That explains a lot
I mentioned to a reader yesterday how I've asked around a bit in regards to Sasha Vujacic's situation and that oddly, nobody has heard a peep. Well, turns out The Face just switched agents again, going back to Rob Pelinka (Kobe Bryant's guy, for those who don't know) after previously leaving him for Bill Duffy. Not sure what prompted this or the other shake-ups, but there's a little known CBA ordinance stating that after five agent switches, you earn a free latte.* Maybe this is just about a coffee jones. At any rate, little news of deals coming in for a guy working out new representation makes sense, so there you (may) have it.
Also, Luke Walton is having surgery on Friday to remove bone spurs from his troublesome ankle. He'll be out of commission for about a month, but this will hopefully alleviate the continual pain he dealt with throughout 2008.
* - I may or may not have made that factoid up.
AK
UPDATE: An item of note from our friends at 710 ESPN, in support of the V Foundation (a very worthy cause): As part of the station's V Foundation Cancer Auction on Wednesday afternoon and evening, there are a few purple and gold items up for bid, including four tickets to the Oct. 7 game vs. the Jazz (second row along the baseline), a Pau Gasol autographed jersey and an autographed basketball. Some of the bidding is online, some can be done at the ESPN Zone in Anaheim. Click here for more information.
The Defensive Player of the Year for 2006-2007 for a 2nd rounder? Gee...I guess Denver finally knows that Camby is too skinny to really protect the post.
Now the Clippers are going to be so-so with the Kaman/Camby combo.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 15, 2008 at 07:56 PM
Benjamin,
>>>>> Cal for me. Degree in Molecular and Cell Bio with an emphasis in neurobiology.
>>>>>You're like an older brother, except you're probably too old, :P
Cal was actually the first college I went to but I didn’t stay long. I definitely spent way too long in school. My degree was probably back in the dark ages compared to yours. My actual interest at the time was to go to medical school so I was just really getting a second degree and completing the requisite pre-med courses. While age is relative and I’m almost as crazy as when I was young, when you lived definitely shapes your outlook and how you view life. Even though I’ve long been in the technology field, it sometimes still feels as if the world is speeding by. As a child of the sixties, I’m probably more like your great uncle. Your great Uncle Tom. LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 15, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Benjamin,
"Alleles" - thanks. Now I get to relive memories of hours upon hours upon hours in the computer lab running simulations. My Comp Sci thesis was on a genetic-algorithm based submarine simulator (which could be used for training of surface ship crews in anti-submarine tactics.)
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 15, 2008 at 08:08 PM
luke walton can go to the harlem globetrotters for all i care!
Posted by: ninotchka | July 15, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Jon k.....Camby to the Clippers......Done deal.....Thursday is the day children....Make or brake baby
Posted by: Thirty2 | July 15, 2008 at 08:21 PM
WTF, ESPN has listed the best prospects to come out of various metropolitan areas including LA. Included on the LA list is Jason Kapono. Not included are Baron Davis and Paul Pierce. A lot of thought must have gone into this.
Posted by: giantsquid | July 15, 2008 at 08:27 PM
AK/BK
Any news on resigning Mbenga or Karl?
Camby is on his way to Los Angeles!!!!!!!! clippers that is.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | July 15, 2008 at 08:29 PM
So which team is freeing up cap space to sign Kwame?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 15, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Defense wins championships but lets trade the Defensive Player of the Year 2006-2007 for a 2nd round pick.
There's something not right about that.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 15, 2008 at 08:31 PM
If a deal for Artest is done with Kenny his contract could be a very handy one to have..I know we take the hit against the cap but 8mil can get you a nice point guard when the contract is done.....
Posted by: Thirty2 | July 15, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Caliphilosopher,
Ahhh yes, the Biosciences and Natural Resources Library. Were you there when they had the dinosaurs added? You gotta love walking in there and there is a T-rex skeleton on the lower flower peaking up through a hole in the middle of the floor on the next floor up. And a pterodactyl overhead. And a big triceratops skull as you walk in. I assume these were all molds, but pretty cool anyway.
There was this chair in there that was the most comfortable chair I've ever experienced. It had a wood frame and grayish upholstery. The back of the chair was a flap of canvas instead of a hard wood back. Walk in, past the whole circulation desk/photocopy area, etc. and it was on the left just in front of the left stairs to go up to the second floor.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 15, 2008 at 08:48 PM
LakerTom,
My crazy Uncle Tom, heh. Good one.
I don't really know anything about the p53 gene. I could read up on it and probably understand what I read pretty well though. Scientific literacy is probably the most useful thing I've gotten out of my education (thus far).
