Talking with: Maurice Evans, Part I
UPDATE (8-6): We're on the road today, so expect a delay here and there in comments getting posted. We'll do our best to keep up, as will HQ.
As some of you may already know, Lakers swingman Maurice Evans recently took part in the NBA Player's Assn.'s "Feeding One Million" campaign, a partnership with Feed The Children to help provide food, clothing, medicine and other essential items to 1 million children in Kenya. Evans accompanied Ron Artest (Sacramento Kings), Theo Ratliff (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Etan Thomas (Washington Wizards) to Africa, embarking on an eye-opening journey into a plight and poverty most of us are lucky enough to find unimaginable. I caught up with Mo by phone a few days ago, and we discussed the goodwill mission, how the trip affected him on a personal level and, of course, hoops (Lakers or otherwise). Here's Part 1 of what he had to say:
Andrew Kamenetzky: How did you find out about the trip to Kenya?
Maurice Evans: Actually, I have been with Feed the Children already prior to that. They did the "Feed the 5,000," which was feeding 5,000 families in Oakland. We did that when I was in Detroit. We fed 5,000 families there. And last year, with the Lakers, we went to New York and a couple guys from the team were involved with that as well. (Players Assn. President) Billy Hunter knew that I had been involved in the first two and called me over the summer and asked me if I was interested in doing (the trip to Kenya), and I was like, "without a doubt." I wanted to help these people.
AK: Had you heard before about them looking to go overseas, or did this take you by surprise?
ME: I didn't know that they planned on doing a project that feeds 1 million people somewhere in Africa, something like that. When he told me about it, it just sounded like something special, something that I definitely would try to get involved in. It made it that much better to go to Africa to actually give it to people who can't really measure poverty, in my opinion. I mean, people are hungry and starving whether it's in the United States, whether it's in Europe or Africa -- it's all the same. But to be able to go over there and actually see how people are living there and to feel like you could make a difference, it was really cool.
AK: Obviously, you knew going over there that you'd be seeing people living in dire straits. But even with that in mind, was the level of poverty still shocking?
ME: Yeah. It was very shocking. Like I said, you can't measure poverty, but there's so much poverty amongst children. It's really eye-opening. For children, who obviously don't have a hand in what they've been dealt. They didn't have any part in the hand they're dealt, you know? There are children who have limited opportunity to even get an education that are in that situation. We went to the school when we first got there. This building is for educating children and it was one room, two chalkboards, rundown benches, just a long picnic table. The kids sitting there with probably one or two teachers trying to educate a room full of kids. There's no individual attention. There's nobody raising their hands and saying, "I don't understand. Can you explain that to me?" There was nothing like that.
And kids go as much for food as they do for the education. Even more so for the food, because they know that by going to school, the motivation is that you're going to get a meal while you're there. It was so bad that you eat that one ration and you have to provide your own bowl. And some kids couldn't even afford their own bowl, so they had to put it in their pocket. It was beans and rice, and the rice is submerged in, like, juice. So the kid's pockets is all wet and he didn't have any shoes on. And you see the kid with the bowl and he was trying to get as much as he can in it, because it's not only going to feed him but it's also gonna feed his brothers and sisters later that evening.
AK: Is that the worst thing you saw or did it even get more upsetting?
ME: Well, you know, the thing that's so crazy about the situation there was that as poverty-stricken as it was, there was still a bigger discrepancy between "the haves" and "the have-nots." Before we left, they did show us the nice areas in Kenya, where you have nice restaurants. We went on a safari for a couple days. We were able to go see their malls, some of their government buildings.
Probably one of the worst things we witnessed: We went to the Ray of Hope Clinic, and that's where the player's union actually donated money on behalf of all the NBA players. They have these people who have AIDS. And they also help out children, help these people out. I noticed there was a kid standing there who didn't have any shoes on. And he was right in this area called "the slump." "Slump" meaning exactly what it sounds like. Like "slump, that's terrible." And he was walking around barefoot. There's glass. There's rocks. It's hard walking there with shoes on, let alone without. I could see that he was cut all over his foot. I had a little bit of money with me, something like 250 bucks. I see this guy, a vendor, he's selling shoes. I just took the little kid over, tried to get him a pair of shoes. And it wasn't like they were Jordans. They were just like some shoes. Some leather shoes. We took him over to get those shoes and then the next thing you know, here comes another kid who didn't have shoes. And then another kid and another kid.
Before too long, there was a super-long line of kids, and they were realizing that they were going to get a pair shoes if they got in line before the money ran out. I felt so bad that I didn't have more money, you know what I'm saying? You just feel how much of a difference something just small like that will make in their life. When the kids had these shoes, you could just tell the difference. Now they're running around and playing. The kids are playing soccer, kicking a rundown soccer ball with no shoes. Now it seems like when they're playing soccer, they're excited. Little stuff like that.
AK: Did that almost feel surreal, because there are some guys in an NBA locker room who basically get a new pair of shoes for each game?
