Motown bakeries, be on alert!
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
Hallelujah! Now if we're lucky, Mike T. will go with him. Anyone think he'll play any more per game than he did at Memphis? I doubt it.
I wish Kwame good luck, and by all accounts he seems to be a decent man, but I'm very happy we don't have to go through that again.
Posted by: RespectMyAuthoritah | July 28, 2008 at 05:45 PM
I like the way the Clippers are looking. There's a lot of good players on that team. If only Dunleavy would open it up for these guys.
The guy has never been a good coach. I don't know how he keeps getting these great jobs. He did not do a good job when he coached the Lakers. We had Magic and Worthy in their primes and didn't win against an inexperienced Bulls team? That was a terrible coaching job.
Why would you keep making Magic waste his energy bringing the ball up on Pippen? It made no sense then, it makes no sense now.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | July 28, 2008 at 05:49 PM
Please God let Mike T join a Pistons board.
Posted by: Xodus | July 28, 2008 at 05:50 PM
This definitely falls under the category of "one less thing to worry about". Big thanks to the Pistons, and a sincere best of luck to Kwame.
Posted by: guity | July 28, 2008 at 05:51 PM
first?????? Boy i love advertising, just looked at espn .com 2001 No. Pick Brown agrees to deal with pistons(lol) how does that sound versus Kwame Brown agrees with Pistons!!!!!!! At first read it can catch almost anyone off guard, just like Kwame is when someone passes the ball to him> Well lol(lots of luck) Pistons, Fans, and Kwame. May your 2years be filled with no blown passes, dunks,or layups, no boos from fans, and no thrown cakes.
Posted by: vi lakerfan | July 28, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Good Luck Kwame.
May you find success over there.
:D
Posted by: OT | July 28, 2008 at 05:59 PM
Bye Kwame. We will miss your magnificent calves and your hands of stone that threw cake so well.
Best wishes Duh-troit - I think your name says it all.
And good riddance (?!) to Mike T - the Laker blog now only has to deal with the ordinary run-of-the-mill trolls. Best of luck in your new digs - hope they have good therapy classes (or at least bars on the windows).
Posted by: justanothermambafan | July 28, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Looks like Kobe's dream team of Luke, Radman, Smush and Kwame is never going to happen now. Tough luck, Kobe, just can't get a break.
Dang, never liked Detroit much but never did i wish such dire on them. LOL!
Posted by: p ang | July 28, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Best of luck to Kwame - he was always a good guy and I sincerely hope he has better luck in Detroit.
Posted by: SBPimp | July 28, 2008 at 06:24 PM
THANK GOD.
Now if only ALL Kwame supporters would follow him over there and leave this blog in peace.
Kwame fans BE GONE!
Posted by: ajax | July 28, 2008 at 06:25 PM
four million a year?
four million a year?
four mil *SLAP*
thanks, I needed that.
The NBA, where a guy who would be making $5.75/hr somewhere if he was four inches shorter getting another GM killing contract happens.
Posted by: phred | July 28, 2008 at 06:28 PM
While I'm not a Kwame fan, I do find some relevance in Kwame's value to the Lakers after watching Pau Gasol get man handled and cower down to the Celts like a scared little girl.
On paper, Pau is a much better player than Kwame, but as I said a few weeks ago, it's not being better, but being effective, that wins championships (example; the Dallas/Warriors series a few years back- the Mavs were the better team, the Warriors were more effective. Same for the Mavs v. the Heat championship). No doubt, Pau's legacy, both with Memphis and the Lakers, is that he's a good, yet ineffective player.
Who would have helped us more in the championships? Pau or Kwame?
We will never know the answer to this. We can only speculate about Kwame's defensive/size presence versus Pau's so called offense.
Kwame probably would have been a better rebounder, but not as good a passer. Pau would have proved more valuable offensively than Kwame, but he was too afraid to shoot he ball.
I honestly don't know who would have been more valuable to us in the Celt series. Yes, it's obvious Pau brings more to the table during the regular season when the pressure isn't on, but when we needed him, he let us all down. Would Kwame had done the same?
Posted by: troy | July 28, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 28, 2008 at 06:42 PM
You have to wonder if this is going to hurt or work for the Pistons. They musta thought it would.