Posted by: Benjamin | July 15, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Mike T,
"Defense wins championships but lets trade the Defensive Player of the Year 2006-2007 for a 2nd round pick. There's something not right about that."
Denver is looking to shed payroll and took advantage of the rule allowing trades to a team under the cap (as the Clips are) without matching salaries. The Nuggets want to be more comfortable matching an offer for restricted FA J.R. Smith, and in the meantime, guys like Nene and Kenyon Martin are basically untradeable without taking back another big contract, which doesn't help. This was the only way to lose some salary, which this move was purely about.
Denver's also nowhere close to winning a title anyway, so losing Camby's D is in some ways irrelevant. At least in terms of the bigger problems, of which there are many.
If you read the ESPN breakdown, it explains a lot of the money particulars.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/
news/story?id=3491156
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 15, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Ex,
Is he your standard of what a Laker should be? I say lazy b/c he has been with the team for 5 seasons now and still acts like a rookie.
Vlad and Luke are both negative when it comes to D, don't we any other players to compare? We got to improve our stock of players, those two guys are not worthy of debates.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 15, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Edwin,
How can you say he acts like a rookie? Last season, when you had no basis to do so, you accused him of being too interested in the LA lifestyle, and claimed that that was why he wasn't doing well. Now it turns out he was injured. So now you claim that he is lazy - and in the Phoenix series right before his contract, which wouldn't make any sense at all. By every account that has been published, he is a hard worker. WHich is what he shows in the game.
No, Luke is not my ideal of a Laker. He is an average NBA player, which is how he is getting paid. He likely would have received a similar contract from another team, and had he left, the Lakers would have only been able to offer the vet's minimum to whoever took that spot on the roster. In which case they almost certainly wouldn't have been as good a team last year.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 15, 2008 at 09:12 PM
the Kwaminus doesn't have any p53 proteins, that's why the ball slips through his hands and he asks people to call him "Bill"...
What are the Nuggets up to? A complete salary dump? What are Carmelo and Iverson thinking about this move? Is Iverson on the block? If so, will Anthony want to stick around for a rebuilding program? Maybe they dumped all that salary so they can go after Sasha! and DJ Mbenga, of course...
Posted by: Kwaminus III, 4th Earl of the Secret Society of the Brimming Calves | July 15, 2008 at 09:16 PM
>>>we take the hit against the cap but 8mil can get you a
>>>nice point guard when the contract is done.....
Actually, it's remotely possible that Thomas could get you a
PG this summer...
Chicago is overloaded with guards and the rumor is that they
might want to get rid of Kirk Hinrich as a salary dump. They
might be willing to dump Kirk Hinrich's 37 millon over 4 years for
Thomas' 17 million over 2 years.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 15, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Jon K
"I'd like to start the "RETIRE KWAME BROWN'S JERSEY" Bandwagon."
How about Luke Walton for early retirement? Many will go for it! For sure! We can still use Kwame to guard Garnett, we can not say about Luke guarding Paul Pierce, can we?
Posted by: Staples 24 | July 15, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Luke Walton; poster boy for the NBA Affirmative Action program.
There, I said it.
Posted by: troy | July 15, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Camby to the Clippers.
That means the Clippers have only 3 million cap space left, so
you can take them off the list of teams that could possibly make
an offer for Sasha.
I don't think you can add Denver. Even after dumping Camby's
bucks, they're still right on the edge of the luxury tax, so I'd say
they're more likely to try to re-sign JR Smith rather than trying
to outbid the Lakers for Sasha.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 15, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Derek Fisher's daughter and P53
One thing I forgot about p53 in my previous posts is that in retinoblastoma (the type of cancer that Derek's daughter has) defects in the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene results in the inactivation of the p53 pathway. Retinoblastoma is hereditary in an odd sort of way. A defective allele is passed on from one parent. Usually the allele passed on from the other parent is fine. However, defects in genes constantly accumulate and eventually a cell in the retina of the eye has two defective alleles. That cell becomes cancerous. Retinoblastoma is one of the few full-blown cancers that I know of that can develop from a single defective gene. Usually cancer is a multistep process. Of course, defects in the Rb gene are also involved in other types of cancer but only as one step in a multistep process. Most cells that have a single bad gene that regulates cell growth undergo apoptosis (a sort of cell suicide).
Posted by: giantsquid | July 15, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Aloha Edwin
I have to disagree with your take on Luke. He was a very hard worker who improved his game every year until he hurt his ankle. The contract he recieved was about right for his skill level before the injuries, although perhaps a 4 year deal would have been wiser.
