Well I'll tell you this much, the media scrutiny, if he becomes a Laker is going to be even more exaggerrated and he's going to have unfair expectations tagged to him right off the bat. Will a change of scenery set off the light bulb in Kwame's head and make basketball fun for him again? If you look back a lot of players have emerged after leaving the Wizards, which is a positive. Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace to name a few. At one point Rip Hamilton was Michael Jordan's whipping boy, but after he left the Wizards and matured he actually praised Jordan for being hard on him. I'm not sure if the same will translate with Kwame Brown. He doesn't have the college experience and winning experience Hamilton had playing at UConn, also Hamilton went to the right system and had a great teacher in Larry Brown.
It's nice to see that the Lakers are trying to improve the roster due to last year's disaster. However, I got to say to the Lakers ONE DEAL AT A TIME! They are also talking to Antonio Daniels, and they should focus on him first, and when they are sure to get him, they should trade Chucky Atkins along with Caron Butler for Kwame Brown. Then the starting five looks like this (unless if there's another trade which I think is very possible): PG Antonio Daniels SG Kobe Bryant SF Lamar Odom PF Kwame Brown C Andrew Bynum That is a very respectable lineup.
There's no doubt that Kwame has the talent and athleticism. The only question mark on his head is whether he'll get the motivation to reach his potential. So this is where it can get interesting... MJ's motivation techniques on Kwame did not work at all. Some people get motivated by getting mentally beat down...so then they're motivated to prove people wrong. Then there are some people that have to be encouraged and have to be told "its ok if you screw up; just learn from your mistakes and move on." If Kwame is the latter, then having someone like MJ calling him a "******" is not gonna do him any good. PJ has been dubbed as the master motivator by some, so perhaps he can bring out the potential in Kwame. On the otherhand, if there's anyone out there that has a passion/competitive fire in them like MJ, it would be Kobe. Would Kobe be hard on Kwame just like MJ was? Or perhaps would Kobe look back at MJ's mistakes and figure out how to make Kwame better?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Well I'll tell you this much, the media scrutiny, if he becomes a Laker is going to be even more exaggerrated and he's going to have unfair expectations tagged to him right off the bat. Will a change of scenery set off the light bulb in Kwame's head and make basketball fun for him again? If you look back a lot of players have emerged after leaving the Wizards, which is a positive. Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace to name a few. At one point Rip Hamilton was Michael Jordan's whipping boy, but after he left the Wizards and matured he actually praised Jordan for being hard on him. I'm not sure if the same will translate with Kwame Brown. He doesn't have the college experience and winning experience Hamilton had playing at UConn, also Hamilton went to the right system and had a great teacher in Larry Brown.</div> Oh yeah, and to ShapeCity, true Rip did go to a good system under one of the league's finest Larry Brown, but Kwame may be heading to a system run by Phil Jackson, which isn't that bad either. And, like Jordan, Kobe is going to make Kwame his "whipping boy."
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CIX:</div><div class="quote_post">The local sports radio station in DC just read the details on the Kwame-Caron trade, which is (apparently) a done deal once Kwame meets with Kupchak. Kwame goes to Lakers, gets 3-year deal Caron (last year of contract), 2006 first-round pick, George/Atkins/Divac to Wizards; the host said that Divac was most likely because neither team will hesitate to dump him. </div>Anyone have confirmation on this? Original post...
Kwame Brown has a lot of potential, to be really good or a complete bust. I hate to say this, but he's too much of a risk. When a team is in a situation like the lakers you cannot afford to take too many risks. Teams that are sitting pretty (Pistons, Spurs etc) can afford to take risks because they are already in a position to do so. The lakers need to take low risk sure thing deals for another year or so. Andrew Bynum was already a huge risk, why take on another? Another risk at the exact same position I might ad. Oh- and everyone thats screaming about Kwame dropping 30 on Chris webber....so what??? It's CHRIS WEBBER. We all know dude can't jump no more, and didn't play defense before he got injured anyways. Don't put so much stock in those 30 points just because it was against a house hold name.
