mike t.,

You may be onto something, though I believe your 5-7 million assessment may be wishful thinking.

GO LAKERS!

Sonny,

Thanks for the reply.

Keeper of the Stone Hands and Strong Calves--yes, I think if it were possible, a Jackson for Vujacic/Karl swap could work out well for both teams. If the Warriors can't sign Brand (and I don't believe they can), then they need to rebuild. Capt Jack is five or six years older than Sasha. A young nucleus of Ellis, Sasha, Biedrins, Randolph, Wright, plus whatever draft picks they receive when they trade Al Harrington (plus future lottery picks) could do the trick.

Meanwhile, the Lakers could field a starting lineup of:
Bynum
Gasol
Jackson
Kobe
Fisher

Primary help off the bench:
Odom
Farmar
Ariza
Turiaf
Mihm

Gasol would get a few minutes of burn at center, Ariza would get some PT at both wings, Lamar could play mostly PF and a little SF, and Ronny would play a little PF. Luke and Vlad would then be where they belong, and we could sign Sun Yue and re-sign Mbenga to round out the roster.

need more defense. no more shooters.

add posey and artest, trade odom - and we are an improved team on the defensive end.

paying odom WAYYYY too much money to be a third option, and with bynum back - odom becomes the fourth option.

i'd call this a mickey mouse operation, but that - in and of itself - would be an insult to mickey mouse...

c'mon lake show!

There's a lot of rumors about James Posey and Ron Artest floating around. I thought this was suppose to be a quiet off season while we wait for Bynum to get healthy. What would the Lakers need to give up to get Posey?

passionateLakerFan,

>>>By the time Lamar/Luke/Vladimir salaires are freed up,
>>>Kobe will be 35 years old with bad knees.

Lamar's salary comes off the books after next season. Do you
expect Kobe's knees to grow feeble within the next year?

>>>Again: Lamar/Luke/Vladimir: $74,000,000.00.

Again. You're exaggerating. It's $60,000,000. And that's
for 9 seasons of play, not for next season.

>>>that money and no rings will ever come to past.

And just like you are wrong about the amount Luke and Lamar
and Vlad are paid, you're wrong about that.

>>>Pathetic.

You calling yourself a Lakers "fan"? Yes, it is pathetic.

I know most people don't respond when I talk about how LO frequents a certain LA strip club pretty regularly. But I have it on extremely good authority that another Laker has been visiting that same club recently. Andrew Bynum. Nice.

Mike T-

Bynum's knee isn't going to be career ending. Kwame Brown's hands are on the other hand. Sorry.

Lamar = Laker for Life

GO LAKERS

AK,

One point regarding Vlade that skews how we should be looking at the small forward position is the value that Phil attributes to Vlade’s 3-point shooting in the starting lineup. Other than Kobe, the other small forward candidates – Lamar, Trevor, and Luke – have not proven to be anywhere near as good an outside shooter as Vlade, who still shot over 40% from 3-point range, same as Derek Fisher, and 26th overall in 3-point percentage.

There were only 30 players in the association who shot over 40% from 3-point range and the Lakers had 3 of them in Sasha, Fish, and Vlade – all with over 200 3-point attempts. This is what is appealing about Posey. He may not shoot as good a percentage on 3’s as Vlade but he has shown to be pretty clutch and can play great defense. Unless we sign him, I still think we will see a lot of Vlade to stretch defenses. Less Luke though.

Tom

Mike,

I have not seen you comment on the Lakers bringing back Kwame. I personally would be against it because I don't think he has the fire to play or desire to win we need, but we definitely could use another banger down low. I don't want to start a huge debate but was interested in your thoughts after having been away for a while. With respect.

Tom

Thirty2,

>>>So the buzz is that the Rockets have thrown 30mill at
>>>Sasha and the Lakers have 1 week to match the
>>>offer.......sign and trade anyone?

hmmm. Where did you see or hear that? This is the first I've
heard of it and I've been scanning all the relevant sources
(some would say obsessively) all day.

Houston has a few players I wouldn't mind getting back
if the Lakers had to lose Sasha. But the question is, would
they be willing to give up Battier or Scola or Carl Landry to
get Sasha? I doubt it.

