Another name off the board
(PROGRAMMING NOTE: Join us at 11 a.m. for Purple, Gold and Blue. Our guest today is 710 ESPN Radio "insider" Beto Duran. We'll discuss Ronny Turiaf's departure, Sasha Vujacic's hopeful return and anything else topical. Click the show widget on the side of the blog, or go straight to our show page by clicking here.)
Whoever may step in for Ronny Turiaf as a key big off the bench, it's not likely a player rooting for TCU. The Spurs just re-signed veteran C/PF Kurt Thomas, their last-minute 2008 acquisition from Seattle and resident "heady role player." Thomas is also the only Texas Christian University alum currently in the league, so Lakers fans hoping for both a new defensive minded front court guy and a new pal to watch the Horned Frogs do battle with at the local Hooters will simply have to settle for the former. Thankfully, those wings are just so tasty, you don't really need an eating buddy to enjoy them.
Mmmmm. Wings.
AK
Isn't Emeka a power forward though? I guess he could be used as a backup to Gasol and maybe even Bynum since the predators departure. I guess we could use Ariza as our starter at SF but he needs to start hitting from 3 point land.
Posted by: Semper Fidelis | July 22, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Fatty,
My brother-in law's sister's husband played for the 76ers for a spell and then played in Moscow and Kiev. He said that they'd be paid in bags of cash and that their coach would get very upset if they were winning, but beating the spread.
Crazy.
Given the choice between playing in Los Angeles or Moscow (the most expensive and one of the most dangerous cities in the world), I'd choose Los Angeles.
Not that I don't love a good bowl of borscht every now and again, but it can't beat good tacos.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Can something exciting happen soon? And I'm not talking about a Lamar Odom trade.
Lamar = Laker for Life
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | July 22, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Charles,
Who is this dark knight on Luke? Is that Bill? If it is, Joe Maloof will say over my grave, buddy.
Here is our roster as of this time:
Fisher/Farmar/Lue
Kobe/Karl
Ariza/Luke
LO/Vlad
Bynum/Mihm/Mbenga
We need two more a PF and SG or PF and SF. At the rate we're going Mitch will no longer get anyone to bring down the salary caps and wait for opportunity during the season. Looking at my crystal ball, I see opportunities on Emeka, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Bill Artest, Jerry Stackhouse, Javaris Crittenton and Josh Smith. Any of these players will help our triumvirate, Currently, there is pressure of coming out from their team. It is just matter of putting a great mixture of 3 teams or 4 teams.
If the first set does not materialize, I wish Mitch will sign Lorenzo Mata-Real and Nik Caner-Medley or JR Pinnock. Those will fill the needs on those slots. What's difference between a veteran and a rookie? Exposure and decision making. That's the way to economize by developing the youth while we wait during the season of one big catch to send Odom-Luke-Mihm for one great player.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 22, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Jon K.'s Favorite Unrestricted Free Agents:
1. Quinton Ross
2. Alonzo Mourning
3. Robert Horry
4. Kareem Rush
5. Kwame Brown
6. DJ Mbenga
7. Derek Anderson
8. Maurice Evans
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Edwin Gueco,
Pau Gasol is not on your roster.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Jon K.
I like your rankingst.
Mitch, Go get # 1 and 2 and we are set.
Posted by: Benny Blanca | July 22, 2008 at 03:40 PM
mrbarneydangles,
AK's going to start talking about the Marcus Camby interview soon. That will be interesting, even if it isn't Lakers related.
Go Clippers!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Jon K,
Actually, the stuff about Camby will be on SportsHubLA.com, not here. We're having a little trouble with the audio (thus, the delay), but hopefully, it won't take too, too long.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 22, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Jon K., I like the top two guys on your list. Getting Q and Zo would be an instant infusion of the much-needed physical D, thereby transforming the Lakers from being a soft team to a physical one. Financially, it also makes sense as both can be had at a reasonable price.
Posted by: Rollo Tomassi | July 22, 2008 at 03:58 PM
What about The Critter Jon K?
Now I know he didn't flat out impress in his Laker stint, but he has upside. I think Kareem Rush would be a Vujacic lite. Q Ross...well, since your a Clipper fan I'm sure that you've seen more of him than I have and I didn't like what I saw. He can't shoot and takes it to the hole less than Sasha. He plays good individual D, but what about team D? Does he switch off screens well? Does he keep his man from penetrating? I don't know, but not against the Lakers.
