The McKie to more trades?
Mitch Kupchak has gotten mucho (and deserved) big ups for his recent steal... er, acquisition... of Pau Gasol for Javaris Crittenton, Kwame Brown's expiring contract and spare change. But specifically, the creativity on his part to include the unofficially retired Aaron McKie sign and trade-style has been praised. As it turns out, McKie won't simply collect unearned dollars in Memphis, instead taking on the role of Griz player-coach. As it also turns out (thanks to TrueHoop's research), the list of dudes no longer in the league but still associated with a club is pretty large. A few of these fellas bleed (and perhaps bleed the) purple and gold. I'd be lying if I claimed to completely (or even partially) understand the implications these guys have on a team's cap, but still, an interesting little oddity.
And speaking of oddities, a thought recently popped into my head. Upon being shipped off to Graceland, Kwame became a central character in two of the most one-sided trades of this NBA decade (first for Caron Butler, then Gasol). Probably the most one-sided, unless I'm missing something. For example, I think these deals both beat Elton Brand for the rights to Tyson Chandler. Chicago may not have reaped much benefit from that swap, but Chandler flourished rather quickly as a Hornet, so an argument could be made that the Bulls either misused him or gave up on him too quickly. And in my mind, a trade like Sam Cassell for Marko Jaric, clearly "Advantage Clippers," doesn't match up to Kwame's transactions because of the talent and age discrepancies between Sam-I-Am in his late 30's and pre-prime Butler and/or Gasol. I'm all ears, but it could be tough to find a deal that bests either involving Brown, at least along the parameters of thievery.
For a guy who'll mostly be remembered for not making the most of his projected talent, Kwame's been remarkably useful when it comes to netting serious talent for somebody else.
AK
From Kurt Streeter - LATimes
If it doesn't heal, getting past the second round of the playoffs will be a toss-up. Another quick postseason exit would slam Los Angeles' proudest franchise like a vicious tornado. Nobody knows what would remain.
Nobody knows what would remain? What type of statement is that?
Posted by: AN 1 | February 09, 2008 at 09:09 PM
HEY GUYS!! I ALSO AGREE TO THE IDEA OF KEEPING DJ FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.. THIS GUY WILL MAKE THE LAKERS EVEN DEEPER AT THE CENTER SPOT BACKING UP ANDREW SINCE HE'S THE ONLY BIG BODY THEY HAVE... I DON'T THINK C.MIHM WILL GIVE ANY TROUBLE TO THE REST OF THE BIG GUYS OUT THERE.. NOT EVEN RONNY CAN NOR GASOL SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE THE BODY DJ HAS... SO , WHAT DO YOU ALL SAY WE MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE BIG FELLA!!!
GIVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO DJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VIVA LOS LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: LAKER FAN AT HEART | February 09, 2008 at 09:25 PM
I have one problem with Spiro that I wish he would change.. He gets just as excited when someone on the other team scores as when someone on the Laker scores. It's real annoying.. I think a great play happened with the Lakers and it was just Dooling hitting a 3. Chick Hearn never did that. You can't act like your jumping out of your seat when Dooling throws it down. He's on the other team. That is something I feel he needs to change.
Posted by: zen | February 09, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Lakers will win tomorrow. Are you kidding?
Posted by: zen | February 09, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Other note: Keep Mbenga
1. You need someone to give 6 "Hack a Shaq" fouls.
2. There's no guarantee that Bynum and Mihm are going to be 100% when they come back.
3. Coby Karl & Jamario Moon gets the minimum (salary) amount: $427,163 a year, are you telling me that the Lakers cannot pay this guy the pro-rated amount?
Posted by: Leon | February 09, 2008 at 09:32 PM
JustALakerFan,
>>Ty Liu and Kareem Rush are guys we dropped who
>>>have proven their NBA mettle.
Technically, we didn't drop Rush. He was drafted by Charlotte
in the expansion draft.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | February 09, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Yeah, IMHO the on air chemistry between Joel and Stu has never seemed to click...not sure why though. Didn't Joel use to be the Spurs play-by-play guy?
I've listened to Spero out here in Vegas a bunch of times and I'm still on the fence with his play-by-play tone...
Looking at the True Hoop article, the list looks like missing persons players list of the mid to late 90's...nice blast from the past.
Anthony Peeler, now there's a name I haven't seen in like a decade...
Peace
Posted by: Acjunglist702 | February 09, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Leon,
Putting Mbenga in the DLeague isn't an option. You can only send down rookies and sophomores. Mbenga is a 4-year vet.