ME: Yeah. Exactly. It obviously put things in perspective, because even the shoes that we wear for multiple months and multiple games, by the time they're done, they're still in such great condition that anyone would love to have them.
AK: Did these kids know you were in the NBA? Does that mean anything to them?
ME: No. Because the NBA, nice cars, nice houses and lots of money, it's intangible to them. I don't even think they realize what that is. That's not a reality for them, the NBA. I bet you could bring some of the bigger stars that we have and they probably wouldn't be able to recognize them.
AK: Did they know you were basketball players?
ME: They knew we were basketball players, but they knew we were there to help. I'm sure they were extremely appreciative that we were there and we were able to help them out.
AK: Was it weird being there with three other NBA guys and not having people ask you about the Lakers? About Kobe? The NBA?
ME: It wasn't really strange to me, only because I knew what the purpose that we went over there for. It's almost like once we got there, seeing the area, the poverty, what we were in for, we didn't even think much about the fact that we were in the NBA anymore. It was almost like, we're here. Let's see what we can do improve the situation while we're here. Ron brought a video crew so he could document everything that went on and kind of take it in. I think that we did some good things while we were there. All four of us. Theo, Etan, Ron and myself, we all four had a really, really good experience. We really tried to do as much as we could and really tried to be involved with the kids.
AK: Ron learned about his upcoming suspension while you guys were over there. Did that put a damper on anything, or did the circumstances and surroundings make it feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things?
ME: I don't think it put a damper on it, because Ron did a really good job of doing the things to stay positive. He understood. Obviously, he's going to continue to grow and mature every day in this league. He still turned it into a positive. Everyone wanted to call and talk about the dispute that he had with his wife to get suspended. But all he talked about was the good that he was doing and bringing light to the fact that they need even more help over there and around the world. I think he did a really, really good job deflecting that and turning it into a positive.
AK: I read he's looking to build a house in Kenya, just so he can go back and keep tabs on things.
ME: Yeah. Well, I know he also donated money for the Ray of Hope clinic so they could build a lab there, so they can actually help with the medicines and administer them to people. That's one of the pieces they were really lacking. It only costs about $20 to deliver a baby at the Ray of Hope clinic. The people still couldn't afford to pay the $20. The problem is also that they don't turn anyone away. They're there to help people, so it's pretty much free. Also, when they deliver the babies, the problem isn't delivering the baby, it's that they deliver the baby and have the woman go to the recovery room for two to three hours. She'll just sneak out and leave the baby because she can't afford to take care of it. When you're dealing with issues of that magnitude, anything obviously helps.
AK: Did this trip make you think a little differently about the world or put certain elements of your life in perspective?
ME: To be honest, I can't really say that. I can't say that I didn't appreciate life or that I didn't appreciate being in the NBA, given how hard it's been for me. But it makes me want to succeed that much more, so that maybe I can be able to help out even more so on a financial level. I think it serves to be a motivation. Not that I lacked any at all, because I really want to be accomplished. I want to have a great year. I want to build upon the things that I did last year and I really want to expand my role with the Lakers. Just really make an impact for a long time in the NBA. So I think it just serves as extra motivation.
AK: It adds another level of what can come from those accomplishments, aside from the direct basketball results.
ME: It shows you what more can be done. It shows me that there's so much more that can be done. It shows me an extra path where I can really help and affect, in terms of people's lives.
AK: I imagine the answer is yes, but do you plan on staying involved with these programs?
ME: Yes. Like I said, I've been involved for the last three years, and I'm definitely going to continue to be involved and continue to help out in whatever way I can.
Part II to follow soon.
* Its like asking Shaq to dunk if there's no defender on him.
* Its like asking Nash to make a pass to an open man.
* Its like asking Juan Pierre to steal a base if the pitcher's not looking
* Its like asking Michael Vick to go to a dogfight.
* Its like asking Gunner to say something bad about Kobe.
*** If Mitch can't pull off this trade after O'Neal's practically TELLING Bird to do it, he's the biggest Lameass GM in the history of professional sports! Period.
Posted by: Jay Jay | August 06, 2007 at 04:11 PM
Jermaine O'neal
Danny Granger
for
Lamar
Bynum
Farmar or Crittendon
1st round pick or two
Get it done Mitch!
Posted by: Rocky | August 06, 2007 at 04:14 PM
GIVE ME JKIDD and JO!
Posted by: Sung | August 06, 2007 at 04:21 PM
"But, hey...we are talking about Mitch/Jim Bus brain here.
Guys who see elephants in the moon...
Guys who take gold colored toys as 18 kilates."
==================
What language is this? Somebody who writes like this has all the answers for what the front office should be doing? LOL!
I say let's replace Mitch with jorema, right now! Can you imagine the insanity? I'd love to see the press release following a trade.
"the player... did not see the elephant, so we thought we would put some zip in his lips and traded him along with his gold colored toys for a player with a better brain and more zip in his lips"...
LOL! Do it Mitch!
Posted by: TaosHum | August 06, 2007 at 04:29 PM
"Sunny Ballfest"
The best one yet.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 06, 2007 at 04:32 PM
I WISH WE COULD KEEP ODOM BUT AS SOME OF THE BLOGGERS SAID "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE"!!!!
