KL,

"i will argue that kobe is the one that force management to rebuild by presenting an "either or" situation on the shaq question. this is why i give kobe a hard time. kobe essentially pushed shaq out (not uncommon in corporate politics) and forced the lakers into a rebuilding mode prematurely."

I'll agree, and disagree with you here. Yes, Kobe probably had told management he was gonna leave, and MIGHT be persuaded to stay if Shaq was gone. Shaq didn't make their decision any harder though when he yelled at Buss, and told him to pay him, or when he said he was gonna get healthy on company time. The main thing I don't agree with though is his part in the rebuilding mode we find ourselves in. If the FO truly wanted, they could have made better trades, scout Europe better, or draft better. Yes, hindsight is 20/20, but I don't think it's too much to ask for the FO to bring in more viable NBA talent.

"i'll say again that i don't hate anybody personally including kobe. as for the "truth", non of us really know what is "truth" and what is “spin”."

I also believe hate is a strong word to use, and I agree that I use it too readily to describe people that dislike Kobe. If i've offended you I apologize. As far as the truth goes, you're right about that as well. We don't know what goes on in the FO, but I think we've gotten enough clues to make a good assumption. But you know what they say about people who assume.

"i'm willing to bet that mitch and PJ are not even privy to the decision that are made."

That's why I try not to bash Mitch. He's pretty much just a talking head for the FO.

"I recall you said that you're in your mid-20s, if so please be aware of what management tells you and ALWAYS cover your a$$. Money and politics is very corruptive."

I appreciate the advice, and will definitely use it.

"Hey weave, I enjoy having serious conversations with you because you play the game (ie, you’re a b-baller) and you seem to be honest in your posts. Take care."

Thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad you enjoy bantering with me. I don't always like what you post, but I can deal with it because usually you make me have to take what you say into consideration, and make me see things from different angles. You take a lot of grief here(some of it warranted), but you continue to post your opinions, and I can definitely respect that.

kl beast

penny hardaway? cmon you cant be serious. he was a good player. key word being "was". i understand your gripe about the fo not doing jack about picking up some nice free agents but you cant just post about every single one of the free agents that dont sign with the lakers. especially the ones that YOU KNOW are garbage. the heat signed penny because they had an even worse off season than the lakers. they signed smush for cryin out loud. if thats not desperate i dont know what is. all im saying is i like your enthusiasm for the team but lets keep it realistic here. thats all.

AK/BK:

Now that I am busy during the weekday, I find myself posting at more unusual times, such as late in the evenings, weekends. I understand that you guys can’t be on 24 hour call to approve new posts but it would seem to me that one of the biggest improvements you could make for the blog which would be appreciated by everybody and would definitely increase the number and frequency of posts would be to somehow automatically publish new posts provided that they passed some form of filter for obscenities and profanity.

You should see if you can get the Times to agree to this change. I know that there are blog filters out there that can check for unwanted words and hold any posts that do not pass. At any rate, I think the delay in publishing posts to the blog is an even bigger frustration than all of the KL posts and reposts. Considering the huge number of readers and posters the blog attracts, it’s time you did something about the delays in posting. The blog doesn’t have to be a live chat room but it should be updated at least every hour during the day and at least every other hour during the night. The result would be more readership and more posts. Isn’t that what you are shooting for?

Anyway, then we don’t have to worry about the Dodgers stealing valuable time from the Lakers. lol.

Tom

Laker Tom-

It's something we have discussed with the Tmes and the tech guys. UNfortunately, it's a little more complicated in terms of standards and practices. It's not just a question of language or sexual contest, but also libel and slander, along with inappropriate racial content. They know our feelings about it, and on some levels it's more a policy decision for HQ than anything we decide. Obviously, anything that makes it so the site operates while we're not there makes our lives easier. I suggest you (and others, if you're interested) drop a note to the Times sports department to weigh in.

BK

Hi Hab,

You said: As any half-brained trial lawyer would tell you - don't ask a question if you don't know the answer!