I completely agree that we should keep Mbenga for the year. He's shown a willingness to play defense and rebound, and is capable of catching a pass in the lane and flushing one with authority. Even if Drew comes back and all is good in the 'hood, the insurance of Mbenga for the remainder of the season is worth the investment.
On the other hand, he really wouldn't impact the playoff picture, since I doubt Phil would put him on the playoff roster short of complete disaster.
Maybe Mitch is keeping space on the roster for some other random move? Maybe we're trading the Mailman next - Mailman, Walton and Shammond for Artest?
Before you have an aneurism, Sonnybelfast, I was totally kidding.
Posted by: SBPimp | February 09, 2008 at 10:25 PM
AK,
I totally apologize - I completely missed the whole "in the last NBA decade" part. Three threads in one day is just so much to keep up with!
Keep up the good work. You and your bro are GREATLY appreciated by the Laker Nation.
Posted by: SBPimp | February 09, 2008 at 10:26 PM
AK or BK
Is there any word on whether the Lakers are thinking about signing Mbenga for the rest of the season? He'd basically be just like Kwame at FAR less of a price. Have you guys seen his calves? He'd have a very defined role. I'd like to keep him. Not like it would cost the Lakers much anyway.
Keep DJ Mbenga!!!
Posted by: DavyJonze | February 09, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Xodus
"I've heard Spero a couple times and I definitely like him more than Stu."
Spero would replace Joel which would be an upgrade and help Stu, who could use a younger counterpart as he was to Chick.
The Joel Meyers move was ugly in the background.
Sunderland deserved better.
On the precipice of another Laker dynasty, a youth movement in the broadcast booth is in order.
Posted by: Vman | February 09, 2008 at 11:00 PM
David W & never--
The Celtic broadcasters have to keep up the image of Johnny Most and the one sided drivel/drool that he was famous for. Most was half the reason I always hated the Celtics.
-----------------------
Another name for play by play that I think is available:
Howard David. He really gets into the game while announcing. Very good doing football broadcasts, and was pretty good when he did the Celtics, although at that time the Celts really sucked. He wasn't afraid at all to criticize them for poor play even though he was their announcer. I had to give him kudos for being honest versus just another homey.
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | February 09, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Spero needs to work on his reactions. He has the same reaction whether someone like Amare throws it down or whether Kobe throws it down. Sounds like he is a robot. He needs to react different if his own team scores.
Posted by: zen | February 09, 2008 at 11:17 PM
"I have one problem with Spiro that I wish he would change.. He gets just as excited when someone on the other team scores as when someone on the Laker scores. It's real annoying.. I think a great play happened with the Lakers and it was just Dooling hitting a 3. Chick Hearn never did that. You can't act like your jumping out of your seat when Dooling throws it down. He's on the other team. That is something I feel he needs to change."
Zen, I don't think you have listened to Chick Hearn very much.
Posted by: Basketball I.Q. | February 09, 2008 at 11:37 PM
all this talk about play by play guys... why was paul sunderland let go? i thought he did a great job filling in for chick and he's a lot better than joel meyers.
Posted by: wheres paul? | February 10, 2008 at 12:02 AM
I don't have league pass but i did want to comment that I hate listening to that announcer on ESPN coach Doug Collins. He seems like a nice enough guy but man i hate hate hate when i have to hear him talk about BS while the game is going on. I have seriously thought about writing in to ESPN to complain. I couldn't believe they brought him back another year. Freaking hire me, i swear i can do a way better job of announcing the games than that stiff. At least I will pay attention to the game and not get stuck on trying to make my stupid point... ok, yeah, where was i, Joel Myers sometimes makes me cringe but, boy, if they replaced him with Doug Collins I will have to shoot myself. yeah.
Who picks the teams announcers, anyway? I would have thought the stations but aren't the same 2 guys on KCAL and FSNW? Or maybe it's just late and that's the wine talkin baby. oh wait, where am i?
oh yeah and to the poster who asked:
> WHERE'S MIKE t
I wanted to ask if you had checked the grizzlies blog, if there is such a thing...
peace out
njt
Posted by: newJtimes | February 10, 2008 at 12:11 AM
JustALakerFan,
>>Ty Liu and Kareem Rush are guys we dropped who
>>>have proven their NBA mettle.
Technically, we didn't drop Rush. He was drafted by Charlotte
in the expansion draft.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | February 09, 2008 at 09:46 PM
LTLF
You are absolutely right in that regard about Rush but technically he was droppped because he was not protected.