On the one hand they get themselves a legit defender against Bigs. I think Kwame can hold his own against KG, and DH.
But on the other they need an inside presence. One that can score and rebound. Unfortunately they don't get that with Kwame.
Then again, if you look at NO, they had a previous one dimensional player in Chandler (rebound), and by making him just do what he does, he works great for them. They're not asking him to score down low, all they're asking is for him to do what he does. Maybe Detroit will do the same for Kwame.
Like I've always said, thank you for the memories the Kwam. And thanks for Pau. We hope you the best!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | July 28, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Its one thing to say the Pistons are this and the Pistons will beat the Lakers now because of Kwame ...But please lets not forget that Kwame has had a terrible run with injuries and is lazy......Lets hope Billups,Rip and Prince work out how to pass the ball to Kwame otherwise he wont be able to catch it...And if he does catch it lets hope he can make a 1 inch lay up,if not the Pistons fans will eat him alive...That Pistons bench will be mighty warm with those huge calves resting on it....
Posted by: Thirty2 | July 28, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Kwame Brown told you Fakers to bugger off?
hahhahahahahahhhaha
Posted by: Let's go C's! | July 28, 2008 at 06:50 PM
this trade works. Do it Kupchak.
http://games.espn.go.com/
nba/features/traderesult?
players=1724~2996~1016~2027&teams=
13~13~8~8&te=&cash=
Posted by: richard | July 28, 2008 at 07:00 PM
I consider all of you and myself bullet dodgers now.
Posted by: Fire32 | July 28, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Faith,
"You have to wonder if this is going to hurt or work for the Pistons. They musta thought it would. On the one hand they get themselves a legit defender against Bigs. I think Kwame can hold his own against KG, and DH. But on the other they need an inside presence. One that can score and rebound. Unfortunately they don't get that with Kwame.
Then again, if you look at NO, they had a previous one dimensional player in Chandler (rebound), and by making him just do what he does, he works great for them. They're not asking him to score down low, all they're asking is for him to do what he does. Maybe Detroit will do the same for Kwame."
That's a pretty big oversimplification of what Chandler does for the Hornets. Aside from the rebounding, he's a solid shot blocker and among the better help defending bigs in the league. He came in 9th for DPOY voting in '07 and 11th last season. Kwame's never even received a vote, to the best of my knowledge. He also may not be a "scorer," but he can be depended on to do it. Unlike Kwame, he's a good finisher. The "Paul to Chandler" alley oop was a very big part of their game plan, which not only helped their success, but meant Chandler- unlike Kwame- always had to be accounted for. That opens up breathing room for David West.
Chandler helped NO more than Kwame helped the Lakers because Chandler is a much better player. It's really that simple. Unless Kwame can find more than one way to be consistently useful, I don't see him helping the Pistons more than he did here.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 28, 2008 at 07:09 PM
What I'm concerned about is having a decent backup so Bynum and Gasol don't have to pile up the minutes, especially at the beginning of the season. Yeah, I get it, Gasol will rotate up to Center when Bynum rests. However, Gasol has been shown to be somewhat injury prone so I'd rather he not have to bang with the behemoths too much and Bynum, even though he is supposed to come back in BEAST condition - according to his mouthpiece... I don't want to start the guy off at 35 minutes/game either...
I want to hear that Chris Mihm is going to become a BEAST this summer! Beat up little kids and take their candy, hang around ATM's daring somebody to rip you off, grow a nasty, scraggly beard, stop combing your hair, get some tats, frighten Chris Anderson with a war whoop when you see him...
Warning for local Detroit restaurateurs... DUCK!!! If Kwame is around it's going to be either a ball or a cake flying at your head...
Posted by: The Royal Historical Society of the Sacred MIHM | July 28, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Benjamin,
Don't be coy, tell us how you really feel.
Posted by: p ang | July 28, 2008 at 07:19 PM
Kwame better than Pau even in defense, no way. Kwame is slow and all muscle but his defensive stop has a quantum liability that he gives away in offense. He creates T/O's like Walton in bunches, can't make a decent shot no way should we compare him to Pau Gasol. Perhaps, Kwame can excel in 3 by 3 basketball setting, where there is no need of running much, no 3 seconds and a game of thuggery in bumping, shoving, a semi street fighting in basketball.