"Wins vs. Losses for Shaq without an all-star and post it so that all can see"

I've seen this on E$PN.com years ago. Lakers regular season record during their Title run of 99-02. Winning percentage highest to lowest:

1. Shaq played, Kobe was out.

2. Both Shaq and Kobe played.

3. No Shaq, no Kobe.

4. Kobe played, Shaq was out.

I remember specifically I was surprised that the team fared better when both superstars were out injured, than with Shaq gone and Kobe playing. Although, admittedly, that particular sample was pretty small.

This line came about a couple of days/threads ago when KL was making comments about
what Kobe hasn't done & he compared Kobe to Shaq. The point of my thread is that Shaq
has actually performed *WORSE* than Kobe has in similar situations. Those situations being:
being surrounded with less than top tier talent. Mr. KL consistently
posts the opposite, and when asked to provide statistics to validate his opinion he has
responded with W-L are the only things he cares about. Wanting to believe that he has *some*
rational basis for this belief, I went and looked it up. He doesn't.

I will give this to Porky Pig. He is actually one of the shrewdest "SLACKERS" I've ever seen.
Consider this: He has played with 3 *MARVELOUS* shooting guards. Kobe Bryant will
certainly be considered as an all-time great shooting guard. D-Wade has a chance to make
the cut as well. Penny Hardaway made all-star his first year. In addition to that, he has played
with Robert Horry who is a 7-time champion. In addition to that, he has played for 2 HOF
coaches. KG can't say that. J-Kidd can't say that. Karl Malone can't say that.

Hey BK,

I understand what you are saying, so why don't we swing the draft pick to the other side. Have the lakers send a projected drat pick to the pacers or involve farmer or jarvis in the deal. We all know that the indiana faithful are growing tired of jamal tinsley.

With Granger and Williams coming in with O'neil , i surely believe that it is worth Farmer / Cittenton (solid starting point guard prospects), Lamar Odom (similar starts to O'neil, worse defense) and a coveted back to the basket big man in bynum (as far as potential goes). That trade works cap wise and also satisifies requirements on all sides.

I just beleive that with granger, kobe and fisher our perimeter D would be tremendous as well as a third an fourth scorer (in granger and fisher) and with O'neil and Brown our front line would be very good defensively. O'neil would not even have to guard the western conference bigs because mihm and brown would do that dirty work.

In summary I guess what I am saying is that we should give up anything responsible to get O'neil and Granger in this deal, while keeping at least Kwame Brown or to some lesser extent Mihm.

Just to weigh in on the instapost thing. I would like it if this blog was instant, but then again, I like having to wait for comments as well. It's like an acquired patience lol.

Christford,

BK is right. It's gonna take a lot for Indy to give up O'Neal, AND Granger, but if we give them what they want plus a little more, I think we can get a deal done. We would basically give away all our trading chips, but what big name is left that is worth trading for? Here's what I would offer:

Indy gets:
Kwame
LO
Bynum
Cook
Farmar

We get:
JO
Granger
Harrison
Tinsley

LIke I said we give up a lot, but the chance to get O'Neal, AND Granger is almost too much to pass up. Other than the center position, I think this roster is much closer to a championship than the one we currently have:

Fisher-Tinsley-Crittenton
Kobe-Evans-Coby Karl
Granger-Luke-Radmanovic
JO-Turiaf
Mihm-Harrison

Yes, there are some holes that would have to be filled, like signing another big man, but I think we would definitely be one of the top teams in the west with this roster.

BK

Thanks for responding. I think you know how much I respect what you guys have accomplished with the blog and how you interact and guide us, as impossible a task as that is to do. lol. I was just trying to direct your journalistic efforts to finding out how Andrew is doing rather than waiting for ESPN or Fox to give us the info. I mean, all you have to do is send Andrew a text message telling him you need to talk to him and probably run him through some tests. haha. Same with Kobe, although it probably should be you sending the message rather than AK since a lot of his posts could be construed to be negative. lol.