WE SHOULD TRADE FOR JO NOW WHILE HIS INSPIRED AND WHILE INDY STILL ISNT SOLD ON JEFFERSON, KRISTIC AND WILLIAMS....
I'D RATHER BE IN THE 2ND ROUND WITH JO THAN HOLDING ON TO OUR CURRENT GROUP OF GUYS WHO'LL LEAVE US IN THE 1ST ROUND!!!
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, WHAT DOES JO NEED TO DO FOR MITCH TO DO THIS!!!
JO:
If O'Neal had to choose one destination, however, it would be Los Angeles. He recently sold his home in Westwood after getting an unexpectedly good deal but said that he and his wife were already searching for a new house in Los Angeles and would love to make it a permanent residence.
"I love L.A.," O'Neal said. "I normally train here every summer. The last two summers I haven't trained here because I got hurt, but I love it here. My daughter loves it. My wife loves it. This is one of the prime places that if I were to be traded, I would allow Indiana to trade me here."
The main reason O'Neal would welcome a trade to Los Angeles has little to do with the sunshine and shopping that his wife and daughter enjoy and more to do with playing alongside Bryant, whom he entered the league with in 1996 as the only two high school players selected in that draft.
"We've spoken a couple times this offseason," O'Neal said. "Me and Kobe have been on each other since we were 15, playing AAU basketball, adidas All-American Camp, Nike All-American Camp. It's been a long relationship that we've had. We talked about maybe playing together. ... We just want to make sure that our thought processes are similar and now we're going to let the business handle itself. I mean, we could talk for years, but if [Lakers GM] Mitch Kupchak and [Pacers president] Larry Bird don't decide to make the deal, then it's all talk."
HELL EVEN KIDD LOVES THE IDEA OF TEAMING UP WITH JO:
The idea of O'Neal coming to New Jersey quickly put a smile on Kidd's face.
"I think that would be a great addition for us if we had an opportunity to get a guy like Jermaine," Kidd said. "He comes every night to play and he's a great person and a great basketball player. It would be a huge move."
MITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LINK OF THE INTERVIEW:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/arash_markazi/08/06/oneal.trade/index.html
Posted by: juanman888 | August 06, 2007 at 04:37 PM
wes
"So the Mavericks are using their mid level to sign Webber and Posey...Hmmm.....The Knicks are rumored to be close to a deal with Sac for Artest...Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....
The Lakers signed Coby Carl.....Hm. I was ready to forgive Mitch and give him a second chance, but this offseason has proved his uselessness."
Webber to Kobe: "F-U"
Posey to Kobe: "F-U"
Artest to Kobe: "F-U"
Dude, blame mitch all you want, but the definition of an "at will" employment via free agency is that mitch can ask all he wants (hell, mitch can even offer to have sex with free agents), but if guys don't trust or want to play wih a malcontent kobe bryant, mitch's hands are tied.
yeah, i know, "artest would love to play with kobe, BUT". SUPREFICIAL "KOBE'S THE BEST" WILL NOT CUT IT. Guys need to sign on the dotted line. as AK would put it, "end or story, period".
i know my view's aren't poplular (hell, to some on the blog, downright "cruel"), but you can't deny the merit of my arguement that when kobe was being a jerkoff to Shaq, everyone in the league took notice, and now, the fruits (or poison) of kobe's sin's is haunting the laker organization.
on a side note, i really like Mo's game.
Posted by: KLBeast | August 06, 2007 at 04:44 PM
AK/BK,
Any word on Kobe and his wife splitting up??? I've heard a couple of rumors, but have seen nothing to validate it.
Thanks
Posted by: Nathan | August 06, 2007 at 04:44 PM
TRADING FOR JO NOT ONLY GIVE US THE 2ND OPTION WHICH BY THE WAY IN JO'S INTERVIEW HE MENTIONED HE WANTS TO PROVE TO PEOPLE THAT HE CAN HELP A TEAM IN WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT IT WILL FREE UP A ROSTER SPOT FOR SHALL WE SAY CHRIS WEBBER OR JAMES POSEY....
A STARTING LINE UP OF:
DFISH
KOBE
LUKE
JO
WEBBER
OR
DFISH
KOBE
POSEY
JO
MIHM
MAN, THAT WOULD BE A WEST FINALS CONTENDER PROVIDED THAT CHRIS AND JO REMAINS HEALTHY....
HOW CAN MITCH BE IDLE ON THIS WHILE IN THE PAST HE PULLED THE TRIGGER ON KWAME FOR CARON!!!!
AM BEGGINING TO THINK HE IS REALLY DUMB OR BEING BOSSED AROUND BY THE YOUNG BUSS!!!
GEEZ...................
Posted by: juanman888 | August 06, 2007 at 04:50 PM
HELL!! EVEN SNOOP DOGG WANTS HIM HERE!!!!
