Chicken dinner or loo-hoo-zuh-her?
One side of the question involves a "winner winner" and the other a mockery at the hands of Ace Ventura. And exactly what topic is being debated by ESPN's Chad Ford? Which NBA teams did themselves most righteous during this off-season and which ones shot themselves in the foot? A little time remains before training camps open, but with most notable free agents already spoken for and a few unsigned restricted fellas (Ben Gordon, Smiths Josh and J.R.) comprising those potentially swept up in (sign and) trade winds, it's a reasonably safe assumption that rosters as they currently sit will be the same when October rolls around. Thus, it's a reasonably safe time to give teams a thumbs up or down based on the summer's work.
Brief thoughts on Ford's list: I pretty much agree with his takes, although I'm not ready to declare Indiana a "winner" until they shed
Jamaal Tinsley and Shawne Williams, along with a fan base's perception
of a franchise turning into the "Jail-Pacers." But Ford nailed it on the head when pegging the Hawks as the league's worst run
organization. And why stop there, by the way? They might hold
their own judged against any squad in sports' professional big four? Seriously, how do you follow up the momentum of a surprise (and
surprisingly competitive) playoff appearance by turning Josh Childress into a European- at least get something back in a sign and trade- and allowing Josh Smith's situation to remain unsettled? That's just mind boggling. The only thing
preventing the Hawks' ineptness from becoming a nationwide joke is nobody outside (and barely anybody inside) Atlanta giving two craps enough about them to be aware, much less bother creating punchlines.
As for your Los Angeles Lakers, they bore no mention from Ford on either side of the fence, likely due to their relative lack of action over the last couple months. Not that big moves were expected. If anything, we were told by Mitch Kupchak not to expect any, fair warning which makes sense. The team's coming off a Finals appearance, meaning only so drastic an overhaul is needed. Or even possible, since the Lakers have less cap space than Juan Pierre (if you've never noticed, the Dodger OF has a VERY small head). Plus, the front office's philosophy- one that I happen to buy- is that (fingers crossed) full seasons from a healthy Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza is the equivalent of adding two theoretical free agents. As for their actual free agents, there were only two of note, and they managed to retain the more critical one (Sasha Vujacic), the tab for Ronny Turiaf's services ultimately too pricey for what could be limited minutes (and honestly, I'm guessing Turiaf didn't want the Lakers to match, painful as that is for fans and even Ronny to acknowledge). From here, I'm guessing they'll add an insurance big (I've heard Didier's name pop up talking to a few people), weigh the pros and cons between Coby Karl, Joe Crawford or "a guard to be named later," and call it a day until seeing a month or so of what they have. In my mind, an offseason somewhere between (at best) "successful" and (at worst) "didn't do anything to hurt themselves."
But that's just my two cents. What do you think? Are you upset they didn't shake things up more? Personally I'm fine with whatever moves weren't made. For example, I've always liked James Posey, but can see New Orleans regretting that contract in a couple years as age creeps up. In the case of the oft-coveted Ron Ron, I wouldn't have parted with LO for him (especially if it meant taking the dead weight of Kenny Thomas) and when you look at what the direction Sacto ultimately agreed upon, the Lakers don't have a comparable package, save perhaps one idea I came up with a while back (that could admittedly offset Artest's presence by draining depth). Thus, it's hard to get upset over something not all that realistic (or sensible, depending on the scenario) to begin with. Same logic applies to the other big names that migrated (Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Corey Maggette) or stayed put (Gilbert Arenas, Emeka Okafor, Luol Deng). There was never a prayer of getting them, and outside of the notion that good players can always help, the Lakers didn't truly "need" them, either. Assuming everyone stays healthy, I think the Laker offseason keeps them among the elite contenders.
Agree or disagree?
AK
Team USA beat Australia 87-76!
A roster full of All-Stars couldn't score 120 against Australia?
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard?
How about Michael Redd, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd and Chris Bosh.
You mean to tell me these guys couldn't score 120 points against Australia?
But the Lakers are different! The Lakers are better than team USA.
Kid: Daddy, if we had a roster full of All-Star do you think the Lakers can average 120 pts per contest?
Daddy: Boy...do I know you?
LOL!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | August 05, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Why do you Fakers insist on focusing on offense? Defense wins champiosnhip. Defense takes hard work and team effort, non of which your precious Lakergirls exhibit.
