Hey y'all. As a reminder, the chat on LATimes.com (chat.latimes.com/eve) is starting up. Hope to see you there.

LT-

Yeah, I agree with you about Bynum being a great second option (actually writing something along those lines as we speak- they have to get the ball in the post for a variety of reasons...). And I know that even with a healthy Kwame, AK and I both think Drew will start to suck up more minutes as the season goes along, assuming he continues to play well.

Don't know if anyone is truly untouchable, but it'll certainly take a top quality player in return for the Lakers to move him. As it should.

BK

Mamba,

Add me to the trade LO list.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO
TRADE LAMAR BANDWAGON
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER
(2) MAMB24
(3) TWOODY
(4) ANDREW Z.
(5) utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER
(6) BSULI

Don't get me started on the Butler trade. If nothing else, for BK's sake. The poor guy's had to listen to me bitch about it 24/7 since approximately 30 seconds after it was announced. haha

AK

It took u that long? a full 30 sec count to start bitchin bout that? Kwame brown ...for Caron and Chucky atkins? lol Maybe straight up for chucky LOL

------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO
TRADE LAMAR BANDWAGON
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER
(2) MAMB24
(3) TWOODY
(4) ANDREW Z.
(5) utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER
(6) BSULI
(7) XODUS
(8) NEW JTIMES
(9) ALEC
(10) RICK FRIEDMAN

Re: LO, perhaps we had better start with the other question: What team presently believes it desperately NEEDS an LO-type player to get to the next level?

Mamba 24 -

PUH _ LEEEEEZE put me on the trade LO bandwagon!
Let me drive too!
I have been saying this for 2 years!

And let me ask.
Why in the world would Washington help us out?
The only way they would is if they felt EXTREMELY guilty for giving us that waste product of a number one pick, Kwame "the warrior" Brown.
Getting Caron back is a ridiculous thought. Why would they want to give up an all star, with their number one player out indefinitely for an inconsistent LO and/or an always hurt, overpaid big in KB?
Some people are just flat out crazy!

MIKE T,
"Lamar isn't going anywhere. That's my final word on the matter."

------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO
TRADE LAMAR BANDWAGON
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER
(2) MAMB24
(3) TWOODY
(4) ANDREW Z.
(5) utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER
(6) BSULI
(7) XODUS
(8) NEW JTIMES
(9) ALEC
(10) RICK FRIEDMAN

"We traded the wrong guy for Kwame. We should have traded Lamar
and kept Caron."

I kind of think that's what Kobe was referring to when he made his comments this summer.

I mean Caron Butler isn't going to make a difference with these Lakers without Kwame.

Having a defensive center to protect the rim is essential for winning. When you don't have a defensive center to protect the rim all you have is an up and down game. That's why Caron is doing well in Washington but you don't see the Wizards winning, now do you?

Caron Butler is like what Andrew Bynum is doing right now. Just putting up numbers. But like Bynum...Butler can't protect the rim.

You would think after watching the Lakers over the last 2 season you would understand that when Kwame starts the Lakers win. When he doesn't play the Lakers lose. This game is all about defense and you just can't replace that with a scoring SF.

That is absolutely crazy! If we did that we might as well go in the way of the Suns and the Warriors. The Suns and the Warriors go that way because it's so hard to get a big man who can actually protect the rim. It's so hard to find that they basically abandoned the idea and have committed to the run and gun style of basketball. Not because it's sound basketball but because it's so hard to find a big man who can actually protect the rim.

mike

Lamar just lost his L.A. privilege; let's trade him outta here. No more talks of potential after 9 years in the NBA and little proof of reliability and gutsy plays in clutch moments. Put me on that bandwagon, Mamba24.

Mamba-

Put me on the -
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO
TRADE LAMAR BANDWAGON

I'm riding SHOTGUN!!

Before I join the LO bandwagon, may I know the particulars:

1. Who do we get in exchange of LO?

2. Are there any future draft picks included?

3. Will this be like trading the rights of Gail Goodrich to get Magic Johnson or trading Caron Butler to obtain Kwame Brown?

4. Is it too late to forgive the sins of LO, if he assures the he will be a double/double player, just put him on as Sub w/ trevor and javaman.

If someone in the bandwagon can provide some light on this trade based on potential player on hand, then I will hitch that wagon and invite some to fill the wagon.