I would like to see Mo Evans a Laker again, if he can stay healthy, I think he's a good fit at either the 3 or the 2 (maybe a weee undersized for the 3). He shoots and finishes better than Ross and is better defensively than Rush.
None of these guys are as good as Sasha is, and I think Sasha is getting better, still.
Zo would be great, even at this stage of his career, the guy brings it same as the Mailman did. Night in. Night out. I just don't think he likes the Lakers. Why? Dunno.
Big Shot Bob...too old, he was too old for Popovich last year which REALLY means too old. Maybe he can throw it in, but he can't play defence at a playoff level anymore. He'd make a great coach somewhere, though.
I know that DJ didn't make us all go "wow, the Congo got game", but he can catch the ball. He can finish around the rim and he hustles. If anything he suffers from Von Wafer-itis, he just can't help jackin' up the rock when it finds it's way to him.
Derek Anderson. Actually, I could see him in a Laker uni, but I think he would chafe under Phil. I've never thought of him as a run-the-offence type of guy. Kinda like J.R. Rider. He can play, but can he play our way. I don't think so.
I've already posted at length on the whimsical aspects of Kwame "the cake throwing puppy with hands" Brown. I believe there is a saying about a horse and over-flogging a deceased one.
I know that we haven't sen the real Chris Mihm (please stand up, please stand up) but he was becoming a consistent post player before he went down. He plays better D than he showed last year, and I'd like to see him get a meaningful role. I thought it was strange when Phil put him in against Boston, he was untested, unprepared and most of all, probably still rehabbing.
I think something happened near the end of last season between Phil and Ronny. His playing dropped off considerably, he seemed subdued, and he never had a Ronny game in the Finals, if he even had one in the playoffs. I think Phil put Mihm in as a message to the team. What that was or if it had any effect is debateable.
Re-sign Sasha, give Mihm a back-up role and let the pre-season begin. Please?
GO LAKERS!@!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | July 22, 2008 at 03:59 PM
AK,
Okay. Thanks for the update.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Jon K
My brother in law's family is all Russian. I will mention your story of fixing games to him, knowing what the answer will be, "This is true. They do things different in the old country." lol I get the impression it happens so much, the only time the game is for real, is when the game is fixed both ways. Then both sides are playing like their life depends on the outcome, because it really does. lol
Now if PJ wants to fix a game, he would just have to make sure Luke has the ball in his hands at the end of regulation. (ouch, that was mean for Fatty to say that, Bad Fatty! Bad Fatty!)
Posted by: Fatty | July 22, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Rollo Tomassi/Benny Blanca,
Absolutely!
What do we need? Defense.
Who can give it to the Lakers AT A REASONABLE PRICE? Quinton Ross and Alonzo Mourning.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Jamie Sweet,
Is The Critter an unrestricted free agent? I thought he was restricted.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Javaris Crittenton isn't a free agent, restricted or otherwise. He's just thought to be on the block, since Memphis has so many guards (O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley Jr., Kyle Lowry, Marko Jaric) and the Critter could be good trade bait. But he's still under his rookie contract.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 22, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Start feeling the fear laker fans - SUNS just signed MATT BARNES to a 1-year deal.
BARNES is the answer to the kobees and paul pierces of the league, giving the SUNS exactly what they were missing ever since the SHACK-MATRICKS trade: a long, defensive-minded, versatile wing who has playoff experience and a sweet 3-PT shot.
BARNES is the playa Boston was most interested in as a replacement for Posey, which speaks of the immense power that BARNES possesses.
Maybe the lakers should just forfeit next season right now.
Posted by: BUTLER | July 22, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Jamie Sweet,
"Ross is highly acclaimed for his strong perimeter defense."
You've got to admit that sounds REALLY good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinton_Ross
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 04:26 PM
BUTLER,
You're starting to get pretty novel. Funny post.
Posted by: Anthony "Pig Bill" Miller | July 22, 2008 at 04:29 PM
There is a lot of trade talk here and I'm still a little confused why people aren't addressing our biggest weaknesses.
We are weak defending at the small forward position an I don't think we have a decent backup at that position either.
