I don't think we'll have enough shooting in the starting lineup with LO playing the 3 when Bynum comes back. But there's also a great appeal to having the longest, most skilled and versatile frontline in the league.

Thanks Long Time Laker Fan,

Thought the Lakers were maxed out position wise.

i wonder how good the spacing and will the offense be fluid with both bynum and gasol on the court. could be great? could be disasterous with one or both of the players not able to be effective and thus disgruntled

KOREY SUP BRO?

I LIKE THE TRADE FOR THE LAKERS. NOW LETS JUST GET HEALTHY

WHERES EDWIN, XODUS AND FAITH?

LOL oh Mike T, I am begining to think that you're Kwame Brown and you're here to justify this fantastic move of sending your small hands to the FA list. Trust me Kwame... you you better start to save all the money you've made through your short career because you'll need it. After this season, you'll be on the botton of FA list and from there you can start to beg for an opportunity to play again like J.R Rider just did a couple years ago.
But anway...thank you for clarifying us that you asked to be trade. I really appreciate that... and ahhh before I forget... wishing Bynum to go down like that its not cool! its not his fault that you are such a mediocre player...nahh never even mediocre ... you are before 0!!! LOL
bye bye!

Faith,
This may be the first time I've replied to one of your post, although, I've read most of them and usually agree, however, this time I'll have to take exception. You said, "I'd resign Kwame for 4 to 5 mil. He'd be a great backup to Bynum." You can't be serious! When we traded Kwame, we traded a sure 5 turnovers a game, a center who could not collect a rebound unless it fell into his hands, a player no one had to guard on the offensive end and a player who was a sure 45% free throw shooter. Mbenga is better than that!.

Faith, Stop being sentimental! Thank God for the gift that we have received. A player that can pose an outside threat, low post threat and who can hit free throws. Why on this earth would you wish for Kwame to come back to this team? I seriously doubt Kwame will play in the NBA again after this year.

Does this mean the front office passed on Mike T.'s offer to turn Kwame into a monster?

The story was broke over at:

TheLakersBlog.com

check it out...

vman-

I don't mean to separate myself from the issue, either. The nature of the gig is such that I make a bunch of predictions, a fair amount of guesses, etc. I'd be lying if I said I could keep accurate track of everything I write. I try to, but honestly, I forget. On the other hand, on the big issues, like Kobe, I think I've stayed relatively consistent (I didn't think he'd be going anywhere). But more than that, when I'm wrong, which happens plenty, I try to acknowledge it. There's really no shame in getting something wrong. We're in the business of guessing with the information available, and it's usually not complete. (Plus, I have you guys to keep me honest :))

People act as if there's some sort of stigma attached to being wrong or missing a call on something. Maybe I'd feel differently if I was a "big shot", but I hope not. I hope I never take myself that seriously.

BK

Mike T,
Sorry you haven't seen some of the more recent Laker games. "I don't know what you don't understand about Gasol being soft in the middle. The Lakers are going to be giving up a lot of points."

If you had been able to watch, you may have noticed that Kwame's positional defense" wasn't working out too well. Plus, Kwame's T/O average per min. played had to be tops in the league.

Mike, do yourself a favor. Drop the Kwame stuff and come back home to the Laker bandwagon. I like to read your posts as they contribute to the overall health of the blog and give rise to many debatable subjects. The one thing you could lose are the racial allegations you bring up. You are the person who is racist! Give that crap a rest! It makes you look pretty stupid.

Low and behold!

I didn't even check it out until now.

http://www.ups.com/media/en/AF_Zones_Rates_Exp_US.pdf

Memphis is the 2nd worst defensive team in the NBA. And that was with 2 7-footers in the middle.

Ouch!

We'll win a lot of games but a Championship is out of the question.

mike

Laker Larry,

No worries. You're entitled to your opinion :-)

Let me try to defend myself though lol...while DJ has done well, keep in mind that he's on a 10 day contract for a reason. Without Kwame, we only have Ronny to back up Bynum. I shudder to think of having Mihm back. No offense to Mihm who I hear is working his butt off rehabbing.

Part of what makes turns people off Kwame is that he's earning way too much for nothing, if we get him for 5 mil or less, that's a good deal. Keep in mind that we're paying Luke 5 mil.