Semantics aside again I don't think imo that he was not tried to be reacquired due to the money issues I stated.Good point though that you made.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | February 10, 2008 at 12:35 AM
I noticed Pau rarely smiles and kinda has a scowl on his face. El scowl who scores and looks on with contempt to his opponents.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | February 10, 2008 at 12:48 AM
re: announcers, Mark Jackson and Marv Albert on Nets games is hands down the best announcing team in the NBA....interesting, cause they both have big national gigs - Jackson is lead color guy on ABC and Marv is lead play by play on TNT....but if you ever get a chance, listen to them on the league pass (they don't do all the games 'cause of their national duties) - they are entertaining and smart and really honest- amazing how they are allowed to trash the Nets on their own broadcast -any kind of criticismm is something that Lakers broadcasters historically can't do - and interesting that Marv quit the Knicks games after over 20 years because they got mad at him for criticizing the Knicks....they are probably given' freedom from the Nets 'cause maybe 200 people at most watch Nets games in the NY area.
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | February 10, 2008 at 12:57 AM
I have some issues with Spiro, but I'd take him any day and twice on Sunday over Joel Meyers. I hate the negativity that Joel spews, which trickles over to Stu, much more than Spiro's occasional over-enthusiastic calls of good shots by Lakers opponents. On the other hand, It's preety annoying when I'm distracted and hear Spiro loudly exclaim "...shoots a long three...IT'S GOOD!!! AND ONE!!!!!" and then find out it was Hedo Turkoglu. I think it has to do with his inexperience - he tends to feed off the crowd and enjoys big shots like the rest of us. However, he needs to realize that he's broadcasting to a bunch of basket case Lakers fans like me, not a national audience. Otherwise, I love his game and his obvious love of the sport in general. Joel seems like he would be equally at home calling the German Curling Championships.
Posted by: Tully Moxness | February 10, 2008 at 01:03 AM
Let me make my predictions....
Miami will come out swinging knowing that a victory over the Lakers is the only way to salvage their season. Refs will be calling the Wade rules prompting the Heat to get off to a fast start.
Lakers should have a 6 point lead by half time. Lakers win by 7.
Posted by: never | February 10, 2008 at 01:49 AM
I'm in the Bay Area and I gotta throw a kind word out about the Warriors broadcasters.
They're very knowledgeable, they're appreciative of the talent of other players (discussing things like whose release is faster Ray Ray's or Michael Redd's), and they are pretty objective. You can tell they want the Warriors to win, but any homerism junk is very minimal. They're happy to say the crowd was wrong or that they think a ref was wrong. They also have a healthy banter and interaction. It's no Chuck/Ernie/Kenny, but they get a lot more basketball talked about in the same amount of time.
In other words, they're the anti-Mike Breens.
I believe the many, many, many years of losing helped them become humble and focus on the right parts of the game. I have a feeling they were disposed in that direction anyway.
I always dig Mark Jackson too. Hubie Brown, also good.
I think my favorite overall though is Jeff Van Gundy. He's kind of out of control, straightforward, a little obnoxious, and lauds the mad talents like Kobe and T-mac instead of criticizing them. He also has the insights from having been a coach. He announces like combining me and my old roommates and our smartass comments with an uptight hack like Mike Breen (of course with out the parroting of popular opinion). Van Gundy makes me laugh every time. Very funny.
Posted by: Benjamin | February 10, 2008 at 05:47 AM
Agreed, let's keep Mbenga. He's huge. He plays within himself. He seems like a solid worker. I think he can make it work.
Posted by: Benjamin | February 10, 2008 at 05:54 AM
Bynum is the brightest young basketball player that I've seen since Kobe. Everything I hear about/from this guy, I like. I couldn't say that about Kobe.
Just get healthy Big Bynum. Soon you'll be on top of the world.
It is all good!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | February 10, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Bynum is my favorite Laker.
God Bless.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 10, 2008 at 08:05 AM
I think it's real nice the Mitch Richmond got he sole championship ring with us. I would have liked to see him get more minutes in our year with us, but I think it was great that he scored the final bucket in the championship series.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 10, 2008 at 08:08 AM
AK- its too early to call this deal a steal, because if Crit or either of those 2 draft picks turn out to be good players then what would you say?
And what, god forbid, happens if Gasols back is worse than expected?
Point is right now on the surface the lakers got the upper hand on the deal but its going to take 3 or 4 years to really grade the deal for both sides.
Posted by: Laker Lover | February 10, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Laker Lover,
>>> its going to take 3 or 4 years to really grade the deal for both sides.
The Lakers trading for Gasol, the Celtics trading for Allen and Garnett, and the Suns trading for Shaq were made because these teams believe their best chance at a ring is NOW!
