the managment get off their fat asses and start looking for some new talent? Ok ok, I know there is no cap space, but there are a few players that are non factors on the Lakers' roster which can easily be disposed of and with that cap space try atleast TRY and sign sumone young. Take Tracy Murray for instance, he's a wonderful three point shooter but for pete's sake he's quiete old. I'm quite sure is they get rid of players like Murray and Walker ( solid rebounder but nothing else ) they should have some cap space to bring in some fresh legs to help out with the scoring, passing and defending cuz as we all saw this year, Fox/Fisher/Horry just can't get it done anymore.
When Malone and Payton are gone ( if they sign that is ) THEN what??!
Come on they've got to get sum complimentary young role players to keep winning. Shaq & Kobe cant do everything can they. These to can combine for a maximum of 80 points ( sum may not agree ) but these days the scoring is quite high becuz of the lack of defense on the part of the Lakers, *Shaq lose some weight dammit and get moving again!!*

I am looking forward to seeing young guys like Pargo, Rush, and now Cook and Walton develop into sumthing.
Just dreaming here but what a player this would be: Samaki Walker's rebounding skills, Medvedenko's shooting skills and Madsen's heart and love of the game...<<<Not a bad player.
So my whoooooole point of this large ass post is that the management should get off their asses and start looking for some fresh YOUNG faces with potential...not oldies!! Get rid of the old guys and you'll have sum bloody cap space...!

Sorry for the lohong post , but I just haaaad to let it all out SUMwhere!

[Robby]

Just dreaming here but what a player this would be: Samaki Walker's rebounding skills, Medvedenko's shooting skills and Madsen's heart and love of the game...<<<Not a bad player.

This is exactly what Karl Malone is

[Jackal]

True, but the whole point was...that he shoudl be young...very unfortunately for us...Malone is quiet old .

[GloveGuy]

Age shouldn't matter so much, when signing someone. Especially since the old guys are more likely to go for the smaller contracts. The Lakers(assuming that they're going to attain both of these players) can't do better than Gary Payton and Karl Malone. I'd rather have these two than just Jason Kidd. It's more than skill that these guys still have. They have heart; they have leadership; they know how to play defense and offense in clutch situations. They deserve and they want a ring more than any other players in the league.

[Jackal]

Yes that's all true, but the fact remains that they are OLD...
Now that Payton has given his word...this should be an interesting year.

[Swoosh]

Lets forget the west cuz its gonna be all lakers,which means boring i guezz, lets look at the east where everything can happen

[Jackal]

In the east, I'm looking forward (anxiously) to the development of Eddy Curry & Tyson Chandler, the baby bulls, this should be an interesting team, if not this year, in the near future.
Ehm the east...Milwaukee will be one of the worst teams I'm guessing .

[Robby]

Lets forget the west cuz its gonna be all lakers,which means boring i guezz, lets look at the east where everything can happen

I think it would be great if Zo and Kidd head over to San Antonio and the Lakers and Spurs meet up in the Conf. Finals. Lakers would most likely prevail but it would be a great series. Also, if Kidd leaves NJ, the east is going to come down to Detroit and Indiana.

[Jackal]

Detroit will prevail in the east if Milicic can provide 10 to 15 points.

[air gordon]

yes age matters- mitch richmond was a bust for the lakers and he was only 36. hakeem going to the raptors didn't exactly work out either. and the raptors were stuck with his salary last year even though he was retired. both were expeceted to make major contributions to their respective teams

[Andrew]

Hakeem could have had a better final year, and even still be playing if his injuries hadn't continued to mount throughout the latter seasons of his career. I don't see how Mitch Richmond could have been much of a contributor playing limited minutes behind Kobe.

