wizo-

dajuan wagner

career stats in 3 seasons:

102 games (started 28)
mpg 21.5
fg% .365 3pt .318
apg 1.9

tone down the sarcasm. dont sit on the fence and state that "he may or may not help". stand firm on your opinions.

the fact on this guy is: yes he can score. his averages from the field is not good to say the least. tony parker, who is a slasher, averaged above 50% from the field because he does what he does best. take it to the hoop. jump to your own conclusions why dajuan wagner averaged 36% in his career so far. poor shot selection or just a poor shot. the best way to get phil jackson to play you is probably being a shooter, defensive specialist, or atleast a vague understanding of the triangle. he isn't the traditional big guard that phil likes in the triangle. he is definitely not known for his shot which is essential in the triangle. .68 steals per game does not speak volumes about his anticipation on the defensive end. MAYBE he's a decent on ball defender.

thank you for reminding me that jay will and bobby hurley were unfortunate victims of bad car accidents. i really appreciate the trivia tidbits.

so im sticking to my opinion. HE AIN'T GONNA HELP THE LAKERS. HE CAN'T SHOOT. HE AIN'T A REAL POINT GUARD. HE AIN'T A DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST.

WiZole,

I understood Shaqs eloquant comment, even if you didn't. Therein may lie the benefits of your thesaurus.

Don't feel too dumb.

AZ,

Sorry for the late response on your posting, just got back from a hard days work.

With regards to Jay Williams and Eddie House as premier guards, well I'm sure you're familiar with Jay Williams during the NCAA championship he's good. Unfortunately, he got into serious accident and never recovered until now. With Eddie House, he contributed a lot to the Suns on the Laker losses during 1st round playoffs. I call them premier cuz' they're backing Jason Kidd.

Caesar,

I respect your opinion with regards to the FIBA PG, you might think I trying to stir you with their abilities. Have you watched the FIBA games especially Italy, Greece, Spain and Argentina? I believe there are a lot of players there better than Smush or Sasha. Here is the description of Coach D'Antoni and Coach K with this Italian phenom, Marco Bellinelli 20 years old and idolizes Kobe.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sk20060825w6.html

Jon K.

This might interest you on the comments of coaches and players about Wilt Chamberlain. These are excerpts from the book of our fellow blogger and author, Roland Lazenby.

http://hoopshype.com/articles/wilt_lazenby.htm

What's up everybody? Hope everyone is doing well. Happy Bday Kobe!!!!!!!

BK:

Will we trade Mihm?

Does anyone know if Kobe is still part owner of Olimpia Milano?

I read the article about the Italian kid and I thought he played for Kobe's team, but no Kobe's team was Olimpia Milano. But I don't know if he's still part owner

sonny,
Please, enlighten me as to what "through the flattering mist of self absorbtion, we see but a numbing soul-sadness and tenebrous evil." means.
I literally wrote like that in junior high and got a hold of my first thesaurus. And trust me, I don't feel dumb. It was a sarcastic remark...which everyone but you understood it as so. And I'm not sure I'm the one that should feel dumb when I'm not the one that doesn't know how to spell "eloquent". (or BONZI for that matter.....didn't you say you LIVE UP NORTH?" I'm not sure there is a single person under 10 in LA that doesn't know how to spell Kobe.)

six,
Come on now. you know stats arent the whole story with dajuan. The point is, he was REALLY SICK right after his rookie season. And then even then you conveniently leave out points? His strongest stat. Come on now...at least be somewhat fair. What are you going to do next, argue that Ben Wallace sucks and leave out rebounds? I've seen the guy play a lot in college and the guy can flat out score. In his first month as a ROOKIE the guy avg'd over 17pts and almost 4 assists. And if you watched any of his NBA games, you'd know that his FG% was more a result of poor shot selection. But he is a better shooter than Parker as a rookie. Now Parker is an unbelievable slasher but even he greatly benefited from playing with Duncan and you can see his FG% take another jump due to the rule changes. Anyways, the point being, Dajuan's potential was obviously evident.

"dont sit on the fence and state that "he may or may not help". stand firm on your opinions."

Why? I didn't even bring up Dajuan. I'm not gonna have an opinion just to have an opinion. Could Dajuan help the Lakers? I REALLY don't know. What I asked was, how you and others are so SURE that he can't? Here's a guy with tremendous upside and expectations coming out of college who suffered very serious health problems. How could you possibly know? Im simply open to a possibility while you think that you know the answer. There are times when its better to not have an opinion...especially when we have such limited information to deal with.

