<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mitch called. He was in Europe, and apparently not in hiding. "I'm in the back of a cab in Milan," he said, and obviously Laker owner Dr. Jerry Buss is a big believer in perks, giving his coach his daughter, Kwame Brown millions to do nothing, his general manager, Mitch Kupchak, a vacation in the middle of the season ... "You're not serious," Mitch said, and I guess he does read Page 2. "When are you going to do something to fix the season?" I asked. "It sounds like you're saying the season is broke," Mitch said, making a point of saying he had just come from a basketball game. "I would say we didn't have a good East Coast trip, and we were hoping for better." I would say Mitch sounds as if he's running for office, doesn't get the Laker box scores in Europe and is ignoring the real possibility the Clippers will be the team replacing the storied Laker franchise in the playoffs this season. "For what it's worth," Mitch said, "we're the second youngest team in the NBA, and I know that doesn't go very far because we want to win now as well as three to four years from now, but when you're that young, you're going to lose some close games ... you have to be patient." I've never met a patient Laker fan. Maybe they are all in Italy. "Our goal is to get in the playoffs, and I think that's a realistic goal," Mitch said. "Take a look at our schedule." Seven of the Lakers' next eight games are at home, the lone road contest coming against the Clippers. The Lakers have 33 games remaining — 21 at home. "But don't you have to make a trade [by the Feb. 23 deadline] to improve this team?" "I don't think it's essential to make a deal to make the playoffs," Mitch said. "If the season ended today, we are in the playoffs. And looking ahead, I don't know why we wouldn't make the playoffs." Brian Cook better remain on target. "We would like to do something," Mitch said, and reading between the inane quotes and shots at Mark Cuban the past few weeks, it seems pretty obvious that Phil Jackson also would like Mitch to do something. Jackson has been calling for a third scorer for much of the season, apparently still considering Lamar Odom a scorer to go along with Kobe Bryant. "If we want the team to get to the playoffs and want to get to another level in the playoffs, it might be essential [to make a trade]," Mitch conceded. And what could the Lakers hope to get in a deal? "Due to our age, probably a veteran player, who could help us in terms of taking some of the scoring load, making defensive plays — big defensive plays," Mitch said. "I would think a backcourt player." "That sounds like a big-time acquisition, and how do you swing something like that?" "It's tough to get a dominant player in this league," he said, "without giving up a dominant player."</div> LA Times
wtf?? the trade deadline is near and he's vactioning in europe? i have no clue why he hasnt been fired yet
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mitch called. He was in Europe, and apparently not in hiding. "I'm in the back of a cab in Milan," he said, and obviously Laker owner Dr. Jerry Buss is a big believer in perks, giving his coach his daughter, Kwame Brown millions to do nothing, his general manager, Mitch Kupchak, a vacation in the middle of the season ...</div> As soon as I read the bit in bold, I knew it would be a funny read. Just the thought of Mitch in the back of some cab in Milan makes me laugh.
Mitch seems like a pretty cool guy. Not the kind of person you want running one of the most valuable pro sports teams ever, but a pretty cool guy. Anyhow...I hate his attitude "meh..we can make the playoffs with this..." WHY SETTLE??? Don't count on that "easy" schedule getting your team in, make some trades to help the players out. If Lakers management worked 1/10th as hard as there main man the Lakers would be competing for home court throughout right now, not the 8th seed. I'm dyin here...
Exactly, I don't want the Lakers to just make the playoffs. This team has some obvious needs, and they have been the same needs for the past 2 seasons. Solid PG & Solid PF. Maybe Kupchak doesn't want to tip his hand, most GM's will say they aren't looking to trade, unless the right deal comes along. I'll be disappointed if Kupchak cannot get something for the Lakers with Slava's expiring contract. Devean George is becoming pretty hard to trade this late in the season.
Get rid of Slava and Walton for a role player. Kobe needs some help here. And a role player will take the load off lamar a little bit.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dtpxcore:</div><div class="quote_post">Get rid of Slava and Walton for a role player. Kobe needs some help here. And a role player will take the load off lamar a little bit.</div> Hard to imagine anyone wanting Luke Walton at this point. The Lakers kept him because they thought he would improve back in Phil's Triangle. However, without a dominant post player, his passing skills go to waste. I think the Miami Heat could really use him to feed Shaq in the post. He knows the right angles on how to get Shaq the ball. Plus he has Finals experience, and would be a better fit than Antoine Walker.
What about trading for Ray Allen or Rashard Lewis? Odom for one of those two. There is talk of Allen leaving seattle because management wants to go yound and can't afford him because they are losing millions of dollars because of Arena issues. I'd rather get Rashard of those 2 but either would be tight. It would def. be Lamar Odom as the trading peice, but I'm not sure if he would end up in Seattle or if another team would send expiring contracts to seattle to make the salaries work, while Lamar goes to that team and either Rashard or Allen comes to LA...
The Knicks and Lakers were discussing a deal of Penny Hardaway for Lamar Odom, but Los Angeles was hellbent on having Channing Frye included, and the Knicks rejected it. Word out of L.A. is Thomas would have gone for it had the Lakers added rookie center Andrew Bynum. A source said while Frye is virtually untouchable, two significant assets or a Kevin Garnett-type player would have to come in return. WOW! Everyone Loves Prince Andrew. I say package Odom Kwame and Green for Kenyon Martin and Earl Watson. Plzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Damn is this the only team that doesnt even attempt on proposing a damn trade! With Odom gone, I would love to see George back in the starting lineup. He's been great off the bench lately. How's this for your lineup: Watson Kobe George K-Mart Mihm
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Empra!15:</div><div class="quote_post">The Knicks and Lakers were discussing a deal of Penny Hardaway for Lamar Odom, but Los Angeles was hellbent on having Channing Frye included, and the Knicks rejected it. Word out of L.A. is Thomas would have gone for it had the Lakers added rookie center Andrew Bynum. A source said while Frye is virtually untouchable, two significant assets or a Kevin Garnett-type player would have to come in return. WOW! Everyone Loves Prince Andrew. I say package Odom Kwame and Green for Kenyon Martin and Earl Watson. Plzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Damn is this the only team that doesnt even attempt on proposing a damn trade! With Odom gone, I would love to see George back in the starting lineup. He's been great off the bench lately. How's this for your lineup: Watson Kobe George K-Mart Mihm</div> Don't believe any rumors coming out of the NY Post. There is no way the Lakers inquired about Penny & Frye for Odom. Acquiring Ray Allen or Rashard Lewis is an interesting scenario. I'd rather have Lewis because of his size and post game. The Sonics don't seem to have any vision right now on the future of their franchise. I think it would be difficult to get a deal done with them.
Ray Allen and Kobe on the same team? I'm not saying they'll fight, they're pros, but their games are WAY too similar. Rashard Lewis MIGHT improve them, but what they really need is a Brevin Knight or Speedy Claxton type.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunDamentalz:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray Allen and Kobe on the same team? I'm not saying they'll fight, they're pros, but their games are WAY too similar. Rashard Lewis MIGHT improve them, but what they really need is a Brevin Knight or Speedy Claxton type.</div> I agree, and the Lakers had their man in Marcus Banks. He's not the playmaker Knight is, but Banks would have been a nice change of pace guard for the Lakers, and he's solid defensively against quick players. The Lakers have struggled all year long when teams play two PGs in the backcourt. They just don't have the foot speed at the guard position to stay in front of those players.