[Swoosh]

I agree psycho jackal , the bulls are gonna be very interesting, and i dont know about kidd, i would love to see him go to the spurs together with Zo(so they can stop the freakin' lakers, they cant be champions again ), but i also would like to see him stay, the nets are quite a good team and fun to watch(but not in the playoffs )

[Jackal]

I don't think the Spurs should sign either Zo or Kidd this offseason. Why you ask?
Well here's a thought ( wud be fun but likely happening ); Let the lakers win the championship this year ( ) and then the year after that, when the lakers will not have malone and/or payton the Spurs could sign Garnett, that would be like a back-and-forth thing of em winning championships that would be quiet funny...wow...duncan and garnett on one team scary thought.

I really really am HOPING that Jay Williams comes back for the bulls so that they can get on the way to winning. I do not understand why the bulls picked Hinrich, they have Crawford, and they couldve just signed on a extra pg, they should have picked Pietrus IMHO, but what do I know .

[Matt]

Detroit will prevail in the east if Milicic can provide 10 to 15 points.

highly unlikely..........Milicic may barely play........remember that he just turned 18 less than a month ago

but if Pistons can get either Zo or Howard than i think they'll be in the Finals, even more so if Kidd leaves

[Robby]

I think the Pistons have a good chance of getting to the finals even if Darko doesn't average 10-15 pts/game. If Kidd leaves, NJ is out of the playoff picture and the Pistons matched up fairly well with all other east teams, except the Magic. The Pacers and the Magic (if they get P.J. Brown) have a good chance to beat Det., but I just don't see any other team knocking Detroit off.

[Swoosh]

PHILLY ! (AI roelz ), but they need lots of change imo, iverson can carry his team but not all the way to the finals, give him some support!!

[Robby]

The Sixers also need a better coach who won't be intimidated by Iverson's personna.

[Swoosh]

True, silas would have been great in philly too i believe, and with some luck they could have brought pj brown in then, oh what wonderful dreams

[Vins15]

I think Toronto will come back with a vengence this year..If Carter can average like 25 ppg 6 rpg and 4 ast and be healthy the whole year Raps are bound in the playoff..but Vince will still need other good players to help him such as Antonio Davis (average double-double and health,blocking shots,good defense) Bosh (15ppg 7rpg 1 apg) A.Williams(good defense and about 10 ppg and 1 spg also mentain his good defense)Lamond Murray(More threes,healthy,steady numbers) and the bench such as J.Williams(bring energy),Mo Pete (bring the three point shooting) and i think Raps will be the tops in the East and maybe even defeating the Pistons

[Amphatoast]

I think the Raptors will take just the Bucks spot in the playoffs picture. The Sixers really need some 3 point shooters, theres just too many nice 3 point shooters out there for them to not have 1.

[Robby]

I think the Raptors will take just the Bucks spot in the playoffs picture. The Sixers really need some 3 point shooters, theres just too many nice 3 point shooters out there for them to not have 1.

I think it would be worthwhile for Philidelphia to try and make a run at Steve Smith, Steve Kerr, or Tim Hardaway. All these guys can knock down threes and maybe Sixer fans can dream about getting Reggie Miller on their team too.

[The Big Racist]

yes,my team philly needs a three point shooter(s) (better more than one)
they lost 2000-01 finals because 3 point shooters lakers had (horry,fox,bryant,shaw,lue and the most hated guy back then derek fisher) and they lost 2001-02 first round because 3 point shooters boston had!2002-03 was ok...sixers need guys who can shoot the 3 in the playoffs too not only in the regular season (like van horn)...if they let coleman go then they can sign guys like jon barry,anthony peeler or try to trade for bruce bowen or wesley person...monty williams for wesley could be a good trade for both teams...grizzlies get another sf and sixers get 3 point power!and robby reggie miller wont leave indiana!

[Robby]

I think Philidelphia should keep Coleman because he is still a good big man and there aren't too many of those left in the league. They just need a better coach and a couple of three point threats to get to the NBA Finals.

[The Big Racist]

about the coach thing...we havent seen randy ayers coaching a nba game yet!

[Robby]

about the coach thing...we havent seen randy ayers coaching a nba game yet!

You're right, I was confusing him with someone else because I thought he coached the Kings a long time ago but I guess he didn't. My apologies to Mr. Ayers.