Rumors and housekeeping
July 29, 2007 | 11:41
pm
The good news is that Kevin Garnett is rumored once again to be on the move. The bad news? The rumors don't put him in L.A. Instead, Boston looks like the destination du jour, with Danny Ainge's draft-day acquisition of Ray Allen having apparently made Beantown seem more palatable to The Big Ticket. At least he'll be out of the conference.
Also, on the housekeeping end, we'll be in Seattle on Monday. HQ will know, so hopefully everything goes smoothly.
-- BK
Kobe Apologist
“The main difference between Kobe and Michael Jordan is circumstance. Given the same conditions that MJ had, Kobe would have the same or better results. Too bad we'll never see it happen, unless one of you has a time machine with a flux capacitor.”
Dude, I just laughed so hard that I spilled my beer on the keyboard.
Circumstances?
If kobe was in MJ position, kobe would chase away anybody with talent while Bulls wallow in mediocrity while kobe win scoring titles years after year……….hey, why flux capacitor? Just look at the last 2 seasons in LA.
Any body home McFly?
Posted by: KLBeast | July 31, 2007 at 12:17 AM
Aloha mike
“K.l is not going to do any research. Like he says to me, he isnt really into details or facts. Thats kind of scary, considering he is in the financial industry. Hope he isn't involved with my portfolio. LOL”
Bra, you can do better than that.
Actually, I’m a corporate guy and not a financial planner although I’m pretty good with the investment stuff.
Posted by: KLBeast | July 31, 2007 at 12:22 AM
gina
"I'm beggining to hate this team outside of Koby and a little bit of ODOM"
Liar!
I thought you said your "last" post was such and such....and to think i actaully cried when you left me....
BTW, kobe still stuck and nobody wants to play with kobe either. Man, kobe reminds me so much of the jerkoff kid that nobody likes.....haha.
Posted by: KLBeast | July 31, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Hal9000
“Congratulations! You got what you wanted... I hope you like the "rebuilding process" as much as Clipper fans have for the last 30 years...”
What I want is kobe, and kobe loyalist, to take responsibility for the state of the lakers. I predicted this when shaq was traded away. Kobe’s behavior towards shaq was unacceptable and in any professional environment, people might forgive BUT NOBODY EVER FORGETS. All those time kobe bad mouthted shaq ( the franchise players) pubically, the entire league took notice.
Now that kobe’s on his own, it’s not far-fetched to think that veteran players don’t want to play with a jerkoff kobe Bryant.
KOBE BRYANT IS ON AN ISLAND AND NOBODY OF STATURE WANTS TO HELP KOBE.
Kobe is such a jerk, he’s turning on the only people who have unequivocally supported kobe, laker management. Kobe is done in LA once the Lakers are done pimping kobe.
i say, keep the young guns like LO and Bynum, then take the cap space one the money bags (kobe) is gone, then beg Wade to come to LA.
Posted by: KLBeast | July 31, 2007 at 12:32 AM
Utzworld
“What the FO REALLY should do: Let Kobe biichnmoan and let him opt out and then start from scratch in 09. It's the only way the Lakers will ever be a TEAM again. I'd rather see a TEAM get to the Finals than see a superstar putting up 50 points in 7 straight games...FOR NOTHING!”
Your statement is why you have my respect as a laker fan. I know we don’t 100% agree and my jokes are over-the-top at times, but behind every joke is some truth.
I have faith that if the lakers don’t do anything stupid, like gut the team for JO, we have good pieces to support a true superstar down the road. All it takes is one good superstar to attract talent.
Look at Pierce, the guy is pure class, loyal as hell to Boston and now is being rewarded. I appreciate how Pierce conducted himself in Boston (unlike kobe in LA) with his trade demand if not given the veteran help Pierce so desired. Pierce basically said the same thing as kobe and boom, Ray Allen and Keven Garnett are playing alongside Pierce. I’m actually going to root for Boston next year because I really like Pierce, Allen and Garnett……all class guys.
Posted by: KLBeast | July 31, 2007 at 12:39 AM
A side effect of the KG trade you may not have known about.
Effective as soon as the league approves the KG to the Celtics trade, Kobe Bryant is the most
loyal player in the league. Despite all the rantings earlier this summer, Kobe has been with the
Lakers longer than ANY other active player has been with their current team in the league. So
you may be thinking Kobe is disloyal to the Lakers, but he's stayed with them longer than any
other current player in the league has stayed with their team.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 31, 2007 at 12:40 AM
Laker Lover
“I am not a big fan of Kobe but if his beef was he wants to play on a contender, and he looks at the roster as it stands today, this team is not a contender, and not really close. Having said that, and if he wants to be consistent, he should ask for a trade. Neither him or the lakers, as currently put together, are close to being contenders. Time for a change. I am just hoping he takes 9 rings with me, that would be good riddance.”
Perhaps kobe should have thought twice before chasing shaq away.
*Winning is not an entitlement.
*Winning is not about working out 25 hours in a day (joke, I know there is only 24 hours in a day).
*Winning is not about badmouthing your teammates and management.
*Winning is not something kobe’s going to ever see as the #1
Because WHY you might ask?
BECAUSE YOU NEED TEAMMATES TO SUPPORT THE LEADER. KOBE AIN’T NO LEADER, KOBE LIVES IN A CACOON AND FORGOT ABOUT HIS ROLE WITH THE LAKER CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. KOBE WASN’T THE LEADER, KOBE WAS THE GOOD SOLDER FOR 7 SEASONS THEN TURNED INTO A BIG JERK IN 2003.