Mike T -

I totally agree with you about what teams want from LA. Bynum is our most desireable player, but he has not fully developed. Don't you think were stuck...

Everyone wants Bynum, but he isn't going anywhere. Jim Buss is way too stubborn to even think about trading him.
Everyone would love to have Kobe but noone can put together a package that the Lakers and Kobe would agree to.
Some may want Farmar.
Some may want Turiaf.

No team wants LO, Vlad, Kwame, Mihm or Sasha.

The verdict is still out on Critt and Ariza.

That is why this team is and will continue to be a .500 team.
They are just way too inconsistent.

"As a matter of fact these people are wrong so often that if there is a bandwagon you can put money the opposite will happen."

Yep! I remember someone crowing about a sixty win bandwagon before last season!

The smart ones here put money on the opposite!

Mike T -
"You would think after watching the Lakers over the last 2 season you would understand that when Kwame starts the Lakers win."

Mike this statement is crazy! You are better than this!

Kwame started and played in the past 2 playoff series and we LOST!!!
BOTTOM LINE!!!

Of course, you won't address this though.

You would think that just because you think and say it, you can make it true. That is just not the case.
WE LOST to Phoenix, TWICE. And your Boy, started in all 12 games!!!

"Having a defensive center to protect the rim is essential for winning."

Absolutely! Protecting the rim means making it difficult for the opposition penetrators when they get through. Unfortunately, the Lakers have lacked that the last several years, which is why they exited after the first round. BYnum is showing great promise in that area.

Given all the struggles of the Lakers these days, maybe the front office needs to consider a strategy that corporate America has been experimenting with -- outsource some of their operations to India? I mean, does anyone think some guy in Mumbai will do worse than Kupchak?

I'm not sure why everyone believes a major trade is likely to happen after the Lakers signed PJ for another 2 years. The Lakers clearly signaled they can't stomach the prospect of major changes when they inked that deal.

MJCMAN,

He'll never acknowledge that. Just like he doesn't acknowledge that we're simply a bad defense with Kwame, instead of a horrendous one. We need more help than what Kwame provides.

I wonder if Lamar flourished in Miami because he received better guidance (and more structure) under Stan Van Gundy? At any rate Lamar's style just seems like it would tend to fit much better with D-Wade than with Kobe. I have a suspicion that a straight-up trade of Lamar for Haslem (probably not feasible) would be a very profitable move for both teams...

I bet Lamar will play pretty good tonight. One of the less tangible benefits provided by the up-and-coming Farmar and Bynum is that gray-zone players like Lamar can see the examples Farmar and Bynum are setting and feel them (and the rising expectations they bring with them) breathing down his neck, and I think this can become very motivational. Kind of like, Farmar and Bynum are getting better by the day, they are not going to be turned away, and Lamar can either play well and stay with them, or he can just get out of the way...

It's sink or swim for Lamar, and if he swims the Lakers should benefit quite a bit.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO
TRADE LAMAR BANDWAGON
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER
(2) MJCMAN32 - CO Owner and Driver
(3) MAMB24 - Thinking about jumping off.
(4) KEIFO - Riding ShotGun
(5) TWOODY
(6) utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER
(7) BSULI
(8) XODUS
(9) NEW JTIMES
(10) ANDREW Z
(11) RICK FRIEDMAN
(12) TAOSHUM
(13) ALEC

zen -
Like I've said many times in the past. This Lakers team is losing with or without Kwame Brown. It doesn't make a difference.
You couldn't have said it better, my friend!

For the record, our "Rim Protector" averaged a whopping 0.8 and 0.9 blocks per game in the 2 playoff series we lost to Phoenix when Kwame started.

Phoenix looked REAL scared of Kwame as Nash got into the paint and STAT and Marion dunk all over us!

>>>Why not Lamar for Antawn Jamison?

Has potential - Tawn's contract expires after this season, so if he didn't work out, the
Lakers would have a big chunk of cap space for next summer.

>>>LO for Artest and SAR or Kenny Thomas?

I don't think the Maloofs want to deal with the Lakers at all, but it would take more
than Odom to get Artest from them. Maybe Odom + Crittendon for Artest & Thomas.

>>>LO for Udonis Haslem and Jason Williams?

Don't you wish. Haslem doesn't score as much as Lamar, but he's a very good
defender, and Williams would be some expiring cheddar.