How about this...

Lakers send Trevor Ariza and sign & trade Sasha to Houston

Houston sends Shane Battier & Luther Head to the Lakers.

-------- or maybe

Lakers send Radmanovic & sign & trade Sasha to Houston

Houston sends Luis Scola & Bobby Jackson to the Lakers

thoughts?

Wow. Saw this quote on espn...

"The Jazz contacted agent Mark Bartelstein about L.A. Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf and Memphis center Kwame Brown while also talking about Dallas' Devean George, Boston's James Posey and New Orleans' Jannero Pargo."

Sounds like Utah wants to acquire James Posey or ANYONE WHO
USED TO BE WITH THE LAKERS. I'm surprized they aren't
pursuing Smush Parker, Von Wafer, and Slava Medvedenko
while they're at it.

I agree though, that is one of my favorite pictures of Vlad. Was that taken from the 2nd to last game of the season against the Spurs?

I like Vlad and I bear him no ill will or feelings, but he really needs to work on the defensive end and not look lost on the court. I do remember the moments where he stepped up big time (like against that Dallas win when Pau was out or the game against the Kings to clinch division title or was it conference title?) But he just wasn't consistent enough.

Well, if there are players I want to be traded ASAP on the Lakers team, it wouldn't be Vlad. I'd trade Luke and Chris Mimh first.

Posted by: PeanutButterSpread | July 02, 2008 at 11:57 AM

I agree with you and think Vlade can improve. I also note that in his grading AK used stats to support his grade.
As I have said before stats can be manipulated to get the result you want.

For instance PJ played mind games with Vlade and gave him inconsistant minutes and mixed signals. If he made a mistake he was pulled, and if he was hot he was pulled.

So when he came back cold he was called inconsistant by PJ who played him inconsistantly. so then most everybody starts jumping on Vlade for being inconsistant ignoring the fact PJ made him that way. He never played mind games with Luke who made many mistakes and looked like he was about to cry when he did make mistakes.

If we played Coby Karl 48 minutes, he would average 21, 10, and 6, plus 2.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks. The guy would be a star. Newble would average 17 boards. Tacos would average 15, 10 and 4 blocks. Why don't they play more consistent minutes? What's wrong with Phil Jackson? Fire him, I say. Fire him.

Posted by: laker hopeful | July 02, 2008 at 11:42 AM

Great post. Thank you!

Jon K.,

I think Vladimir can be improved not denigrading his character, not forcing him but by motivating him. It may not come from the personality of PJ but perhaps more of Kobe, Pau, Sasha and Fisher.

They guy has a history of pride and stubborness. If you read his biography with his Yugoslavian coaches: S. Pesic in '02 wherein he was thrown out of the the team, he didn't yield nor mind the embarassment. In 2005 with Zeljko Obradovic Yugo Coach, he was reprimanded for being a so-so player, he did not care, he just insist on his own. With Sonics under Nate Mcmillan when he was taken starting line up, he said: "Maybe the Sonics should have hired the head of the Serbian national team as their coach......" He just plain stubborn. However with Clippers under Dunleavy, he was doing great with an average of 10 PPG. When PJ called him space cadet, need a psychologist, it didn't work, his reply in the exit interview, "I have my own way and Phil Jackson has his own way of coaching." If NBA find Artest a nutty case, well Vlady is a nutty Yugo. Lakers should not have chased him in 2006

This year, there is a tremendous improvement on Vlady's game compared to the previous year in the snowboarding adventure. Lakers should focus on his strenght as a 3pt specialist, rebounder not on his weaknesses as a defensive shooting forward. This guy is a cold warrior and a rebel at the same time. If you want him to move mountains, got to work on his emotions and he has to be convinced of your sincerity. Let his teammates work on him and get him involve than isolate like a sore thumb. I will go to Fisher, Kobe, Pau and Sasha to talk him b/c the style of PJ will not work on this Yugo nut case, if not, then TRADE him now.

Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 02, 2008 at 11:48 AM

Edwin,

I agree. PJ can't get him to improve but team mates can.

