Caught in the Web: Lakers' off-season heating up
Lakers links
--The Times' Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner report that the Lakers are considering offering Jordan Farmar a one-year, $3-million contract in order to avoid losing him as an unrestricted free agent. The report also quotes a source familiar with the thinking of the Lakers' front office who says the Andrew Bynum trade rumors are "ridiculous."
--The Times' Mark Heisler muses over all the hoopla regarding LeBron James' free agency.
--The Times' Chris Erskine manages to track down Ron Artest's psychologist.
--ESPN Los Angeles' Andy Kamenetzky breaks down the free agent options at forward and center, and which players would be a good fit for the Lakers.
--Ball Don't Lie's Trey Kerby makes fun of Pau Gasol's singing, pitching and post-game celebrations.
--ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne talks to a team source who says money has nothing to do with Phil Jackson's uncertainty on whether he'll come back to coach.
--NBA.com's Sekou Smith argues that if Brian Shaw coaches Cleveland, the move would improve the Cavaliers' chances in keeping James.
--The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst reports that talks between Cleveland and Shaw ended without him being offered a contract.
--Silver Screen and Roll's Gil Meriken breaks down the high volume of fouls in the Lakers-Celtics series.
Tweet of the Day:"I played the second quarter in game seven with a weggie. Super uncomfortable" -- RONARTESTCOM (Lakers forward Ron Artest)
Reader Comment of the Day:"I really hope Pj returns. It makes this championship bitter sweet if he leaves." -- Charles
-- Mark Medina
Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
Photo: Lakers Coach Phil Jackson's coaching future with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will likely be decided this week. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times.
MM,
Nice to see you throwing your 2 cents in on some blog posts, I like it.
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After all the complaining about Fish this past year, everyone (except moi) who has listed a roster for next year shows Fish as the starter.
What happened to everyone who wanted Fish to come off the bench and mentor a new starter?
Posted by: Art - FL Laker Fan | June 30, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Once a championship team is constructed Bynum, Gasol, Odom, Artest, Bryant, Fisher, Blake, Sasha, Walton, Ebanks, Carater is in place. That is 11 deep already.
Mitch needs to fill up the roster, the ones that will sit in the bench for most part, cheaply but with the intent of having a deeper bench. A thrd option at PG, SF, C will determine whether next years Lakers will be deeper or not.
The addition of Blake, Ebanks and Caracter is a strategic move for a much needed talent at that position which was sorely missing last year.
Posted by: Staples 24 | June 30, 2010 at 01:02 PM
MM,
During the season you would jump into the blog and let us know when a new thread was about to go up.
Be nice if you continue that.
Posted by: Art - FL Laker Fan | June 30, 2010 at 01:02 PM
Art - FL Laker Fan - Hey sorry about that. You are right I did put new postings up. I need to do a better job with just not trying to do too many things at once. Anyway, there are two posts up - one on Andrew Bynum and the one from Brad Turn about Shannon Brown opting out of his contract.
MM
Posted by: Mark Medina | June 30, 2010 at 01:14 PM
To the Bynum critics,
Jerry Buss is a great owner he is not going to give up Bynum, he knows he is the best compliment to Kobe and Gasol. You say he is often injured but he is not. TWO of the major were not caused by his own body but rather, a basketball accident that can happen to anybody, his own teammates Odom and kobe caused it, not him. Getting back from those injury showed he can recover and got back even better. Bynum's chemistry with his teammates just went to another level after winning two NBA tiltes, that is something you all need to think about. His teammates now has a HUGE respect for him after playing HURT all throughout the playoffs and still MANAGE TO CONTRIBUTE IN A BIG MANNER!!! That is TEAM SPIRIT hobbitmage and kblitz CAN NOT UNDERSTAND and can not and will ever not break the LAKERS CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM as long as Jerry Buss is the owner.
Posted by: Staples 24 | June 30, 2010 at 01:25 PM
Staple24/rdlee
You both bring up team chemistry and its importance.
You both have a major point there, very important!!
Posted by: Art - FL Laker Fan | June 30, 2010 at 02:45 PM
How is it that all of the roster scenarios I see posted have the Lakers signing 5-6 quality veterans as free agents? Do you all know something about the salary cap that I don't? Even if they all signed for the vet min (which is unlikely for most of the names I see listed) the Lakers would be in the same financial position as they were this season. All of this while the Lakers are claiming they want to cut costs? Something has got to give.
Posted by: Bay to LA | June 30, 2010 at 03:28 PM
It always seems that when the chips are down, the Lakers start heating up. I am not a fan of the Lakers, but I do respect the coaching and the players. They never give up and they have the reputation that proves that.
Posted by: Hvac Man | January 03, 2011 at 03:29 PM