After the charity game, played at USC's Galen Center, O'Neal, who didn't play, smiled and laughed as Lakers fan after Lakers fan, including Snoop Dogg, tried to persuade the five-time All-Star to come to Los Angeles. It's a plea he's heard many times before but one that especially hit home this time as he contemplated the end of his seven-year career in Indiana.
"I tried not to come out here this year. I wanted to stay away from a lot of the talk because it's an emotional time for me to talk about being traded," he said. "I get emotional talking about it because I always told Reggie [Miller] I'd win a championship for him, and for whatever reason we've had some tough times up there [in Indiana]. I thought if I came out here [to Los Angles], it would help persuade me to make the decision that I need to make. My decision is for me to get better as a player, and if things don't work out this year, I have an option in my contract next year and I will opt out and become a free agent."
DO IT MITCH!!!!!!!!
Posted by: juanman888 | August 06, 2007 at 04:52 PM
Oooo, I'm not sure if anyone said it yet and you bet imma repost it if there's a new thread.
Jermain O'Neal to KLBeast ... FU ....
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2963647
Lmfao, dude can't wait to hear what the hater in you will say. And oh to the apologists, pipe down, this does not mean I want to see another o'neal in a laker uniform. I'd much rather see kobe in a knicks jersey (oops, guess i still made y'all mad)
Posted by: Taliq | August 06, 2007 at 04:55 PM
MITCH THE BALLS ON YOUR COURT, JO'S PRACTICALLY IS BEGGING YOU TO TRADE FOR HIM!!!!"
We've spoken a couple times this offseason," O'Neal said. "Me and Kobe have been on each other since we were 15, playing AAU basketball, adidas All-American Camp, Nike All-American Camp. It's been a long relationship that we've had. We talked about maybe playing together. ... We just want to make sure that our thought processes are similar and now we're going to let the business handle itself. I mean, we could talk for years, but if [Lakers GM] Mitch Kupchak and [Pacers president] Larry Bird don't decide to make the deal, then it's all talk."
Posted by: juanman888 | August 06, 2007 at 04:56 PM
chris
"Kobe is a busy man. he has to play 82 games a year, train every single day, go through media blitzes, different endorsement meetings, along with i don't even want to know how much other stuff, like taking care of his kids, his family, and maintaining a happy relationship with the wife. the dude is BUSY. he often sleeps 4 hours a day during the season."
Chris, welcome to the blog.
Now pull your head out of kobe's a$$, you're stiking up the blog with your shizzle.
I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT KOBE'S SCHEDULE OR HOW MUCH THE GUY WORKS OUT. Quit making excuses for the guy.
WAS KOBE TOO BUSY TO CALL FREE AGENCTS AND GET THEM TO PLAY IN LA? Why was kobe so absent when KG was available?
KOBE'S A SELFISH PRICK WHO MAKES EXCUSES (JUST LIKE KOBE LOYLAIST) AND DOESN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS TEAM. The same team that kobe took away from shaq and now is crying because nobody wants to kiss kobe's a$$ except for koby loyalist.
Where are all the guys "who would love to play for kobe but...."? All these other guys are playing on other team with real MVPs. Let's do an inventory, we've signed the following heavy hitters since shaq's departure:
*Vrad=man from mars, wanna snowboarder
*Shammon=lifelong roleplayer
*Smush=street baller
*Dfish=great role player who's playing in LA for secondary reasons to other real-life issues
*Coby=undrafted dude who has a great story
*Proft=i never heard of the guy
*Divac=Mr Flop who's was at the end of his career
*i'm sure there are more, but you get the point
Posted by: KLBeast | August 06, 2007 at 04:56 PM
lont time
"By the way, in case Gunner and KL missed it, here are some quotes from the article about J.O.: "I would welcome a trade to the Lakers," said O'Neal"
first off, i appreciate the discourse that we had on the previous post. although we don't agree, i respected that you conversed with me honestly (at least you appeared to be honest). now back to battle.
I acknowledge that JO is making a declaration to join LA. What's kobe gonna do? is kobe going to sit on his a$$ like he did with KG? is kobe going to make a public statement like "JO would make a great addition to brining the laker team closer to a championship"? or is kobe going to have his mouthpiece Ric Bush-eater say "kobe still wants out even if JO signs with LA" like he did with KG.
How about kobe making a public statement like "if we can get JO, i'm willing to recant my trade demand"?
There are alot of things kobe can do besides sit on the sideline with his hands crossed and sucking on a pacifier. Let's keep our fingers crossed. if the lakers are smart, they'd offer up bynum and whatever else for JO and keep the threesome of kobe-JO-LO. that's my 1.5 cents.
Posted by: KLBeast | August 06, 2007 at 05:04 PM
Make that deal!
Please!
Please!
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | August 06, 2007 at 05:05 PM
Kobe makes O'Neil better. O'Neil makes Kobe better. Fish makes them both better. The two of them make Fish better. Fish makes Walton matter. And, if Vlad can still shoot, he makes everyone else better.
Even if Vlad can't shoot anymore, I'll take Kobe and Fish taking the big shots anyway. Plus, unless I'm wrong, O'Neil has never shied away from that shot either. He also makes his fair share of them as well.