Posted by: KLBeast | July 31, 2007 at 12:46 AM
Hal9000
“It's really sad that you guys just don't get it. With Mitch and the Busses at the helm, the Lakers are finished.”
Dude, WTF are you talking about? How many championship teams have Buss built? Kobe’s the one who wanted to prove a point. Point being that kobe is better than Jordan and that kobe doesn’t want to win with shaq O’Neal. what happen to winning is winning. does it matter now you win?
“-Trading Shaq: Missed playoffs, two first round exits”
Please enlighten me on why shaq had to go?
“The team who gives up a superstar for a bunch of "good" players always gets the short end of the deal, and if Kobe is traded, it will be no exception.”
What you don’t get is that less is more. Kobe is the reason NOBODY OF STATURE WANTS TO PLAY IN LA.
“If you really were Laker fans, you would put your desire to have the great one back (West) and your desire to get some true talent (KG) ahead of your hatred for Kobe.”
My hate for kobe is that he put himself above the laker org, laker team and laker fans.
Posted by: KLBeast | July 31, 2007 at 12:50 AM
It's not a done deal... keep hope alive!!!!!
Will KG really let himself be McHale's pawn his entire career? Has McHale convinced KG that he's some Minnesota Martyr and therefore has to do what's best for the franchise even at his own expense? After not wanting to disrespect the Minny fans by demanding a trade, can KG approve of this one that really is just an old boys club Celtics style move? I can't bring myself to believe that KG's really sold on teaming up with co-Allstars Allen and Pierce to outdazzle the Leastern Confernce. Yeah, it MAY even work (McHale's got Ainge drinking the koolade too, I guess), but only for one year, and then is Boston really going to fork up that extension, pay THREE max players? Yeah, no biggie for KG either way, some team will pay up even a year from now, magical four-leaf clover ring or not. My point is, KG, of course you're going to make a difference wherever you go (I'm talking to you directly at this point, Ticket).
If the trio-of-stars strategy doesn't work (see Casell-Allen-BigDog Bucks), it's not like it's unchartered territory for you to deal with. You'll start over again, and it will have been worth the gamble... Well if the point is starting over (albeit to contend), why just shoot the moon for only one ring? Demanding to come to LA is more than just joining forces with Kobe and Phil, being in a warm climate, still allowing for the cap-assisting pieces the Wolves need via trade, and getting that badly needed fresh start. It's about starting the right way, being in that winning culture where even in down years (every ringless year) there is still hope and most times even opportunity to somehow pull it off. Yeah, Boston has the tradition too, but we've got present members who were just there and still have that burning fire - and the game/coaching to back it up - to get back to that level, and then sustain it. Age of key players and cap room favor the Lakers for a longer run than what Boston is rubbing their rabbit's foot for. The worst case is that it's the same here as in Boston (yeah, right) and you are free to choose once again. But if it works here, it'll work for years. Even if it doesn't translate to a ring this season, that one year of triangle experience will still leave a big enough window for dynasty potential. Ponder, marinate, demand!
Posted by: lakerade | July 31, 2007 at 12:53 AM
KL:
"i say, keep the young guns like LO and Bynum, then take the cap space one the money bags (kobe) is gone, then beg Wade to come to LA."
Beg? Yes, you're absolutely right... because thats the only negotiating tactic that anyone in the Lakers FO has. Where West convinced, Kupchak begs.
According to your logic (if I can even call it that), if Kupchak says "pretty pretty please with a cherry on top" then Wade or some other big name free agent will come to the Lakers. But I must say, your honesty is refreshing. While you've never explicitly said the Lakers FO without West sucks, you definitely imply it in your statements. I know some part of you realizes that the future as it stands right now is pretty bleak for us Laker fans.
Posted by: hal9000 | July 31, 2007 at 01:15 AM
Hal9000,
KL and Gunner:
Congratulations! You got what you wanted... I hope you like the "rebuilding process" as much as Clipper fans have for the last 30 years...
DON'T WORRY MY FRIEND. THE LAKERS ARE IN CONTROL. LET KOBE WORK HIS BUTT OFF AND AGE FOR 2 MORE YEARS THEN DROPKICK HIM RIGHT OFF THE TEAM WITH CAP SPACE TO SIGN DWADE. I CAN SEE IT HAPPENING. IN 2 YEARS SHAQ WILL RETIRE AND WHY WOULD WADE STAY IN MIAMI? WILL HAVE THE ROOM AND YOUNG TALENT TO SURROUND WADE AND WIN MORE CHAMPIONSHIPS THEN.
KLBeast,
Look at Pierce, the guy is pure class, loyal as hell to Boston and now is being rewarded. I appreciate how Pierce conducted himself in Boston (unlike kobe in LA) with his trade demand if not given the veteran help Pierce so desired. Pierce basically said the same thing as kobe and boom, Ray Allen and Keven Garnett are playing alongside Pierce. I’m actually going to root for Boston next year because I really like Pierce, Allen and Garnett……all class guys.
I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS A STORY BOOK ENDING. THREE UNSELFISH GUYS WHO PUT IN ALL THE WORK ARE NOW ALL BEING REWARDED. AND I GUESS RAY ALLEN GOT THE LAST LAUGH ABOUT OLD KOBIATCH.
Posted by: Gunner | July 31, 2007 at 01:23 AM
like the idea of getting Magic into the negotiations w Larry Bird... makes sense to me ... intuitively I have no faith in cupcake's deal making ability...
personally ... i'd rather send off Bynum / Kwame and keep Lamar around after the heart he showed in the last playoffs ... i think Mihm could hold it down w/ Ronny in middle w/ a bit of grace (ok - no MVP tilte there, but...) i just don't ever see Bynum being a FORCE ... does't seem to have that inner fire ...
but i CAN see JO, LO, and KB can tearing it up a bit ... just need to add a defensive specialist and we be a'ight ...
bring back Jerry West into the fold!
