Long-range Laker plans provided for a run at Yao Ming or Amare Stoudemire in summer 2007, but they signed maximum contracts to stay with their respective teams, leaving the Lakers, and others, rolling the calendar back to 2008 for the next crop of young free agents that could include LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak declined to comment specifically on the recent signings and pointed out other ways to enhance the roster. The Lakers will be below the salary cap after the 2006-07 season. "Cap flexibility is certainly a tool that would give us flexibility down the road," he said. "Draft choices, trade exceptions, talented young players are all ways to give us flexibility and a way to improve the team." Source First he said we are goin after the 07 plan. and that got totttttaly screwed up. Now he's goin for the 08 plan? I'll tell you this: Dwayne Wade, Melo, and Lebron will get they're contract extended by 08. Just like Yao Ming and Amare stoudemire. Im tellin you we need a new and much better GM. Mitch Sucks!!! All he's doing is screwing up the lakers! Fire his ***!!!
I agree, the Lakers needed to do more this off-season and they had the assets to get it done. I was really turned off when Kupchak said he never had a blueprint in place. It's shown in the roster moves the Lakers have made this off-season. The Lakers seem to be in limbo, and can't decide whether they are rebuilding or retooling their roster. Then Kupchak tries to sell everyone on the 2007 plan. Now the 2007 plan has carried over into the 2008 plan. Last time I checked the Lakers already have two impact players in Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom. Also what happens in 2007 when 95% of their roster will be free agents. Only Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom are signed past 2007 at this point. The Lakers don't need another impact player, and waiting two or three seasons to "potentially" land one is ridiculous. The Lakers did a great job of revamping the coaching staff with Phil Jackson, Tex Winters, Kareem, and Pippen. They will make a difference, but the Lakers still have the same personnel problems they had last season. LACK OF DEPTH! More specifically lack of depth at PG and in the frontline. The Lakers current lineup cannot afford a single injury to any of the starters. There is no one on the bench to step in and contribute consistently as a starter. If either Kwame Brown or Chris Mihm gets injured, the Lakers will have to count on Slava to play center. If Kobe gets injured, the Lakers have no one to pick up his scoring. At least last season Chucky and Caron could give you 15 to 20 points in Kobe's absence. This year the Lakers don't have anyone with those scoring capabilities. I was also disappointed in all the players the Lakers overlooked or couldn't close deals with. This leads me to believe Kupchak is not very creative or is not very effective as a GM. How can the Lakers watch role players like Marc Jackson, Dan Dickau, and Jason Hart be acquired for only 2nd round picks? Any of those players would have helped out immediately and given the team a better chance at making the playoffs this year.
I don't think having Slava as a 3rd tier center is too horrible a situation to be in. However the pg situation is pretty terrible and Mitch didn't do a good job of finding a pg to fill the need. I'm just wondering did Mitch also have an opportunity to sign Earl Watson for 2.5 mill a year? I believe I read that from an earlier thread.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think having Slava as a 3rd tier center is too horrible a situation to be in. However the pg situation is pretty terrible and Mitch didn't do a good job of finding a pg to fill the need. I'm just wondering did Mitch also have an opportunity to sign Earl Watson for 2.5 mill a year? I believe I read that from an earlier thread.</div> Slava is a small forward masquerading as an PF/C. He's just too, soft to play on the inside and a defensive liability. I forgot the Lakers added Corie Blount, but he's already 36 years old, and I'm not sure how much he can give this team. As a third option, playing minutes in garbage time, I have no problem with Slava. However, I cringe at the thought of either Kwame Brown or Chris Mihm getting injured and being forced to use Slava in heavy minutes. The Lakers didn't want to sign any free agent past 2 years, Earl Watson wanted a longer term deal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Slava is a small forward masquerading as an PF/C. He's just too, soft to play on the inside and a defensive liability. I forgot the Lakers added Corie Blount, but he's already 36 years old, and I'm not sure how much he can give this team. As a third option, playing minutes in garbage time, I have no problem with Slava. However, I cringe at the thought of either Kwame Brown or Chris Mihm getting injured and being forced to use Slava in heavy minutes. The Lakers didn't want to sign any free agent past 2 years, Earl Watson wanted a longer term deal.</div> alright, so the Lakers center position doesn't sound to terrible with Mihm, Brown, Blount, Slava (4th tier safe) However I think a 2.5 mill over 5 years would be a good contract, and quite cheap by nba standards. Even if the lakers were 12.5 mill under the cap in a couple of seasons opposed to 15 mill for their big offseason run. Because for the summer of 07 instead of having to fill 2 spots with 12.5 mill (6.25 mill per position) PG:Watson SG:Bryant SF:Odom They will have to fill 3 spots with 15 mill (5 mill per position)
I'm totally ignorant on this but who will start at PG for the Lakers? Does Jackson want Odom to play the point guard or would we see someone like Vujacic, Parker or Bobbit get the opportunity to earn the starting job?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm totally ignorant on this but who will start at PG for the Lakers? Does Jackson want Odom to play the point guard or would we see someone like Vujacic, Parker or Bobbit get the opportunity to earn the starting job?</div> I think it might be McKie/Vujacic in the first 3 quarters and Kobe wrapping it up in the 4th.
No way a GM should go through the whole off season without talking to his $10 mil coach about what he needs to have a balanced roster and be a contender. Jerry if you're tired of running the team, sell it or fire Mitch and get the job done. Laker fans deserve better.