Even your "stopper" gambles too much. Your other Euro-"stopper" flops like a little girl, then compalins after EVERY SINGLE CALL.
Your team is soft, Kobe included, which is the reason you all will not, under any circumstances, win the champioship next season.
ahahaahahahaahah
I'l still laughing and can't wait for ESPN's replay of Game 6. Game 6 is also known as The Rout.
ahahaahhahahaha! Foos!
Posted by: Let's go C's! | August 05, 2008 at 02:35 PM
AK,
Why do you think Ronnie did not want the Lakers to match?
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | August 05, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Is it just me, or does it really seem that Green Bay Packers fans are going through the same emotional rollercoaster that Lakers fans went through last summer? This time, though, it looks like there will be a different outcome. Kobe stayed, but as each hour passes it looks like Favre is going, going, going, and soon to be gone. It's a very good day not to be a cheesehead.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | August 05, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Holy jeez Mike T let it go man.....it's ok...let it go...the big bad man said he knows he exaggerated and it was mistake on his part. It’s ok.
As far as standing pat, I like the idea. I’ve always been a believer in the “Don’t knock till you try it (with a few exceptions here and there of course)” philosophy
If things don’t work out or some moves need to be made because of injury or what have you later on in the season
the front office still has that option.
Posted by: The Infamous El Guapo | August 05, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Laker Truth,
I'm guessing Turiaf didn't want them to match because he wanted more PT, which he'd get in Golden State. I don't think it was anything "against" the Lakers. Quite the opposite. I've talked with Ronny about being here and every impression I've ever gotten is that he loves the organization and city. But he's definitely set for a bigger role in Oakland and could maybe even start (since there have been rumors about moving Harrington). His future in L.A would always be a backup. Mitch Kupchak described Ronny as being very torn between liking the organization/teammates and what was best for his career development.
Look at it this way. Knowing the Lakers' cap/luxury tax situation, Ronny had to have known there was a very good chance the Lakers wouldn't have matched. In many ways, he was almost guaranteeing a defection by signing the sheet.
Mind you, I haven't actually talked to Ronny about it, so I don't know for a fact. But knowing him to the degree that I do and taking into account the situation, I'm pretty confident this is the case.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 05, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Mike T. -
We get it. It was an overly zealous statement for LakerTom to predict the Lakers would score 120 points per game. He revised his prediction. Time to move on.
Out of curiosity, do you really "LOL" every time you post "LOL"? Because that's a lot of "L"ingOL and I'd probably have a headache after all that "L"ing. Just sayin.
Posted by: puddle | August 05, 2008 at 02:57 PM
I think Brett Farve is right when he said some time ago that the Packers didn't want him around for a couple of years now.
That was the feeling I got over the last couple of years. And when Farve said that earlier this summer or last month...I knew he was telling the truth.
The Packers are in the wrong on this one. They should just trade him because they truely don't want him.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | August 05, 2008 at 02:58 PM
The loss of Ronnie concerns me. The lakers were supposed to get stronger over the break but we lost one of our most agressive big men.
Posted by: James Deen | August 05, 2008 at 02:58 PM
The Infamous El Guapo,
What are you talking about? I didn't mention any names. I was just funnin' LOL!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | August 05, 2008 at 03:00 PM
puddle,
LOL! On this one...yeah...I'm really LOL!
That was funny!
I also LOL when Jeff told me one day:
"Good day, sir! I SAID GOOD DAY!
LOL!
That was funny, too.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | August 05, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Jon K - Vman,
Your welcome.
Posted by: Charles | August 05, 2008 at 03:02 PM
I don't remember Farve calling the team owner an "idiot".
I also think Farve is beloved while the Kobester is most hated outside of Bevery Hills 90210.
Not the same thing son.
Cheers mate.
ahahahaah
Posted by: Let's go C's! | August 05, 2008 at 03:05 PM
AK -
I agree with the post. I'd still feel a little more settled if the Lakers came into camp with one more big that could give them 10 strong minutes a night, but understand that not only are there basically no options out there, but for the ones that are, it may take more than they can pay. With Pau and Bynum not being the most durable of guys though, it'd just be for a little peace of mind you know? Not sure Didier could handle the load (as small as it might be) if either one went down for a significant period of time.
Posted by: puddle | August 05, 2008 at 03:07 PM
By the way, don't you think it's kind of strange that we haven't heard a thing from the Bynum camp since he was cleared to start conditioning?