Posted by: p0s1t1v3 | July 31, 2007 at 01:52 AM
KL:
"Dude, WTF are you talking about? How many championship teams have Buss built?"
How many? ZERO. Owners don't "build" championship teams; GMs do. Owners are supposed to just sign at the dotted line.
Why is it that there is an "Exec of the Year" award, but no "Owner of the Year" award? Because the owner is not supposed to do anything but sign paychecks and handle the "business" side of the franchise, not the "personnel" side. Just because you own your car doesn't mean you should do all the repairs yourself, especially if you'rer not trained to do so. Buss never played basketball or coached a pro team; his specialty is horses, not basketball players, and as such, he should leave the personnel moves up to the professionals.
First off, Magic and Kareem were already Lakers before Buss bought the team. Once they got there, West became the Lakers exec, and he was in charge of all the major personnel moves. Since he was a Hall-of-Famer and had been with the Lakers organization for 20 years before Buss came around, Buss respected him, and for the most part, he let West make player moves without interruption. The Laker moves in the 80's were made by West, not Buss, and West was the visionary behind the Shaq-Kobe deal in 1996. Even so, there were times when Buss tried to get in the way of success:
--During the 1985-86 season, Buss got the idea to trade away James Worthy for a bunch of no-name players. West got so upset that he said if Buss made the deal, he would quit. So Buss changed his mind, and Worthy helped the Lakers become back-to back champions.
--Whose idea was it to bring Dennis Rodman to the Lakers in 1999? It sure wasn't West's idea. Buss practically forced him to sign Rodman, and we all know how that ended.
Like, I said, West's smarts, stature and iron will kept Buss from screwing up the franchise too much... but West never got his due, and even though he was consistently one of the top GMs in the league, he was also consistently underpaid. That's half the reason he quit.
Now we're stuck with West's "prodigy" Mitch Kupchak, who doesn't have nearly the same pedigree that West had. He gets no respect from fellow GMs, but more importantly, he gets no respect from Buss. He was an average player, and he is not an excellent judge of talent, and his weaknesses have given Buss and his son the opportunity to mess with the personnel side of the Lakers organization -- an area in which they have no true knowledge or experience.
I REALLY, REALLY hope I'm wrong, but nothing I've seen in the last three years out of the Lakers FO has given me any hope. Barring a miracle, it looks like all Laker fans -- Kobe Haters or not -- will be disappointed.
KL, I have faith that you will look at the facts, see the truth and stop putting Buss on a pedestal that he has not earned.
Posted by: hal9000 | July 31, 2007 at 01:56 AM
you know whats good about next year....we have nothing to lose now. people will expect us to suck next year. i see a cinderella story happening in hollywood
Posted by: ro | July 31, 2007 at 02:01 AM
does anyone realise that we have sasha, crit, farmar, and fish ???? why the f do we have so many pg's???
Posted by: ro | July 31, 2007 at 02:10 AM
KL:
"What you don’t get is that less is more."
Ok, how is trading Kobe for a bunch of players in line with your "less is more" philosophy? How is giving up several players to get Garnett NOT in line with your "less is more" philosophy?
KL:
"Please enlighten me on why shaq had to go?"
Who signed Shaq's paychecks, Kobe or Buss? You know full well that Kobe's claim that Buss said he would not resign Shaq has not been refuted, yet you continue to put all the blame on Kobe. Do you really believe that if Kobe said he would stay, Buss would pay Shaq the 20 mil a year he wanted? Without West around, nobody could stop Buss from being a cheapskate -- and I doubt if anyone will.
Even after all your explaining, you still could not deny that you have put your hatred for Kobe ahead of you desire to have the great one back (West) and your desire to get some true talent (KG). Anyone who has hate as their driving force will never be happy.
Posted by: hal9000 | July 31, 2007 at 02:18 AM
KLBeast,
No need to plead and beg. I already gave you my answer.
Posted by: p ang | July 31, 2007 at 02:21 AM
KL:
I must say, I love your wanton cherrypicking of people's posts. You always try and rebut someone's argument without reading the facts that go along with it. Good for you.
Posted by: hal9000 | July 31, 2007 at 02:28 AM
Boston traded for KG and Lakers signed Coby Karl.
Bravoo fro MItch Kupchak he did it again.
Posted by: ivan | July 31, 2007 at 02:44 AM
Oh, the pain of it. No KG and you're still stuck with the Saint. Too bad.
But the real question is...Did the big Dawg tell KG that he was down the road; "there ain't nothing here for you?"
As the conspiracy grows, who knows, maybe Kobe will end up in a Celtic Uniform before all is said and done.
Some of you just choked. Jorenema and Kavulic are bouncing around in their cages. I am at peace.
Not entirely. As some of you know, I'd like to see the Lakers prosper (not too much, of course) and feel that they would already be two years
down that road had they sent the Saint packing a looong time ago. A young and talented squad with some serious playoff experience under their
belts alongside a few key veteran and role players. This would be your team right now; seasoned and on the rise.
Ahhh, but it is not to be. Too many of you still have this luv thing goin' on with the dawg. Enough to warm your heart.
Anyway, I heard that KG was already looking to go east (you know, for the cultural and intellectual opportunity not available at Disneyland), but the
real clincher was a fear he had for his own safety on Southern California roads; where people attempt to drive through highway carnage and run over people rather than render aid.