I have very serious doubts Odom can play the SF effectively in our system.
For now I think we are okay at PF/C. Gasol with Odom backing him up and Bynum with Mihm and Mbenga backing him up seems okay so long as no one gets injured.
SG? We're good if Sasha resigns. Even if not, I think Karl will be okay since Kobe plays a lot of minutes anyway.
PG is another position I think we need to really think about soon. Fisher is getting older and I'm not sure Farmar can handle many of the bigger, faster or stronger point guards in the league. The Tony Parkers, B-diddys, Chaunceys, D-Williams, CP3s, etc. We need to do something to improve at this position within the next few years. It never hurts to think ahead now.
I think going after Critter would be a good move on our part at the 1.
For SF, I think Tayshaun, Battier (almost certainly not available), and Artest are the only real options. Gerald Wallace would be great if he could be had.
I don't really see what getting Kwame, Okafor, Quinton Ross (unless he can guard the 3), Zo (too much like Malone--can his body hold up?) or a bunch of other non 3, non 1 can give us.
If Lamar is traded, obviously we need a 4 badly. If Sasha bolts, we probably need a 2, but not nearly as badly as if we lose Lamar. Vlad is unacceptable at the 4.
And BTW, we all know Kwame didn't throw the cake, it slipped out of his hands when he tried to hand it to the guy. It was less embarrassing to him to pretend he threw it so they went with that.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 22, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Also:
How is possible that every writer at ESPN.com comes off as a spinmeister hack?
Posted by: Anthony "Pig Bill" Miller | July 22, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Jaime,
Jon K,
Quinton Ross is an excellent defender. he's 110% effort. No flops, no fuss. Just hard work. He'll give you everything he's got, even when his teammates are slacking.
Guys like him shouldn't be sitting around in FA long. He's the kind of guy who will play Eddie House and Leon Powe type rolls for a team fighting in the playoffs.
Posted by: Benny Blanca | July 22, 2008 at 04:32 PM
I liked Matt Barnes as a Clipper and as a Warrior.
However, he can't save a franchise from The Curse of the Big Mistake!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Jon K,
You are absolutely right, it is siesta time that's why?
OK, then the roster will be
Farmar/Fisher/Lue
Kobe/Karl
Lamar/Ariza/Luke
Gasol/Vlad
Bynum/Mihm/Mbenga
Thanks for the correction, Jon K.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 22, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Pig Bill,
Because every writer at ESPN.com (except the Kamenetsky Brothers who I think also work for ESPN) is a spinster hack.
Sports journalism is presently pretty sucky across the board.
Jim Murray, we miss you.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 04:37 PM
Edwin Gueco,
"Farmar/Fisher/Lue"
Which Lue?
Posted by: Charles | July 22, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Jon K-
I was thinking of something Laker related but that is something better then we should trade Lamar for (enter crazy or sub par player here). Looking forward to it.
Lamar = Laker for Life
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | July 22, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Here's some proof and theory.
Fire32->Butler->Let's Go C's is the same person having fun.
But is Pig Miller and Fatty the same poster. Both Fat from AZ.
If not, I have seen the "Coo coo coo" used by Fire32 and Fatty. A few weeks/months back, someone accedentally posted as Fatty. But similar verbatim as to how Butler Fatty would post.
It's ok to have fun, but fess up.
Posted by: Multi Posting Stormer | July 22, 2008 at 04:49 PM
I agree that Q Ross can man up. I also do not question his effort. But he can he guard a Paul Pierce type 3, a high to mid post player who moves without the ball? H is defence has never seemed to really give the Clippers an edge. He didn't play much last year, so his stock may have dropped and I'm not sure of his contract staus (as I wasn't sure of The Critter's). He just is such a liability on offence. He doesn't really crash the boards for a guy who can't shoot. Nor does he have very good passing skills. An opposing coach can put a good roving defender on him and pretty much shut down our passing game by cloging the lane or moving into the passing lanes with The Rover
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SihzNpiBPL8
That would go over like the proverbial lead balloon.
There's one ex-Laker that nobodies been talking about and I think it's time to turn up the heat, so to speak and bring up Aaron McKie. Oh yeah!
Not.
I wouldn't tear my hair and scream at the heavans if we landed Quinton Ross, but neither would I say, that's the it, that's the missing link! If anyhting, I think a healthy Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton give us better offence, defence and rebounding and Luke can flat out dish the rock. He seems like a redundancy in more ways than one.
