If you've ever wondered whether 111 mil really does offer you the ability to have just about anything, the answer appears to be a pretty resounding "yes."  Because that's a serious swimming hole Agent Zero has got going.   Multiple fish tanks.  Grotto.  A "basement" area of sorts that somehow connects to the pool.  Probably a few of them inflatable dinosaurs.  Quite the setup, to say the least.

Unfortunately, and I hate to mention this after the fact, but when my pool was built, the large stone brought in to serve as a "mountain" cost only $200,000.  I'm not sure who Gilbert's "stone guy" is, but he could have gotten a better price than half a million. 

I'm just saying.

AK

Forgot to put up the reminder, but it's on.  Right now.  Be there.

AK

This line from "Superman II" always pops into my head whenever someone mentions Houston (pronounced "Who-ston" by the evil General Zod, who mistakenly believes that the name for the entire planet Earth).  But now, the line may accurately describe the city, since Ron Artest will soon be counted among its citizens.  After much speculation as to where Artest would eventually land (a trade itself was a given), the Kings and Rockets agreed upon a deal, with ex-King Bobby Jackson, Rockets first round pick Donte Greene and a 2009 first rounder heading to Sacto.  The deal won't become official until August 14th, as Greene can't be moved until 30 days after signing his NBA contract.

In my mind, the deal makes sense for both sides.  From the rebuilding Kings' perspective, former fan fave Bobby Jackson equals six mil coming off next season's books and they get a couple of youngsters (now and down the road) to help prep for the future.  As for Houston, it obviously goes without saying that Ron Ron doesn't come without a risk risk.  But should he behave for Coach Rick Adelman (whom he always talks about loving when they were paired in Sacramento and everyone remain healthy (another big time "if" for this team), Artest adds some firepower to the already profilic scoring combo of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady (still refered to by Mom as "Yao's friend") and makes an already good defensive team even better. 

The West, she is always interesting.

AK

First, some good news contained in the reports Monday from the Sasha Vujacic Resigning Ceremony on Andrew Bynum, whom the Lakers believe will be at 100% come Training Camp.  Also at 100%?  Hatred between Kobe and Shaq, at least in the eyes of Chuck Klosterman.

The best news, perhaps, is that the signing means more Machine vids, including this new one.

After the press conference Monday, I (and others) had a chance to ask a few questions of Sasha's agent, Rob Pelinka, and received some interesting responses.  For those of you who are thinking about the biggest of Q's- Kobe's opt out- it's not on the radar yet.  Pelinka said Kobe is "laser" focused on the Olympics right now, and the decision is still a ways away.  Personally, I think he'll opt out, if only to get into a new deal a year earlier, but he won't go anywhere.  Just my thoughts.

Also, if you get a chance, go back and listen to the audio from the press conference.  Sasha talks about why he switched agents. "My (first choice) was always to stay in L.A., and (my former agent) didn't have the same vision, so I had to switch," he said.  "We just had different ways.  We didn't have the same language."  It's always encouraging when players take control of their situation, and fans should be encouraged by how much Vujacic wanted to to stay with the Lakers.  Everyone's a winner, here.

Anyway...

Q: Sasha had an offer to go, Josh Childress took a big one- How viable an option do you see Europe as being right now for players?  Especially frontline guys?

Pelinka: It'll be interesting to monitor, but the game is becoming more and more of a global game.  I think that's opening up doors that three or four years ago weren't there.  As the game advances and continues to advance in Europe and Asia, we're going to see more and more opportunities like that. 

Q: Was Sasha offered more to play over there?

Pelinka: He was.  You have to look at the taxes, which are entirely different, but the opportunity over there was a lucrative deal.  His heart, though, was to play for the Lakers and try to win titles here.

As Kwame Brown just became the newest member of the Detroit Pistons.  Two years, $8 million, with a player option for the second season.  In theory, this is the perfect team for the former Laker. The Pistons barely score, often cruise the court at a glacial pace, play ugly Eastern conference ball and have enough good players to possibly cover Brown's weaknesses (to put it kindly). Most important, he isn't expected to be a star, nor is it remotely a given that he'll start (which I doubt he'd mind).  Frankly, his playing time could come along the lines of a situational lefty in baseball or an NFL third down back.  At any rate, I think it's safe to say that if the Artist Formerly Known as "54"- Jason Maxiell already has the number, so a switch may be in order- can't find success in this situation, it isn't happening anywhere. 

At any rate, Kwame's a good dude, so I wish him the best (except against one team, obviously).  I'd be lying if I claimed confidence his career will turn around in Day-twah, but hey, stranger things have happened.  After all, the Clippers just put Ricky Davis on the same Mike Dunleavy-coached team as Tim Thomas. 
 