So far Lakers success are the D'League players like Joe Crawford and Marcellus Kemp. What frustrates me is listening to people belittling these new recruits at end of preseason that they will not play under PJ, that they were late picks so nothing expected from them that big. If they are useless, why did we picked them in the first place? Why waste money on Coby Karl, on Ira Newble if they are deemed useless at the end of the season?

Every day that passes tantamount to Sasha and Ronny taking their sweet time worries me as well. It delays the trading machine of the Lakers in buying some other players. It provides clue on competitors what Lakers prefer so they also corner that market. Vujacic and Turiaf seemed not sincere with their exit interview on commitment to the purple and gold, just like any mercenary they wanted where the path of money leads them. So you guys and gals in the blog, temper your fandom when it comes to players' sincerity. At the end of the day, the agent has more lucrative interest on his client's welfare than fans in the Laker Nation. You can only buy tickets and jerseys. lol! No loyalty unless there is a proven commitment.

I have a feeling Mitch will not close any kind of deal, this is a repeat of '05 Free Agent Campaign where his choices were matched and ended up with nothing on hand. They used the Lakers as springboard of success of a better pay elsewhere. Mitch's effectiveness is during the season when the attention is not on trading being arranged by the Lakers, a breaking news would just come out of a huge trade. When everyone is in concert of talking trade, Lakers salary caps/luxury problems freezes them to the corner. If I were Mitch, I will do what Nets and Jazz are doing sound off 20 names and let the media and GM's heads twirl and add more frenzy on every conspiracy being hatched against the purple and gold, jack up the salary caps of every team in the West.

Erratum: I said to Rollo in my previous post that it was F. Fatty and Charles, after reading it again, it was Wes and Charles.

FROM DAVIS TO ARTEST, WHAT FREE AGENTS ARE WORTH
By Charley Rosen for FoxSports.com

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8305382/From-Davis-to-Artest,-what-free-agents-are-worth

“James Posey

“While it's hard to envision Posey abandoning the Celtics, the temptations of Los Angeles should never be discounted. Also, given Andrew Bynum's return to the threshold of greatness, the addition of Posey would seriously threaten Boston's ability to repeat. The prospect of becoming a starter in L.A. would likewise be hard to resist. In fact, should Posey decide to change uniforms, donning the Lakers' blue-and-gold would be the only reasonable alternative.”

Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 02, 2008 at 12:51 PM
---------------------------------------
Charlie Rosen is confused. Lakers have not had blue in umpteen years. Their uniforms are PURPLE and gold.

ABOUT ANDREW BYNUM’S EXTENSION…

There are two big reasons to reach an agreement with Andrew Bynum before the start of next season for a 5-year extension that would begin after the end of the upcoming season: it will save the team money in the long term and guarantee Andrew will remain a Laker. That is why you see teams like the Hornets trying to lock up a deal with Chris Paul now rather than waiting until after next season.

What about concerns over Andrew’s knee? The Lakers doctors already agree with Andrew’s doctors that the injury is not career threatening and the Lakers will obviously wait until Drew shows up for training camp to examine him and make sure he is fine. Additionally, the team can purchase insurance that would compensate the team in the event of a career ending injury related to Drew’s knee.

What about concerns that Andrew hasn’t proven he is dominant player? The Lakers saw enough before Andrew was injured last year and in his previous 2 seasons to know what they have – which is another franchise player as valuable as Kobe Bryant. They know that Drew right now is probably the #3 center in the NBA as a 20-year old and destined to be the Lakers next great center and franchise player.

Why not wait until after next year to negotiate? First, it will save the Lakers money in that they will be able to sign Drew for less right now than they would be able to after next year, assuming that Drew continues to play as he did this year before becoming injured. Drew’s agent will be willing to sign for less now so that Drew has financial security. The max contract statement is just where he has to begin. Signing Drew now will save money whereas waiting will only lead his agent to raise the price.

Second, it will eliminate the contract issue so that it does not hang over Andrew or the team’s head and distract them from their objective of winning the NBA Championship. This is the same reason that I think the team may approach Kobe and look to make a deal with him where he opts out and signs a long term deal for less per year to be a Laker for life. We definitely do not want to head into the offseason next year with both Kobe’s and Drew’s future up in the air. Look for Mitch to smartly avoid both situations.