I have played basketball with injured ankles and let me tell you, you are not as effective, especially on defense. Also injuries can sap your confidense as well and leave you thinking to much on the court.
As far as Lukes defense is concerned, he isnt a very good on ball defender. But that is over rated in the NBA because the players are so good. What he is good at is team defense. He is very good in his rotations and almost always in the right spot. He also reads the passing lanes well and has a high number of steals per minutes played.
I think if he can regain his health he will regain his confidence and if he does, he will be a valuable piece off the bench next year.
MH
Posted by: michael h | July 15, 2008 at 09:59 PM
AK,
Denver has been say that they want to "shed" Camby's salary since they lost to the Spurs two years ago. That was when they saw that Camby could guard Duncan or stop the Spurs from penetrating.
A year later they lost to the Lakers with the marshmellow Gasol in the middle. All that ESPN stuff isn't nothing but smoke. The guy, Camby, only get a lot of blocks because he allows a lot of penetration. Dude is not a championship type defender and that's the real truth about the matter.
If he was really a championship defender then a real team that is close would have made a play for Camby. A team like Utah who is a true defensive center away from being a very very scary team.
I understand that salary cap thing with the Clippers but the Nuggets have been trying to dump Camby for 2 years now.
Heck they tried to dump him last season right after he won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
But I really don't have to explain all this: Heck, I've seen Camby play. Dude is too skinny to seal the paint. He has to "protect the rim" because he allows a whole lot of penetration.
Denver is happy to say good-bye to Camby and it has nothing to do with money. They are millions over the cap and were willing to pay all that because they thought they had something in Anthony, Iverson, Martin and the Defensive Player of the Year.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 15, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Mike T,
I'm not looking to debate Camby's skills or sell him as a better better than you think he is. You're entitled to your opinion. But the fact of the matter is that Denver desperately wants to shed salary. As far as the big contracts go, they're not looking to move Melo or AI (at least for now), K-Mart could be the hardest player in the league to trade and Nene is close behind. Denver would MUCH rather move either of them (if for no other reason than to get them off the books), but can't. That leaves Camby. If this was about anything other than skimming payroll, Denver clearly would and could have gotten more in exchange for Camby. That's just obvious. Let's be real.
This was 100% about shedding salary without having to take any in return, an opportunity that rarely comes along since so few teams are below the cap (which is why Utah, since you brought them up as an example, couldn't have offered the same deal). If you think otherwise, you're simply misreading the situation by not separating your opinion of Camby (which, again, have at it) with Denver's payroll situation.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 15, 2008 at 10:13 PM
giantsquid,
Thanks for the info. I've been looking into P53 particularly in regards to its role in the development of cancer, but having a larger perspective is helpful.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 15, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Edwin,
You asked about Jorge Garbajosa.
A new article has posted from Spain. I will try and give you some of the highlights.
First, it starts by saying he his completely healed and is working himself into game shape.
He has many offers before him and he wants to make the decision by July 15th, so its time.
He has three firm offers.
The one from the Russian League is tremendous, much more than his Toronto contract and would make him one of the highest paid players in Europe.
The ACB offer is signifigant as well.
The Lakers firm offer comes in as the lowest.
He's not jazzed about moving to Russia. He has a beautiful home where the ACB offer is from, and his wife (fiance?) is from there as well.
His choice is difficult as he says. The money, the most he's ever had from a Russian team, or does he make a decision of the heart and stay home in Spain.
He also is very much enticed with the Lakers. As he said, "the thought about wearing the Gold, and playing with Pau, competing for the ring, sounds very good."
As the reporter ends the article. Is it for the money, or a decision of the heart. Isn't it always that way?
Posted by: Fatty | July 15, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Troy,
Ouch! But lol.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | July 15, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Whaz up with da stupid azz "ads by Google".
Kobe versus Jordan?
Kobe who?
Kobe the best?
Where was Kobe during your sorry azz' 40 point blowout in a closeout game?
You Lakergirls are pathetic.
haha
Roonny T is bailing.
hahahahaha
Still laughing.
"Anything's possible" Kevin Big Ticket Garnett
Let's go C's!
Posted by: Let's go C's! | July 15, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Camby rocks. Ignore Mike T.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 15, 2008 at 10:53 PM
C'mon to think of it, wasn't Roony T. and Kobe having a bromance?
Why is Roony T. bailing on you Lakergirls and Stalett Bryant?
