""Can you imagine Kobe, Lamar, Kwame, Miles, and Bynum for the next 4 years?"

That would definitely be something. Top to bottom, that is a line-up to be reckoned with. Add Farmar, Radmanovic, Sasha, and Turiaf and I smell championships."

You mean starting this year? So you have Bynum playing center, which he can't do yet. You have Kwame playing PF, which he can't do. You have Miles playing shooting guard? That's not his game, either. Who defends the small guards? How about the PFs who can shoot from outside?

I smell something with that lineup, but it sure isn't championships.

exhelodrvr,

Thanks for injecting a little reality into the conversation.

--Fearless

"Some people in this blog only not see dead people, they could also smell something."-Edwin G

You telling me you don't smell it? With Miles, we'd have a line-up stacked with guys at or entering their primes. Top draft picks, top rated players, at every position. Nobody would want to play against a swarming defense anchored by Kwame. Miles, Kobe, and Lamar would give teams nightmares all over the court. Add Bynum and Farmar to that mix not this year but next year and we have maybe the best team in the league.

And on offense Miles provides the most important asset to the Triangle; the mid-range jumper. Miles can hit the open 15-18 footer in the set offense, not to mention his open court abilities. I'm willing to bet Phil and Kobe could light a fire in Darius to the point that he'd be an all star. If that happens, it takes pressure off of the whole team. Especially Lamar. Talk about the next Scottie Pippen? Miles fits that description a lot more than Lamar does.

We're going to be so slow this year at the 3 spot, something needs to happen. Artest is a pipe dream, the Queens would never allow Artest to go to the Lakers. If we have a shot to get Miles for the likes of Mihm, we'd be raping Portland, and I'd approve of that.

You smell what the Rocky's cookin' Edwin? Championships baby! Championships.

Edwin Gueco: "Some people in this blog only not see dead people, they could also smell something." LOL

In their defense, plenty of people has predicted the future lol. Like Mike T, with his Kwame stance lol ;-).

Listen as long as we're talking about trading...I say go after J'Oneil. Power Forward...loves Kobe and the Lakers...and he plays D! I know, I know, probably impossible...but then again, I heard rumors earlier on about him being shopped, and let's face it, nothing is impossible in the NBA.

Man ABC's coverage of today's golf tournament is terrible.

mike

"Miles for Mihm is a joke. Mihm value right now is nothing more than a few scrubs and a 2nd round draft choice."-Mike T

That's the whole point right there. That's why it's hard to understand why everyone's so against this trade. It's a good trade for the Lakers.

LakerTom and Fearless:
I love being reminded about the playing days of Jerry West. Good memories. A correction though, Jerry was between 6'2'' and 6'3" not 6'5". In fact, in the Official NBA encyclopedia he's listed at 6'2". I loved his battles against Clyde Frazier and Oscar Robertson. He wasn't really a gunner, though. He led the league in assists in 1972. What i also like about him was his defense. I loved it when he would block a shot from behind. As much as I admire MJ and Kobe's game, you have to include Mr. Clutch and Big O on any all time team (along with Wilt, Magic, Bird, MJ, Kareem, who else...?)

Weave-man:

I agree it ain’t gonna happen. Too bad, though. It would help both teams. Kings get Mihm, Cook, and McKie instead of nothing. Lakers get the #2 scorer they need to take pressure off of Kobe and Lamar, toughness, and a match-up nightmare for the rest of the West.

Tom

Fearless:

Thanks for the profile. It almost matches one of my best friends perfectly. You sound like the kind of player I would have loved playing with. I love guys that like to defend. As anybody on the blog could guess, I was a combination of Sasha and Raja on defense. My friends always claimed I never saw a shot I didn’t like or a foul I wasn’t willing to make. You loved me on your team but didn’t want me to guard you. And of course, I would never ever admit that I fouled anybody. I was the ultimate no harm, no foul type of guy on defense but don’t bump me a little on offense. A true hacker. Like most NBA guys except for the height and talent. As all us short guards say: “If I had only been 6-3…”

The art of scoring down low and blocking shots depends as much on quickness as it does on height and vertical leap. I never had the height but I could jump much quicker and just as high as players who guarded me. The perfect example of that in the pros is Amare, of course. No disrespect to women, but he is like a guy jumping in the middle of a bunch of girls.