The Grizzlies, the T-Wolves, and the Heat all believe they have to rebuild for the future.
These trades are all educated rolls of the dice All the GM's involved are prepared for the second-guessing, which has already started. But trades are like pulling the lever on a slot machine in Las Vegas. You pay your money and take your chances. Either way, the deal is done. If J-Crit and the draft picks turn out to be stars, each side is still likely to feel it was a good deal.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | February 10, 2008 at 09:06 AM
where's paul
"why was paul sunderland let go?"
KCAL sited poor ratings for firing him after the Rudy year and a Laker team that was un-watch-able at the end.
Reliable sources say, Joel pulled a move or 2 to get him ousted. Joel can't be scoring high on the like-ability meter and given the new look Lakers, it might be time for a younger direction.
Posted by: Vman | February 10, 2008 at 09:28 AM
I know this'll seem like it's out of left field but the problem I have with Spero is the same problem I have with Farmar. I think both of them take a lot of pride in doing their jobs well, but not necessarily for the Lakers. They could be employed by any team and it wouldn't make a difference to them.
The irony is that Farmar is an LA kid. But there's been nothing in any interview that indicates he really loves playing for LA.
Spero really is a hired gun. Have you ever heard him being interviewed by any of the various shows in AM570? The guy has less insight about the Lakers than most of the posters here. And I don't think he cares to know any more than that.
Posted by: lakers_sth | February 10, 2008 at 09:49 AM
I remember Chick. He got excited during plays, but he was loyal to his team..He got more excited when the Lakers made a play then when the opponent did. I listened to Chick when I was young for about 13 years before he died.
1) Spero doesn't say the score enough.
2) He doesn't give enough play by play. All of a sudden Walton may score and you don't know how he got the ball.
3) He reacts and sounds like he's jumping out of his seat no matter who scores (even on the opposing team)
4) With all that, he is still better than Joel..
Posted by: zen | February 10, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Laker Lover,
I guess you can't truly know how lopsided the Memphis deal is or isn't for a few years. But unless Gasol seriously regresses, it's likely to turn out "Advantage: Lakers," at least from how I'm looking at it. Gasol is pretty close to 20/10 over his career, has impressive versatility to his offensive game and is a very good passer. If he's not considered a true franchise player, he's "franchise player-ish." Crittenton will need to be VERY good to match up, especially considering how much more difficult it is to find quality bigs than guards. And I say this, by the way, as somebody who thinks Crittenton will end up a good player. But "All-Star quality/max deal money/somebody would try to build around him" good? Can't say for sure. But we do know Gasol is that good.
As for the picks, if whoever Memphis picks happens to be a superstar, in my opinion, that's more fluke luck than anything taking away from the potential "steal" quality. Memphis, should everything play out to hopeful form, will be picking up selections in the mid to late 20's. The overwhelming majority of players selected end up role players, some better than others. You can't bank on anything huge coming from those picks, which is why I think you can't really dock the Lakers if they end up turning into good players. The odds say they won't end up make or break guys, so I don't think the Lakers should have counted on that happening.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | February 10, 2008 at 04:30 PM
VMan:
U Da Man!!! Thanks for the D League info.
I guess we all agree... get rid of that bozo and bring back Paul Sunderland!!!
Posted by: Leon | February 10, 2008 at 09:27 PM
I'm glad Mbenga made it. From the LA times:
After further review, the Lakers are leaning toward keeping DJ Mbenga in case Chris Mihm isn't ready to play after the All-Star break, a team source said.
Mihm has been sidelined since Dec. 23 because of bursitis in his right heel and a sore Achilles' tendon. He has been taking part in individual workouts with team trainers, but a definite return date has not been established. The Lakers would have to sign Mbenga for the rest of the season after the expiration of his second 10-day contract, probably for the prorated amount of the league minimum of $427,163.
Posted by: hobbitmage | February 11, 2008 at 05:06 AM
Gee I guess Pops wasn't crying sour grapes when Finley was dumped by the Mavericks in the one time NBAs get rid of your overpaid players for free card.
Finley's signing led to an NBA championship and probably allowed them enough salary cap room to either sign other players or give certain players more money to stay.
I don't hear Phil crying over that one sided trade. Er I'm mean theft. Er I'll just sign with the Spurs and take way less money, because the Mav's are paying me anyways.
Posted by: AW | February 12, 2008 at 11:06 AM
I just wish Spiro would learn how to speak English at a 3rd grade level. "Join so & so and 'myself', as we..."
What a moron!
Posted by: David | March 03, 2008 at 05:21 PM