You Lakergirls will be lucky to make the playoffs next season let alone seeing my C's in the finals.
hahahahaahahahhahha
I'm still laughing at you foos.
hahaahahahahah
"Kobe can't do without me, heheh" --Shack O'neal 2 weeks after the beatdown in beantown.
Posted by: Let's go C's! | July 15, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Good night Lakergirls.
Red Sox rules.
Francona is da man of the hour.
Posted by: Let's go C's! | July 15, 2008 at 11:19 PM
I'm not a huge Luke Walton fan, but I think with the surgery and playing back-up to Odom and Ariza, I think he'll have a good year. At various times, he has been able to make open shots, post up smaller defenders, and make smart plays on offense. So hopefully things will come together for him this year. I think everyone was wondering if Odom could come back from his injuries, but he bounced back well.
As for Sasha, I think more teams will bid for his services as soon as Posey signs and other more talented restricted free agents sign. I think also that some teams maybe waiting to see how things turn out with any trade scenarios with Artest or Marion before making a move on Sasha.
Posted by: sclakerfan | July 15, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Caliphilosopher --
I appreciate the olive branch. It's an honorable gesture that speaks to your good character. Sincere kudos and compliments.
At the end of the day, you and I are both on the same team, and I'd like to think that we both also have some meaningful threads to add to the tapestry of this Lakers Blog.
And just as the Lakers team is bigger than any one player, I would contend that this Blog (or, forum as some would argue) is also bigger than any one individual. Some of 'us' may have been here longer, write more often, or submit lengthier entries, but everyone who finally decides to exercise his/her right to be heard, and CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING WORTHWHILE to this Blog, is to be commended...and welcomed.
Your posts are usually well-received Caliphilosopher. I do honor your right to express your view, and my respect for you has only increased, since I've gotten a glimpse into the "content of your character" to paraphrase Dr. M.L. King.
One of the truths we (sadly) learn too late in life is that people generally do NOT care how much you know, until they KNOW how much you care.
This point dovetails into why I value what's in a person's heart above what's in his or her head. Sure, intellect is important, but there are plenty of high I.Q. types confined in prisons all over the world. Ultimately, I would suggest that...
The Heart of the Matter, is a Matter of the Heart.
In closing, like many in L.A. I was transplanted from elsewhere, but I am a hardcore Lakers Fan bar none. This is why it'll be pure torture to wait for training camp to start.
More than all this trade talk (which could end up being meaningless sound and fury), I am hoping that TWO things will be SEARED into every Lakers' collective consciousness forever: Losing Game 4 after being up 24 pts!!! and being humiliated 131 - 92 in the deciding Game 6!!!
The guys on the court are the only ones who can do anything about exacting REVENGE for that embarrassment, and it hurts like hell that it appears Turiaf may not be on this Lakers team next season to aim for that goal. I hope I'm mistaken. I'd love to see a rematch against the Evil Green Weenies with our full complement of players -- including a healthy Bynum.
P & G R
Posted by: Purple & Gold Reign | July 16, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Long Time laker Fan....Fantastic point...Lets hope Mitch is thinking along those lines...
Cheers
Posted by: Thirty2 | July 16, 2008 at 12:37 AM
"marshmellow Gasol "
-Mike T.
Well at least he can catch and that is a whole heck of a lot more than we can say for your boy Kwame. Remind us Mike T, how many times did we make it to the finals with hands of stone Brown?
Here's a fact that I really, really love, we made it to the finals only five months after Gasol came to LA, so you can say whatever you want to about Gasol but he is and will always be better than Kwame.
Posted by: Elle | July 16, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Let's see the C's go to .....
you finish that for me Let's Go, uh uh, ya'll been missing so long I forgot your stupid names.
That's just like frontrunners isn't ya'll. We aint even heard from this franchise in more than 2 decades and now they think they get to brag and boast. You're the Keltics dude, seriously, act like you been there before. And never forget, we just letting you visit, we live here.
Posted by: Najja aka Bonus | July 16, 2008 at 12:52 AM
These sucka MC's.
Posted by: Najja aka Bonus | July 16, 2008 at 12:54 AM
MIke T,
One more thing to bear in mind about the Camby trade. In addition
to saving them around 20 million next season, they also got a
trade exception for that amount in the deal.
And Allen Iverson's contract expires next summer.
So next summer, they could be on the receiving end of a similar
deal - they'd trade part or all of the 10 million trade exception
for some fairly talented player and give nothing but cap space
or getting out of luxury tax back in return.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 16, 2008 at 12:59 AM
Troy -
Have any more suggestions for the NBA's "Affirmative Action Program" ?