Not a peep!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | August 05, 2008 at 03:12 PM
AK -
I Agree as well. I would also like to throw out there that a Healthy Chris Mihm would be like adding a 3rd free agent.
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | August 05, 2008 at 03:17 PM
James Deen,
"The lakers were supposed to get stronger over the break "
When the Lakers start camp, will the projected top 8 on their roster be stronger than the top 8 on their roster when they started last season? Absolutely.
When the Lakers start camp, will the projected top 8 on their roster be stronger than the top 8 on their roster when they ended last season? Absolutely.
The Lakers did get stronger over the break.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | August 05, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Not a peep from Bynum's camp, but waaaayyy too much from Michael C. Teniente. LOLLLLLL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Posted by: Fire32 | August 05, 2008 at 03:20 PM
What a sports day! ESPN is reporting that someone close to LeBron James said that the Cavaliers' superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of "around $50 million a year." Seems like good money, to be sure, but wouldn't he make up the money from an NBA salary from endorsements? On the other hand, that would surely make him the David Beckham of basketball. Meanwhile, us mortals sure are left with just table scraps.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | August 05, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Mike T.
I don't find that strange at all. Do you?
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | August 05, 2008 at 03:29 PM
props to my fool paul pierce...in vegas...
hehehehehehehehhehehehe
heheheheheheheheheh
heheheheheheheehehehehehehehehe
heheheheeheheheh
kg-i love ya....and love you more and more...
come stay with me...at my place :)
Posted by: Let's go C's | August 05, 2008 at 03:30 PM
AK
"especially if it meant taking the dead weight of Kenny Thomas"
How did you come to the conclusion that Kenny Thomas would have been dead weight? What is your dead weight criteria?
P.S. Be careful with your explanation (if you have one) because I will use it as a standard to judge other players
P.S.S. If you choose not to respond I will assume your opinion is (PFA)
Posted by: pfunk36 | August 05, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Since we are standing pat, this is what I feel the team needs to do:
1. Change of defensive philosophy and or hire a new Defensive Coach-Coordinator to join the Lords of the Rings aka Phil's Team. (Ex. When Ariza is playing a bigger guy like Artest, dare him to take the longball. Don't stick your body and let him mow you down.)
2. Use Craig Hodges. Ariza after the injury came back with a much better jump shot. Gasol since he is playing the 4, he should work on that Euro stereotype. Farmar, Ariza, Luke, Carl, Lamar since they will have more opportunities in the perimeter. Vlad can learn how to drop stop in the perimeter too.
3. Kareem should train all the front court players. Bynum, Gasol, Mihm, Lamar, Luke and Vlad. I feel Lamar lost his backupMarion post up game style and was rushing it too much when he had the mismatch downlow last season.
4. Have the desire to win. Kobe is unparalled but if the guys want it in their OWNED 100% effort, it will make a big difference. Look at The Machine and Bynum.
5. PJ needs to bench players if they are a liability. (Ex. Don't put in Luke just coz he knows the offense and someone like Kenny Thomas is killing him by posting his ass up. If Vlad-Luke is doing ok against the Wally Szer's and Ed Najera's then so be it) If Sasha is hot, let him roll. etc...
6. Check the ego. Purple and Gold, flashing lights, and the Glitz. Time to take the workhorse mentality and work during the offseason. This is their career. Please the fans and you owe it to your fans. Kobe, Drew, and Sasha are at the gym right now. Follow their lead. Sometimes, you get nick-named by your fans because of the character and work on that hardwood.
Ranting I know...
Posted by: Charles | August 05, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Caliphilosopher -
I wish I had as much faith in Mihm as you do. The pessimist in me thinks he'll never truly be healthy, and that even if he is, he won't be the player we remember. You'd be right on though if he could get anywhere close to his 04-05 form. I hope you're right and I'm wrong.
Posted by: puddle | August 05, 2008 at 03:42 PM
James Deen,
exheldovr is right.
The question is, will our bottom six players be stronger?
That's still up in the air.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | August 05, 2008 at 03:43 PM
I sure hope Chris Mihm comes back healthy. It will make a huge difference if he does.