I have often believed that whether or not you played the sport was often represented in your opinions and comments. I have found that to be very true on the blog, although I am sure there are posters that never played the game that still understand it. I know that wiZo, Peter Maguire, and a few other bloggers were ball players and I am sure there are many more. Having played the game on a team at ANY level really gives you a perspective that differs from the casual fan. I know when I watch a hockey game or soccer with friends that played it that I don’t see half of what they see as far as what is happening.

To make sure that Faith and other female friends on the blog don’t kill me, let me say that I am thrilled to see women playing basketball, even if I don’t watch it, and don’t see why a woman who played the game wouldn’t have just as much insight as a man. In fact, maybe they would have even more since the women’s game today is more team oriented and less flashy than the men’s game. I used to be one of those guys who really complained that the women were taking over the sports pages until my wife shamed me for my attitude by asking if I believed that women didn’t deserve an equal opportunity to play the game of basketball and enjoy the same competition, comradery, and thrills that I took from the sport.

Keep being Fearless. Can’t wait to see how Farmar does in camp and preseason. And Kobe, Lamar, Kwame, Vlade and the rest of the starting lineup.

Tom

PLAYER CONTRACT INFORMATION

For what it's worth, the girl did a lot of work

http://www.dfw.net/~patricia/contracts

Ron Ron is solid as a King for another year and probably won't opt out after that if the Kings are cruising and Petrie and Maloofs want to keep him. He seems to love Sac.

Bibby, on the other hand, will also be a free man soon. He's always a tough read and you can't undertand three words when he speaks, but he may seek greener pastures. If he doesn't step it up and speed it up, a lot of Kings fans will see to it that he does. I look for a banner year from him this season.

The Kings are coming! The Kings are coming!

***CLIPPERS TO GET GREEK SCHORTSANITIS?***

After his impressive play against the USA, I wondered whether the Clippers still held the draft rights to Sofoklis Schortsanitis, AKA Baby Shaq. Then I thought about Pinnock and started to wonder what the rule was on draft picks, so here it is for all:

FROM THE NBA SALARY CAP FAQ
http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#42

*************************

42. What if the team and player can't agree to a contract? What options does the player have? How long does the team keep his draft rights?

The player's options are limited. What happens depends on a number of factors:

If the player is already under contract to, or signs a contract with a non-NBA team, the team retains the player's draft rights for one year AFTER the player's obligation to the non-NBA team ends. Essentially, the clock stops as long as the player plays pro ball outside the NBA. Players are not included in the team's team salary while the player is under contract with a non-NBA team.

*************************

This means that the Clippers still hold the rights to Baby Shaq and the Lakers to Pinnock until 1 year AFTER whatever pro contract which they sign expires. That’s not bad. Draft a guy you like, let somebody else pay to develop him, and you then can sign him when he is ready. I am sure that Edwin will comment on how unfair this is to the player but it does make it clear why the Lakers drafted Pinnock knowing he wouldn’t make the roster. They are just stockpiling him for free.

By the way, HoopsHype said that Baby Shaq's buyout was only $500K, chicken feed for anybody but Donald Sterling.

Tom

Tom

Fearless:

Not only do I wish I were 6-4 but also 33. Stay Fearless, bro, because at 33 you really do have your ENTIRE life ahead of you. When I was 33 I had just starting my first small business after finally breaking free of college after ten universities, two bachelor degrees, a year in law school, and a year in a Masters program at UCLA. While nothing in my new business had anything to do with all of the classes I had taken, I have to say that education has its value, although I probably proved that over education doesn’t.

You should seriously look for a way to go back to school, even if only part-time. Like Kobe, you are really in your prime. One of the reasons that I did so well in school is that also went back (at 28) after essentially flunking out of USC as a junior, getting married, having a kid, and working cutting mudguards, delivering milk, and selling insurance for several years.