But that's an issue for another smoggy day.
Sonnybelfast
Posted by: sonnybelfast | July 31, 2007 at 02:48 AM
I like Jerry West as much as anybody.
Lately though, he has looked and sounded despairing, tortured and worn out.
Do you really want that type of energy?
Posted by: sonnybelfast | July 31, 2007 at 02:57 AM
Hail to Bill Walsh. Thank you for forever transforming the Niners.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | July 31, 2007 at 03:07 AM
I'm a very negative person so gimme some credit for trying now...
KG hasn't signed yet!
Coby Karl is just a scrub-signing that can be waived in a heartbeat.
I'm really trying to not scream profanities...
Posted by: Andy L | July 31, 2007 at 03:48 AM
Long Time Laker Fan
1. I hear you. I see that you're on board for moving Bynum and Odom for Jermaine O'Neal.
2. I see Weave Man is on board.
3. Trip Game is on board.
4. I actually don't blame Mitch in this not getting KG aftermath. The Celtic Boys boxed him out. It was no way he would get in on this deal. They did this for Red Auerbach. I'd expect ex-Lakers to do the same.
5. If the Coby Karl move is the last move of the summer then we will need divine intervention, prayer, and 1980 hockey team like Miracles. We need to work something out with Indiana.
6. Trade either Kwame Brown, Andrew Bynum, and next yr's 1st round pick to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal or trade Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and Brian Cook for Jermaine O'Neal.
Posted by: LakerBake | July 31, 2007 at 04:19 AM
We gotta get Jermaine O'Neal.
1. This is about having another dominant former or current ALL-Star with a swagger about himself on the team. The best teams have multiple dominant personality guys.
2. Miami loaded up on guys with a swagger 2 yrs ago in Payton, O'Neal, Wade, Mourning, Walker, and Jason Williams. They won a title.
Not one of those guys are scared guys.
3. We have too many scared guys with short resumes.
The big resume gives a guy courage and a swagger to think he's IT.
4. KOBE and Phil have to make too many guys on our team believe in themselves.
We need the extra personality of Jermaine O'Neal.
5. Don't tell me about his injuries when Lamar Odom's shoulder pops in and out annually. It's the same difference. Who is to say KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce will stay healthy this yr.
6. Lamar Odom is New York City and all but he lacks the full confident swagger. It's like he does not feel like he is the MAN. If you're a LAKER you can't feel that way especially if you're the 2nd star. WORTHY did not feel that way. Kareem did not feel that way. Coop and Byron did not feel that way. Nixon did not feel that way. McAdoo did not feel that way.
Kobe, Fox, Shaq, Horry, and Fisher did not feel that way.
You have to have the swagger and Odom lacks it.
We don't even know if Bynum has courage. It's time for us to stop being the Wizard of OZ for these guys.
BRING YOUR OWN RESUME of confidence and swagger about your game and your pride!
KOBE and PHIL can't give you all of your confidence!!
Posted by: LakerBake | July 31, 2007 at 04:27 AM
I can't believe people actually say they miss Van Exel and Eddie Jones! What did they ever do to contribute to a title?
When I think about supporting role players I miss Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Brian Shaw, Kurt Rambis, Michael Cooper,
AC Green and Mychal Thompson.
The current Lakers that could be good role players on a championship team are: Lamar, Luke, Turief, Fish, Evans.
What does that tell us? We have most of the role players we need to contend (except a defensive stopper at the 3).
What we really need is a reliable go-to scorer in the low block. Kareem, you got anything left? :)
Posted by: rdlee | July 31, 2007 at 05:22 AM
KLBeast:
"My hate for kobe is that he put himself above the laker org, laker team and laker fans."
Thats what every person in the world makes, you the first.
It's impossible for the human race to put other things before itself.
You make it at every post, puting your "hate for Kobe" above the blog, the bloggers, above thinking he has, as you did yourself. the right to say what it's in his mind.
Sincerely, I prefer what Kobe did, than having Kobe playing another year for a mediocre team and wasting another year of his carrer, and more important, giving us another year of loses and first roun playoffs elimination.
Can you ask yourself if really Kobe did put himself above the Lakers?
Do you really know if in it's mind all he did was to try to wake up the dumbiest GM and show that they are sinking the lakers as a team and also sinking their fans hopes?
I'm sorry, but I think that what Kobe made was not thinking in himself but thinking in the Lakers.
Do you really tell me that you are happy eith the moves, signings and trades that the Lakers had made since shaq left? Begining with what was bringed in exchange for shaq?
Posted by: Alexinho17 | July 31, 2007 at 05:32 AM
KL,
You said: Please enlighten me on why shaq had to go
How many times must this be said: You fat boy aka Porky Pig publicly called out Dr. Buss asking for 30 million. He did this waddling down the floor
during preseason. Dr. Buss has publicly stated: If he had come to camp in shape for the last two seasons I'd probably have paid him. To which Shaq
publicly responded: I need to play for a real owner. Your star laden Porky Pig team got swept this year. They actually did worse than the Lakers did.
People of stature who are playing with Porky Pig: Gary " I'm slow as molasses" Payton, Zo, Posey, Jason Williams. Oddly enough KG isn't going to
Miami. J-Kidd isn't going to Miami. Chauncey didn't go to Miami. G. Wallace didn't go to Miami. But you already know all of this. Hence the curiosity about
the mantra.
I'm curious: Do you say this Mantra to yourself every day: Kobe is the root of all that is evil.?
You said: How many championship teams have Buss built?