Having three clutch performers on the floor at the end of games is a huge plus. No more Smush airballs, or Walton handing the ball back...
Fish might not be a 35 minutes a game guy anymore. But, the dude is clutch. Has always been clutch. Will probably always be clutch.
Please make this deal. Please.
Please.
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | August 06, 2007 at 05:11 PM
Shaq and Kobe had only role players like Horry, Fox and Fisher!
JO and Kobe can also have role players like MIHM, RAD and FISH. Besides Kobe into his prime at 28 is much better now than four-five-six years ago. JO also going into his prime at 28. I think giving up Odom and Bynum is the obvious thing to do. Kwam'es expiring contracts also a huge plus next year! Crittenton, Marc Gasol and SunYue could be excellent role players in two years for Kobe and JO.
Although if I am Larry Bird, why would I want to take Odom's contract? McHale did not want Odom's contract for his rebuilding team. I would ask for Bynum, Kwame's contract, Crittenton, Vlad (match the salaries) and 1st rd draft picks.
Pacers will have a young prospects at C and PG with Bynum and Crit. They already have a young talent in forward positions like Diogu, Shane Williams, Granger! They really don't need LAMAR ODOM? Odom's position is a duplicate to the young talent they need to give playing time and considering Odom's contract at 14Million in two years? It does not make sense for Larry Bird and the Pacers!
I just hope he does not get Crittenton and take Farmar instead.
Our offer is better than the Nets. Jefferson is a duplicate to Granger. Bynum is a true C and has more upside to Kristic who is a PF. A Kristic/Diogu front line would be a smaller and weaker than a BYNUM/DIOGU combo..
Posted by: Staples 24 | August 06, 2007 at 05:20 PM
AZ:
“Nice to hear JO say he wants to come here and play with Kobe. To be honest, a trio of Kobe-JO-LO and the supporting cast would be a tough competitor. You keep LO and pair him with the Kobe-JO duo and I think we compete with any team in the league.”
I agree with your surprisingly GHF view of our team if we were able to get Bird to trade JO without requiring LO. I also think that your trade pieces should make it a good deal for Indy as well as LA. I would like to hang on to Mo Evans, as he is one of the few players we have who can play defense, but we do need to make this deal. It was heartening to hear JO come out in favor of being traded to the Lakers to play with Kobe. It was also good to hear he is motivated to prove he is a better player than he showed the last three years due to injuries. It’s primarily his interior defense that I like. I still remember as a youngster seeing him come off the bench and block shots. He is the defensive upgrade that we need at power forward. I hate to lose Andrew but I think we need JO if we can keep LO.
I think that JO’s comments definitely put more pressure on Bird to pull off a deal. What still worries me is Bird’s reluctance to help the Lakers because of his Celtics background. The only thing that works in our favor versus New Jersey is that I believe Bird sees a superstar down the road in Bynum whereas Nenad Kristic is a 24 year old journeyman type of center than could not anchor Indy’s future hopes to be a championship level team. Something tells me that Bird wants nothing less than championships and that may lead him to actually pull the trigger on the Bynum Brown et al trade for JO. Mitch needs to hold firm and not bend. We cannot exchange LO for JO. We need them both to give us our big three with Lamar. Get it done, Mitch. Save our summer for Celtic despair.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 06, 2007 at 05:46 PM
Im sorry!!!!!!!!!!
As of right NOW I could care less about LO.......
I hate when people keep using the word potential..........the dude is 27-28 the same age as kobe what you see is what you get........their is no more potential.
To me he is standing in the way of Ronny T getting real min.
Im trying to keep him on the floor as much as possible,to me he has a better upside than BABY DREW........People are not understanding he's at sqaure one an has a lot to work on before he could become an not a great center but a good center.
Young cats coming into the league ready........im sorry baby drew is not there yet.
Posted by: COMPTON'S FINEST | August 06, 2007 at 05:47 PM
Once again LO and Bynum for JO is NOT worth it ! However a Odom and Kwame and filler would be ok.
Posted by: lalakerlover | August 06, 2007 at 05:47 PM
Kidd. KG (until he was talked out of it). Davis. O'Neil.
Four pretty good guys who WANT to play with Kobe and who are on record as such. He seems to attract pretty good talent.
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | August 06, 2007 at 06:22 PM
Kwame (9), Cook (3.5), Bynum (2.1), Farmar(or Sasha or Evans), plus cash (max allowable 3 mill) is enough FINANCIALLY to obtain JO. Maybe you throw in a 1st and 2nd rounder and Bird realizes he gets some good youth and picks...
Hopefully Mitch and the FO hold firm. No reason to give any more.
Let's say that trade does go down, i feel the lakers still need a piece or two to complete the roster:
- another big to back up JO and Mihm; someone like Marc Jackson (some beef to throw at Yao)
- more athleticism at SF (doesn't have to start, we just need help off the bench); perimeter quickness to solidify our defense - Udoka, Posey, Ru Patt or Linton Johnson
Adding JO would OBVIOUSLY be a plus. But, in order to compete for the rings, this Laker team would need to patch some holes and add some depth.
