The Lakers have some obvious holes on their roster after analyzing the first two preseason games. There's a lack of understanding within the Triangle and on defense. This won't be a quick fix, but everyone seems dedicated to working hard and learning it. This summer the Lakers knew they would need to add depth at the PG position. Even though the Triangle offense doesn't require a traditonal PG, the Lakers didn't do enough to shore up the position. Aaron McKie was brought in, but he's not a perimeter threat and he's not very good from behind the arc. Smush Parker has been a pleasant surprise, but not someone you can count on when the game is on the line. Neither are the specialists the Lakers need on the court in crunch time. One player I would like to see the Lakers acquire is Tony Delk. It's not a blockbuster move, but a shrewd move that will benefit the team. Tony Delk is a 3point specialist and isn't going to be a liability on defense. He doesn't have a future with the Hawks, and his contract ends this season. He makes a little under $3.5Million a season, so the Lakers could trade Slava Medvedenko for him. Slava would probably fit better in Atlanta, and he's still young and has some potential. Slava is simply lost in the Triangle. I would even throw in a 2nd Round pick to get Delk on board. After the Lakers add Delk they can cut Tony Bobbitt and Will Conroy. This opens up two roster spots to work out the other area the Lakers need to improve in, the frontline. The Lakers need to add some bulk and nastyness on the inside. They need a player or two who isn't afraid to dish out hard fouls and won't be punked on the inside. I really wanted the Lakers to go after Alan Henderson in the off-season after Turiaf was diagnosed with a heart condition, but the Cavs landed his services. Danny Fortson would be the ideal canidate, but the Lakers don't have the pieces to offer the Sonics, and the Sonics would be reluctant to trade him to a team in the West. The best free agent for the Triangle system would be Christian Laettner. He's not very mobile anymore, but he can do the things you need from a center in the Triangle. He has a high IQ for starters. He's a great passer, can hit the open shot in the high post, and is money from the free throw line. Laettner also doesn't mind mixing it up down low and sets great picks for his guards. Adding Delk and Laettner would help round out the roster without giving up much. PG - Delk/Parker/Vujacic SG - Bryant/McKie/Wafer SF - Odom/Walton/George PF - Brown/Laettner/Cook C - Mihm/Bynum/Blount IL - Turiaf Jumaine Jones is missing, because I expect him to be traded before the start of the season. He hasn't fit into PJax's system thus far and has been the forgotten man on the bench.
I agree there are many holes in the system. But remember that a lot of these guys are still trying to learn the triangle. I only saw the first game and everyone looked tense at first. The subs actually played better for the most part in the first stint. I don't really care if they win in the preseason because PJ is just trying different things to see if they will work. Hopefully by the start of the season he will have a lot of the bugs worked out.