That's a good question. Please answer: How many championship teams has Dr. Buss built without Jerry West as GM? I contend that Dr. Buss has been too
busy trying to get laid to have put a lot of effort into basketball. You know. Drinking. Driving. Drugs. Sex with girls young enough to be his granddaughter.
I'm really curious about the pavlovian response you have to the name ..... KOBE. Right there: Did the mantra kick in? Did you start to salivate at the thought
about spreading your conspiracy theory/malicious lies when you read his name? Think about this: If you took your tired rhetoric to a judge and some
14 yr. old kid showed up with ALL of the press clippings & ALL of the stats from Shaq's last 3 years with the Lakers which would the judge find in favor of?
As I recall, you're in the financial industry? Let's say that's true for a second. If someone asked you to make an investment based upon the information you
have to support your bias against .... KOBE [ I needed to get you salivating again and seeing red. ] vs. all of the press clippings do you think your
information is strong enough to support the investment?
re: NOBODY OF STATURE WANTS TO PLAY IN LA. I notice that you use the verb "want". After you've calmed down, you can use google to go surf
about Jason Kidd. The most complete pg in the league who wanted to come here, but the Lakers wouldn't give up Bynum. That would make your statement
an outright lie. Careless sport. However, I know that when you hear the name .... KOBE you forget the basic principles of honesty, facts, truth, integrity ...
Here's a question for you about Porky Pig [ aka Shaq aka Butterball aka the failed rapper, aka the failed movie star, aka the failing reality tv star, aka
a celebrity cop ] If he is such a team player, why can't he play 100% for the full year? Why can't he come into camp in shape? Why does he distract himself
from basketball by making movies, music, becoming a police officer and now becoming a reality tv putz? Why can't this multi-millionaire, God's gift to
basketball learn how to shoot free throws?
Posted by: hobbitmage | July 31, 2007 at 05:47 AM
We now have a roster full of guards!! WTH?
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | July 31, 2007 at 06:32 AM
MacHale shows his true colors. I know, KG, class act, yada yada yada, but as a true Laker fan always does, I hope those green f***s go down in flames.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070730
I see KLBiatch was drunk again last night
Posted by: Steve in Denver | July 31, 2007 at 07:06 AM
******************************************************************************************************************
ATTENTION BLOGGERS : TODAY IS THE LAKERS ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE DAY I******************************************************************************************************************
**************************************** Mamba24/10 Editorial ***********************************************
This is it folks. This is your 2007 – 2008 Lakers. Aint no Mana dropping from heaven and aint
no KG coming from Minnesota. We now have two Kobe’s for the price of one. A fish that
didn’t save Utah and a Critter for a guard. We have a towel throwing forward and a
cake throwing center. We have a 9 ring coach and a 3 ring circus for a front office.
YES LADIES AND GENTLEMAN THIS IS YOUR 2007 WORLD NOTHING LAKERS.
THE DYNASTY OF HOPELESSNESS CONTINUES EVEN AS HOPE SPRINGS
ETERNAL. AT LEAST MY HOPE DOES. IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING MENTIONED
ABOVE, I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE A DEFINING SEASON. WHY?
1. KOBE WILL WANT TO SHOWCASE HIMSELF TO THE LEAGUE AND SO ALL
FACETS OF HIS GAME WILL BE ON DISPLAY THIS SEASON.
2. THIS IS A CONTRACT YEAR FOR KWAME.
3. LAST YEAR IF HE HAD STAYED HEALTHY WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ALLSTAR
YEAR FOR LO. THIS YEAR WILL BE THAT ALL STAR YEAR.
4. ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION, SMUSH GONE, FISH HERE.
5. A HEALTHY LAKER TEAM IS A HAPPY LAKER TEAM
6. CRITTER WILL PROVE TO BE THE STEAL OF THE DRAFT
7. 9 RINGS SAID WHEN HE CAME BACK THAT WE WILL BE REALLY
GOOD BY HIS THIRD YEAR. WELL IT’S HEERRREEEE.