When I started back, I all of a sudden found out that it was easy, especially competing for grades against kids like I used to be. This happens for a lot of older students, many of whom are coming back just like you and me, and realize how very important education is and the doors that it can open for you. Oh, hell, I didn’t mean too ruin anybody’s holiday with all this proselytizing, but seriously at 33 you would be a man among boys if you went back and applied yourself.

Hey, no different than an NBA player looking to up his game.

Tom

Shady:

You are right that Bonzi has apparently priced himself out of the market. Frankly, I would have thought he would have jumped at the Kings offer of $40m over 5 years. After all, he was with a team where he had earned respect, played the best ball of his life, and was a real difference maker.

Then again, maybe he really just didn’t want to live in Sacramento. Sonny is the only person I know who does. I think he is desperate now but the Kings are on the verge of the luxury tax and are not going to give him another chance, unless it is to sign and trade him. As Chick said, remote and none.

Tom

LakerTom,

Chick said remote to none?

It's slim to none. Haha!

LAKERTOM

I am so sorry if, you got offended by my POST. nothing PERSONAL buddy. if you take things too PERSONAL and let em BUG, you'll loose the POWER to think right. AND NO, "you MITCH CUPCAKE, YANKEE, YORK loving, analyzer." doesn't mean that I don't like you. it means that you are an ANALYZER(if you were nice I would have said that a good one at times but you ain't(nice)) and you like MITCH, YANKEES and YORK. if you get OFFENSED by that OK sorry, I just got an idea from your NUMEROUS posts, that you like YANKEES, YORK, and KUPCHAK. you GOT to be STRONG and STAND for your BELIEFS and not worry. Even if you're embarrassed by being a YANKEE, KUPCHAK, and YORK liker.
OH, and with all do respect, its a given I don't like the YANKEES, KUPCHAK, or YORK. But, you???? what? you want me to put you in the same SENTENCE I put these guys in? FIRST, DUDE you're ALRIGHT, SECOND I really don't care how you handle your STUFF. Its all you how you wanna do you thing and I won't dislike you for it. JUST don't credit YOURSELF that I DON'T LIKE you like I don't like the JUNKEES, or CUPCAKE, or YORK. C'MON. This is about SPORTS not LAKERTOM.

AND, I don't give a DARRN if the YANKEES, CUPCAKE or YORK don't like me. But, YOU? you gotta start learning how to be LOVER not a HATER. hehehehe. I was just giving you my oponion on your POST. and I don't blame you these CAPS can get SCARY sometimes.

Tom,

I have total respect for Women's basketball. And I watch it every chance I can when my daughters are in the mood. I don't watch it much by myself, though. The number one varisty girls' player at my High School completely moped the floor with me when I was on the team. She couldn't dunk, couldn't drive past me and couldn't block my shot. But, she could shoot, and she never missed in that game. Didn't miss a shot. Like I wasn't even there. Like. I. Wasn't. Even. There.

I know Reggie Miller's pain of getting beat by his sister. It was that indignity that he was constantly taking out on the rest of the NBA. Was it the Nicks that he scored 8 points in six seconds to snatch a win in true Superman fashion? Well the Nicks can thank Cheryl Miller for that. He was pretty impressive in that series against the Lakers if I remember correctly. The rest of his team just sucked too bad.

As such, I have a deep respect for what Kobe brings, and I think as much of his rap for non-team play comes from his unwillingness to coddle the egos of his teammates. Which isn't his job. All I know is that we didn't hear much except a few minor squables from the more mature of his teammates during the three-peat run. Fish usually had good things to say, so did Fox, so did Shaw, and so did Haper for that matter. And, they genuinely seemed to bask in the glow when Kobe did something spectacular.

You know, if Kobe had always been surrounded by players just like those, we may never have heard about him being a "ball hog". He would have been left to mature under less of a microscope. What would he have been like, do you think?