Seriously, thanks. You guys need start flexing your virtual muscles more. Demand a raise. Demand some purple and gold on the blog. Demand logins, 24/7 instapost, blog search, peace on earth, another raise, a weekly column in the paper paper, a book contract, movie rights, lockers next to Kobe, everybody’s cell number, 24/7 team access, commission on hits and posts, your own website, blogger 401ks, Laker season tickets for bloggers. You get the idea!

Tom

KL:

You’ve made progress in being a more civil member of the blog. We all appreciate that.

Most of us are here on the blog to exchange thoughts and ideas about anything Lakers. We hardly ever agree but we also don’t bore everybody most of the time by obsessively responding to every single comment about a specific player regardless of content. Who appointed you the Kobe meter on the blog anyway? Do you really need to do that to get people to notice you?

I suspect what you are doing is the same thing as Ric Bucher and T.J. Simers, using Kobe’s name and notoriety to selfishly draw attention to yourself and your posts, along with a little plain old mischievous trouble making thrown in as well. Why don’t you show us how smart and clever you are by branching out into a few other subject areas rather than relying on your overdone Kobe schtick to draw attention. Or maybe you’re not up to it. It’s up to you. Take another step.

Tom

lakers_sth:

Thanks for your response. I agree with you about the addition by subtraction factor. I would trade Sasha and Cook for draft picks if necessary. I’ve been a die hard Laker fan since 1971 and used to attend ten to fifteen games a year. I really envy you the season tickets but appreciate your sharing the view from the good seats. Let’s hope this will be a miraculous season.

Tom

I've watched three of the Euroleague preparation events. Good niews: Ronny Turiaf has been a major force for the French team, diubg akk tge usual things (contesting shots in the lane, making impressive blocks, taking rebounds) but also dominating some of the key moments and being the top scorer in the first three contests, with good outside shooting and some fabulous dunks. Otherwise, the French team isn't looking so good, although Parker's come back from a sprained ankle (without looking impressive) and Diaw's still sitting on the sidelines waiting for his insurance situation to be sorted out.

Greek Dude, your team humiliated France, and they are solid and aggressive, but too much of the latter for my taste. They way they dominate others is by physically attacking them. They deliberately foul every team the other team starts doing things in rhythm and effectively break their rhythm. Especially they protect the lane by systematically fouling. Worse, they aren't allergic to flagrants and Ronny took a serious shot to his shoulder going up for a dunk near the end of a game where the Greeks led by 20 points. Those guys are the "bad boys" of Europe.

Yesterday France played Slovenia and I thought, hey, maybe it'll be Ronny vs. Sasha. But as usual Sasha isn't on the Slovenian team. Does anyone know why? France won the game by twenty points, so Slovenia isn't exactly a team to feared packed with All-Stars. But Sasha apparently couldn't even make the team... or wasn't he interested? Could this be the best indication of the general mediocrity of the current Laker team?

Seriously, can anyone fill me in on why Sasha isn't playing with his national team?

MICHAEL H.

WHERE IS THE LINK TO THE INTERVIEW WTH MITCH THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT?

Jon Kavulic

"I do believe Kobe is a True Great, however. If we see anyone score 81 points in the next decade it will be a miracle."

don't get me wrong about kobe. he's a great player. even a hater like me was happy for one night when kobe scored 81 points on toronto. i remember the lakers being down by 20+ points and kobe did what he had to do to win the game. having said that, the hater in be began to think after the game, it's fools gold cuz we're not going anywhere in the playoffs.

"In any case, Kobe is a very special player who I want to see retire wearing the Purple and Gold."

i'd like to see it happen if [a big if] kobe can lead the lakers back to respectability. i have a feeling kobe's going to opt out after 2009.

lakertom

"Who appointed you the Kobe meter on the blog anyway? Do you really need to do that to get people to notice you?"

first off, i appreciate your civility as well. second, if someone takes the time to post something to me, i feel obligated to some degree to respond. as for being noticed, i really don't care. i enjoy talking sports and laker basketball, so to those who wish to participate with me, i'm all for it. conversely, to those who find my style offensive, i'll kindly apologize.

