Lakers Thread

[Houndy]

In an article I read, the writer made a good point. Dan Gilbert says they save more than 20 million, but they have to sign some front court pieces unless they want metta world peace starting at the 4..

[adv1s5]

if bynum can magically stay healthy and consistent, a chris paul laker team could work. if not, i don't see it boding as well as people make it out to be.

pau, not kobe, is the center of the team. basketball will always be a game of bigs, and without pau or odom, the lakers will be severely lacking down low. unless you have a jordan and pippen on your team (which i don't think kobe/paul quite fills).

how many teams you know of centered their offense around their point guard successfully? i can think of maybe one, the '89 pistons, but they had so many scoring options available beyond isiah thomas (dumars, laimbeer, edward, aguirre, vinnie johnson).

also, lakers sign kapono! lets hope he does better than the last 20 shooters the lakers have signed

[panahs9]

Let's see..

[Jeffx]

I mean you have Kobe, the 2nd best SG ever...

Hmmm.....sorry, but I can't put Kobe ahead of Mr. Clutch. But to each his own.

[Andrew]

People had the same reservations about LeBron and Wade, both players that like the ball in their hands. Look where they ended up and their $tats weren't particularly bad either.
Another example of ball dominating players, Carmelo and AI made it work (at least in the regular season). Kobe and Paul, two players that are definitely better than those two can certainly make it work (at least in the regular season).

It can work and may work, but I think it's still an area of concern if the trade does go through. It comes down to playing style, personality and attitude which is where I could possibly see it not working out so well for the Lakers. The loss of Gasol and Odom is perhaps the bigger issue though, you've got this great backcourt that could possibly work very well together but you're left with a so-so frontcourt and a centre who seems to have a few issues with Kobe, not to mention a few issues with staying healthy. They're also moving forward without Phil Jackson, whose ability to manage egos and bring a team together has been as important and impressive as his ability with Xs and Os.

It's virtually impossible to pass up a chance to acquire a player like Chris Paul, but it also presents its own problems especially with the depth of the frontcourt in light of the deal they're trying to work out right now.

[benji]

[Andrew]

Great caption contest photo.

[dare]

So no CP3 Lakers jersey for me and Lamar goes to Dallas.

[shadowgrin]

Kobe mad that he still doesn't have the ball at that point.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Deal closed, Hallellujah! Mitch Kupchak finally realized he messed up

[kAmilli LakeShow]

I mean you have Kobe, the 2nd best SG ever...

Hmmm.....sorry, but I can't put Kobe ahead of Mr. Clutch. But to each his own.

It might be ur preference, but i don't see why not. Love Mr. Clutch myself, but i think it is obvious Kobe vs West right NOW would be an easy match up for Kobe, especially since West's left was so-so

[Andrew]

Wasn't West a point guard as well? I've seen him listed as both at different times.

Odom for a trade exception is going to look pretty bad to say the least if Howard ends up in New Jersey or Dallas, though the fact they went ahead and made that deal suggests they've got a pretty good shot at landing him.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Yep, back in that time there was little distinction between 2 guards, both guards had to know how to handle, distribute and score.

[_Steve_]

Wasn't West a point guard as well? I've seen him listed as both at different times.

Odom for a trade exception is going to look pretty bad to say the least if Howard ends up in New Jersey or Dallas, though the fact they went ahead and made that deal suggests they've got a pretty good shot at landing him.

Anyway, I think it's a bad decision to chase Odom and most likely Gasol out of town (thanks to Yoko Ono... I mean Mrs. Bryant). I would've been really glad if that lackluster image of an injury depleted center (Bynum) had been chased away in favour of someone like Tyson Chandler. I'd also like to see the addition (!) of Dwight Howard if the Lakers would not have traded two core players away. Not to mention that Metta is out of shape right now... Could be a very terrible start for Mike Brown, even worse than expected...

[Main Bounce]

Kobe is pissed off with Lamar Odom trade!!!

[air gordon]

did Steve Blake go on p90x or Insanity? wtf

[shadowgrin]

He was pissed off during the lockout for what the union heads (Billy Hunter and teammate Derek Fisher) were doing. That was probably his motivation.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

He was pissed off during the lockout for what the union heads (Billy Hunter and teammate Derek Fisher) were doing. That was probably his motivation.

He's using hypnosis!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Video of the year?

On another note, every Lakers has a right to be pissed. But i'll wait, because maybe it means we won't have to give up Pau for D12. Seriously, upgrading Bynum with Howard? Kobe + Pau + Howard would be amazingly efficient both offensively and defensively. That contract of Turkoglu they want us to take will need another player to be thrown in the mix, though

[Andrew]

That other player would likely have to be Pau Gasol. No one else has a big enough contract, nor is the trade exception large enough.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

That other player would likely have to be Pau Gasol. No one else has a big enough contract, nor is the trade exception large enough.

Well, Bynum + trade exception we got + maybe Artest would be big enough, i think. I don't remember exact numbers... If Lakers don't go after Billups i don't know what they are thinking, they need to sign him quick

[Andrew]

Bynum and World Peace for Howard would work, but the Magic likely won't want to take on World Peace's contract and they want to get rid of Turkoglu and his contract. They'll be getting better offers than that, right now I'd say it'll take Gasol to acquire Howard.

If Lakers don't go after Billups i don't know what they are thinking, they need to sign him quick

Considering he's just been picked up by the Clippers, they're probably thinking "Damn, we missed out".

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Bynum and World Peace for Howard would work, but the Magic likely won't want to take on World Peace's contract and they want to get rid of Turkoglu and his contract. They'll be getting better offers than that, right now I'd say it'll take Gasol to acquire Howard.

If Lakers don't go after Billups i don't know what they are thinking, they need to sign him quick

Considering he's just been picked up by the Clippers, they're probably thinking "Damn, we missed out".

I heard they made an offer, but he agreed? Wasn't he gunning for a chip? Wow, great job, Laker management, now free agents think it's more likely to win a chip running for CLIPPERS XD

Wow, i never realised Howard was being paid 18 mil already. I thought he was around 15. That really makes it hard to obtain him for Bynum, virtually impossible, actually. But what if put trade exception we got for Odom + Metta and take Turkoglu's contract? That gives Orlando money instead of Turkoglu which is what they want.
If Gas will be traded, why would we need both Bynum AND Howard? Damn, Laker management, u might not realize how much u messed up with that CP3 trade that din't even go down...

[Andrew]

I'm pretty sure it doesn't work like that and as such they wouldn't be able to do it. World Peace's contract runs for three more years anyway, there's no way the Magic are keen on it or him.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Why would LA sign him over Trevor for SAME money, i don't know... In Trevor we could have an All-Star right now. I know it sounds kinda off now, but he was 2nd or 3rd best Lakers on the floor every game in the playoffs in 2009. Artest was brilliant in Game 7 of 2010 Finals, but really, what else he has done that Trevor din't? Damn...

I think we can actually do it, i read it's something like you actually have a player's asset without a player present, if that makes sense. So in the trade, you put LO's money on the line, but not him since he was already traded. I'm confused about that part too, one of those advanced trading techniques, i guess

[shadowgrin]

I think we can actually do it, i read it's something like you actually have a player's asset without a player present, if that makes sense. So in the trade, you put LO's money on the line, but not him since he was already traded. I'm confused about that part too, one of those advanced trading techniques, i guess

It's the trade exception you are referring to. Still no.

No one else has a big enough contract, nor is the trade exception large enough.