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | July 22, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Fire32, Engineero, Butler, & Lets go C's are the same poster??? Makes sense to me considering the way Fire32 would suck off the Suns earlier this season...then Butler came and went just as his Suns did, and it makes sense that he would make up another handle to relieve his stress on us as Lets go C's.
HOW PATHETIC!
Posted by: Semper Fidelis | July 22, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Jon K.,
Funny post about Barnes. I like him pretty well and think he would be an asset at the 3. Smart, strong-minded player with decent shooting that can also bring the ball up and I assume run an offense a bit.
For 1.2 M, I think he's a steal. Since Posey was gone, I'm a little unclear why we didn't spend some MLE money on him. Sounds like we're probably going to stand pat with Ariza/Luke/Vlad/Odom? at the 3 to me.
You're right. He cannot undue the curse of the Big Mistake though.
It would be kind of cool if the Lakers front office allayed our fears that they're not really on top of things this summer.
Everyone decides to have faith in Kupchak after this last year. My memory is a little longer than those people. I don't just read what people say about him in the media. I've payed attention to a great deal more than that.
I will say I do think we were right to pass on the deal Posey got from NOH. Kurt Thomas is questionable for more than 1-2 years. Brent Barry is pointless.
Now the Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Princes as well as the Artests are attractive and trading partners appear interested in making things happen.
The smartest, while still conservative, move would be to somehow get Chauncey and Tayshaun while only giving up Odom. Doing so while keeping Farmar and/or Ariza would be very sweet. That move would mean we need a backup at the 4 other than Vlad, but I think that's a smaller problem than our problems at defending the 3 and point guard defense, especially considering Fisher isn't getting any younger.
Given that move would have made a lot more sense if we kept Turiaf, it seems unlikely to happen.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 22, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Kurt signing hurts. I was hoping to get a Dallasite on my favorite team in all of sports, yes I love the Lakers over my beloved Cowboys. So I wouldnt mind seeing Quinton Ross on the Lakers. I played some summer league games on teams against him when I was young. I would love to be able to say I've played against a current Laker. That being said, no thanx. Ariza a better Quinton Ross. I was so enjoying watching him before he got hurt, that's his tick. Lamar for Emeka, I like. Been wondering why nobody has jumped on him, I dont see Charlotte matching. The BET king is cheap and I really dont think MJ is that good of an exec. Okafor would be a hard sell on the Lakers though, who starts the 4. Gasol or Okafor?
AK/BK,
Here's a question, just a thought, why is it, other than his on the court heroics, that Michael Jordan has been giving two opportunities to control NBA franchises, while Magic Johnson, who displayed very similar on court heroics himself, but has also showed the acumen of a very shrewd business man, has not been offfered a real opportunity to date? If I am not mistaken, he once put together a team to try and buy the Sonics a few years ago, I bet Schultz wishes he had sold to Magic now? I mean, Isiah has run the CBA, been a GM in the league twice and coached twice. And each play was left in worse shape, except maybe Toronto. Why is Magic getting left out in the cold? I know this, whenever someone does sell Magic a team, that team will on that day become my new second favorite team in the league.
Posted by: Najja aka Bonus | July 22, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Fatty and pig the same poster? I see some validity to this .We ran some new software over the the blog-Concluding the program said pig and fatty are the same poster. 99 per cent being the correct correlation, I say give it up and quit posing as a multiverse troll. Pig=fatty =troll monster
Posted by: Robert k. | July 22, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Jon K,
The Camby press conference piece is up on SportsHubLA.com, since you were asking about it. Hope you find it informative.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 22, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Some of these posts absolutely baffle me. Okafor? WHERE WOULD HE PLAY? SMALL FORWARD??? I mean... at least put some thought into these trade ideas. Most of them I just gloss over anyway but come on... Okafor?
Theo Ratliff??? Brian Skinner??? and you guys rip on Kwame Brown???? Ahahahahaaaa! Wow...
Mo Evans is a flat out "no". What I heard was he was a bad influence on Bynum so... he ain't com'in back, even if we lose Sasha.
Crittenton doesn't have any experience so... what exactly do people expect him to do?