"thank you for reminding me that jay will and bobby hurley were unfortunate victims of bad car accidents. i really appreciate the trivia tidbits."

Again, come on six, youre a smart guy (and I'm not being sarcastic here). You know why I brought up those guys. You said that Dajuan is out of the league cuz he sucks. Well, not only is that flat out wrong, but somewhat offensive. There is virtually no difference between your statement and someone else saying Jay Will couldnt make it in the league cuz he sucked.

I think your head is getting bigger.

Jerry Rice is hangin them up!

Come on home Jerry!

>_<

I was also pondering how Lebron got a 5+ on clutch and Kobe a 5 on cluth play that is some ridiculous rating system. We know Fox is not right,lol.

I hate to agree with you Andrew Z, but I think a healthy, fit and willing Doug Christie would be a terrific addition to the Lakers. (A healthy, fit and willing Doug Christie without his wife may be an even more tremendous fit but ...)
I have read where several bloggers on this site bemoaned the loss of Rick Fox - who better is out there to replace him?

AZ,

Can we pass on Doug Christie? It's still fresh from Laker fans that brawl during a recent preseason against Foxie and with Mrs. Christie still around, it's kinda' difficult to cheer for this ex-Laker Sacto. I'm sure we have enough on our current roster, I would rather try the high flying young Danilo Pinnock than Doug Christie. To those people who have not seen Danilo, you'll be surprised of what he can do for this team, let's wait for the preseason. I'm not ready to ship him to Europe just because he's unknown to AK and Eric Pincus.

The dog days of waiting for the preseason put us all in quandary thinking of the next move, this is because Mitch K. got some players who are probably good but unknown to us like Shammond, Evans and Pinnock, so our tendency is to look for the veterans. The stock of veterans available in the market are a couple of "has beens" while the Laker rosters are loaded with developing greenhorns. We tried that with McKie and JJ and it did not click. I think we can achieve our lofty objectives in advancing in the playoffs and barring no major injuries on our stars and the whole team gels, then Conference title is just within striking distance.

LeBron 5+ in the clutch? Rediculous! Not yet, not until your "clutch" wins a title. Otherwise, if you've gone home, that means your "clutch" ran out. Both LBJ's and KB's "clutches" ran out last season. Of the two, only KB's has lasted until the end when he took over the Finals for Old and Slow Shaq, and when he routinely took over the rest of the playoffs for the Lakers until Big and Winded could show up for the Finals (on Company time, of course).

Doug Christie would be PERFECT. Even more perfect if he can get a divorce. No, wait, she might be "Fatal Attraction", and that would be worse. No, we'd have to take him and his wife, too. I can dig it.

--Fearless

WiZo,
"And if you watched any of his NBA games, you'd know that his FG% was more a result of poor shot selection"

So you want another guard with bad shot selection? Who cares how well someone can shoot, if he takes shots that he can't make?

Edwin Gueco,

I made the comment on Doug Christie being a good fit, above a Pinnock for example, with the idea that Kobe Bryant's window is closing. I know he's only 28 and in great shape, but seriously, waiting for late second rounders to develop into All NBA Defenders is pushing it. As for a quick fix and short term solution, Doug Christie would be perfect.

I think Doug Christie could come in and play the role of the "Ron Harper" to perfection. Even if it's a two-year deal, that gives Pinnock, Farmar, etc. time to develop. No offense to the kid, but rarely does a late second round pick come in and have a positive effect on a playoff team. I think Doug Christie definitely could have a positive effect on this squad.

AK/BK

are you going to do your all lakers fantasy league again this year?? you should, and you could even have bandwagons for each team haha :P

seriously though i think it would be a good idea

that and avitars :D

Edwin,

I wasn't getting sensitive. I literally had no idea what you were talking about or referring to. That's why I asked.

I also think you've misinterpreted what I've been saying. You make it sound like I wanted to ship Pinnock to Europe because I wasn't familiar with him. I watched the guy play 4 times during the SPL. And as I said many times, I thought he and Devin Green were the only guys on the SPL squad without guaranteed contracts that have a prayer of making the team. Pinnock looked pretty good and I'd be fine with him on the final roster.

I just think there won't be room for him without buying out McKie (which I'm cool with, but doesn't seem in the works so far) or a trade that creates roster space. And since Pinnock's got potential, the Lakers may prefer retaining his rights while he plays in Europe, as opposed to putting themselves in a situation where they lose his rights (which I'm pretty sure happens if they invite him to camp and cut him). I happen to think that's a good plan, should no other options present themselves. But it's got nothing to do with sending him to another continent because he's an "unknown."