If he doesn't then we better have a Kwame Brown-type body ready to take some minutes and some fouls.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | August 05, 2008 at 03:45 PM
In other news, Paul "The Self-Proclaimed Best Player in the World" Pierce ran afoul of the police in Las Vegas. Apparently, little PP was upset that the cops gave him a sobriety test. He then proceeded to fake an injury to his knee and was handcuffed until he calmed down.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | August 05, 2008 at 03:49 PM
By the way, don't you think it's kind of strange that we haven't heard a thing from the Bynum camp since he was cleared to start conditioning?
Not a peep!
mike t.
----------------------------------------------------------
You mean its been a whole 2 weeks since last we heard he was healthy and working out!! Oh my god!!!! 2 Weeks...2 whole weeks!!!!!!....Mitch better get on the phone with Detroit and ask about Kwame before it's to late!!!
/sarsacm
Posted by: The Infamous El Guapo | August 05, 2008 at 03:51 PM
AK,
"Trevor Ariza, Chris Mihm and Jordan Farmar for Artest."
I wouldn't have done it. Particularly if Ariza and Mihm come back healthy. No way.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | August 05, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Mike T-
"By the way, don't you think it's kind of strange that we haven't heard a thing from the Bynum camp since he was cleared to start conditioning?
Not a peep!"
Actually, we did hear from Mitch that he is on schedule to be 100% come the start of training camp in an article dated July 29.
http://tinyurl.com/69nj8p
There's your peep.
Posted by: ajax | August 05, 2008 at 04:07 PM
There's something wrong with people who laugh after everything they say. I don't what it is
Posted by: ajax | August 05, 2008 at 04:09 PM
>>>Why do you Fakers insist on focusing on offense?
>>>Defense wins champiosnhip. Defense takes hard work
>>>and team effort, non of which your precious Lakergirls
>>>exhibit.
Why do you Smell-tic fans not recognize that the Lakers defense
held your team well below their average.
The Lakers don't NEED to improve their defense to beat Boston.
They need to add different looks to their offense for when
Boston disrupts their initial look.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | August 05, 2008 at 04:09 PM
I'm glad we've heard nothing on Bynum...That's the way it should be..No news is good news!
Posted by: zen | August 05, 2008 at 04:16 PM
Ex
The top 8 are better (stronger?), but skinnier.
As are the bottom 6 unless Luke's been hittin' his barbecue.
I'll leave it at that before a calve debate breaks out.
Posted by: Vman | August 05, 2008 at 04:16 PM
Mike T
Actually Mike there have been a couple of articles on Andrew. He has been running, lifting weights, jumping and doing individual basketball drills. He has not been cleared yet for any contact drills . Like last summer he is working out in Atlanta with his trainer.
MH
Posted by: michael h | August 05, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Mike T...
I dont think the Lakers will score 120 a game either but one thing you need to take into consideration is this...How much zone defense do the Lakers see during the regular season?
The biggest problem TEAM USA faces at these Olympic games is zone defense...Last night Australia played a little zone but didint over do it for the simple fact that team USA is about to have zone defense every time they step on the court...Why let a team get better at its biggest weakness....
All the EURO teams will play it just as they did in Athens..
Posted by: Thirty2 | August 05, 2008 at 04:32 PM
You think that even someone with intelligence the level of a caveman might get bored eventually.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | August 05, 2008 at 04:41 PM
AK,
I don't know on Ronny Turiaf case. He immediately grabbed the better deal and presumably more playing time. However, with the competition here in the West and his heart condition, I would rather phase myself by accepting a 2 year deal with Lakers at 3M and after that 3 years, I could venture for a bigger pay either in NBA or in the Euro League. It is more improving Ronny Turiaf with Bynum, Kareem, Kobe and with the little minutes played I also phase myself well with a healthier heart and less stress on major role. In his current situation, it is a major challenge to prove oneself in Warrior's uniform and at 6'10" w/o any seven footer in GS roster, he will be always under great pressure to be at his best in every game. If he fails miserably, he just destroyed his resume by jumping too soon out from the Lakers, even Euro scouts would bring down their sights on him. Right now, I see GS as a lottery pick team, they have to overcome the Lakers, Spurs, Hornets, Mavs, Suns, Blazers, Jazz, Rockets and those are favorite 8 teams that will go to Western Conference playoffs. Will Nelson make a miracle out of his hodge podge line up?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | August 05, 2008 at 04:50 PM
AK, in answer to your question, I agree.
