I guess the deal is final now. Butler and Atkins for Kwame. I dont know how much that puts Kwames salary at but i dont think its only 5.6.
Yeah...where does it say it's final??? And phreeze is right- there's no way we're picking up a FA with that much potential for not much more than the mid-level exception. Basically this trade could potentially be great. Could potentially suck. But if he's at that price we gotta take him. I just don't see Kwame having the hunger that is needed to be great in the west.
ok now that chucky and butler (both possible PG for next season) are out of the lineup, i think a daniels signing (or another PG) would indeed be in the works--or else they won't have any PG for next season. i think odom and kwame both have similar athleticism and positions although odom can also do SF. but i think it'll work, phil will have more options on his offense--either kwame, odom, or bryant. the center might be there for purposes of rebounding or interior defense. but offense will rotate between the 2 KB's and LO.
Jerry Buss=Howard Hughes=Lakers<Clippers <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Am i the only one who thinks this trade is crazy for the Lakers? Caron has proven that he can put up great numbers and shouldn't be wasted on a lazy bust just waiting for a stupid team to sign him to a huge deal. Not only could the Lakers get a better player but they just drafted a future C and a future PF, if Kwame is still a project it will only slow their development and the Lakers will still have a hole in their roster for a few years. Why not trade Caron + filler for an S&T Swift or Abdur-Rahim?</div> You are exactly right, and every other intelligent basketball fan can see the same thing. This move is just another disaster that started with the Shaq fiasco and proves that Jerry Buss is locked in a room somewhere watching his beard and fingernails grow while Mitch Cupcake dismantles the once greatest franchise in the NBA.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Trading Butler makes sense as he is very desirable but I dont think Kwame is a good fit. I dont think he is a headcase as much as that he has no skill and no where to go. He wont fill any need for you that Turiaf and Bynum dont already cover, he is more raw than either of them. I dont understand why the Lakers are pursuing someone to be a presence when their rookies are better than he is.</div> OMG Thank you, exactly what I wanted to say. While buss just falls back and does who knows what, partying with women 20 years younger drinkin' the good stuff, Kupcakes is ruining everything.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post">You are exactly right, and every other intelligent basketball fan can see the same thing. This move is just another disaster that started with the Shaq fiasco and proves that Jerry Buss is locked in a room somewhere watching his beard and fingernails grow while Mitch Cupcake dismantles the once greatest franchise in the NBA.</div> With all due respect I think you guys are nuts -- this trade is potentially a blockbuster for the Lakers. Brown came to league very young and had a rocky start, but he probably is dying for a "fresh start" right now to prove himself and now he has that fresh start. Do you think Brown likes the image he's gotten in the league after coming in with such fanfare?? NO! He's got something to prove, and this is his chance! Think about it. Butler is a good player but this team needs talented front court players. What's more is I wouldn't be surprised if Brown's contract is lower than you'd expect (unless a bidding war starts) simply because he hasn't put up numbers in the NBA. This makes him an attractive buy for a team like us looking for young talent in the front court. JMHO.
...one more thing. I very much agree with the guy who said you have to look at Brown's numbers when he is fed the ball. His stat sheet belies his true ability -- BIGTIME.
The deal is Butler & Atkins or George for Kwame Brown, so this makes his deal closer to $6.5 Million - $7 Million range a season instead of the earlier report of $5.6 Million. It's a two year deal, with a team option for the third year, so the Lakers can make a run in 2007 free agent market still. The Lakers have become a team full of projects with this trade, and are going to have to cross their fingers a couple of these players pan out. Having Kwame Brown on a short deal, does give the Lakers some options and lowers the risk, but if he continues to struggle, the Lakers are wasting two years of Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom's career. This means Kwame is going to have to step in right away and show something, otherwise the Lakers are going to be a disaster. I hope he comes into the situation with something to prove and realizes the risk the Lakers took on him. <u>POSITIVES</u> Here's a few positives to consider on the deal. Part of Phil Jackson's negotiations included the power for him to be involved in any trades the team made. So we at least know Phil Jackson was on board when this deal went down, and he must feel confident he can reach Kwame Brown and challenge him. The Lakers now have an athletic, young frontcourt and more size than last season. Kwame Brown has the ability to play Power Forward or Center for the team, and should take pressure off Chris Mihm holding down the middle. Kwame 6-11 / 248 Mihm 7-0 / 265 Bynum 7-0 / 285 Divac 7-1 / 260 Turiaf 6-10 / 245 Grant 6-9 / 254 Let's keep in mind there were other teams after Kwame Brown once the Wizards made him available. Our favorite Heat, Shaq O'neal even made a personal phone call to Kwame Brown asking him to come aboard. Jermaine O'neal pleaded for the Pacers to trade for him. Jerry West was allegedly willing to trade Lorenzen Wright and two 1st round picks for Kwame. The Knicks were willing to trade Mike Sweetney + fillers for him. The Lakers beat out all those teams to land Kwame Brown. Laker fans can take some satisfaction that GM Shaq lost out to GM Mitch in the Kwame Brown sweepstakes (assuming everything works out.) Majority of the time trading a small for a big, works out in favor of the team getting bigger. It's easier to find and replace a Caron Butler than landing an athletic big man with Kwame's skill set. <u>NEGATIVES</u> Now the negatives of course is Kwame Brown breaks down mentally because he is going to have tremendous pressure on him right from the get go. Caron Butler was a fan favorite, a team player, a potential star in the league, and a media favorite here in LA. Kwame Brown has to step in and make Laker fans forget about Caron Butler and his performance is going to be gauged on what Butler is doing in Washington. Was this really the best deal available for Caron Butler? Couldn't the team have waited to see how the Triangle with Butler-Kobe-Odom worked out? Even Tex Winters said the potential of those 3 could run the Triangle better than Kobe-Shaq did. Should the Lakers have inflated Butler's value more to get a better deal? How does this effect the team chemistry of Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant? Both players were close with Butler and Odom even called concerned about Butler being involved in a trade rumor a few weeks ago. Odom himself is mentally fragile and not having his buddy around could keep him in a funk all season long. Kobe Bryant is possibly going to have to deal with rumors he played GM and had Butler traded. Will Kwame Brown slow the development of the rookies, Ronny Turiaf and Andrew Bynum? With two project bigmen, the Lakers are going to have to deal with questions regarding the draft. If they knew they were going to trade Butler for a big man, why didn't they draft Gerald Green or Danny Granger? Phil Jackson is going to take some heat for asking Butler to drop weight to play PG this season and seeing Butler do everything he asked for, only to be traded for a player who's been career bust up to this point. And of course, the question on everyone's mind will be the Lakers now traded Shaq O'neal for Odom, Grant, Kwame, & a future 1st Round pick.