AK

Edwin Gueco,

When was the last time phil gave a rookie even a chance to earn enough PT to contribute? Now when was the last time phil gave enough PT for a 57th pick in the draft to contribute?

C'mon, even when Chris Mihm went down last year, Andrew didn't even get any minutes. THink about it, 57th pick, only two picks in the draft were after him. By the way, the most accurate mock draft, nbadraft.net, didn't even have him being drafted, so it's not like he slipped in the draft.

Fearless

Sometimes when you are on a bad team you take bad shoots. He never got the chance to play next to Lebron James who loves to pass the ball. You are more open on Lebron team then playing by yourself. Just like Racman should have a better season.

six & exhelodrvr,

Well, I never really argued that we SHOULD have Dajuan on the Lakers. I recognize he has weaknesses and probably isnt the best fit in terms of the triangle. I was merely thinking it couldnt hurt to take a look at the guy. Yeah, upside can only take you so far, but when you have that much of it, it cant hurt to look. And in today's nba, tweeners are finding their niche. 10 years ago, tweeners werent even looked at. And yeah the terrys and gordons can flat out shoot. but we all know shooting is the one skill that can be greatly improved upon. (and for what its worth, i remember dajaun saying he needed to take better shots and was going to also work on his defense.) and now with the new rule changes that benefit slashers, who knows what dajaun's potential is/was. I'm just saying...its intriguing. six, you told me to have an opinion, but the fact that I dont have a strong one should indicate I'm not fighting for dajaun to have a spot. The only thing that bothers me is it always seems Mitch isnt in the mix when these guy's names come up. Maybe we arent missing out on much, maybe Dajaun will never be the same player... but there are some GMs that are constantly proactive and think creatively.
if your opinion is that dajaun cant help the lakers...thats totally fine. in fact, the odds are youre right. but ive (we've) seen the guy play and i saw enough potential where i think you can't really say that there is NO WAY he helps the Lakers or that such an idea is "ridiculous".

Edwin,

I know we have a roster of 18 guys right now, and your belief is that we should take the best from that 18 rather than get someone from outside, but what if we had the opportunity to get someone from the outside who is better than a few on that roster of 18? I just think in the short-term (meaning this year) Doug Christie would be a better addition to our team than Dannilo Pinnock.

Granted, I have never seen Pinnock play, but basing my assumption on the fact that he was fortunate to get picked as "high" as 57th in a weak draft, and therefore probably not able to give the Lakers 25 minutes of solid play. As much as I have hated Doug Christie in the past, I've always respected his game. If we healthy and available I think he moves into the starting line-up in the backcourt next to Kobe.

AZ,

You mentioned Doug Christie playing side by side with Kobe, eventhough they are professionals I doubt if Kobe would like to play with Doug Christie. Secondly, Christie is already old and slow that's the reason why the Kings unloaded him and he did not make it in Orlando. AZ, he's no longer the Christie that you know when he was playing with Bibby, Webber and Vlade they're getting old and being replaced gradually by young players.

AZ, I'm really don't like this guy, just my opinion but if he's invited to play during the preseason why not, let's invite him.

I'm very high on Pinnock...but I think he's much too important for our future (I'm operating under the assumpsion that he might be our next Byron Scott) to not be signed during the preseason, thereby releasing our rights on him. And I don't think he's going to be picked up for the simple reason that we did sign Williams, drafted Farmar, and still have Smush and Sasha, as well as Evans for Kobe's backup. There's just too many players for 2 positions. And when it comes down to it, he is a rookie. That said, It's a very screwed up world that gave Von Wafer a 1 year roster space (even if he spent most of it in the D-League) and Pinnock, who's far better and talented imo to be sent to Europe. But if in some way he does end up in the roster, I'll be rooting for him. As I recall, he's simply been "solid" lol.

I definitely think something needs to be done with our influx at guard...whether that means cutting McKie (our only real veteran PG...granted he's like 200 years old, but he still imparts knowledge and "quirks" to our struggling younguns), or releasing Von, Green or a trade that solves our PF (not starting necessarily) or defensive PG problem. What that is, I don't know lol.

LakerTom,

That's why I said 'even with the baggage' meaning his wife and history as a King.

But all joking aside, if he says he is healthy and feeling that good physically, he's exactly the type of player Phil likes to have in the backcourt.

All I'm saying is he would be worth placing a call to. I have no idea how you would fit him on the roster or pay him, but that's another discussion.

I really don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell anything develops with him since we seem to have 97 people on the roster and we're millions over the cap, it's just that I think that type of player would have a huge impact on the Lakers success this year.