I think the Lakers did get better by keeping what they have,
assuming Bynum and Ariza get healthy and stay healthy.
If Mihm does the same, then that's a bonus.
Despite the fact that I'm one of the most voluminous posters
of wild and wacky trade proposals, I don't think most of them
would actually help the team. Even trading away Rad or
Luke might make them worse, despite what some people
think.
I'd still like to see them bring in someone to fill in for Ronny,
even if it is only to occupy the spot he would have been sitting
on on the bench for most of the year. But other than that,
I think they can have a better regular season with the
players they have and a better post season with a year
more experience and Bynum and Ariza back in the fold.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | August 05, 2008 at 04:56 PM
Honestly, I figure after getting Pau that we'd be pretty much handcuffed in terms of what we can do in the market.
It's one thing to re-sign your guys....but it's another thing when resigning them means getting even deeper in luxury tax territory. So I thought it would behoove us to look closer into who we're singing. Ahem, ahem Luke haha, jk. What's done is done.
The good news is we got ourselves a young, hungry squad that just got done with one year of some valuable experience. Combined with better health, who knows what this year will bring.
GO Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | August 05, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Kobe Bryant rates the Australian team.......www.nbl.com.au
Posted by: Thirty2 | August 05, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Well ex,
Kobe will be out at the start of camp...
Posted by: jandro | August 05, 2008 at 04:59 PM
I think the Hornets made a great pick in Posey. Rockets are on a dicey situation with Artest, however a healthy Yao, TMac and well behaved Artest, the Rockets could be the team to beat in the West. Last season, w/o Yao on the line up, they romped 21 consecutive wins. It could be a toss up with Lakers, Hornets and Rockets.
However, if Lakers have healthy Bynum and a good chemistry of the youth, the not so good players are connecting and the 4 superstars are on sync - watch out for 125 .pts and Kobe gets his usual 50. They will be the first in the history of NBA. unbeatable, fantastic, it's all because of the beast meets Mamba in the air.
(I think that is a worthy conclusion of 120 ppg and it should now get a decent burial. lol)
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | August 05, 2008 at 05:02 PM
I'm not sure what to think of the Lakers just yet.
We have two guys that missed much of last season in Ariza and Bynum that I consider moderate injury risks.
We have some other injury prone guys.
We have a group that continues to fluorish via the triangle offense under Phil Jackson.
We have a pretty good composition as a team, but we are missing something that we need to win the Finals.
We need better toughness at the 4/5 and we need a better defender at the 3. We're a little defensively vulnerable at the 1 as well. We're also lacking a strong all around offense when things stutter. This last Finals has shown that Kobe alone can't bail us out. Someone else MUST step and play well in high pressure situations in close games.
Maybe Ariza solves our problems at the 3. He needs to stay healthy and develop a 3 (or keep the 3 he had during the Finals). If he can do this and play consistently, then our problem at the 3 may be solved.
Similar situation for Bynum. He needs to stay healthy and play like he did for 6 good weeks at the 5. We need him to punish people that drive and think the basket is an easy target. He needs to make the opposing teams' bigs work hard to contain him and he needs to slow them down considerably. He's young, but hopefully hungry to get a contract or earn the next contract if he signs over the summer. I think he has lazy tendencies and that concerns me.
I don't feel confident we're a team that can win the Finals. I would have really liked to add a little depth at the 4 with a physical defensively effortful presence (like we had in Ronny) and a solid SF that can deal with Paul Pierce, but also RJ, Artest, Maggette, Josh Smith, Gerald Wallace, Caron Butler, Marion, Carmelo, Lebronze and the other talented and mobile 3s of the league.
Our team needs to grow together and our tall 3 need to figure out how to play well together.
I'm disappointed thus far with our front office not making trades to improve our team and just hoping/praying that everything will just "work out" when people come back healthy. And the front office can't honestly stay they stood pat since they let Ronny go.
At some point in the season, Odom and/or Gasol will get hurt. When they do, we only have Vlad to play backup power forward. In the long term losing a few games does matter. As currently comprised, the Lakers don't beat the Celtics without home court advantage. Heck, I'm not sure we beat Houston or New Orleans without home court advantage.
Posted by: Benjamin | August 05, 2008 at 05:04 PM
LTLF,
you wrote: The Lakers don't NEED to improve their defense to beat Boston.
They need to add different looks to their offense for when
Boston disrupts their initial look.