I thought we were after Luther Head last year, now nary a mention of the dude. He seems to be on the outs over there...
Kwame Brown, if he doesn't sign with anyone should do Dancing with the Stars. Pair him up with Julianne Hough... that would be so wrong... yet so entertaining... then he could play a bad guy in the next Bond movie. About mid-season, we would pick him up for the playoff run...
Posted by: Kwaminus Brownicas, Princess of the Stone Hands, Dutchess of the Sublime Calves | July 22, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Fatty,
Man, I was sorry to hear the news about Garbo. I would have thought the Lakers would have bid higher to get him. A power forward who was a tough defender, good 3-point shooter, and friend of Pau’s? Apparently, they were not willing to go beyond the BAE. I would have given him part of the MLE to keep him. Maybe, this means that Mitch has something else up his sleeve.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 22, 2008 at 07:36 PM
Multi Posting Stormer - That has limited powers of deduction.
I'm trying to decide if you was just stupid or you are just an idiot? I'm not sure which?
Pig Miller is a friend of mine from Phoenix and Fatty is from Flagstaff. You can ask Faith who is a friend of mine, unless your powers of deception think I'm Faith, then you would have a problem with I guess.
This coo coo stuff I used from the theme song "The Great White North' did someone actually use that before in the manor I did? I mean it was pretty silly wasn't it?
Somebody even today, puddle me thinks, posted with my name and he apologized. Others have posted using the Fatty and said some awful things about me, but most posters recognized it as a fake Fatty.
Now that brings me to you. Why would you hide under a new false name? Are you that much of a coward that you can't post honestly? Do you find some sort of sick satisfaction to maliciously gossip about others? I guess that makes you kind of perverted in the way you deal with people.
So I have to wonder, who would post such lies? Who would be that jealous of someone that they would make up such bizarre stories? Who is filled with such hate that they can't deal with their own emotional shortcomings? So they must attack others so maliciously.
To answer to those questions......... I know who you really are and you're not worthy of any more comments. Enjoy your sick little world of no friends.
Posted by: Fatty | July 22, 2008 at 07:36 PM
Jamie,
i agree that Q Ross doesn't SOLVE the SF. i like him as another hustling veteran. At times in the finals i was not pleased with what Sasha was giving us on defense. He was too busy flopping to stick Jesus Shuttlesworth like we needed him to.
I'd love to have a tough veteran willing to come in and KNOW his job is defense first.
So who is your number one FA?
Posted by: Benny Blanca | July 22, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Fatty and Pig are not the same poster,
I can assure you of that.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | July 22, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Benjamin,
I agree that SF and PG are the weak points. I think that Ariza will turn out to be a decent SF; for PG I am not convinced that Farmar will be starter material. I think they need to think about someone else for that position long-term.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 22, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Hi Lakers Tom,
When I read the Spanish article last night I moaned. I thought he was perfect for the Lakers, so did my wife. lol
I have to trust Mitch like you said. They have a plan I'm sure.
I see the rotations this way unless we sign or trade. (I'm positive Sasha will be signed.)
Center - AB - Gasol - MBenga?
P Forward - Gasol - LO - Radman
S Forward - LO - Ariza - Radman - Luke
S Guard - Kobe - Sasha - Karl
P Guard - Fisher - Farmar - Sasha - Sun
With these rotations we only need a power forward for 10-15 minutes would be my guess. What are your thoughts? Seeing as we are back to scratch again.
Posted by: Fatty | July 22, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Ex,
I think PG will need some attention soon. I think Farmar will have to play some tough D this year to earn his keep.
what about PF/C depth?
Do you think Ariza will end up being the starter at SF?
If so, LO off the bench would help our PF depth.
I keep laughing to myself. I never would have thought a team with so many good players would have trouble with depth.
Posted by: Benny Blanca | July 22, 2008 at 08:08 PM
ok teams so here is our current roster of player we have on los angeles lakers
kobe, odom, mim, luke, vlad, ariza, binum, farmer, fischer, gasol,
thats 10 player. who are we going to bring, karl maybe and 4 roster spots. hopefully sascha. that would be 11 hopefully begna to. that would be 12. ok now your input
ding how in prattville
Posted by: ding how in prattville | July 22, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Fatty is under attack by men from the North.
Pig is also under attack by Canadian-Indians
Let's circle wagon and make the last Custer stand.