If we do so, with Bynum and Gasol, the expectations on Kwame drops tremendously, as does the expectations on LO. I may call them the headache brigade (which incidentally just got broken up like a pop band) but they can do some good in short bursts.

Obviously I wouldn't go out of my way to sign Kwame. This is all speculation if he's interested, and some things fall into place. In the meantime I'm just as happy as the next guy that we got a total stud in Gasol. Bring on the dynasty!

BK

"I hope I never take myself that seriously."

You're right about wrong, there's no shame in it.
Hearing "I was wrong" diffuses arguments and we're free to move on to what isn't wrong. Your point about filling the air time between the commercials on slow news days is also spot on. Ya gotta make news when there isn't any. Now that could be an opportunity to get creative or turn your sports report into infotainment, with emphasis on the tainment.

Time to start managing those expectations. This seems WAY too good to be true. In fact, PJ's cautious and nuanced interpretation in which he played up his disappointment of losing Crittendon, I thought was spot on. Theoretically, it's a dream team. But we will not truly know this team's full potential till everyone gets healthy. The NBA is funny that way. I know it's hard, but everybody please stop salivating and wait to see how it actually works out.

16 + 17 = POW!

I was on a plane back from NYC when I heard about the trade. Thank goodness for Jet Blue. It's weird how people would react in the past about Kwame's trade value. $9M is a big expiring contract yet there were still people who thought nobody would take trash like him. It's hilarious that the player Memphis feels is the real commodity to contribute is Critt. Kwame has officially become nothing but a ledger entry.

I hope nobody thinks I'm a naysayer when I propose that the real run will be next season. Even with Kobe and Fish's experience, I think the rest of the players need more playoff experience and this is the year for that. That, in combination with a good off-season of acquiring key role players to really solidify the line-up and the natural improvement of the team's existing players should put them in a great position to do damage in 2009.

When Kwame got his extension, which seemed completely out of proportion to his value on the basketball court, I wondered if Kupchak did that on purpose as a future, expiring contract trade chip. It was the only explanation that made sense.

I don't think that they will try to trade Lamar this season; that would be too much of a shakeup, and I think with Gasol they have an outside shot at a title even if Bynum doesn't come back. They probably won't want to mess that up with a trade now.

Lamar can co-exist here - he is a great rebounder, a decent defender, and doesn't need a lot of shots. (As he has demonstrated quite often, much to our dismay!!) I think he would be perfectly happy being the fourth option (fter Bynum returns) and the third option until that point.

Gasol will take touches away from Bynum, but will also open up the inside for him, too. And should really open things up for the perimeter shooters.

If everyone is healthy next year, I think this makes the Lakers the early favorite.

This is definitely going to affect who they re-sign this summer. I don't see any possibility of them getting Kwame, unless it is for the minimum. Too much money tied up in the center position. This trade effectively makes Lamar the SF, which moves Walton, Vlad, and Ariza one step farther down the list. Walton and Vlad are on the team for several more years, so it will be hard for the team to give Vujacic, Turiaf, and Ariza what their market value will be. (The team is farther over the cap now then it was before.) So expect them to not resign at least one, possibly two, of those three.

Man, a few of you have said "when they get healthy, this is an amazing lineup" Very true. But that is no guarantee. Injuiries kiiled them last year and the fates have not been kind to them this year in that dept.

So..new rule..stop stepping on each others feet, Lakers...no exceptions! There,,that should do it.. lol..

I have been giddy since hearing of the trade. I flashed back to other great trades in Laker history that were moments to remember. We can all come up with our faves..and while Gasol isn't on a Kareem level..it FEELS like a massive turning point. The timing is so right, especially with Kobe hitting 30..this is a serious damn throw down to the rest of the league saying" We are serious contenders for the crown." It may take the rest of the year to get Gasol integrated into the team's flow (some wise man already mentioned that in the commmets.) but I think they can do serious damage in the playoffs..experienced in the right places..youthful in others where young legs are a huge advantage.

Kobe played unreal tonight. The Raptors are a decent team but he just broke them down systematically. Some of those shots were impossible. He is feeling it and I am sure he senses the momentum building. Great bench, with the addition of Gasol..one of the best starting fives in the league. they ran the Offense beautifully tonight.