With regards to Clippers, they have a good team not necessrily a quality one, good for their market of fans just enough to win over .500. As Baylor, he got Davis as a specialist to do certain task needed by a role player. He is better than Walton but less than Vujacic as a bench player. My question to Jon K, if Quintin Ross is a pick up why did the Clippers let him go? Why are there no teams going for him? Is Ricky Davis better than Quintin Ross?
What do you think of the Lakers? Are they done in signing new people or working on a trade?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 28, 2008 at 07:21 PM
This will be interesting. Until he joined the Pistons, Billups had been a major disappointment if not a bust. Ben Wallace was picked up from Orlando for Jeff McGinnis. Rasheed became a great team player and possibly the primary reason the Pistons became perennial contenders.
After the Lakers, the Pistons are my favorite team (nearly everyone else in my family was born and bred in Detroit; parents, grandparents, all my aunts and uncles etc. I was brainwashed). I'm not at all disappointed by this signing. Like AK said this may be the best possible fit for Kwame.
Posted by: giantsquid | July 28, 2008 at 07:24 PM
AK,
I meant more in that unlike his previous stint in Chicago, Chandler is helping NO more because of what they ask of him.
They're not asking him to score, instead they're asking him to do what he does. Rebound, shot block, etc. These are things he did and did well in Chicago but he wasn't making as much a difference as he does now in NO.
And in doing so, it opens up things for him in the offense as well...i.e. alley-oop.
Posted by: Faith | July 28, 2008 at 07:25 PM
Considering we didn't get passed the 1st round with Kwame in the team (though he doesn't lead us)...and we got all the way to the finals with Pau...I'd say Pau-Wow helps us that much more.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | July 28, 2008 at 07:30 PM
Faith,
"I meant more in that unlike his previous stint in Chicago, Chandler is helping NO more because of what they ask of him. They're not asking him to score, instead they're asking him to do what he does. Rebound, shot block, etc. These are things he did and did well in Chicago but he wasn't making as much a difference as he does now in NO. And in doing so, it opens up things for him in the offense as well...i.e. alley-oop."
You're right that NO doesn't have hopes of a 15-20 ppg guy like Chicago probably hoped they'd get upon trading for Chandler. But NO does look for him to score, which is what I was getting at. Again, he performs a very specific and effective function within their offense. Kwame, at this point, can't be counted on for that. And even if NO allowed him to "play his game," his game has more facets than Kwame's. In your original description, you made it sound like all the Hornets ask him to do is shag misses. He does much more for that team.
I would also contend that his impact is felt more in NO than Chicago in large part because the Hornets are a better team and unlike Skiles, players not named "Kidd" like Byron Scott.
I guess what I'm saying is that if it were that simple (basically, Kwame being able to find great success by bodying people well and being average or below at just about everything else), he'd have already helped a team more than he has.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 28, 2008 at 07:35 PM
How many dropped passes and missed lay ups before Detroit fans start to boo Kwame?
The Kwame - Detroit Honeymoon won't last long.
Posted by: Fatty | July 28, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Not necessarily because everywhere he's been he's been asked to do more than he's capable of. Including us. This may be revisionist history but I seem to recall his best stint with us came when he was coming off the bench. Mostly because coming of the bench, he was logging a lot less minutes to mess up, and in those minutes we often didn't require him to score (at best we asked him to throw mighty picks for Kobe). In those minutes we pretty much just asked him to help with pick and roll, and some man-to-man D. When he started though, we often went out our way to throw him the ball in the paint and ask him to do something with it, we know what happened then lol.
Also the very fact that the Hornets are a better team is why they can afford for one player to just stay within himself.