Did you see the moves that were displayed that game? No. During the final 3 months or so of that season, Kwame was taking it to top level PF's such as Garnett, Jermaine O'neal, Chris Webber, and such. He has ousted Jermaine O'neal many times in the past, he gets up for big challenges like that when he is fed the ball.
Plzz no! Not for this Kwame Brown .. i hate him..if Lakers makes this deal then we are 2006 lottery team again!!:'(
Losing Vlade...I don't like that, he could teach Bynum A LOT about passing out of the post, now he will be able to teach Haywood that if the deal is true....which doesn't bother me either...I love both teams.
Kwame=Benoit Benjamin <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post"> he gets up for big challenges like that </div> Challenges like the playoffs-no, challenges like MJ calling out his manhood-no, so far all he has done is shrink away, he hasn't stood up to anything.
With the way things are sounding, it sounds like this deal is pretty much done.. Lakers get: Kwame Brown for 3 years and about 17 mill Wizards get: Caron Butler, Miami's first rounder next year, and either Devean/Vlade (he'll be released by Washington)/or Atkins.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post">Challenges like the playoffs-no, challenges like MJ calling out his manhood-no, so far all he has done is shrink away, he hasn't stood up to anything. </div> He did get up for the playoffs. He scored 12 points in the first half on game 1 and the guards denied him the ball after that. He didn't get one shot in the second half, if the guards aren't passing you the ball...there isn't much you can do. He stood up for himself to Eddie Jordan and Ernie Grunfeld about the situation, and they suspended him...not much you can do after that. As for the Jordan thing, he was 18...still learning the league, I don't think anyone would stand up to the game's greatest player at that young age...it is a little disrespectful if you ask me.
This deal is getting worse, now the Lakers have to give up their 2006 1st Round pick (via Miami) for Kwame Brown. This means the Lakers have no 1st Round picks next year, since we also have to give up the pick to the Celtics, which will then be sent to the Hawks. Out of Divac, Atkins, and George, it better be Devean George. Vlade Divac should be kept on to teach Bynum, unless there's an understanding he'll re-sign with the Lakers after he's cut by the Wizards. I don't like Chucky Atkins, but he's a decent back-up guard off the bench, and at least has some trade value because he's a veteran, can shoot, and he is in the final year of his contract.
More news for ya fellas... <div class="quote_poster">Quoting David Aldridge:</div><div class="quote_post"> About an hour ago David Aldridge was on the John Thompson Show, espn 980(local radio for DC area residents) explaining how serious the trade is and what teams could be trading for Kwame. D.A. basically said that the Lakers were the only team that had the pieces to trade for Kwame Brown. At this point David Aldridge said the Lakers are the only team the Wizards could deal with. He said it would be Caron and another player (he singled Vlade) for Kwame. No draft pick involved. He expects Vlade to be cut.</div>
Ok, this makes a lot more sense if the Lakers don't have to give up the Draft Pick, and Kwame Brown will be making $17 million for 3 years, instead of $40 Million for 5 years. Kwame Brown at just under $6 Million a season is a bargain I can deal with. This lowers the immediate expectations on Kwame Brown, and I don't think there's a chance in hell Caron Butler would re-sign for that amount of money. A 3 year deal at that price is also good because the Lakers will still have some cap flexibility in 206/07. Hopefully Vlade Divac is cut, and comes back to the Lakers for the vet minimum.
Hopefully it is a great one...come on...this deal is all but done, rumors have it that Kwame and Mitch just have to meet...and the deal is done!
I guess i'm down for this but then I see that the miami 2006 draft pick is involved, and i think that if Mitch puts this into the equation, he is giving away the farm. I mean lets be serious if the season ends early that draft pick is all laker fans have to look forward to over the summer considering the celtics get our pick. If this is contengent on the pick I say don't do it. I know that butler can be a bargaining chip next year or how wait till midseason, Billy King will be dying to trade sombody.. Dalembert anyone?