Seems like you're being a bit unfair about Luke's college career. That man averaged a damn-near triple double over his junior and senior years at Arizona (6.45 RPG, 5.7 APG, 13.25 PPG). And it's not like Arizona is a slouch basketball program.
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | July 16, 2008 at 05:38 AM
Sign Sasha "the machine" Vujacic, Trevor Ariza can only get better, so Luke wasn't going to be getting a lot of PT anyway. His value, if there was any, has been declining for the past 2 seasons. Mitch knows he messed up with Luke's contract. Why do you think he went after young Ariza, and wants ethier Posey or Billy Artest.
Posted by: SID | July 16, 2008 at 05:40 AM
Let's go C student
Where are you from Somerville? South Boston?
Posted by: giantsquid | July 16, 2008 at 06:07 AM
Sasha
I think that Sasha wants to start if not this coming season than next. The only position that might open up for him is point guard so he may be looking for assurances from PJ that he has a good shot there (is it a pun if you have to point it out?).
Personally I don't see why not.
On the other hand, Sasha may be on his way to the Hornets.
Posted by: giantsquid | July 16, 2008 at 06:11 AM
Bench Mob
Yes if LO heads up the bench mob, along with Farmar, Sasha, Radmanovic and Luke, it will be the best bench in the league probably.
And to start Bynum, Gasol, Ariza, Kobe and Fisher.
Maybe Ariza can be our Artest?
You think Phil would start Ariza?
John
Posted by: john_in_houston | July 16, 2008 at 06:42 AM
1. Camby to the Clippers. Nowhere near as good as Elton Brand staying (Curse your wretched soul, David Falk!), but better than resigning Tim Thomas. (God, why can't Tim Thomas die in a bizarre gardening accident? Is that so much to ask?)
2. The Lakers should look at Paul Davis. If we need someone to take Ronny "Braveheart" Turiaf's role, Paul Davis can play limited minutes and was doing great before he got hurt.
3. The Clippers have so much minor talent that they're not resigning (Quinton Ross, James Singleton, Shaun Livingston, Paul Davis). The Lakers should take advantage of that.
Go Clippers!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 16, 2008 at 06:48 AM
giantsquid,
What do you think about the Warburg Hypothesis?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 16, 2008 at 06:55 AM
Fatty,
Jorge Garbajosa. I don't know anything about this guy. Please explain.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 16, 2008 at 06:59 AM
Edwin,
Jorge Garbajosa
Another article from Spain adds a little more to the situation.
There's a 4th team from the ACB bidding for his rights.
He's been practicing hard with the Olympic team, but the coach has given the team 2 days off to rest. He's hoping to make his decision while on break.
[Jorge would be a huge acquisition for the Lakers if he comes back strong. The interest in him shows he's back. Kimski would not have offered him 2.8 mil Euros, (that's like Kobe money in Europe) if he wasn't all the way back.]
My guess is the Lakers have offered the Bi-annual of 1.9 mil for two years, saving the MLE for a possible Sasha replacement.
Those who have seen him play consistently, know what he can bring to the table. He's proved already what he can do in the NBA Jorge is a smart, tough player at both ends of the court.
Anyone who speaks negatively about Jorge simply has not seen him play. He could easily move ahead of Rad and Luke in the rotation. He would not be just a fill in. He could be an important piece to the Lakers championship puzzle.
All of us have been excited about an Artest trade. But another pick up without giving up anybody, paying very little, could be another superb deal by Mitch and his boys.
Utzworld, get behind this one if you can. We need everyone pulling together to help Jorge in his decision. There's a much better chance of him coming to the Lakers than Artest. Actually, I'm surprised at the little interest in Jorge at this site. Several other Lakers sites have made him a major topic.
Posted by: Fatty | July 16, 2008 at 07:45 AM
Whoa! Look who's back from giving his mom her annual sponge bath: ladies and gentlemen, it's Let's go C's!
To all the philosophers out there, Lao-Tzu for me. Taoism has completely changed my outlook on life.
Man, what a great thread this turned out to be.
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | July 16, 2008 at 07:48 AM
How did the Clips land Camby?
Like we don't need a tough-minded defensive specialist on our team?
Crap.
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | July 16, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Andrew Bynum????
I haven't heard anything about him training in Atlanta.
Have I just missed the info or is it TOP SECRET?
AK.BK,
Don't you have Drew's cell #? Call him and find out if he is training or having another surgury..any info would be appreciated.
Thx!
BD
Posted by: BD | July 16, 2008 at 08:25 AM