Posted by: Faith | July 28, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Ding How's Restaurant has the The Kwame Brown Special today - A large bowl of Egg Drop Soup.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 28, 2008 at 07:45 PM
Faith,
But again, you keep missing the point (or I'm not making it well). Chandler "staying within himself" offers a team more than Kwame "staying within himself." If Chandler could literally only do one thing well (as is more or less the case with Kwame), his effect would be considerably different while staying "within himself," I'm guessing. In a lot of ways, this is comparing apples to oranges, because one player is a lot better than the other. Chandler offers a team way more than Kwame, so he'll naturally add more to their success "doing his thing" than Kwame doing his, because the first guy is doing more.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 28, 2008 at 07:47 PM
I believe MJ did permanent damage to Kwame's psyche. I sincerely hope he succeeds in Detroit against everyone except us. I'd honestly like to see him become a success in his profession of choice. Otherwise, MJ should pay for his counselling.
Posted by: justanothermambafan | July 28, 2008 at 07:48 PM
I'm not saying Kwame is a better player. No way, no how. And for a one dimensional guy, there isn't one that's more one dimensional than Kwame.
All I'm saying is, provided they don't ask too much of Kwame, he may very well "pan" out (in a small scale) for them.
Posted by: Faith | July 28, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Faith,
"I'm not saying Kwame is a better player. No way, no how. And for a one dimensional guy, there isn't one that's more one dimensional than Kwame. All I'm saying is, provided they don't ask too much of Kwame, he may very well "pan" out (in a small scale) for them."
I guess so. But at the same time, if the expectations, responsibilities and maybe even PT get decreased so much in order for Kwame to "succeed," is he really actually succeeding? If it's as small a scale as you're suggesting, then I doubt Detroit's season would have turned out much differently if he was on the team or not. I don't consider than "panning out" as much as simply not screwing up as much. There's a difference.
AK
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 28, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Faith,
"he's been asked to do more than he's capable of. Including us."
Not the last couple of years with the Lakers. Unless by "more than he is capable of" you mean basic help defense, getting in position for a rebound, and catching the ball. They did NOT look for any polished offensive performance from Kwame after they realized he had a hard time maintaining his focus, and had horrible hands.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 28, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Are there any interesting possibilities out there for the Lakers to pick up on the cheap?
Posted by: justanothermambafan | July 28, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Ex, we asked him to score. Esp in the playoffs against the Suns.
We went out our way to throw him the ball in the paint and ask him to do something with it. We know how that turned out.
AK, re: decrease...much like PJ has to curtail our rotation so that our role players can go out there and show off their stuff without overstaying their welcome (haha)...I think Detroit can do something somewhat similar. Now it depends on him whether the minutes are 5 or DNP haha, jk.
Posted by: Faith | July 28, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Good. I wish him all the luck, just didn't want him dropping our passes and missing our layups (should be dunks).
Now we need to sign Drew so it doesn't get too expensive later one. I'm pretty sure his knee is ok and he will start picking it up around the same time he did last year. I don't think he will come out hot because he will have so many emotions and will need to get back in the "feel" of an NBA game. But I'm 100% positive Drew will be the Socks we got to know and appreciate last year.
Lamar = Laker for Life
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | July 28, 2008 at 08:11 PM
Faith,
But not using any offensive "skill". All he was expected to do was catch passes close to the basket and dunk/shoot layups. He wasn't expected to "create his own shot."
And if you remember, his production dropped off after his night partying and the assault charge. Had he not been out partying in the middle of the playoffs ...
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 28, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Kwame Brown is 100% cruddy at 100% of basketball activities.
Thank goodness he'll be warming some other team's bench.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | July 28, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Faith,
I think you're right.
Chandler is the better player, although he would get pushed around by Perkins too. Kwame wouldn't. It's all about the calves. haha
Posted by: Rocky | July 28, 2008 at 08:29 PM
justanothermambafan/fatty,
I hate Detroit, so I cannot root for Kwame there.
It's all over. Like everything in The Cakethrower's life. It's over.
One of the psychologically weakest players in the NBA has chosen to go to a team with some of the most brutal fans.
His agent should be dragged into the streets and kicked to death. Moron.
I liked Kwame. I wanted him to succeed. I wanted him to come back to the Lakers.
Now that he's a Piston, it's over. The guy will receive the karma he deserves for overpartying when he should have been standing in his driveway trying to catch a basketball covered in vaseline 10,000 times until he got it right.