AND NOW ROLL CALL
FAITH, MIKE T. TALIQ, Edwin Gueco,, KEIFO, Mamba24Fan4Life, Fan of Mamba, KIWI, ,
WOW, PEACE, J_COOL, DAVID WHANG, ADAM KILEY, THE KOBE SHOW,
FISH_GUY,TIM-4-SHOW, THA_ SHOW, WESJOENIXON, BAYWOO, THE_D, SBPIMP,
CHARLES, Precious, NEVER, CALI KING, RICK FRIEDMAN,THIRTY2, EXHELODRVR,
GENERIC_ONE, TWOODY, JJ, AJAX, MITCHELL., LAKERTOM, LAKERFAN,
KHANG VMAN, KOREY, XTRO, MCGARNAGLE, GUGY, GDChild,Laker4Life,
KL BEAST, Jorema, FearlessWhackJob, MARTY, JANDRO, LAKERFAZE, PhxLkrFAN,
TexasLaker, BOB, TreacherousBalloons, EagleBoy, JR., EASTCOASTJESSIE, Zakee,
Swettual, Utzworld, Andrew Z, LAL Fan, BRANDON C., Kinglakernidas, BlackMamba24,
FKILLAH, CYRUS(VENTRILIQUIST), RespectMyAuthorith, Waterboy, Hariyahu,
ZEN, SARCOCOP,Staples24, Bobby, COMPTONS FINEST, MIGUELINHO, Greek Dude,
SOCALIFE, HAL9000, Greekdude, Michael J, Michael H, Michael A., Rick Friedman,
Gunner24, GINO, FATTY, CBUCK,LAKERGURL, CRITICAL BEATDOWN, PFUNK36,
PAUL LEE, Jay EL, SocalSpider , WEAVE MAN, JON KAVULIC, Tajluck,
BERKLEYLAKER, Dice8Up DION, KARL, CRAIG, MITCHELL, Lakers4Life,
JR, Dascilla, tellitlikeitisNik Kannan, GABE, SEAN P., HanSoulFood, HollywoodJack,
Jay Jay, TaosHum, HOBBITMAGE, Caeser, Obel, CHITOWNLAKER, ANGRYLAKER
wiZo, MagicShaq, HugoBoss, OSCAR, RDLEE, RealityBites, LakerLarry, Bucky, LEELO,
Juno, LakerLifer, C.S. JOVA, BLAZE1BX, Tripgame3, TSPHERE, SIXONEZERO
Mfeige, Reggie, Hollywood Jack, Reality Check Time, Jack In Hollywood
JONINJAPAN(INCANADA), VIOLATER, LT Laker Fan, , Laker Front Office Sucks
ALL TOGETHER NOW:
WE ARE THE FREAKIN LA LAKERS THE WINNERS OF 14 NBA TITLES
THE HOME OF WILT, KAREEM, GEORGE MIKAN, SHAQ, MAGIC, KOBE,
ELGIN BAYLOR, JERRY WEST, PAT RILEY, JAMES WORTHY, SILK
COACHED BY THE 9 TIME TITLE WINNER PHIL (9RINGS) JACKSON AND
NO ONE AND NOTHING WILL EVER DIVIDE OR CONQUER US
LAKERS TODAY LAKERS TOMORROW LAKERS FOREVER
Posted by: Mamba24/10 | July 31, 2007 at 07:11 AM
DANNY AINGE
From a jerk and member of the exclusive group of worst GMs, suddenly became the potential Executive of the Year. Whatever happens, Laker fans will always consider Ainge as a jerk as a player, a jerk as the Suns' coach, a jerk as TNT broadcaster/analyst and finally the Executive of the Year as a Coach in '08 because of Allen & KG. OMG, we need Kool Aide.
Where is J-Cool, I missed his daily links? Was he traded also to the Celtics Blog?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 31, 2007 at 08:03 AM
Violater:
"Unfortunately"? Really? You don't like it up here? I love it. I've been living up here for just over a year now and I don't see myself living any place else. Which area do you live in?
AK & BK:
How'd you enjoy the trip to the Emerald City?
Posted by: generic_one | July 31, 2007 at 08:37 AM
It looks like Karma is biting us in the ass again. It seemed everything was in place for a KG to the Lakers deal. KG has a home in LA, he wants a championship, Jerry Buss has the will and ability to sign him long term for major dough. It seemed he was even trying to gauge the situation here with the Lakers with his call to Kobe, as if he had a choice in the matter. If KG had a choice in the matter, why would he choose not to come to the Lakers and have a shot at a championship with Kobe? I would love to see a transcript of that phone call between KG and Kobe. What in the hell did Kobe tell him to abruptly, it seemed, have a change of heart about coming to LA?? I mean, the writing was on the wall; KG to the Lakers=championship.
How in the heck are we going to rid ourselves of this bad Karma??
On another note, I need to get something off my chest. What in the hell is up with Hank Aaron? "I am making a comment by not making a comment"-Aaron in regard to Barry Bonds.
Much respect to Hank Aaron, but man, get over yourself. Your record is about to be broken. Scoreboard. Hand over that record with some class. If you ask Barry Bonds about Hank Aaron, you wont hear nothing but praise. But Aaron won't comment on Bonds? Get out of here with that! Go hang out with Bud Selig and be miserable. Barry Bonds is the home run king of all time, accept it. And Barry Bonds is a way better baseball player than your one dimensional ass ever was.
Go Lakers!
Go Barry Bonds!
Posted by: Rocky | July 31, 2007 at 08:42 AM
Rocky,
Do the math. Bonds was hitting 50+ homers during his steroid time frame. Subtract about 20 to 30 homers in each of those years. Say it was only 4 years. That's 80 to 120 homers.
Sure, Bonds is no doubt a hall of famer and one of the greatest ever. But to break the most coveted record in sports is something entirely different. Those 80 to 120 homers short would have meant he'd have to play until he was 50 or so.
The math is, he would NOT be breaking this record without the help of steroids.
And you want Aaron to get over himself? You ought to be apalled just on the principle of it.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | July 31, 2007 at 08:54 AM
I don't know who's in charge of press releases in the Laker FO these days. John Black must be on vacation.
It's hard to imagine someone with PR in their title, would release the Coby Karl story on the same day KG didn't come to LA.
I think it would have been OK with Coby to wait on that breaking news.
KG to historically hated Boston? So what? We just signed another guard, who's had some health issues, but he knows how to play in a system.
The comparison said, in a summer when something had to happen, it didn't. The yawn was deafening.
Posted by: Vman | July 31, 2007 at 08:56 AM
KL/ KL Beast
It is embarrassing that you have such a narrow viewpoint about the Shaq trade, it ALWAYS takes two to tangle and you seemingly have absolved Shaq in his part of this mess. Shaq has also stated that if Jerry West were still part of the Lakers the issues would have been resolved, (the same request of Mr. Bryant).
It is clear you have an extreme hatred for Kobe, may I ask how do you know personally that he is jerk, this is not healthy, also trading Kobe will not end your anger, you need to GROW UP, for your health.
