Just my thoughts, some possible moves to improve Phil Jackson's new team... Move Number 1: Los Angeles Lakers Trade: PG Chuck Atkins, SF Caron Butler, PF Brian Cook Memphis Grizzlies Trade: PG Jason Williams & SG Andre Emmitt Coming off his worst season in a Memphis uniform, perhaps even of his NBA career, Jason Williams is likely to be shopped around this offseason. Why wouldn't The Lakers take a look at J-Will? As a very durable and a high assist point guard (6.8 Career average), Jason Williams may very well be a perfect fit in Los Angeles. Certainly LA isn't looking to enter the 2005-2006 NBA Season with Chuck Atkins as their starting point guard. I doubt Phil Jackson will stand for that. Move Number 2: Los Angeles Lakers Trade: SF/PF Lamar Odom The Utah Jazz Trade: PF Carlos Boozer It's no secret, The Utah Jazz are unhappy with Carlos Boozer, and I'm sure the late season injury didn't help. So the result, he's on the block. Lamar Odom also proved to be a strange fit in his new home in LA. Alongside Kobe Bryant isn't a dream come true, and in Utah he'd find the ball in his hands more often which his game thrives on. AK47, Lamar Odom, and Mehmet Okur? Not many teams have a more versatile frontline than that on both ends of the floor. Carlos Boozer would also likely become a much better fit than Lamar Odom. Boozer's 20 Points Per Game are mostly hussle stats. Tip Ins, offensive rebounds, short jump shots, fast breaks. Much different from Lamar's off the dribble, one on one breakdowns. Kobe would also benefit from a presense down low who he could drop the ball into and play off of, a bigmen who can actually play with his back to the basket. Move Number 3: Los Angeles Lakers Draft (No.10 Overall): The Senior Small Foward from Syracuse, Hakim Warrick. Following my proposed trade of Caron Butler, The Los Angeles Lakers could use a solid Swingmen Small Foward. Why not Hakim Warrick? He's agile, long, athletic, solid defensively, and gets to the free throw line on a regular basis. He was the big east player of the year and the 6'9" small foward from Syracuse may be a great fit alongside Kobe Bryant. Minor Transactions: Lakers Trade C Slava Medvedenko to Dallas for G Darrell Armstrong FINAL LINEUP PG: JASON WILLIAMS (Darrell Armstrong/Tierre Brown) SG: KOBE BRYANT (Devean George) SF: HAKIM WARRICK (Luke Walton/Jumaine Jones) PF: CARLOS BOOZER (Brian Grant/39th Overall Pick) C: CHRIS MIHM (Vlade Divac/37th Overall Pick)
So that would basically mean all that we got for SHAQ would end up being Jason Williams and Carlos Boozer? I'd rather keep what we have. Besides, Caron is worth way more than Jason Williams IMO.
Move number 1 wouuld be good except Butler is good for the triangle offense, and Jason Williams is good but they need a pass first point guard
Some interesting moves, but I think the Lakers could low-ball the Grizzlies for Jason Williams and not give up Butler. The Grizzlies and Jason Williams want to part ways, and the team is looking to trim the payroll. The Lakers have expiring contracts and 2nd round picks the Grizzlies are after. I think the Lakers could deal Atkins+George or Cook or Slava+#39 for Jason Williams. Odom straight up for Boozer is a little pricey also, if the Jazz were willing to give up #27 or Humphries in the deal then I would entertain it. Hakim Warrick will be a solid role player in the league, but at #10, there are better and younger prospects than Warrick.
I personally like that lineup alot better than the current roster, both depth wise and potential taken into account. I like Caron Butler, however his play isn't consistent enough for me. Jason Williams can play great basketball in the right situation, he's shown that in Sacramento and Memphis. I think nows a good time to snatch him, Lakers need a point guard, Williams wants out, and I'm sure they could pull off the deal. Boozer is a MUCH better fit than Lamar Odom, I'd take him on that roster in a heartbeat. I understand the dislike for Hakim Warrick, but he's skills alongside Kobe Bryant would improve his game in my opinion. That's all for Shaq? I'd much rather have Jason Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Brian Grant than Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, and Brian Grant. The trade wasn't even to begin with, you were just getting more starters for the long term in exchange for a disgruntled allstar who wanted out of LA and was on the backside of his career. You'll never get equal value for the big fella, it's just that simple. However, The Lakers need a low post presense, Carlos Boozer suits that need much better than Odom. Lakers need a point guard, Jason Williams is that guy. I look at it like this, it's very likely The Lakers at No.10 select Raymond Felton. I rather than Jason Williams and Hakim Warrick than Caron Butler and Raymond Felton. That's just my opinion though.
I like the combination of JWill and Warrick better than Butler and Felton as well. I think JWill is underrated because of the baggage he brings with him. However, if you look at his numbers he has one of the best assist/turnover ratios at 5 to 1. The only downside is his defense and would he be able to play in the Triangle. I see JWill thriving on an uptempo team where he can be more creative with the ball. What makes Caron valuable to the Lakers is his cheap contract. If the Lakers wanted JWill I think they could get him without giving up Butler, which means Warrick wouldn't be needed via the draft.
I like the move number one. If we do that, than we could use our 10th pick for a big man. I really don't want Hakim Warrick, he might end up like dorell wright.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jumpman:</div><div class="quote_post">I like the move number one. If we do that, than we could use our 10th pick for a big man. I really don't want Hakim Warrick, he might end up like dorell wright.</div> Dorell Wright? This kid is going to be a player once he gets the minutes. He has a lot more talent than Warrick, and if he keeps working hard I think he could be better than Dwayne Wade.
I agree with just about everybody, we don't need to give up Caron for Jwill....and I'm not sure if he'd even be a good fit in LA...The assists are great, but who's he going to be passing the ball to? Kobe? Crazy ol' 8 will either drive to the hoop or launch a 3... Lamar? Dude will put the ball on the floor and drive to the hoop or...come to think of it....launch a 3....I can't really think of anyone on the lakers that Jwill could or would make better. As for gettin rid of Lamar Odom...I think we should keep him for another year and see what effect Phil has on him; I think phil might pull some yoda/zenmaster **** and convince Lamar that HE IS scottie pippen...If that's the case then the Lakers will be back in the elite in no time, if not well then yeah pull the trigger Mitch and get Boozer and his enormous contract in here to eat up even more cap space. PS did I mention I hate Brian Grant?
I thought Phil Jackson was in love with Lamar Odom? I remember reading somewhere that he thought Odom was the perfect fit for the triangle offense. Maybe I'm wrong but I thought I saw it somewhere. Anyways, I think that they are going to end up trading up in the draft because it seems like there is a new rumor about the Lakers trading up every other second.
I don't know why Phil would want to trade up, I think he wants proven talent and character guys around Kobe, but who knows.