Third and most important, giving Drew the extension now will show him how important he is to the franchise and earn goodwill that could be critical in keeping him long term. That’s the really overriding reason the Lakers are not going to risk alienating Drew and causing bad blood, which refusing to give him an extension until forced to could do. Bottom line, the Lakers cannot allow any bad blood to occur while negotiating.

Despite what his agent has said, we know Drew wants to be a Laker for life right now. The last thing the Lakers want to do is to do anything that would change that attitude. That is why they will make the deal to extend Drew before the season starts next year – probably right before. They will save money and lock Drew up as a Laker. That’s the smart move that Mitch and the Lakers will make.

Tom

I think Vlad and Luke are the 2 most untradeable contracts in the Lakers bec. they are overpaid and last too long. Two of Mitch's mistakes.

Posted by: LakerinBC | July 02, 2008 at 01:45 PM
------------------------------------------
Ah so Mitch gets the blame! I remember it was PJ and Kobe on phone to convince Vlade to come to the Lakers.
I would go out on a limb and bet PJ had a hand in talking Lakers into signing Luke. Yes but it was Mitch's fault as PJ never makes mistakes.

For those of you who say that the Lakers should just throw
a maximum contract at a promising but perenially injured
Andrew Bynum.

Use the Denver Nuggets as your model.

Kenyon Martin and Nene were BOTH promising young front
court players who Denver signed to max deals ignoring their
injuries and the fact that neither had ever played up to all-star
level for more than a game.

Over the next 3 seasons, the Nugs will be paying a combined
24 million, 26 million, and 28 million for two perennially
injured, underachieving players. Even with Iverson off
the books next summer, you add in Camby and Anthony
and a couple of role players and they're capped out for
years to come.

Lamar has had less injury problems than Nene or K-Mart,
but he's kinda in the same boat. If you're being paid over
10 million a year, your name should at least come up when
they're talking about potential all-stars each year. Lamar's
name has never seriously been considered. All three
of these guys should be making about 7-8 million a year.

So I say if Bynum is willing to sign an extension starting
at around 7 to 8 million a year, that's fine. But giving an
untested player like Bynum 12 million and up per season
is too big of a gamble, especially when Bynum still has another
full season to show that he is worthy of a larger contract.

People are saying, "Oh, but Bynum will be the difference
between winning and losing in the finals!". I say, "Prove
it.
Stay healthy enough to actually PLAY in the finals and then
we'll talk."

Note that Bynum is a restricted free agent, so there is
absolutely no way the Lakers could lose him by offering
an extension that he has shown to be worth this summer
or by waiting till next summer to make him an extension
offer.

Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 02, 2008 at 01:47 PM
-------------------------------------------
I would have to respectfully disagree. First off it would be cheaper to sign AB to long term contract at todays prices than to wait another year with escalating contracts. Also Lakers feel the injury is not career ending. If all else fails and are dissatisfied I will go out on a limb and say there would be a lot of takers for AB if trade was proposed even with another injury.

I would say no rush before training camp but somewhere after do sign him.

hopeful,
" we played Coby Karl 48 minutes, he would average 21, 10, and 6, plus 2"".8 steals, and 1.4 blocks. The guy would be a star. Newble would average 17 boards. Tacos would average 15, 10 and 4 blocks. Why don't they play more consistent minutes? What's wrong with Phil Jackson? Fire him, I say. Fire him."

Absolutely. It's especially frustrating because those three were such incredible pickups. Every other team in the league was in a bidding war for their services, but Mitch managed to snatch them away from every body else. Lucky that AInge didn't pick them up - they would have given the Celtics a team that rivaled that of the '60s.

ABOUT ANDREW BYNUM’S EXTENSION…

There are two big reasons to reach an agreement with Andrew Bynum before the start of next season for a 5-year extension that would begin after the end of the upcoming season: it will save the team money in the long term and guarantee Andrew will remain a Laker. That is why you see teams like the Hornets trying to lock up a deal with Chris Paul now rather than waiting until after next season.