Realize that the problem is not with Kobe, but with the Ownership who let the only credible executive to leave (Jerry West). Not giving him his due for the great job he did for them by giving him part ownership of the Lakers, especially after giving Magic Johnson part ownership, and not the man who facilitated his presence on the team.
Also the continual misjudgment of Jerry, Jim Buss, and Mitch will continue and the Lakers will not return for many years, if ever with Jim Buss at the helm.
Posted by: JK | July 31, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Mamba 24/10 --
You're the best, man, and even if it's just you and me, let's go down in flames together. This will be a great season. Hope is in the air. Phil is still Phil, and while we know there is no magic wand, we still have Magic in the house, even if it's just to sit rooting by Dyan Cannon.
Jack will be there. Denzel will be there. Flea is still behind us. And my prediction is that we will see two amazing, notable things happen this year. One will concern scoring. The other will concern the playoffs.
Bynum will be 50 percent better. Critter will be an animal. LO will bring the LOve, and Kobe will avoid a meltdown until June. We'll win 55 games, and get to the Western Conference Finals.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Marty | July 31, 2007 at 09:04 AM
THANK GOD THE KG PIPE DREAM IS PUT TO REST!!!
There will be no more crazy trade proposals where everyone thinks LO is an All-Star and Bynum is the next Kareem. WE WERE NEVER IN THE RUNNING PEOPLE!!! In a two-team deal we had nothing but a laughable chance at landing KG. What frustrated me the most is how the front office seemed to sit on their asses waiting for KG to fall to us or the stupid idea he would opt out and sign here for the MLE.
Time to move on and play with the hand we're dealt.
As for Kobe, I'm willing to bet that he doesn't say anything negative and shows up for a work as a good little soldier.
Posted by: Andrew Z | July 31, 2007 at 09:04 AM
KLBeast and the others who are blaming the fact that KG went to Boston instead of LA on either Kobe or Kupchak.
This has nothing to do with either Kobe or Kupchak. It's the same as when the Lakers traded Shaq. We could have gotten
anyone but Nowitzski from Dallas (for example Nash, Howard, and Terry), but we took a lesser deal to trade Shaq to the
East. I think it's stupid - I'd rather face Shaq 4 times a year with a better team around Kobe, but that's one of the
things GMs just do as a rule.
Basically Minne got Al Jefferson and spare parts for KG. And they now have 17 players under contract, so they're
going to have to pay off two of their players and waive them. Thus they actually have to PAY millions to trade KG
away. And if Big Al turns out not to like Minnesota - he can take a qualifying offer next year and walk after two
years.
Note that we don't know what the Lakers final offer was, but it probably wasn't THAT much better. It was basically
Odom and spare parts. In the same way that Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes haven't proven themselves, Bynum and
Farmar haven't proven themselves. So in either deal you get 1 proven player, two players with potential, an expiring
contract, and a future draft choice. I'm pretty certain Telfair will be one of the two players Minnesota cuts, so he's
as irrelevant as if the Lakers had thrown Vujacic into the deal.
The good news is that maybe this will block Mitch's trade constipation and he'll actually go out and try to acquire
someone else now that he doesn't have to horde all his chips to bid on KG.
If I'm GM for a day, here's the two deals I try to work:
Jermaine O'Neal and Indiana's 2008 1st round pick for Odom, Bynum, and Evans
A three-way trade with Sacramento and Orlando:
Lakers send Kwame to Orlando
Lakers send Farmar to Sacramento
Orlando sends Turkoglu to Sacramento
Orlando sends Keith Bogans to the Lakers
Sacramento sends Ron Artest to the Lakers
That gets two excellent players next to Kobe, and I think PJ can keep Artest on track better
than most coaches. The only question is whether there is any animosity between Artest and
Jermaine O'Neal. If not, that makes the Lakers a MUCH better defensive team, though still a
bit dicey at center. Maybe they could sign Marc Gasol to add another body at center.
C - Mihm, Turiaf [Gasol]
PF - O'Neal, Turiaf, Cook
SF - Artest, Walton, Radmanovic
SG - Kobe, Vujacic, Coby
PG - Fisher, Critter, Coby
I'm already anticipating the "Sacramento would never trade Artest to the Lakers" argument,
but other than that, what do you think?
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 31, 2007 at 09:06 AM
AK/BK,
I think a trade will go down involving one of the Laker point guards. If not, then what is the point (no pun intended) of loading up on point guards? I think if Mitch does not make a good trade involving one of our PG's, then we seriously need to consider our options for a new GM. Your thoughts?
Posted by: fkillah | July 31, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Lakers signed Coby Karl! WOO HOO!
This must all be Kobe's fault.
I also blame the guy in the car in front of me for stopping so fast. Why'd he stop so fast? He MADE me hit him! It's his fault!
Posted by: Kobe Apologist | July 31, 2007 at 09:19 AM
Marty,
"even if it's just you and me, let's go down in flames together. "
RIGHT ON MARTY! As the Human Torch would say FLAME ON!!
Rocky,
"And Barry Bonds is a way better baseball player than your one dimensional ass ever was."
Come on Rocky be kind to your elders. True Bonds even without "Steroids " was a hall a famer
a 40/40 man and great fielder and even in the old days possibly one of the three greatest players of
all time, But hammerin hank wasn't no slouch either.
Tim-4-show,
"And you want Aaron to get over himself? You ought to be apalled just on the principle of it."
Big Props for taking up for The Hammer. If people could read some of the Death threats he
received, it would chill them to the bone. Stadiums had to be searched by the FBI before
he played because of bomb threats and yet to still break the record that alone in my opinion
was one of the greatest achievements in any sport. Just going out there playing, let alone
breaking the record.