"I suspect what you are doing is the same thing as Ric Bucher and T.J. Simers, using Kobe’s name and notoriety to selfishly draw attention to yourself and your posts, along with a little plain old mischievous trouble making thrown in as well."

i think you might have a point. i will add that my comments are sincere. i genuenly believe kobe chased shaq away and now is crying about not being able to enjoy the same level of success under shaq's leadership. the same leadership that kobe once, and still, curses.

"Why don’t you show us how smart and clever you are by branching out into a few other subject areas rather than relying on your overdone Kobe schtick to draw attention. Or maybe you’re not up to it. It’s up to you. Take another step."

did you happen to read my post to Rick Friedman? we're in the dog days of summer and there isn't that much to talk about. i will also add that you probably don't read my posts, thus you most likely don't see the other topics which i discuss. i appreciate your time.

610 (sixonezero)

"penny hardaway? cmon you cant be serious. he was a good player. key word being "was"."

i understand penny "was" a great player once, but for zero guarantee money, don't you think he can help the lakers? let me pose a thought to you. what if DFish didn't have his family issues? we'd be stuck with J-critt and J-farmar as our PG...

i'm not saying that Penny is the savior, rather a generic point that there are guys around the league that kobe might think is beneath him, but who can help the lakers. just the attitude of thinking you're better than someone else is a big detriment. a little humility goes a long way to massaging egos, especially pro-sports egos. this is the lesson that kobe hasn't learned yet.

look at dwade, we all know dwade is the man, but does wade act like his $hit don't stink? dwade gives respect to veteran players who are then open to deferring to wade. it's that simple. if you piss off guys, they will not defer.

how about LBJ? we all know that LBJ's the man, even when he was a rookie, but LBJ deferred to the #1 guy back then (ricky davis). remember the fast break when LBJ turned around and gave the ball to Davis for an open dunk?

Lesson Learned: A little humility goes a long way (now who says Confucius is the "wisest of all"?)

hal9000

"Your answer to every question and argument is always the same: KOBE IS THE ROOT OF ALL LAKERS EVIL. You don't place blame on management... you don't place blame on Kobe's lazy, unskilled teammates... it's all about Kobe to you. :

LOL. come on, i've done better than that, haven't I (rhetorical question)?

"I agree that Kobe has problems and that he has done some stupid things since 2003... but he's not the only one to blame. I have criticized Kobe on this blog before, but you refuse to place blame on anyone but Kobe. Please correct me if I'm wrong."

i've put blame on FO, shaq, laker fans, kobe's "circle of trust"...

"By the way, if I recall correctly, your answer to my question about improving the Lakers was that they should trade Kobe... but when it became apparent that the Lakers would not trade Kobe, you celebrated. What gives?"

actually, i've been pretty consistent in saying that we SHOULD NOT trade kobe, but for different reasons. kobe's the one who put us in this mess, so i'd like kobe to get us out of it.

hey, when's the next segment of Private Kobe?

aloha mike

"25% Kobes fault + 25% Shaqs fault + 50% Dr Buss = dissaster."

i concur with your assessment. the shaq/kobe feud and eventual spit lies with the owner.

"The model in the NBA has changed over the last several years and it ultimately required us to choose. I do not believe you can win anymore with 2 max contracts."

great analysis. even more reasons to recruit guys to play on the cheap.

"Look at Miami now, with 2 big contracts they are auditioning retired players to fill out their roster. There will be a lot of broken hearts in Boston over the next few years, 3 great players and no one else. They are trying to get Reggie Miller to come back, pathetic."

i believe Miami is paying Wade on the cheap, but great point. Regarding Boston, they have a 2-3 year window to win it all, but do you blame them? the last time i recall Boston being dominant is............ never........it was before my time.