Posted by: Benny Blanca | August 06, 2007 at 06:24 PM
There's no way the Lakers can deal LO and Bynum for JO without having to throw in more contracts.
There's no way the Pacers are going to take Kwame and Bynum as the center of the deal for them.
There has to be comprimise.
If the Lakers have to give up Odom and Bynum then they have to insist on getting Granger involved, too.
Odom = $13,524,000
Cook = $3,500,000
Bynum = $2,172,000
Farmar = $1,009,560
Total: $20,205,560
For
O'Neal = $19,710,000
Granger = $1,516,800
Total: $21,226,800
That's as fair as it's going to get.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | August 06, 2007 at 06:27 PM
If Mitch and Jim Buss can"t make this trade work with everything
falling to their tale...It's the last embarrasment they can cause
to Lakers fans.
O'Neill is pressing, already I already like him more than Garnett, who was a cynic, a mercenary,
waiting for everything for his own benefit.
But, let's comeback to MITCH....we are talking here about "the Kwame Brown of the NBA"s gms".
A guy so lost in his own bubble of mediocrity and indecisiveness, that he can manage easily to be outplayed by New Jersey.
Posted by: jorema | August 06, 2007 at 06:29 PM
If JO come and we keep Lamar, the result would be better than getting Garnett.
I hope ONeill strong words make Bird panic and do the trade without Lamar.
KB
JO
Lamar
MIhn
Fisher.
Is something worth it.
Posted by: jorema | August 06, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Fish Guy,
"a starting level PG"
Who would that be?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | August 06, 2007 at 06:44 PM
tha show
"if jermaine o'neal can make the consistent KL Beast and Gunner stay away from the blog, i'd say he's ALREADY done wonders for the laker fans just by saying he'd like to play here."
LOL. Come on Show, as mark jackson would say "you're better than that".
Posted by: KLBeast | August 06, 2007 at 07:14 PM
From that O'neal story, Larry Bird is quoted as saying that they would be willing to trade JO if they get the market value....
Which means hes pretty intent on getting what he wants.
Kristic and Jefferson is a really nice packaged deal, and its better Bynum/pieces.
the only way the Lakers match that is through Odom/Bynum. But that is WAY too much for Jermaine O'neal. Think of this. The Celtics just got Garnett for one young guy, and role players and draft picks.
JO is very solid..but he's not Garnett.
In an odd way, perhaps the Garnett trade allows the Lakers to get JO for a cheaper deal, because in a sense, Garnett drove the price of other players down. That is, unless the Nets are willing to give up so much for JO.
The Pacers have to take a package of Jefferson, Marcus Williams and Kristic if its offered to them. Williams is a future starting PG for sure..Kristic and Jefferson are starters now and also still young.Are the Nets dumb enough to do that though? If they traded those guys, they would have some serious holes in that team still.
However, having said all of that, O'neal should be traded for less than Garnett. That means they should accept a trade of Bynum+Farmar+Kwame+ Cook + draft pick.
Bynum+Farmar+Cook+Kwame = Jefferson+Gerald Green+Gomes+Ratliff
Posted by: The Lake-Show | August 06, 2007 at 07:56 PM
Come on Mitch, JO has made it known that he wants to be a Laker. That should give us at least one brownie point. Make it happen.
Posted by: fkillah | August 06, 2007 at 08:04 PM
IT’S BYNUM THAT BIRD WANTS, NOT KRSTIC!
The demand to include Lamar and all the other stuff is just smoke and mirrors to get a better deal. In the end, Bird needs Bynum. And that’s why Mitch needs to hold firm and not agree to give Indy Lamar as part of the deal to trade for JO. He can almost throw anybody else that Bird wants – with the exception of Kobe, of course – into the deal but not Lamar. It is Bynum that Bird has identified as his center of the future – and he may be right. That is what is going to lead him to accept a deal without Odom. That is why he will make the trade to the Lakers when McHale wouldn’t. In the end, he thinks the Lakers will regret trading Andrew Bynum. And if Andrew becomes a dominant center, Bird may have his ultimate laugh. But he is going to have to blink first to get that chance.
In a way, not getting KG might end up being a blessing for the Lakers. I never really wanted to trade Lamar. He is the kind of team player with a warrior’s heart that you build championship teams with. Getting JO WITHOUT giving up Lamar may give the Lakers a stronger team overall. One thing I think should not get overlooked is the attitude that JO has shown versus that of KG. Jermaine has come right out and said that he wants to be traded to the Lakers and that he thinks he and Kobe can take the team to a championship. I know it raises the stakes again for us Laker fans as we anxiously await news of a deal. Jermaine’s comments want to make me tell Mitch to make the deal at any cost. But we need Lamar if we are really going to rise to the level of an elite team. JO is definitely an upgrade but not enough alone to elevate the team to the elite. For sure, JO looks like manna sent from heaven right now. He is proof that God is a Lakers fan. If the devil in shamrock doesn’t screw it up, the Lakers may have an answer to their prayers.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 06, 2007 at 08:13 PM
TSphere - Good point. Africa's basically been screwed for centuries, and that hasn't stopped. People might wonder why a continent with so many natural resources has so many poor people.
