NBA Off-Season

[dstyle]

Hehe I was using sarcasm. Shaq had 30 million reosens a year to be loyal, yet, well you guys know the rest.

[Sip]

Now what will be really funny is if next year shaq and kobe face each other in the finals!!!! And then kobe kicks shaq's ass and takes him to school ... hahahahahahahhaah

[jilbagh]

we can run now and not wait for shaq to catch up. we have players that have good work ethic and will show to camp in shape and on time. we have players that won't put up any grief on any matter. we have players that will show up to games, and attempt to play every game. we have players that won't miss 20 games from being too tired cause they didn't show up in shape...

we have a hard working, young and athletic core of players that will be tough to defend and play with

[Hogg]

When was the last season that the Lakers making the playoffs was questionable, 1993-1994?

[jilbagh]

i dont know but bring on the non believers...bring it fuqn on cause we will be tough to keep up with!

[loseyourname]

The heirarchy as I see it now looks about like this. Minnesota (if Sam Cassell stays healthy) and San Antonio are definitely better than the Lakers. Sacramento (if C-Webb isn't through and Brad Miller can have another monster year) is better than the Lakers. Houston can be better than the Lakers, but we'll have to see how they turn out. They have no point guard and have no depth right now. Tracy McGrady isn't that great of a ballhandler and lords knows whether he can play off the ball, which he'll have to do when they feed Yao every time down the court. That's four teams that are likely to be better than the Lakers, but who knows? Sacramento and Minnesota both have a lot of aging players and we've seen some teams get old overnight.

The Suns will be better, but they won't be better than the Lakers. I have no idea what Dallas is going to be this year. Can Marquis Daniels and Josh Howard play well as major contributors over the length of a full season? They'll still score with Nowitski, Finley, and Stackhouse, but Finley and Stackhouse have been injured a lot the last two seasons. Denver will be much improved and they're going to run a ton. Them, the Suns, and the Grizzlies are the three teams that probably can keep up with the Lakers.

Anyway, as it stands, San Antonio, Minnesota, and Sacramento are the elite teams going into the season. They'll be the favorites to snag the top three seeds. After that, who knows? Houston, Dallas, Memphis, Denver, and the Lakers will likely round out the seeding. Either the Jazz, Suns, or Trailblazers can easily get in there as well. It's going to be a very deep and well-balanced conference after those top three teams. Don't forget about New Orleans joining in, either. I do think the Lakers will make the playoffs, but it isn't going to be easy. It won't be easy for anybody. A lot depends on who they get to fill the middle. Will it be Vlade? Keon Clark? Erick Dampier? Theo Ratliff? Let's just hope it doesn't come to Greg Ostertag.

[jilbagh]

my head hurts to read all that..

so all i'll say is that there is still time left to get a roster somewhat set for training camp as far as the core goes. Still down a big man, a pg, waiting for Slava to agree to his multi-year contract offer and over staffed at the 3, look for another trade to go down soon to fill in one of those key positions.

[loseyourname]

Ideal moves:

1) Payton, Rick Fox, and Brian Grant, along with a couple of draft picks, to New Jersey for Jason Kidd.

Why it makes sense: New Jersey gets three proven players, a big man to fill in for K-Mart, $10 million worth of contracts that come off the books next year, then another $15 million that comes off three years from now. They can use all of their draft picks to rebuild around Richard Jefferson and sign a marquee free agent when they move to Brooklyn in three years, when they can offer a guy like Yao Ming or Amare Stoudemire a max contract to play in New York.

The Lakers get the game's premier point guard, and more importantly, a guy who can shut down the likes of Tony Parker and Mike Bibby. Kidd and Bryant make up unarguably the best starting backcourt in the history of the game.

2) Caron Butler and Brian Cook to Chicago for Tyson Chandler and cash.

Why it makes sense: Chicago doesn't like Chandler and they need a starting three. Butler gives them one and Cook gives them just as much size (if not as much height) as Chandler.

The Lakers get a former number-one draft pick who is 7-feet tall and nimble. He can come in off the bench for a season or two behind Vlade (probably - I'm guessing they won't get Dampier for the exception) and block shots. He'll learn from a great coach and some great players and maybe become the player Chicago thought he could be. A future starting PF/C.

3) Resign Karl and Slava, then bring in Vlade Divac with the midlevel and/or trade exception they have.

Starting lineup: Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Karl Malone, Vlade Divac.
Key backups: Kareem Rush, Devean George, Luke Walton, Slava Medvedenko, Tyson Chandler.
Scrubs: Sasha Vujacic and whoever else they drafted.

You have a team with a ton of depth, two excellent ballhandlers, six great passers, decent outside shooters, good size, and the game's best clutch player. The team is mostly young and athletic, with the ability to run or play the half-court, with good veteran leadership. Easily a championship contender.

Jerry West would have pulled this off. This is where Mitch Kupchak either proves himself or proves his critics correct.

[jilbagh]

1) Payton, Rick Fox, and Brian Grant, along with a couple of draft picks, to New Jersey for Jason Kidd.

thats too much, wont work within the salary cap, you dont need the draft picks. you could send GP or Fox with B Grant...it wont meet the 15% differential rule. I do like the idea of it, the play would fit in within the players type. But again, J Kidd needs to stay healthy.

I would package GP, Grant and the #1 from Miami. And buyout Fox's contract to open up 5.3M of cap space.

2) Caron Butler and Brian Cook to Chicago for Tyson Chandler and cash.

Thats too much talent to give up for Ty. There is a reason why they dont like Ty and it would be the same reason why we probably wont like him. It's another draft bust like Kwame Brown and Olowakandi.
Lakers will get better productivity with Butler/Cook. If Butler sticks after this season since he'll be a FA and the Lakes will have to re-sign Rush, Walton and Butler after this year.

3) Resign Karl and Slava, then bring in Vlade Divac with the midlevel and/or trade exception they have.

That will happen, if not Divac look for Chris Mihm, Keon Clark and Ostertag to get calls.

Starting lineup: Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Karl Malone, Vlade Divac.
Key backups: Kareem Rush, Devean George, Luke Walton, Slava Medvedenko, Tyson Chandler.
Scrubs: Sasha Vujacic and whoever else they drafted.

who's gonna back up J Kidd? Sasha is too raw even though he can play 3 spots on the floor. And will Malone stay without GP and Shaq? That leaves us with a weak bench, unless we open up cap space by waiving and buying out Fox and pick up a Wesley Person.

Jerry West would have pulled this off.

he already did his part by telling Kobe to stay a Laker.

This is where Mitch Kupchak either proves himself or proves his critics correct.

Fire him anyways...i hate his evil smile.

[Hogg]

I wouldn't want to take on Jason Kidd's contract. I'd rather have the Lakers have expiring contracts than the Nets. Unforunately, I don't know how much those guys leaving after this year is going to free up. Are we completely capped out until 2007 or we won't have any significant money under the cap until then?