"This is the model now and the Lakers might have pulled it off if they had not traded Caron for Kwame."

devestating trade. but our HOF center was shipped away and we needed a low-post presence. Caron basically played the same position as kobe.

"He will ultimately be traded next year because Dr. Buss and his giant ego will not fire the "insider" his son Giant ego Jim."

i say 50/50. kobe's Summer of Rage probably sealed the lakers fate.

"The sad part for me is we could shock the sports world next year and win it all, and Kobe would still want to leave because it has become personel."

hey, i'll eat crow for the next 2 year if this happens. can't say i'll be that upset to eat crow. BTW, you've made my argument on kobe always trying to prove a point.

AK/BK,

Where's the "Talkin with Mo Evans Part II" ??

sonny

"Patronization of the Beast (in your 9:13 post) clashes with your otherwise stellar embodiment of the good news Postman. The Beast is one of the extraordinary contributors, and whether they would admit or not, everyone knows it. Do you think we want to read Teniente all the time?"

the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

sonny, you and i have an unusual alliance. BTW, i hated the "queens" during the early 2000s but miss the almost-rivalry. i'd like to see the Kings become competitive again. Bibby and Artest seem like a combustible duo. I like Martin's game even with his wierd shooting form. how do you think the Kings will do this year?

***********************************************************************************************************************
ATTENTION BLOGGERS : TODAY IS DEDICATED TO LAKER TOM
***********************************************************************************************************************
PAST HONOREES: MIKE TENIENTE, EDWIN GUECO, KLBEAST, GENERIC_ONE, A.K. J.J. and Faith
NEXT HONOREE: SONNY BELFAST
***********************************************************************************************************************
There are Laker fans and then there are Laker Fans. If you want to know the meaning of being a real
Laker Fan, just read any post by Laker Tom. No matter how bleak the situation may look Laker Tom has
a way of putting a spin on it so that you just know that everything is going to turn out all right. And I don’t
mean in a Pollyannaish type of way. This man is one mean fact machine and will support his position
with fact’s and figures and not just hopes and wishes. Is it possible to be a Kobe fan and a Laker
Fan? Of course it is and Laker Tom is the epitome of that. Though I do believe if push comes to
shove and Kobe should leave he will stay true to his principles and support the Purple and Gold over
Number 24 as any true “FAN” would. I like to say Lakers Today Lakers Tomorrow Lakers Forever
but if forced to choose, I’m sorry to say I would have to choose KOBE over the LAKERS - at Least
until the FO gets organized. So Laker Tom you’re a better Laker Fan than I, though I try.
Laker Tom is never one to place blame but is always one to offer positive solutions to a situation.
Laker Tom is also one of the few voices on the Blog that is respected by both Pro and Anti Kobe Factions
and has tried tirelessly to bring both factions of the Blog back together. For this alone he deserves a salute
by one and all. And so today on this 13th of August, 2007, Laker Tom we salute you for being the personification
of a Laker Fan. Sports fan, peacemaker and all around Humanitarian. Enjoy your day sir and know that the Blog is
a better place because of you.
LAKER TOM TODAY LAKER TOM TOMORROW LAKER TOM FOREVER

BLOG LINES OF THE WEEK:

KOBE IS NOT BAILING ON THE TEAM, THE TEAM BAILED ON KOBE!!!!! Weave-Man

The Lakers management is doing what they have done the last three years... NOTHING. Hal9000

If you're going to take pot shots at the best player in the world, you shouldn't be shooting blanks. HobbitMage