--Fearless

I guess Farmar isn't going to Europe. At the very least though, I expect him to prove his mettle.
http://www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2006/08/30/Sports/Gw.Standouts.Work.Toward.Career.In.Pros-2251414.shtml?norewrite200609042058&sourcedomain=www.gwhatchet.com

Since we can't post full articles (I think) I just posted the relevant quotes:

Pinnock, who was drafted 58th overall by the Dallas Mavericks and traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, said he believed a contract was "in the mail,' set to arrive on Monday.

John Black, the executive director of public relations for the Lakers, said no contract has been drafted to retain Pinnock for training camp.

Daniel Servick, Pinnock's agent, said negotiations are ongoing but he is confident an agreement will be reached.

'They made the trade to get him, so I would anticipate something would come about with that,' Servick said in a phone interview Monday. 'Nothing has been signed and nothing was sent.'

Servick would not say if they were in negotiations with any European teams.
----------------------
Pinnock, who was a swingman in college, said he anticipates playing point guard in the Lakers' triangle offense under famed coach Phil Jackson.

'It's definitely a different style of play in L.A. compared to what we played in GW," Pinnock said. 'At GW we got up and down, running and gunning. With the Lakers we kind of slow it down and make sure we set up everything in the triangle.'
--------------
Both said GW coach Karl Hobbs prepared them well for their post-GW lives on and off the court. Although Pinnock will be playing a different style of basketball in Los Angeles, he said Hobbs' teachings allowed him to focus on what is important.

'GW definitely prepared me as a person, more so than as a basketball player because it's such a different style of play,' Pinnock said. 'Coach Hobbs' main goal is to make his players better people, and he definitely did that and helped me understand the bigger picture.'
------------
Playing in the NBA, Pinnock and Mensah-Bonsu said, is a lifelong dream, but it's not home for the players.

'The Smith Center is always going to be home," Pinnock said. "The Staples Center is obviously a lot bigger and really nice, but I'll always love playing in the Smith Center. Maybe in the future Pops and I will have something there.'

Pinnock said Los Angeles has welcomed him quickly. During summer leagues in California, he said he was the third most popular player behind first-round picks Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar. Mensah-Bonsu said he is quickly renewing a role that earned him the nickname 'Mayor of Foggy Bottom.'

'I've seen a couple people around town that said they knew me from college and said they were happy to have me on the team and they think I can help them,' Mensah-Bonsu said. 'For people to come up to me on the street in another state when I haven't even played a game yet - I can't wait for the season to start.'"

Go Pinnock!

Oh Lord. Look geniuses, not only does Miles not play the style the coach likes, not only does he have personality issues, but he would disrupt the team. All that without having a usable jumpshot.

If Miles is here, he'd have to play the three. Who starts, him or Vlad? One really unhappy person there. That moves LO to the four, pretty much permanently. LO doesn't always get his best match-up at that spot. The playing time doesn't make sense, unless you trade Vlad (because he'll beef more than Cook or Luke, whichever one sticks around). And why trade of the few guys on the team who might be able to hit a three consistently?

Can we at least talk about someone who actually brings something to the team? How about Gerald Wallace? He's ten times better.

I hate this Miles pollution, expecially since it's not going to happen anyway. How much spare time do you guys have?

LakerTom,

Do you remember when Darius played for the Clippers? Man, he was awesome!

The guys needs to play for a quality organization.

And he loves Los Angeles.

The guy would rise to the occasion if he played for L.A.

That much said, I don't think we really need him.

We're winning 50 games this year without him.

Lamar is going to come into his own this year.
Kobe (24) will reveal an entirely new dimension to his game.
Farmar is the future! The future is now!
Kwame will be better than next year, much better.
Mihm (I know Michael T. hates him, but it is an irrational, obsessive-compulsive hate, not based in realtity.) Will be able to play some minutes at power forward. It will make a huge difference.

Anyhow...

GO LAKERS!

Laker Tom,

As all us short guards say: “If I had only been 6-3…” Truer words have never been spoken. I don't like to talk about myself much, but as a player I was quick, fast, was a good passer, and could score when needed. I have always been able to jump higher than anyone I know, but couldn't dunk because I have pretty small hands. My only problem is I'm only 5' 9".