Posted by: Michael A | August 06, 2007 at 08:22 PM
KLBeast,
glad you could take that in jest.
c'mon lake show!
time to shake things up.
Posted by: tha show | August 06, 2007 at 08:24 PM
Webber to Kobe: "F-U"
Posey to Kobe: "F-U"
Artest to Kobe: "F-U"
Kobe to KLBLeast: "F-U"
Last I check Kobe is not GM
Posted by: BeastKiller | August 06, 2007 at 08:27 PM
It's 4:00 AM from where I'm staying. Have we gotten JO?
Got this like Garnett all the way before the draft day, I kept on peeping on the internet, paying per hour to see if the Lakers are alive again. So far the fans are dying gradually in suspense and our assumption is deadoo
Come on Cupcake make the deal. Are you waiting for Bird to blink at the last second? Give it to Magic, he knows how to deal with Bird.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | August 06, 2007 at 08:27 PM
Michael Teniente,
your deal makes the most sense.
both teams benefit from that deal.
pacers get all around player in odom, potential good center in bynum, a shooting power forward, and a sub guard in farmar.
lakers get the true power forward they need in o'neal and a potential pippen-like player in granger.
hopefully the lakers follow your blueprint.
Posted by: tha show | August 06, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Man, this J.Oneil interview is AWESOME!
It really smack down the face of every KOBE haters who say no one wants to play with KOBE.
and J.Kidd's comment on playing with Kobe is a vindication of all of us who supports KOBE all the way.
Go lakers!
Go Kobe!
Posted by: dice8up | August 06, 2007 at 08:34 PM
Actually Ex, despite the problems with corruption in some African countries, the biggest problem is that the world's largest corporations, and many governments WANT greedy ba$tards in charge. It's easier to bribe one guy than to have to deal with environmental issues, with trying to set a decent monetary policy, and the possibility of competition in several areas. Nah, better to have people kill each other for diamonds, or oil.
I kind of doubt JO's statement is going to make the Lakers move any faster. I mean, they've known this for a while, and everybody's pretty much said it months ago. I wonder if it'll make Indiana more pliable?
Posted by: Michael A | August 06, 2007 at 08:38 PM
Jermaine said: "I LOVE LA"
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22961.shtml
If Mitch does not get O'Neal, let's sue him for "murder" for killing all Laker fans softly and gradually. He seemed to be not aware that he's dealing with a Celtic head lephrechaun To piss him off, he will send JO to the Nets. OMG, if that happens I die a thousand times in a foreign country under the watch of Mitch Cupcake!
- Al Harrington
- Chris Webber
- Jason Kidd
- Luther Head
- Bonzi
- Papaloukas
- Kevin Garnett
- Juan Navarro
JO, make it positve +++++++++++++++++++++ PLEEEEEEEEEASE
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | August 06, 2007 at 08:45 PM
kupchak sucks
Posted by: dave m | August 06, 2007 at 08:46 PM
odom sucks and is a choker in the clutch....please trade him for JO
any of you idiots who say that bynum and LO are not worth JO are retards who dont follow closely......make the move already
Posted by: d | August 06, 2007 at 08:48 PM
jorema:
You’re dead right. That’s the lineup I would like to see. It’s worth repeating. Especially considering the second lineup is not bad either, except we suddenly need another center…maybe Marc Gasol comes to the U.S. from our stock in Europe, which is exactly why we drafted him so we could store him. Maybe Sun Yue, too.
KB
JO
Lamar
MIhm
Fisher
And we would still have a bench with Mo, Luke, Rony, Crit, and Vlade. But the starting lineup has the level of talent AND experience to go all the way. GHF if Lamar comes to LA.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 06, 2007 at 08:51 PM
You know, if Jersey is really a player for JO, they'll get him. They can offer a better package. That would suck.
Posted by: Michael A | August 06, 2007 at 08:53 PM
Mike:
Your counter of Granger if Bird insists on Lamar is not a bad counter. I would still prefer to get JO so Lamar could slide to small forward, but Granger would not be a bad second option. In any event, we need to solve the starting small forward issue with more than the possibility of Vlade beating out Luke and we need a number three guy with game to give us our trio of stars. I still think that it is Bynum that Bird has his eyes on. He is thinking he is going to steal the next great center from the Lakers. That’s really the only reason he is even willing to trade with the Lakers. He wants to screw us. He needs Bynum and he will blink first. We’ll have to sweeten the deal with money and picks but Jermaine will be coming to the Lakers. This will prove to be a better move than a trade for KG where we gave up Odom. Mitch needs to stand his ground.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 06, 2007 at 09:03 PM
Guys, Indy will not include Granger in a trade with us. This is a team trying to move their star PF so they can start their rebuilding project. Why would they include their SF of the future, when they absolutely dont have to. The deal will go down with Indy taking Andrew, one of our young PG's(I would give them a choice here) Kwame, picks and fluff, maybe something like Sasha or Mo bothhave expiring contracts. Now if Jim, I mean Mitch is still trying to hold onto Andrew then we are totally screwed and Dr Buss should take away Jim's, I mean Mitch's Bunny ranch VIP card. Isnt there another sports team Dr Buss can buy and put Jim, i mean Mitch in charge of? Maybe some pro hurling out fit in Scotland or something?