I think the delay in publishing posts to the blog is an even bigger frustration than all of the KL posts and reposts Laker Tom
I am nearing my mid-life now, and i got a strong hunch that "I MAY NEVER SEE A PERFORMANCE IN OUR LIFETIME AGAIN
AS WHAT KOBE GAVE US LAST SEASON. 81 POINT IS JUST NOT ORDINARY." Dice8Up
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55 WIN BANDWAGON MEMBERS:
(1) Laker Tom (2) Marty (3) HUBBIT (4) Fearless Whack Job (5) Mamba24/10
(6) David Whang (7) BD (8) Dan Dan the Laker Fan (9) Long Time Laker Fan
(10) Roky (11) JoninJapan(In Canada) 12) JUNO (13) KEIFO,
(14) Alexinho17 (15) TALIQ (16) GENERIC_ONE (17) VIOLATER
(18) Twoody (19) SLO Gal (20) HobbitIMage
Members at heart
(1) Bob
(2) Faith
*****************************************************************************************************************
WEARY-OF-BANDWAGON BANDWAGON MEMBERS
(1) Cbuck
(2) J. Walter WeatherMan
*****************************************************************************************************************
AND NOW ROLL CALL
(1) FAITH, MIKE T. TALIQ, Edwin Gueco,, KEIFO, Mamba24Fan4Life, Fan of Mamba, Wolf,
KIWI, WOW, PEACE, J_COOL, DAVID WHANG, ADAM KILEY, LAKERSRYDEORDIE, CLEON
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, CHARLES,
KHANG VMAN, KOREY, XTRO, MCGARNAGLE, GUGY, GDChild,Laker4Life, Laker Seth
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, HUBBIT
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, Alexinho17
BERKLEYLAKER, Dice8Up DION, KARL, CRAIG, MITCHELL, Lakers4Life, Ryan
JR, Dascilla, tellitlikeitisNik Kannan, GABE, SEAN P., HanSoulFood, HollywoodJack,
Jay Jay, TaosHum, HOBBITIMAGE, 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, SLO Gal
JONINJAPAN(INCANADA), VIOLATER, LT Laker Fan, , KATE, TROY, Mainor
JEFF, ANDY B., SWANWORLD, PUPLE&GOLD_4EVA, BENNY BLANCA,CS in Virg
EMMA, TIM IN SYDNEY RISING STAR, LakerBake, JuanMan888,Blkthght06,
Any_One_mouse, 10milliondollarZen, Shiva, Laker_Hopeful, LakerDawg
,Ghost of Spiderman, Steve in Denver Guy Owanlele, Lincoln Laker, Houston Laker
MITCH KUPCHAK, JERRY BUSS, PHIL JACKSON, KOBE BRYANT, CLEON
Marc Gasol, Sun Yue, Shamond, Williams, Ronny Turiaf, V. Radmanovic,
Maurice Evans, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton, Brian Cook,
Kwame Brown, Andrew Bynum, Coby Karl, Chris Mihm, Sasha Vujacic
Jordan Farmar, Jarvis Critterton, JERMAINE ONEAL???, FAITH

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

Clyde Drexler: Kobe is by far the best.

Saturday in Calgary, as part of an NBA Cares fundraising effort, Clyde Drexler was asked who the game's top player is today: "I love Yao (Ming), and I love Tracy (McGrady), but Kobe Bryant is by far the best." ...

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Columnists/Francis_Eric/2007/08/13/4413739-sun.html

Howard to Los Angeles for Farmar and Cook!!!

It appears that Juwan Howard has begun voicing his desire to part ways after his brief relocation to Minneapolis (as I predicted upon the exit of KG). This could be a great turn of events for the Lakers. Howard is not KG or Jermaine O’Neal….the two coveted acquisitions the Lakers desired entering into the off-season, however, he is a serviceable big man and he is considerably cheaper than either of those two. Furthermore, the Lakers could acquire Howard without having to touch any of the players they have not wished to part with up to this point. Instead, they could make a smaller trade and acquire Howard to add depth in the front court, while maintaining the depth and talent they already have. Plus, by not having to include their main trade assets, the Lakers would have the opportunity to still go after a higher star if they so decided at a later point during the season (i.e. a Kwame Brown or Andrew Bynum trade). Here is the trade.

Lakers send Jordan Farmar, Brian Cook, Aaron McKie (sign/trade) and future 2nd round draft pick to the T-Wolves for Juwan Howard.