Posted by: Mamba24/10 | July 31, 2007 at 09:23 AM
Tim-4-Show,
Of course, amphetamine use was rampant in the era Aaron played in, and there is a very good chance he used them. So that would give him an advantage. And a lot of pitchers use steroids now, which takes away from the relative advantage Bonds has. And there were significantly fewer black pitchers during Aaron's career, especially the earlier years.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 31, 2007 at 09:25 AM
JK
“It is embarrassing that you have such a narrow viewpoint about the Shaq trade, it ALWAYS takes two to tangle and you seemingly have absolved Shaq in his part of this mess.”
my narrow view on the shaq-kobe “feud” places more emphasis on kobe being a jerk. it was shaq’s team and kobe wanted it. instead of waiting his turn, kobe forcibily took the team from shaq. so now we have kobe at the helm with a bad reputation and nobody in the league wanting to help kobe byant. so yeah, I do have a narrow view on the shaq-kobe “feud”. kobe step on shaq’s big toe, shaq said “F-U” to kobe and now kobe is wallowing in his, and only his, mess. management can go an ask FA to join kobe, but if those guys say “no”, it’s “no”.
remember, “no” means “no”. someone outta remind kobe of that.
“Shaq has also stated that if Jerry West were still part of the Lakers the issues would have been resolved, (the same request of Mr. Bryant).”
agreed. JWest would have told kobe to STFU and if kobe didn’t comply, West would have shipped kobe’s dumba$$ out in 2002 for the rights to LBJ and we’d still be competing for championships.
“It is clear you have an extreme hatred for Kobe, may I ask how do you know personally that he is jerk, this is not healthy, also trading Kobe will not end your anger, you need to GROW UP, for your health.”
my so-called “hatred” for kobe is limited to kobe’s on-court matters. I don’t know kobe personally, so I can’t make a judgment one way or another.
“Realize that the problem is not with Kobe, but with the Ownership who let the only credible executive to leave (Jerry West).”
Kobe Apologist alert! the problem is kobe, period. end of story. i predicted this circa 2003 when kobe started mouthing off in public to shaq. it was the beginning of the end. 2004 cemented my belief.
“Also the continual misjudgment of Jerry, Jim Buss, and Mitch will continue and the Lakers will not return for many years, if ever with Jim Buss at the helm.”
how much you wanna bet that once kobe’s gone, we’ll start to rebuild again and when a real superstar joins LA, we’ll begin the road back to a championship………a la Shaq’s FA signing in 1996.
Posted by: KLBeast | July 31, 2007 at 09:25 AM
does anyone realise that we have sasha, crit, farmar, and fish ???? why the f do we have so many pg's???
----------------------
First off, Sasha is primarily a SG, not a PG. But you left out Coby Karl, who is primarily a PG.
It's about over-reaction. Last year PG was the Lakers' weakest position, so they went and added 3 of them
in the offseason (Critter, Fish, and Karl)
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 31, 2007 at 09:28 AM
you see the craziest stuff on this blog. Somebody actually posted they wanted Odom to come off the bench and he put Turiaf in as starter. LOL! Wow!
I like the theory that after Kobe opts out he'll take the minimum to sign with Boston now. Ahahahaa! Yeah right, Kobe's advertising value is ZERO now after his public outbursts, he take the most money he can get and you have to ask, WHERE else could he go and still make a run at a title? If you guys think it is bad here, imagine a team gutted to accomodate Kobe's salary...
Posted by: TaosHum | July 31, 2007 at 09:30 AM
What the Lakers need to do is pray that injuries don't catch them like they did last year, stay in the thick of the playoff race until the trade deadline and then use Kwame's expiring and whatever else it might take to land one of the All-Stars of the league who is digruntled playing for their team which is losing and wants to clear cap space. Every year there is an Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, etc. who gets traded mid-season. As long as Kobe isn't that guy, we should be in a decent position to land that player.
Posted by: Andrew Z | July 31, 2007 at 09:33 AM
The fact that Minnesota traded Garnett after claiming they were going to keep him proves to me that JO is probably still available too. Notice, the C's actually got Garnett for less, than for what they had originally offered before the draft. (No #5 pick) The Lakers were very poor defensively last season, and JO can help immensely in that area. However, giving up Odom to make this trade happen will not improve the Lakers significantly enough to make it viable. We must keep Odom if we make this trade. We can package Bynum, Brown, and Cook/Farmar/Filler, plus a future #1 and that's the best we should offer. The Pacers are going nowhere with JO and with his salary, we're actually doing them a favor taking him off their hands so they can rebuild. Larry Bird is toying with Mitch, trying to have him give up too much. I think if he says firm, this deal may actually eventually work out.
Posted by: BUMFRIKA | July 31, 2007 at 09:38 AM
Folks, the Lakers are not going to trade Bynum.. He's the future w/Critt and both are cheap..Since Buss is being cheap,,, those 2 are not going anywhere... If JO is in the cards, it will be Odom ( due to contract ) not Bynum...With Kobe outburst, there is no way they trade the KIDS... not going to happen...
I really think ARTEST is the only answer to make us competitive this year... with the Maloofs hate for the Lakers we will have to overpay... Kwame, Farmar, Luke, and a 1st round pick should do it.... is there a waiting period on Luke due to signing, not sure.
I like the pickup of Koby Carl.... it is clear there is another trade in the works, I just hope it is Kwame, Cook, Sasha, Rad, for someone who knows how to play D!!!
bd
Posted by: bd | July 31, 2007 at 09:42 AM