What a season this is already. And what a year its going to be when all is said and done. I fully expecct us to be amazed at the heights this team will hit. And its all just starting to come together. hmmmm..multiple championships..can we handle that scenario again? Yep...lol...

Does this mean the front office passed on Mike T.'s offer to turn Kwame into a monster?

Posted by: SBPimp | February 01, 2008 at 09:28 PM

Wow this infamous Mike T is the resident clown. Please I hope he sticks around. Reading him is comedy gold. LAWL

Posted by: cart | February 01, 2008 at 09:40 PM

these are hilarious and right on....
i guess everyone knows what a joke Mike T is...but Mike T...

The experiment is over Mike. We gave Kwame a run of several years - and no championships came. It didn't work.

And that link you sent? Try checking out where the Lakers are in that list (this season and the past several). Kwame wasn't giving "championship level" defense either (as well as being an offensive pariah). Of particular note is our playoff defense the last 2 years - dead last worst team.

The Lakers defense will be much improved when Bynum and Ariza returns. We were playing great D before those two got hurt. And I'm not too concerned about Kwame's #1 fan's prognostications. Let's go back and re-examine his predictions.

You said the Lakers would be a .500 team with Bynum: The Lakers went 17-3 in Bynum's last 20 games before his injury.

You said Bynum's points were coming off garbage points and he couldn't score on his own: Bynum began dominating teams out of the post on his own when they adjusted to the lobs the Lakers were throwing.

You said Kwame Brown would get all the same lobs that Bynum was getting when he returned from injury: Instead Kwame fumbled passes and unfortunately was booed by his fans.

You said the Lakers should trade for Nenad Kristic: And he's missed nearly every game this season.

I'm not sure if that's all the predictions but those were the most ridiculous.

See thats exactly what I am talking about Mike T A.W.K.A (Also Well Known as) Kwame Brown ... you were making tons of turnover while you were playing for the lakers just to prove that you were being overpaid for the kind of talent you have. Now trying to prove your points here, you are also making stupid turnover with these links you are throwing here. How tha hell you bring UPS links here in stead of basketball? Ohhh someone said before that you were just about to need a truck to take you to Memphis because your small hands are to heavy for the entire country to accept and shake it. Well there is no jet to take you there (Memphis) thats why you were searching for a company such as UPS to do what no one else can. Remember,, being unfamous in LA is being unfamous in the entire world...by now, the entire world knows who you are LOL.

Ex-

I can see them losing one/some of those guys, but on the other hand, I could also see them keeping all three. If they don't, those roster spots will have to go to someone, adn I think they've really had a great showing as to how important depth is this year. Obviously, the market rate will dictate what happens, but another scenario could have LAL keeping those guys, and just not using the other available exceptions to fill the roster. At least they lose the slot that would go to the #1 this year. That could be the difference in keeping at least one of those three.

It'll be interesting, but like I wrote earlier, I can't believe they didn't run the numbers. The problem is that if they continue to play well, obviously the price tag goes up. Bit of a catch 22. And there's no shortage of goofy contracts tossed around the NBA.

BK

The Lakers defense will be much improved when Bynum and Ariza returns. We were playing great D before those two got hurt. And I'm not too concerned about Kwame's #1 fan's prognostications. Let's go back and re-examine his predictions.

You said the Lakers would be a .500 team with Bynum: The Lakers went 17-3 in Bynum's last 20 games before his injury.

You said Bynum's points were coming off garbage points and he couldn't score on his own: Bynum began dominating teams out of the post on his own when they adjusted to the lobs the Lakers were throwing.

You said Kwame Brown would get all the same lobs that Bynum was getting when he returned from injury: Instead Kwame fumbled passes and unfortunately was booed by his fans.

You said the Lakers should trade for Nenad Kristic: And he's missed nearly every game this season.

I'm not sure if that's all the predictions but those were the most ridiculous.

Posted by: Xodus | February 01, 2008 at 10:55 PM

Xodus,

LOL. That was a great post. I guess we won't be reading anymore "wait after the next 10 games and I'll give you report..." comments from you know who. I could actually add to your list other false predictions made by the person you mentioned, but I'm tired and I don't feel like rehashing trash. Thanks for the post, LOL.

AK, BK.
When will crittenton become a free agent? Is there a rule against the lakers signing him?