For Minnesota – Jordan Farmar adds to their youth movement as a young, yet very talented, point guard. Seeing as how they have released Troy Hudson, they currently only have Telfair and potentially Foye to fill the point guard position for the team. Brian Cook is one of the most consistent perimeter shooters in the league. However, his attributes haven’t been able to mesh well within the Triangle Offense. Plus, his defense is very suspect. Perhaps moving to Minnesota would provide him with a chance for improvement. Although not highly productive, his stats do replace the loss of Howard at least offensively. Plus, his salary is much less and only for the same number of years making him a low risk acquisition. Aaron McKie is basically retired, however, the Lakers do have the ability to use him in a sign and trade, after which he would most likely retire. This would be very similar to the Rick Fox trade to Boston a few years ago. His salary would give the T-Wolves a little more relief going forward. Finally, the T-Wolves would gain an additional draft pick for the future. All of this would only cost them Juwan Howard, who they seemingly acquired for Mike James, who was seemingly not nearly as productive with the team as they would have hoped. Furthermore, they would be in essence replacing Mike James from last year with Jordan Farmar, Brian Cook, a future 2nd round pick and roughly $3.5mil in salary cap relief next season. That is a good exchange for the T-wolves.

For Los Angeles – It is my estimation that the Lakers either need to acquire a starting small forward or starting power forward before the start of the season in order to be completely ready to compete. Their previous 2 attempts to acquire a power forward have both failed miserably due to their unwillingness to give up the players that have been required. Not that I blame them, but they have locked themselves into a position where their options have become highly limited. That being said, in all of the hustle, the needs have not changed. Due to the fact that they are clearly reluctant to part with Lamar Odom and/or Andrew Bynum, I recommend that they find a trade that won’t require either of them. In fact, this trade would allow the Lakers to improve team considerably without touching any of their current quality trade assets. That means that once this trade will have been completed, they would still have the option to do another trade if they so choose. In this trade, they upgrade their forward position by acquiring a veteran power forward that has a natural game which should fit into the Triangle Offense. His strengths involve hitting the mid range jumper as well as rebounding and passing. Although he isn’t a flashy player or huge scorer, he is consistent and a stabilizing factor. He is also a decent defender and defensive rebounder. He has experience as a starter and could be ale to play the bulk of the power forward minutes as needed. His services would presumably not cost the Lakers anything significant to their team. The acquisition of Radmanovic last year made Cook expendable, and the acquisition of Crittenton this year has made Farmar expendable.

Considering the youth movement direction of the T-Wolves, and the need for veteran experience and front court depth for the Lakers, this appears to be an ideal trade for both teams.

Here is what the Lakers roster would look like after the trade.

PG: Fisher, Crittenton, Karl
SG: Bryant, Evans, Vujacic
SF: Odom, Walton
PF: Howard, Turiaf, Radmanovic
C: Brown, Bynum, Mihm

With only the few changes the Lakers will have made this off-season, I believe they will have given themselves a reasonable chance to really compete next season. They won’t boast the best starting 5 or the deepest roster, but they will have solid players at each position as well as key utility players off the bench. Considering the system they run on offense and defense, if this group is able to mesh well together, the synergistic result could be quite surprising and rewarding. If it doesn’t work well early into the season, they will still have all of their valuable trade pieces in order to make a mid-season trade.

Kobe is not talking, but the other Coby is doing it.

"If you focus only on Coby Karl’s bouts with cancer the past two years, you’re missing the point.
If you narrow in on the fact that he’s the son of an NBA coach, you’re seeing only part of the picture.

If you think he would give up his aspirations of joining the NBA because he comes from a small school and went undrafted, then you’ve got him all wrong.

Karl is heading to Lakers’ training camp in October because in his young life there hasn’t been an expectation he couldn’t meet or an obstacle he couldn’t beat.

"My feeling is that anything Coby gets right now is a celebration," said his father, Denver Nuggets coach George Karl. "It’s like an incredible story, a Hollywood story. ... We should just see his opportunity and his life as a celebration, and that’s the way I’m going to look at it."