When I see guys like Boykins in the league it makes me wish I pushed myself more, and not given up on my dream of playing on any professional level, but like they say hindsight is 20/20.

Sonnybelfast,

You're right, if we (the Lakers) helped out the Kings, or vice versa, it wouldn't be a real rivalry. I can't wait for the days when we are battling the Kings for a shot in the finals again. I don't like the Kings, but it was fun to watch two teams fight like dogs for that shot to go to the championship. Hell, there were years it felt like the WCF was the championship.

Mike T.,

Question: Would you rather have a quasi-contender team with Miles. A team which would probably land as a championship or two? Or bite your lip for another year and play the guys we have and save our money for something better down the line? Somebody to help us get back were we belong.

You've been a loyal Laker fan since since before I was even born! I figured someone like you would understand.

Rocky,

Smells like cooked rock!

I like your enthusiasm, but I don't see Miles anchoring any defense that you would call "swarming". He's a perimeter liability! Ask the CLIPPERS! (and not a whole lot has change since then)

>_<

Securing a decent backup for Miller would be of value to the Kings, and theoretically, is about the only glaring need we have right now. But Mihm, plus a half dozen of your scrubs wouldn't be the guy. For Bonzi, if we signed him, the Kings would be looking to get Bynum, or perhaps Kwame.

Breaking the luxury threshold is not unprecedented for the Maloofs when its at Petries urging. I agree though, anything resembling the above seems highly unlikely.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised to find myself shocked at the headlines on tomorrow's sports pages where NBA shake-ups may be concerned.

LakerTom,

That CBA rule is really crazy, the team lawyers railroaded draftees whether college or international players because they don't have any representation in the CBA. What happens to this Greek Star, he'll be relegated to only one choice i.e. the Clippers who are not ready to play him but just activate his draft rights because Donald smell a captive real estate here. He can use him in the fringes of trade or play him. Isn't it one of the prerequisite of a Contract, there has to be mutual agreement between two parties, in this rule because you are a mere draftee, you have no voice to that contract, the CBA rule represents you. If the guy does not feel playing with the Clippers cuz' he does not know them nor hear them in Europe, he keeps on playing in the Euroleague until his time & ability passes by or become super heavy like Shaq Sr. Three years is just too long to be hoodwinked and be a hostage of that CBA rule. Union are supposed to protect all players but this rule it discriminate our youth and international players.

Rdlee:

Speaking of oltimers, guess who was the guest of Ophrah this afternoon? It was Michael Jordan. He was promoting MJ Fall collections on women's attire and shoes and the last model to come out was no other else than his friend, Sir Charles in light blue sports wear showing his round tummy. I hope someone could place the program on the blog, because it was so funny, tho' it's not Laker related it describes how close MJ and Sir Charles are, discussed also the golfing problems of Barkley while he called MJ frugal. MJ also talked about the young players today with regards to endorsements that companies invest on them based on potentials like when Lebronz got his 100M contract with Nike, he was not specifically mentione compared to their time the Companies really get what they paid for with the accomplishments of Bird, Magic, MJ and Barkley. It was full of laughter from beginning to end.

Faith,

I could sense impatience there on the agent of Pinnock in trying to orchestrate a contract on the mail when there is none? Is he sending a message to Mitch K. & Co. if you don't want us, release us? I could not really understand the motive in drafting a player when the Lakers are already loaded with guards in the line-up, another guard coming in exercising the BAE and not making any moves at all on these excess guards. Well, if you want to stock your inventory, pay them all. In business, you will be chewed-up for over stocking, a sign lack of foresight as well as planning on material use.

LakerTom,

I remember two players who were drafted by the team they do not prefer or want, like Don Ferry who is now the GM of Cavaliers he never reported to the Clippers and Steve Francis who was unhappy to be picked by Vancouver Grizzlies, he asked for trade. He was traded with Bibby drafted by the Rockets at that time. Is that a possible scenario if another team wants Pinnock after the preseason? Perhaps, Mitch K. would like to get back the 2nd draft pick he traded away LOL!