Keep it up Fatty and Pig, don't lose your cool we are behind your back.
How many more days before preseason? Laker fans are getting cranky and grumpy without any movements? C'mon Sasha stop negotiating for salted peanuts or sweet peanuts, get on board and hitch your wagon to defend Fatty and Pig.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 22, 2008 at 08:40 PM
I can't believe Rick Mahorn gave Lisa Leslie a shove. Once a thug bad boy, always a thug bad boy. I still hate Laimbeer and Mahorn even though they are WNBA coaches!
Posted by: rdlee | July 22, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Benny,
"PF/C depth"
My personal opinion is that Ariza should start at SF, with Vlad/Luke/Kobe getting the rest of the time there, and have Odom/Gasol/Bynum combine for the PF and C positions. With Mihm as a backup C, that gives excellent depth at those two positions, IF everybody is healthy. (A big IF at this point.) For PG I think that, within the next year, they will probably need to go outside the current roster for a starter. Farmar may improve enough, but my guess is that he won't get to that level.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 22, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Fatty,
>>>>> With these rotations we only need a power forward for 10-15 minutes
>>>>>would be my guess. What are your thoughts?
>>>>>Seeing as we are back to scratch again.
Thanks for your post. I think we will sign somebody as a power forward but more of insurance whereas I thought Garbo could actually contribute 15 to 20 minutes per game. Who we get now will probably not play more than garbage time, a true insurance policy, which Ronny became too expensive to fulfill, not to mention his desire to play more.
Bottom line, we have 96 minutes of play to cover for the 4 and 5 spots, which 32 minutes each from Drew, Pau, and Lamar are still our best options. It is possibly the better option than the Triple Towers. We would also have Drew or Lamar in the game all the time to control the boards. And it keeps us with starter quality players for the full 48 minutes every game, which will result in our killing teams when they rest any of their starters at the 4 and 5. It’s also the logical thing to do to avoid a big glut at small forward and to give Ariza a chance to show he can become our version of Bruce Bowen.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 22, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Benjamin,
I hate to be terribly profane about this, but I'm going to be. Remember how everytime God showed his presence to the Israelites, they immediately sung his praises and then shortly thereafter during a period of lack of signs started freaking out and building golden idols to cows and crazy stuff like that?
Well, Mitch Kupchak is not God, but the faith of Laker Nation is a LITTLE like that. We freak out too easily. This guy was mentored by Jerry West and he and the best ownership in professional sports and the best coach in professional sports KIND of have their act together.
Are they perfect? No. Do they make mistakes (e.g. trading Caron Butler for Kwame Brown, paying a Jon K. favorite Luke Walton $30 million)? Hell, yeah!
But, come on. Our guys are beyond competent. They are good. And we are in a Great position (better than anyone in the NBA) to win the Championship next year.
Hold fast. Stay strong. Have faith. (And sign Quinton Ross.)
AK,
I read your piece. It was great. I'll listen to the audio later. Thanks.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 22, 2008 at 09:20 PM
Charles,
Just read your post, I mean Yue not Lue always transpose one letter, one word or fill in one sentence on post of oldie Edwin. LOL!
haha Emeka Okafor is getting stronger as a fair exchange. Lamar fans would hate us trying to put more alternatives. Well, this is the time to discuss trade or alternatives not when they are playing inconsistent during the season. Lamar is a better player in offense against Okafor but the latter has a defensive mentality and will not back down whether it is KG, Perkins or Allen. That's what Okafor will bring on the table. Now whether we can convince MJ/Brown to take that exchange that's another matter.
Javaris Crittenton, can we get him by giving away Luke and Vlad combined. Nope, the CBA rules say NO, that's too much, okay how about one of them? Javaaris presence makes Farmar become a better PG.
How about the three is a crowd in Bulls line-up Hinrich, Gordon and Deng? The pressure is smoldering and volcano about to erupt if not September before February. There has to be a change now that Derrick Rose has been chosen. Lakers should pursue navigating change but not offering our barn, how about trading my favorite duo? LOL!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 22, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Fatty,
"When I read the Spanish article last night I moaned. I thought he was perfect for the Lakers, so did my wife. lol"
Can your wife play Power Forward for the Lakers?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 22, 2008 at 09:26 PM