Lakers Thread

[Jackal]

Thanks for posting that, hadn't seen it.

I really want Howard in LA though, Superman II in purple & gold? What's not to love.

[panahs9]

I think that D-Howard won't go to Lakers.i know its orlandos decision not howards rigth now until the summer where he will be Free Agent but i think he wont go to LA.Orlando would ask for a good players and many draft picks from 1st round for future years.Basically thats my opinion.And if dwight goes to LA he will get ungry with Kobe's ballhog (many times he becomes ballhog) and his will to score.Also its not good for LA to give Bynum(i mean hes young and has time to become powerfull and better devensively) and gasol wich he will be that good for 2-3 years.Lakers can go through without him.they have good chemistry right now.

[koberulz]

Why would you not give up Bynum for Howard? Giving up Gasol as well would be a concern, but Bynum will never be as good as Howard. Ever.

[panahs9]

I know that .but the tall-line of lakers with bynum and gasol is so good offensively as defensively.Its two big towers for LA on the offense and devense end.Its better to have 2 people grabing the rebounds and play defense on the post than one.I know we speak about Howard but gasol and bynum combined to the post is a good power down there and a difficult situation for many teams defenses.

[Andrew]

Howard and Gasol would be the better combination in my opinion. Howard takes over Bynum's role but does it better with fewer injuries, while Gasol brings a midrange game in addition to a strong post game. I believe they'd compliment each other better than Howard and Bynum.

However, it looks like Paul is the player that the Lakers will be getting, according to the current rumours. If that goes through, they won't have much to offer the Magic in return for Howard.

[jonthefon]

Looks like Paul to Lakers is done, for Gasol and Odom.

Ludicrous for New Orleans.

Lakers can probably pull off Bynum-plus-worthless shit to Orlando for Howard.

[Andrew]

I'm not sure about that. Howard's given the Magic some time to make moves with an indication that he's open to staying. I'm not sure they pull the trigger on Howard for Bynum just yet.

[jonthefon]

Unless Chicago or a wildcard jumps in, I don't think Otis Smith has much better than Bynum.

[Andrew]

You could be right. The latest rumour would also allow them to shed Turkoglu's contract, so it might be the best thing going.

[Jackal]

I'm doing a happy dance with the CP3 trade being almost final. Good way to end a night.

[NovU]

NOH = MEM?
So let me get this straight. The Lakers pawned Kwame in for Gasol previously and Kwame turned into Chris Paul.

And the Heat are the villains for pulling Lebron and becoming a monster. Errm... ok.

[Jackal]

You forgot to mention you're a moron.

[Andrew]

Since the Paul trade has been nixed, I guess better deals for Howard are back on the table.

[Nick]

Well dwight is the guy who will turn them into a contender (or, keep them in contender-ville). Not that paul isn't a great player (duh), but someone like dwight is truly priceless.

[JoeJames]

Come on, Cuban had to do something... his team is a lot weaker than last year... and see how Lakers goes stronger...

[NovU]

[panahs9]

Latest Roumors."Howard wants a trade to nets.Stern no letting paul go to LA because the other owners forced him to say "no" to a trade from LA.

I think that its'gonna be good for Howard.He will have deron to help him.Dising assists,pick'n'roll or even take the ball when DH12 is under pressure or double-triple teams. Also for paul i prefer him stay there or sign to anothere team.(I don't also like him to NY.Ny is all-offense.)Let's see where he will go.

[Andrew]

It does seem Howard to LA is a longshot now.

Reposting my thoughts from the other thread:

As much of a shambles as the situation is right now, this could have a silver lining for the Lakers. Assuming Howard is going to New Jersey as the latest rumours suggest, they'd have been left with Bynum in the middle along with World Peace and let's say Caracter at forward with the backcourt of Kobe and Paul. Far from terrible, but not without its problems either. Rounding out the rotation would be Kapono, Fisher, Blake, Walton, Barnes and Ebanks.

Even if Bynum can make it through the year without clutching his knee, even if Kobe and Paul can work out who's running the club and share the ball effectively, I don't think that's a team (give or take someone brought in with the MLE) that has a better shot at a championship than their current roster. It might've worked a bit better had they subsequently been able to bring in Howard and Turkoglu for Bynum and Walton, but as it stands the cancelled trade might not be such a bad break for the Lakers.

It doesn't make the situation any less infuriating for Lakers fans for sure or change the fact the league handled the situation poorly, but given the possible problems trading away their two best forwards may have created despite assembling an incredible backcourt, they're not in too bad a shape moving forward.

[Jackal]

The league fucked LA in so many ways it's not normal. Gasol was in shambles when his girlfriend broke up with him, how do you think he's going to react when he was basically sent packing? Odom? He's so shattered he doesn't even want to show up to training camp.

I understand them not wanting Paul to dictate where he goes..but seriously? That late when it was all but done? Too dumb for words.

[panahs9]

I agree with NBA's decision.if paul go to LA the lakers will lose their team chemistry.they now each other and they play such nice basketball these lasts years.the only thing that La needs are young bench players and a young PG with a great potential to become even better year by year ( just to help kobe while he is growing up).I think that this team will play good Bball for the nesxt 2-3 years.also Paul is a player who looks his assits,but he also wants to score much.also paul's role is to be a leader and it would be difficult for him to understant that Kobe,.is leader there.I think that NBA has right ..

[koberulz]

The NBA did it for the Hornets, not for LA. Besides, you don't think dicking over Odom and Gasol like this is going to hurt team chemistry?

[shadowgrin]

lol at Paul scoring much. He had too. Outside of David West in that Hornets team, none was capable of creating his own shot or effective at it (Ariza lol)
Paul's usage% and ast% is pretty similar to PGs that 'pass more' like Nash or Magic Johnson.
I also don't get the criticism of him needing to dominate the ball to be effective. Chris Paul has to dominate the ball with the Hornets because most of his teammates aren't that good.
It's not like Chris Paul plays like Marbury. Marbury can only play one 'mode'. Starbury is either in a scoring mode or passing mode, no in-between to take advantage of what the defense was giving him. Paul either scores or pass depending on what the defense has. Unlike Marbury too, Chris Pauls like to pass, pass, pass, and pass some more if the opportunity arises. If not then he scores.

phpBB [video]

Chris Paul makes scrubs look unstoppable for crying out loud.

[panahs9]

Anyways..Paul and Kobe i think that they wouldn't be good teammates ( now i bring somethin to that discussion:Wade and James are good teammates).As a duo of course they would make good job but they can't be such that thing .(Wade & Lebron). My opinion is that both teams LA Lakers and New Orleans Hornets are good that way.It's only my opinion,but i think paul wouldn't suit in LA uniform for many reasons.

[shadowgrin]

Paul and Kobe i think that they wouldn't be good teammates

Why?

Kobe and Shaq hated each other yet they still won 3 straight championships.

[panahs9]

Shaq dominated in the post and in the paint.Kobe has gasol,bynum to do that work now. If lakers gave one of them,then they would have a bad post (offensively and defensivly).but for sure they would dominate from outside.But to become a powerfull team,it needs to have a good post (offensivly and defensivly) ,making a good mid-range game from PF and dominate the paint with a good center.Also rebounding is one of the most important things(if la gave bynum.gasol no one would rebound,they make nice job on that).I know paul can score good and pass well too,but without a strong post (wich gasol and bynum are) you're nothing.Paul and kobe are both outside players and i am sure that sometimes there would be arguments between them. 1 Superstar Guard with 1 superstar F/C is good.But 2 Super Stars G.Not that good. Thats what i'm thinking.