NBA Off-Season

[jilbagh]

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?

we have the 1M, 2.5M, and a 5M exemptions available this year.

Fox 5.3M, Rush 1.5M Walton 650K, Butler 1.8M, Payton 5.3M is off in 2005,
Grant 13.3M, Cook 1.3M, 2005
George 5.1 M 2006
Odom 9.6 2008/9
Kobe 20M 2011

Thats what i can get from the top of my head. We'll be OK. We'll be able to make our run for big men like Amare, Thomas, Ratliff, or a PG.

[loseyourname]

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.

Fox might retire anyway. If he, GP, and Grant together are more than 15% over the contract of Kidd, the Nets could always send a second player. I wouldn't mind getting Brian Scalabrine to come off the bench every now and then and pull a shot blocker out of the paint with his perimeter shooting. I don't know if they'd give him up though.

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.

You could be right, but they need size more than they need five or six talented swingmen. Ideally, I'd send Devean George and Brian Cook for Tyson Chandler, but I don't know if the Bulls would go for that. Either way, having a 7-footer that can block shots and run the floor never hurts, especially when he isn't expected to produce all that much (they'll already have more than enough scorers).

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

I'd rather get Vlade. He won't play and D, but there aren't any centers for him to guard anyway. Karl can take care of guarding the superstar fours in the west. They just need a big man that can pass and shoot, a better version of Luc Longley. Vlade would be perfect in that role, even if he'd get rolled over the two times the Lakers have to face the heat.

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.

Picking up Person would be great, because the one thing that lineup doesn't have is a pure shooter, although Rush could become one. The one concern I had was no backup point guard, although I figured with Lamar Odom and Kobe on the team (both are capable of playing point if they need to), the Lakers could pick up some scrub on his last legs. Heck, is Charlie Ward still available?

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?

The Lakers, as is, are already $10 million over the cap. They won't be going under anytime soon, with or without Kidd. I think he's more than worth it. Just look at the difference between what Chauncey Billups was able to do to the Lakers and what he was able to do to the Nets.

[jilbagh]

Damn it lose! it all your fault, I had a dream last night with J Kidd, Kobe, Odom, and Medvedenko tearin it up and winning the title...blah!!!

[dstyle]

The Lakers need big men, a Dampier or Divac would help.

[jilbagh]

The Lakers need big men, a Dampier or Divac would help.

Armenian National Center Armen Hovanessian 7'1" 260

[dstyle]

Hehe, can't wait for the day an Armenian makes it, I feel like its close. wooooo.

[jilbagh]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1842289

"If you ask me right now," Divac added, "it's going to be the Lakers."

[loseyourname]

The signing of Vlade is official. If Karl resigns, they've got themselves a starting lineup and a pretty good backup center. They have guys that can penetrate and some damn good passers now. If they can sign a shooter or two, they've got themselves one heck of an offensive team.

The Queens signed Greg Ostertag.

[jilbagh]

Janerro Pargo is the word on to fill in the void of backup PG, Wesley Person and Keon Clark are other names being rumored.

We'll be younger (in some rotations), more athletic, a fun brand of basketball to play and watch. We have defese so dont compare to Dallas or Sacramento, and we have athleticism that wont be too erratic and will play the brand of ball more similar to showtime...we will play well together, we will compete, we will win over 50 games, we will surprise!!!

Expect the unexpected baby, the Lakers are gonna slide under your expectations and BAM BABY it's showtime back in LA LA Land baby!!!! I need to stop watching xxxxy V baby

[dstyle]

The defense is still suspect, who are you kidding. I agree the offense might be the most exciting in the NBA.