With respect, I disagree. See Game 4 and that whipping we took in Game 6.
While you're at it look at Games 1 & 2 also. To be explicit, when you're up
by 24 in the first half and you lose the game ... it means you couldn't get stops.
Regardless of if you turned over the ball or got in foul trouble ... You couldn't
get stops. Even worse is that it was bench/role players who put it to us.
It *seems* that people today focus on offense. It's more glamorous. When you
look at the 50 best players to play the game you find a fair number of defensively
skilled players. The defense of Australia and Russia has been quite interesting
and enlightening to watch. I'm very curious to see the defense of Spain and Greece
vs. Team USA.
Posted by: hobbitmage | August 05, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Man, I totally forgot about Mihm. Talk about another wild card! He seems up for a physical challenge, but I wonder if he's strong enough to do much about it. Jazz, Portland, Pistons, Celtics might manhandle him.
In other news, According to Gilbert Arenas, this is Kwame's year!
So, there it is. Mike T will proven right. And we will all be proven fools.
http://my.nba.com/forum.jspa?forumID=400032200
Posted by: Benjamin | August 05, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Oh yeah,
Later in the same blog Gilbert has some comments about the pictures of his pool that were on the net.
The guy's web page says he got retroactive permission to post them.
Gilbert's pretty hung up on one fact, that the pool isn't done so you're not actually seeing his pool.
No, it's not the the privacy that really bothers him, he just doesn't want you thinking you know how cool his pool is because it's totally better now.
Posted by: Benjamin | August 05, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Agree
Posted by: Kiwi | August 05, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Arenas says this is Kwame's year?
The guy says Kwame is going to a "quieter city" and now he's out of "these big city markets"? Let me see: Detroit is bigger than Washington isn't it?
The reason why Kwame will do well is because he's going to a team that emphasis' team basketball and whose focus is defense first.
Gilbert is just saying this stuff because he knows Kwame is going to do well in that environment and then people will say: Why not sooner?
Because Michael Jordan, Gilbert Arenas and Kobe Bryant were ballhogs and those team did not play team ball and played very little defense. Michael Jordan was trying to be Michael Jordan at 40 years of age. Gilbert Arenas was barely coming to Washington to make a name for himself. And Kobe was just coming out of the Shaq years and was making up for all the scoring he missed from having to play 2nd fiddle to Shaq.
In other words: All three situation were with guy who dominated the ball and did not play team ball at all.
Now that's going to change and Arenas says: This is Kwame's year? Gee, I wonder why.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | August 05, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Pfunk,
"How did you come to the conclusion that Kenny Thomas would have been dead weight? What is your dead weight criteria?P.S. Be careful with your explanation (if you have one) because I will use it as a standard to judge other players. P.S.S. If you choose not to respond I will assume your opinion is (PFA)."
Wow. So much pressure, especially considering how "difficult" and "intimidating" the question. I doubt I'll ever be more "careful" (at anything, in my life, period) than I am right now answering you.
(Deep breath... Exhale)
Well, I would regard Kenny Thomas as "dead weight" in part because the rest of the GM's around the league seem to think so. The Kings worked very hard trying to make other teams take on Thomas as part of a deal for Artest, which demonstrates how the Sacto doesn't really want him. That nobody bit demonstrates that he wasn't really wanted at all, especially as a backup at 8 mil per season through 2010. That's an awful lot to pay for a guy whose minutes will already be limited by Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. For that matter, Thomas isn't close to as good a player as Lamar Odom, who the Lakers would lose in the deal.
Throw in the fact that Thomas' production has also steadily dropped over the last few seasons (and absolutely flatlined in 2008), he couldn't find PT this year in a Kings frontcourt that's hardly among the league's best and was missing Shareef Abdur-Rahim for basically the entire season, and has something of a prickly rep, I think referring to him as "dead weight" in this trade scenario would be fair enough.
That said, if you think Kenny Thomas is the missing piece whose absence is standing in the way of a title, feel free to throw out why. I must have missed the part where you actually explained why my opinion seemed so off base.
Also, can I get an ETA on when you predictably use these words (likely out of context) as ammo against Luke Walton and try to paint me as a bigger supporter of his game and 2008 season than I've actually been? That's a day I figure I'll need to be extra "careful," so I'd love some advance notice, if at all possible.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 05, 2008 at 06:48 PM