AK

No real bombshells at the Sasha Vujacic news conference this afternoon in El Segundo.  We'll have the video up as soon as HQ runs it through the top-secret video processing machine, but if there was a fun fact from today, it's that Vujacic passed up on a more lucrative deal with a Russian team, also for three years but for more money, to stay in Los Angeles.  Both sides seemed very happy with the contract, both in length and time.  For Vujacic, the three-year deal gives him a chance to continue improving his stock and sign one more large deal while still in his prime as a player.  For the Lakers, it lets them keep roster continuity in the short term, while not going overboard with long-term commitment (perhaps a lesson from the Luke Walton and Vladimir Radmanovic contracts).

(UPDATE: The video is now live, in the video section on the right side of the blog and below, if you prefer.)

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: There's some audio here, too.
Download sasha_vujacic_7.28.mp3

BK

I'm going to just cut to the chase with this one: A

At the risk of shortchanging Kobe a fair share of deep analysis his teammates received (I'm confident he'll recover from any hurt feelings), does this really require a detailed explanation?  Dude was first-team All-Everything, league MVP, put up the usual great numbers (some may not realize how high his boards ranked among SG's), helped take a team many said would be a chaotic, eggshell-walking, playoff bubble team to Game 6 of the Finals, played half a season with a torn finger ligament, conducted himself during some early-season unhappiness with total professionalism and grew tremendously as a leader.  If those October-June resume items don't strike you as "A"-worthy material, I'm honestly stumped what will, so it's really not worth a debate.  I asked Kobe during his exit interview if he felt (as I and many writerly types do) this was indeed the best season of his first ballot Hall of Fame career.   

"I think so, just because of how we played as a team" he said. "I've had better individual seasons, which was necessary for me to have in order for us to make the playoffs. But I haven't had a season that was more enjoyable or better in terms in leading a group of guys than this season."

No argument on my end.

AK

(Note: Before anybody freaks out, I consider an "A" to be the highest of grades.  The high school and college I attended didn't do the "plus" thing for an "A," no matter how special, so that's how I roll.  If you want to think of it as an "A+," no worries.  If you want to think of it as an "A++," super.  If you want to think of it as an "A++++++++++++++," that's a might dramatic, but have it. Just don't think of it as me somehow "slighting" Kobe and don't bother asking me to change the grade, because it's remaining as is.  Gracias.)

No, the Lakers didn't sign Roger Waters or David Gilmour (although that would make for some killer postgame jam sessions in the locker room after wins).  Instead, according to the Press-Enterprise, they have retained Sasha Vujacic, allowing the "Machine" era to carry on another three seasons to the tune of $15 million, a yearly salary that's something of a compromise between parties.  Not sure if Team Vujacic coming down in price led to fewer years than originally requested (so he wouldn't be locked in as many years) or if Team Buss coming up in price meant committing shorter term.  But either way, Lakers fans won't have to say "wish you were here" to Sasha.

More thoughts later, but just wanted to keep everyone in the loop.

(UPDATE: More from the L.A. Times)

AK

Always good stuff from Kelly Dwyer over at the Yahoo! NBA blog.  One complaint, though.  I can't believe Dwyer could pen this fun post that somehow works in a dislike for Jimmy Buffet and the Eagles (I can't stand either), the compulsive need Americans feel to sweeten the hell out of iced tea (I highly recommend Tejava for those like me who like to actually taste the leaves) and some Greek (which may not even be real) mocking Ricky Davis... but managed to forget the most obvious touch. 

How do you present the importance of keeping Sasha stateside without including at least one "Machine" clip?

Again, enjoyed Dwyer's piece.  But it just feels like a regrettable oversight.

AK

Those Sasha Vujacic negotiations aren't going all that well, it seems, and the LAT's Steve Springer reports that Sasha is prepared to take a deal in Europe if the Lakers won't pony up.  How much of this is posturing, it's hard to say- I'm not in the room in which negotiations are taking place- but it's a credible threat, given Vujacic's roots and the recent decision by former Hawks forward Josh Childress to play in Greece.

Having lost Ronny Turiaf, to then lose Sasha would do some serious damage to the team's depth, a strength last season for sure.  The pair would also need to be replaced, meaning they'll have to pay someone (with the unavoidable luxury tax penalties), and looking over the free agent lists, the possibilities aren't enticing.  I'd encourage them not to get too stuck on a few million here, especially on a player who fills some very specific needs (outside shooting, aggressive-if-not-always-intelligent play defensively) and unlike Turiaf, played a lot of important fourth quarter minutes last season.

More from Janis Carr of the OC Register.

Stay tuned.

BK