>>>LO for Mike Miller and Stro Swift?

Might be able to get Gasol, though it would take more than just Lamar.

>>>LO for Richard Jefferson?

The way Jefferson has been playing this season, that would be kickass, but NJ
would never do it.

>>>I'll take Caron Butler and Darius Songaila (spelling) or Butler/Thomas for
>>>LO + a pick....

So you'll settle for letting Washington give the Lakers an all star playing the best
he's ever played in exchange for Lamar the underachiever. That's mighty generous
of you. No chance Washington will do that. They'd be as likely to take Kwame back.
Maybe more likely since they're so thin at center.

-------------------------------------------------

Think about this - what teams would want Lamar the most? I'd say you can rule
out any team in the top four of either conference, as they won't want to mess up
their chemistry. Teams at the bottom of each conference are much more likely,
as they'd be more inclined to "shake things up". Also, teams that have a lot of
"shoot first" players would value a "pass first" point forward like Lamar.

Here is my suggestion: The Knicks

It seems like practically every player on the Knicks is a shoot first player (Curry,
Randolph, Marbury, Crawford, Nate, Q). A pass first SF who defends pretty well
and rebounds could be a real asset for them. The problem is, picking players from
their roster is like picking dishes at a spoiled food buffet. There is only one that
I'd definitely want - David Lee, and a couple of others that might be okay, but I
wouldn't be overjoyed to get (Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford). There
are four ways I could see it working:

1. Lamar for Zach Randolph straight up. Lakers get a strong post scorer and so-so
defender, Knicks get someone who's more than willing to pass the ball once in
awhile (and who isn't redundant with Eddy Curry).

2. Lamar for David Lee - Doesn't even come close on salary, but Lee would be the
most desirable player to get back - young PF who would fill the greatest need on the
Lakers and is young, so he'd be around as long as Bynum & Farmar & Critter &
Turiaf. Several problems here - Isaiah is reluctant to give Lee up, and you'd have
to make salaries match and come close to making number of players match. So
the Lakers would have to take back some dead weight to make it work. Maybe
Lamar + Coby Karl for David Lee, Mailk Rose, and Fred Jones. Or Lamar + Coby
for Jerome James (TOTAL dead weight) + David Lee + Fred Jones.

3. Three way trade with Chicago - Lamar to the Knicks, Zach Randolph to the Bulls,
some package of players to the Lakers. Bulls get a post scorer, Lakers get a couple
of front court players (Noc & Thomas? Noc & Noah?) or maybe a combination
including Gordon (Gordon + Smith + Noah or Thomas). The big problem here is
that if the Kobe trade demand resurfaces, you've reduced the set of pieces that
Chicago has available for trade.

4. Take the cancer off of the Knicks hands. They want to get rid of Stephon? There's
a couple of ways it could work:

4a. Lamar + Radmanovic for David Lee + Stephon Marbury.
Stephon could back up Kobe at SG. David Lee becomes the PF of the future.
Lakers pay big salaries for the next two years, but get out of Rad's longer contract.

4b. Lamar + Kwame for Stephon Marbury + David Lee + Randolph Morris + their unprotected 2008 draft pick. Knicks get a big salary dump in Kwame (which they
could really use), they get Lamar, and they get rid of Stephon. The Lakers get
David Lee, a big body in Morris to fill in until next summer, and a potential lottery
pick for next summer.

Tough loss to Orlando. It was a good game though.

Since we are talking about trading LO.... How about Marion for Lamar?

He is the SF that we need and Lamar gives Phoenix another big.

Plus Marion wants to come here.

wow i read this blog daily i also watch every laker game and i gotta say alotta of you bloggers obviously dont have a clue lamar has been hurt since last year really didnt practice in training camp comes out bad and what happens you people are calling for his head, im starting to appreciate what mike t says a lot look at pj and his horrible substitutions he puts on the floor he didnt play ronny enough last year he wont play ariza who to me is worlds better than walton who i notice no matter what la fans wont critisize walton when we all know this guy suks even worse than kwame you wouldnt be able to tell it just by reading this blog though i'm starting to believe it must be a race thing or something cause pj sucks to his play calls out of timeouts never works he doesnt play young players which in todays nba is plain stupid because crit,farmar,and bynum would make noise he doesnt play his best players the lakers actually have a pretty good roster it's the coach trust me