A 6-foot-6 guard, Karl earned an invite to Lakers camp after averaging 12.1 points per game for the club’s summer pro league team that competed last month in Las Vegas. That was good for second on the team, but certainly no guarantee of NBA success.

The number that intrigued the Lakers just as much was the six stitches Karl received after mixing it up with a much larger opponent.

"He gives us something that we don’t have," said Lakers’ assistant Brian Shaw, who with Kurt Rambis, coached the summer league team. "He gives us somebody that has more size. We have Kobe (Bryant) at (6-6). But this Coby brings physicality. He’s not afraid of contact."

Or afraid of anything else.

In 2006, Coby was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. It was nothing serious, he was told. His doctors assured him that this form of cancer was treatable in 95 percent of cases.

Although Coby underwent chemotherapy for papillary carcinoma in March 2006, he required a lengthy surgical procedure 13 months later to remove cancerous lymph nodes in his throat. The seven-hour procedure was the doctors’ second effort in just more a year to eliminate any remaining malignant cells.

Since then, Coby has not looked back.

If he makes the team and sticks around beyond Dec. 1, his contract becomes guaranteed for the remainder of the season.

"As bad as it sounds, I wouldn’t have changed any of it," he said. "I’ve learned a lot from it and matured. Just looking at life in a more broad view and not taking things for granted. I enjoy things a little bit more, like playing basketball, my family, my friends, and just an appreciation for the situation that I’ve been given. It’s taught me appreciation."

Part of his strength stems from the relationship with his father, whose own battle with prostate cancer was winding down when Coby was diagnosed.

He was a ballboy for the Seattle SuperSonics when George coached the team, joining his dad at work for seven years. Coby got to spend more time with his busy father while he getting a valuable taste of the NBA game.

With each coaching job George landed, Coby was ready to tag along, following him on four NBA stops and a two-year stint in Spain as Real Madrid’s coach in the early ’90s.

Coby became even closer to his father at the beginning of high school, when George and his wife filed for divorce. Father and son lived together until Coby began college, moving around an estimated 15 times.

Yet their biggest challenge came later, toward the latter part of Coby’s collegiate career at Boise State. At 22, George’s only son had already endured one of life’s toughest battles — cancer. And it scared away some NBA teams on draft day.

"It kind of makes you think where you are in life and know that anything can be taken from you," Coby said.

"I think everyone wants to get drafted, but when it comes down to it, that’s just one night. Hopefully it’s just the first night in what’ll be a long career for me."

It’s his hustle and toughness on the hardwood floor that has defined Coby’s off-court character.

While the process seems ever so rigorous to those witnessing his situation, Coby has remained optimistic.

His performance, though, is all the more impressive as a relatively unknown guard from a small university, might not necessarily guarantee him a spot on the opening night roster.

The recent signing of Chris Mihm and guard Derek Fisher puts the Lakers at 14 guaranteed contracts. If Coby hopes to make the team, it will have to be as a shooting guard, Shaw said.

Coby demonstrated his physical play with his battle wound from his summer league collision, which is carefully covered by two bandages until the stitches are removed. His other scar, a four-inch slice beneath his throat, signifies much more: It is the symbol of a person who refuses to take no for an answer.

"A lot of people didn’t believe he was going to be a Division I player," George said. "A lot of people don’t believe that he’s going to be an NBA player. And I think he’s going to prove all of those people wrong. He actually likes being the underdog. After proving people wrong, he kind of likes to look at them in the eye and tell them they were wrong."
"

Source: Rocky Mountain News.

Suns interested in P.J. Brown, Lakers interested in saving money.

'Despite insinuations in the Dallas media, the Suns have not shown any interest in 42-year-old Reggie Miller, nor do they intend to do so. The focus remains on wooing P.J. Brown to Arizona, and they have used everything in their arsenal to get their point across. Cleveland, Dallas, Miami and Phoenix appear to be the teams in the running. "--

East Valley Tribune