MH
Posted by: michael h | August 06, 2007 at 09:04 PM
Up to now I've been a proponent on NOT trading Bynum and/or Lamar, but after reading Jermaine O'Neal's comments, I think the Lakers would be wise to make a trade. O'Neal seems to understand - like Kobe - that he's got a short window of opportunity. Two guys in their prime who understand the time is now.
I think it'd be great to somehow keep Lamar if possible. How about this...
Lakers get: Jermaine O'Neal; Pacers get: Bynum, Kwame, Crittenton, and a 1st round pick.
This gives the Pacers something to build from: an up and coming center in Bynum and the Critter, who I think is going to be a terrific point guard. Lord nows they need both.
Posted by: Laker Seth | August 06, 2007 at 09:20 PM
New Jersey is NOT including Marcus Williams in ANY trades!!!! That's why JO's not already in Jersey. We have to be willing to negotiate, and compromise. It would be great If we could make a deal without giving up LO, but his contract almost has to be involved for Indy to get what they want. Another thing people keep forgetting is Indy has a full roster. We can't do a 5 for 1 trade unless they're gonna cut the guys they just signed, and half the players we send them in a trade.
Another thing to remember is salary CAP RULES. We can't just send them Kwame, Bynum, Cook, and Farmar because JO makes over 19mil, and those four salaries only total 15-16mil. Indy probably wants to dump one of their bad contracts on us, so unless they change their mind LO has to be part of it. On the plus side though, I've studied Jersey's roster, and they CAN'T take on one of Indy's bad contracts. They don't have the salaries to do it. If Indy wants anything close to fair market value, they pretty much have to work with us.
Posted by: Weave-Man | August 06, 2007 at 09:34 PM
I don't want to rain on the parade, but let's see if I have this right. Just in round numbers we pay Kobe around $25 M this year, (including prorated bonus), LO around $14 M, and if we get JO another $20 M. I think that adds up to around $59 M. With the Luxury tax threshold around $65 M, if I'm figuring right, we only have $6 M left to pay everyone else on the team. After the magic $6 M number everybody's contract is double to the Lakers. Half to the player, half to the NBA.
With that in mind, if we use Mike T's idea and keep Kwame, his $9 M salary becomes $18 M out of the Buss kitty. Luke's salary would be over $10 M, (5 to Luke, 5 to NBA). No matter how you cut it up, that's just not good business.
Posted by: LakerLarry | August 06, 2007 at 09:42 PM
tha show,
"if jermaine o'neal can make the consistent KL Beast and Gunner stay away from the blog, i'd say he's ALREADY done wonders for the laker fans just by saying he'd like to play here."
Saying and coming is two different things. Let's see when he calls old Kobiatch what will be the verdict after that. I truly believe this deal can be done alot quicker if Kobe makes a phone call to Mitch and tell Mitch "What do you need from me?" "I want JO so, let me give him a call."
It's easy to say a guy wants to come here to play with Kobe but if the thought aint reciprocated, (like what happen with KG and how Pierce stayed in his ear this summer), then there will be no deal.
Posted by: Gunner | August 06, 2007 at 09:45 PM
When KG got traded, it felt like the world was coming down on the lakers
And today, its like a rebirth of sorts for yours laker fans. I feel good, I feel really good. Our team might be even better than a team with just KG and Kobe.
One move can change our entire summer, and I hope this is the move. We have JO unlike KG willing and vocalizing that he wants to team up with the best player in the world.
Wasnt it Kobe that made that three point shot in the all star game in JO's face when Micheal came back to play for the wizards. I remember Kobe nailing that three all over JO's face, and JO's expression was like that MOFO is the best player ever. His expression was priceless, and since that game I felt how much respect JO has for Kobe.
Make it happen Mitch, get another team in the mix so we only let lamar or bynum be included in a trade package. But I would rather have JO opt out of his contract, and sign him via free agency.
Posted by: wow | August 06, 2007 at 09:47 PM
Regarding O'Neal (the cheaper version)....
"I [J. O'Neal] think Kobe's in a position right now where he understands that he needs some help," O'Neal said. "He needs some help to get to the position where he wants to be. I think he's the best player in the NBA and the world, but obviously no player can do it by himself."
First off, i am willing to partially recant my earlier assertion that "nobody wants to play alongside kobe bryant". I'll restate my position if [assuming kobe doesn't screw it up] we can acquire JO without giving up LO. My new position will be only JO is willing to play alongside kobe bryant....kidding. let's hope for the best....
Posted by: KLBeast | August 06, 2007 at 09:50 PM