What about concerns over Andrew’s knee? The Lakers doctors already agree with Andrew’s doctors that the injury is not career threatening and the Lakers will obviously wait until Drew shows up for training camp to examine him and make sure he is fine. Additionally, the team can purchase insurance that would compensate the team in the event of a career ending injury related to Drew’s knee.

What about concerns that Andrew hasn’t proven he is dominant player? The Lakers saw enough before Andrew was injured last year and in his previous 2 seasons to know what they have – which is another franchise player as valuable as Kobe Bryant. They know that Drew right now is probably the #3 center in the NBA as a 20-year old and destined to be the Lakers next great center and franchise player.

Why not wait until after next year to negotiate? First, it will save the Lakers money in that they will be able to sign Drew for less right now than they would be able to after next year, assuming that Drew continues to play as he did this year before becoming injured. Drew’s agent will be willing to sign for less now so that Drew has financial security. The max contract statement is just where he has to begin. Signing Drew now will save money whereas waiting will only lead his agent to raise the price.

Second, it will eliminate the contract issue so that it does not hang over Andrew or the team’s head and distract them from their objective of winning the NBA Championship. This is the same reason that I think the team may approach Kobe and look to make a deal with him where he opts out and signs a long term deal for less per year to be a Laker for life. We definitely do not want to head into the offseason next year with both Kobe’s and Drew’s future up in the air. Look for Mitch to smartly avoid both situations.

Third and most important, giving Drew the extension now will show him how important he is to the franchise and earn goodwill that could be critical in keeping him long term. That’s the really overriding reason the Lakers are not going to risk alienating Drew and causing bad blood, which refusing to give him an extension until forced to could do. Bottom line, the Lakers cannot allow any bad blood to occur while negotiating.

Despite what his agent has said, we know Drew wants to be a Laker for life right now. The last thing the Lakers want to do is to do anything that would change that attitude. That is why they will make the deal to extend Drew before the season starts next year – probably right before. They will save money and lock Drew up as a Laker. That’s the smart move that Mitch and the Lakers will make.

Tom

Posted by: LakerTom | July 02, 2008 at 06:43 PM

--------------------------------
I agree. Great post. This is more of what I have been saying and would be best and cheaper for all concerned.

hopeful,
" we played Coby Karl 48 minutes, he would average 21, 10, and 6, plus 2"".8 steals, and 1.4 blocks. The guy would be a star. Newble would average 17 boards. Tacos would average 15, 10 and 4 blocks. Why don't they play more consistent minutes? What's wrong with Phil Jackson? Fire him, I say. Fire him."

Absolutely. It's especially frustrating because those three were such incredible pickups. Every other team in the league was in a bidding war for their services, but Mitch managed to snatch them away from every body else. Lucky that AInge didn't pick them up - they would have given the Celtics a team that rivaled that of the '60s.

Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 02, 2008 at 07:05 PM

-----------------------------------------------
Ex,
Completely agree with you. Great post.

The Sonics are moving to Oklahoma City on Thursday, and leaving the name Sonics, logos, and colors behind.***

You know what that means?

Its time for the Lakers Blog to help out our fellow NBA team and come up with a new name, logo, and colors.

I will log the suggestions over the next few days and send them to the new owners. Compliments of the LA Times Blog Crew.

{{{{{ Name the New Oklahoma NBA Team Contest }}}}}

New Name and also Logo, Mascots if you like
Good luck and good naming!

1. Fatty - Okie Dokies - "Oil Wells gushing"
2. Fatty - The Laters
3.

*** Genone would be saying the Zombies won another round stealing the Sonics away

JustALakerFan,

>>>I would have to respectfully disagree. First off it would be
>>>cheaper to sign AB to long term contract at todays prices
>>>than to wait another year with escalating contracts.

Not if you sign him to a max contract. A maximum contract starts
at 25% of the salary cap for the season it starts in and gives the
maximum raise each season for 6 seasons. So if the Lakers
offer Bynum a max contract, it's amount won't be determined
until the salary cap is set next summer.

It will be the exact same amount regardless of whether you
offer it to him this summer or next summer. Thus if the intention is to pay Bynum a full max contract, you gain
no benefit in offering it to him now vs next summer.

If you offer Bynum some fixed starting amount, then you
are not offering him a max contract.