Life is filled with tragedy. It happens.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 28, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Thank you Pistons! thank you thank you and thank you very much!
Good luck Kwame, don't.. don't drop the ball. LOL
Posted by: KwameBrothers | July 28, 2008 at 08:34 PM
giantsquid:
I understand your point about nobodies becoming stars, but Ben Wallace was not traded from Orlando for Jeff McInnis, he was traded with Chucky Atkins for Grant Hill. Big difference!
Posted by: rdlee | July 28, 2008 at 08:35 PM
my guess is that, Detroit needs kwame to bang with elton brand?
Posted by: du ma | July 28, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Anybody who questions whether Kwame would have been better for us than Gasol need to realize that if we didn't get Gasol, we would not have even made the playoffs or at best would have been one-and-done. Kwame has the least amount of basketball skills than any starter in the NBA that I can remember. I'd take Chris Washburn, Gheorge Muresan or Jerrod Collins over Kwame.
Posted by: rdlee | July 28, 2008 at 08:40 PM
C'mon JonK - have a little heart. Kwame's a good guy who was way over-billed by MJ. Always trying to live up to something you're just not can never be good. He's damaged goods, but not deserving of retribution. Can't we just wish him well and hope he gets some self-confidence back (except for against the Lakers)?
Posted by: justanothermambafan | July 28, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Hello lakers family!
I think most of us here misunderstood why Detriot wants Kwame Brown... They are not taking Kwame for offensive purposes...they have plenty of that in Rasheed, down low... chauncey, rip, and Prince... What they are taking Kwame for is the defensive presence inside...especially on help defense... Kwame is good at it as well as 1-on-1 defense on the likes of Perkins, JO, etc... Maxiel is too small... Mcdyess is a PF.. so is Rasheed... Theo is old. They don't have a ligitimate center actually.
And most especially, they are taking Kwame for the purpose of upseting the relative advantage of the Boston Celtics on the low block, and bang around with Perkins... this is what Detriot is looking down the road...
I still beleive that.. Detriot would have taken the Celtics out if they have somebody that could have pushed Boston's bigs out of the paint.. you will notice this in the Boston-Detriot series... Garnet and Perkins was having thier way in that series.
With this signing... Detriot is sertting itself up for a repeat of their battle with the Celtics dreaded bigs...
I love Kwame as a person and as a defensive backup center... not as a starting center... for that.. he is more than capable. This is where most of you people are amiss. The Lakers brass and coaching staff knows this. That's why they were sending fillers to bring him back to the Lakers fold.
Posted by: dice8up | July 28, 2008 at 08:53 PM
Please,
Anyone who is lamenting this occurance, (Jon K.) go and watch any tape you can find of Kwame Brown actually playing basketball. Just do it. Watch the tape of him being booed by his hometown fans. Watch the tape of layup after missed layup, when he should've been dunking the ball. Watch the dropped passes. Every pass. Watch it. Don't give me the garbage about him being a good defender, because he isn't. He's a foul prone, big bodied oaf. He does nothing spectacularly, or even marginally well.
The thing that everyone is forgetting here, is the fact that in his time with the Lakers, Kwame had one full season of play.
05-06: 72 gp
06-07: 41 gp
07-08: 23 gp after offseason surgery then traded
KWAME STINKS! AT LEAST MBENGA CAN CATCH A PASS! KWAME BROWN WOULD NOT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FINALS! YOU'VE ALL GONE MAD!
Please, stop it.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | July 28, 2008 at 08:58 PM
For once can't we just give the man some love? It was not his fault that he was taken that high on the draft... it was a judgment mistake by MJ and the washington wizards...
Go Kwame! I hope you find success in MOTOWN!!!!
of course... GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: dice8up | July 28, 2008 at 09:00 PM
rdlee
you're absolutely right and i knew that was the trade.
I was in a hurry and read the following incorrectly
"In 1999, Wallace was traded to the Orlando Magic along with Tim Legler, Terry Davis, and Jeff McInnis for Ike Austin.
On August 3, 2000, he was traded along with Chucky Atkins to the Detroit Pistons for Grant Hill, in what was at the time considered a one-sided trade."
Posted by: giantsquid | July 28, 2008 at 09:09 PM