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...to_kwame_trade/ I don't really like it that much for the Wizards. Caron is a good player and all, but he doesn't fill much of a need, and considering their was the possible Marshall and MoPete offer, it's dissapointing. Caron can score, but he's not much of an outside shooter, and not really a versatile player in the Larry Hughes mode. Arenas will again be solely taking control of the backcourt, which will benefit his numbers, but with only one good ball handler/playmaker in the starting lineup, I'm not sure how the team will fare. I like it for the Lakers, Kwame isn't as bad as too many people are making him out to be, he's a good player, and if he comes in healthy, he'll give at least 11-13 points, 7-9 rebounds to the team at the PF spot, a likely more.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kwame 6-11 / 248 Mihm 7-0 / 265 Bynum 7-0 / 285 Divac 7-1 / 260 Turiaf 6-10 / 245 Grant 6-9 / 254</div> Kwame is officially 7'0"5 [that's what he measured last year in the Wiz training camp], and 260 lbs right now. Last training camp he was 275 lbs as he gained weight in order to be able to play center, but he lost some of it, and now is likely in the 255-265 lbs range. He moves like a SF, really you should see some clips of him when he's actually playing well, he's got about a 35 inch vertical, and he's a very good passer out of the post. Now getting him to put all that together will be to interesting part, though he did show a great work ethic all summer last year till he got injured, and then got ignored in the team offense, then it all went downhill.
IT has been agreed to in principle...that means it's all but final, they are just waiting for July 22nd to roll around to sign the papers
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Kwame is officially 7'0"5 [that's what he measured last year in the Wiz training camp], and 260 lbs right now. Last training camp he was 275 lbs as he gained weight in order to be able to play center, but he lost some of it, and now is likely in the 255-265 lbs range. He moves like a SF, really you should see some clips of him when he's actually playing well, he's got about a 35 inch vertical, and he's a very good passer out of the post. Now getting him to put all that together will be to interesting part, though he did show a great work ethic all summer last year till he got injured, and then got ignored in the team offense, then it all went downhill.</div> Thanks for the updates on Kwame's size, that's even better, more height and more size on the frontline. I posted a video highlight reel of Kwame in this thread, and there is potential for Kwame. Hopefully he can do the things he did in the highlights consistently, every game for the Lakers.
For the people thinking Kwame won't survive under Kobe because he couldn't survive under MJ...remeber that Kobe and Kwame share a couple of things in common ... one being the initials KB (haha I had to point this out, thanks to Shapecity we've got the nickname KB Squared), and the important one...they were both taken right out of HS. MJ was prepared for the league compared to these two. I think Kobe will take this kid under his wing, like he did Caron, and trust him to become the player he is supposed to be. Kobe is smart, he won't let this opportunity go to waste.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">For the people thinking Kwame won't survive under Kobe because he couldn't survive under MJ...remeber that Kobe and Kwame share a couple of things in common ... one being the initials KB (haha I had to point this out, thanks to Shapecity we've got the nickname KB Squared), and the important one...they were both taken right out of HS. MJ was prepared for the league compared to these two. I think Kobe will take this kid under his wing, like he did Caron, and trust him to become the player he is supposed to be. Kobe is smart, he won't let this opportunity go to waste.</div> With the Kobe and Kwame high school preperation comment. Your forgetting the talent of Kobe compared to Kwame and Kobe's passion and work ethic compared to Kwame. Kobe is something special, you rarely get many superstars like him from high school. This season when we were getting beat, did you see Kobe faking a stomach virus and being seen eating at a Chinese restaurant? No, Kobe came back earlier and played with an injury. Caron is so much better than Kwame in different ways. Its not always about size and potential. Kwame is just someone who had hype created about him because MJ picked him. If a legend never picked him, no hype would be created about him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting aid1961:</div><div class="quote_post">shape I'm not seeing the kwame video you posted. ??</div> My bad it was in another thread here it is again ... Kwame Highlights
Was listening to the radio show today and they gave a background on Kwame Brown, he's had a rough and depressing upbringing. For starters, two of his brothers have long term jail sentences for robbery and assault, they mentioned one was for 12 years, and one was for 7 years I believe. Two of his other brothers have a rap sheet. He grow up watching his father beat his mom, and his father is serving a life sentence for murdering an ex-girlfriend by beating her to death with an axe handle. He has not seen his father since he was 7 years old, and refuses to acknowledge him. After hearing all that it's no surprise Kwame Brown has some issues, and he deserves credit for getting this far with that upbringing. Hopefully he can find a father figure in Phil Jackson and can learn to cope with a lot of those inner deamons. Also ESPN reported it's officially Chucky Atkins and Caron Butler. So the Lakers are still stuck with Devean George.
