<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Los Angeles Lakers moved quickly Saturday on the first day of free agency, addressing their need for outside shooting by snatching away a piece from their cross-town rival by agreeing to terms with three-point specialist Vladimir Radmanovic. The Los Angeles Clippers also reacted quickly after Radmanovic and point guard Sam Cassell apparently reneged on agreements to stay with them, reaching terms with sharp-shooting forward Tim Thomas early Saturday. Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy and the representatives of Thomas, a 6-foot-10 forward who revived his career with Phoenix late last season, completed a four-year, $24-million deal Saturday at about 12:30 a.m. The move capped a dizzying three-hour period in which the Clippers were informed Cassell and Radmanovic accepted and then rejected multi-year offers, sources said. Radmanovic agreed Saturday to a five-year, $31-million contract with the Lakers, the same package the Clippers offered. "At the conclusion of the moratorium period, the Lakers intend to enter into a contract with Vladimir Radmanovic," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. Radmanovic, who stretches defenses by luring post players away from the basket with his outside shot, has career averages of 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 38.1% shooting from three-point range. Thomas, a nine-year veteran, who makes his off-season home in Los Angeles, played a key role in the Suns' run to the Western Conference finals. Thomas averaged 14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and made 37.8% of his three-pointers as Phoenix defeated the Clippers in the semifinals. Free agents cannot officially sign contracts until July 12.</div> http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/n...-home-headlines
I have no clue what Cassell is going to do, now. I think his last option is Denver. This article makes it pretty clear that he won't be back with the Clippers. I like this signing though, Radman will stretch the defense for us. We needed someone who can sink it from outside and he'll do just that. I wonder what we do at PG, now?
Okay, time to wake up. Radmanovic is like Stojakovic, he's a great shooter but will disappear in crunch times. This is clearly an indication that LO will plays the PF, Rad plays SF, with Kobe/Smush or Kobe/Farmar in the backcourt. I'm not sure LO can play the PF. The reason why he looked like a dominating player in the Phoenix serie was because Shawn Marion, a natural SF forced to play PF ,was guarding him. I like LO at the SF and someone fill the PF. It also an indication that Sam will either going to the Lakers via a sign and trade or Denver. Mihm + filler for Sam Cassel anyone? I'm hoping this is Mitch's plan because obviously Rad won't make our team to be a contender and we desperately in need a vet PG. Wow can't believe Mitch's move at all. Why use the whole Mid Level Exception to sign a player who can't defense?
Vlad is a decent rebounder, and compared to Cook is a DPOY. Does anyone remember how Vlad torched us? We've needed a shooter for a while, we just got that. Sam Cassell S&T? Maybe. Can we still sign Banks?
Radmanovic is a good upgrade to our team, I think it is a good move. I hope we can still get cassell though.
Radmanovic is a good upgrade for a 2 years contract instead of 5. No we can't sign Bank. Bank already asked for the whole mid-level exception. Without that offer, his agent stated his chance to sign with the Lakers was unthinkable even if he loves the Lakers. The only way I can see we can get Sam is via a sign & trade. The Clippers resign Sam just to trade to the Lakers for a backup Center Mihm and some fillers. Of course Sam and Clippers must have something going on behind the door.
Sam backed out of his contract agreement with the Clippers, after they signed Thomas. I doubt he'll be back in Clippertown. This signing also says to me that Brian Cook is on his way out, probably in a package with Mihm. Mihm, Cook, and McKie (expiring C) for Cassell (S&T)? Also, I don't think Bank's agent has any say on where he goes. If Marcus wants to play for the Lakers so bad, he'll settle for anything. Could this mean that Bobby Jackson is our PG?
A short paragraph Banks' agent said, <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"If somebody offers the mid-level for five years to Marcus and the Lakers offer two, it's going to be tough for the Lakers no matter how much Marcus likes the Lakers," Higgins said by phone. "</div> so it's pretty clear Banks is out of our radar. I still hope we can get Sam or Banks though. If we can get Sam or Bank, Mitch can be forgiving for this signing
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Okay, time to wake up. Radmanovic is like Stojakovic, he's a great shooter but will disappear in crunch times. This is clearly an indication that LO will plays the PF, Rad plays SF, with Kobe/Smush or Kobe/Farmar in the backcourt. I'm not sure LO can play the PF. The reason why he looked like a dominating player in the Phoenix serie was because Shawn Marion, a natural SF forced to play PF ,was guarding him. I like LO at the SF and someone fill the PF. It also an indication that Sam will either going to the Lakers via a sign and trade or Denver. Mihm + filler for Sam Cassel anyone? I'm hoping this is Mitch's plan because obviously Rad won't make our team to be a contender and we desperately in need a vet PG. Wow can't believe Mitch's move at all. Why use the whole Mid Level Exception to sign a player who can't defense? </div> When was Radmanovic put in crunch time situations and dissapeared? Radman saved us a lot in the Phoenix series. He almost brought us back the one game when he hit like 5 three's, and in other games he hit big three's. Radmanovic isn't a star anyways, and you guys are paying him like $6 million per, so I'm not sure why you'd expect him to be clutch. Radmanovic doesn't have to start, he can backup at SF/PF, but obviously we don't know right now. Also about Sam, I don't think you guys have the money to sign him after getting Radman.
My first reaction to this trade is I don't like it. The Lakers can use his shooting, but we don't have any tough players and Radman doesn't improve the team defensively. Throughout his career he's been a streaky player and doesn't handle coming off the bench very well. What happens when PJax gives him the quick hook because Radman is getting torched on defense or doesn't box his man out on rebounds? The Lakers will need Odom or Kwame or Bynum to become a dominant presence on the inside to make Radman even more effective. He played very well in Clipperland because of the attention defenses gave to Elton Brand. Another positive is it takes a key player away from a division rival, and hopefully Cassell bolts from the Clippers as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe23:</div><div class="quote_post">How The Heck Would Be Able To Afford Banks Or Cassell Now??? I'd Rather Have A Good Pg Than Vlad Rad</div> Sign and trade is how we can get either player. Jerry Buss doesn't mind opening his wallet to win titles.
So our starting 5 looks like this right now: PG Jordan Farmar SG Kobe Bryant SF Lamar Odom PF Vladmir Radmanovic C Kwame Brown Kudos to Kupchak, he's done well so far this offseason. That is an okay lineup, still not a championship contender. I'm not buying Brown as a starting center in this league quite yet. I still like the Mihm for Chandler and Duhon trade, Chandler is a bit of an upgrade at center I think, and Duhon is an upgrade at the PG spot. However, then we will be forced to give up a PG because that leaves us with Duhon, Farmar, Parker, Vujacic, and McKie at the PG position. With Radmanovic, he will help keep the defense honest, and the Lakers FINALLY have a threat on the outside (please, Sasha?) What we lack: A Banger (IDK if Turiaf can fill this void, hasn't played enough for me) Defense (Other than Kobe and maybe Evans, we don't really have much defense. Remember when the Lakers had the best perimeter defense? We need player(s) that can help out here. Maybe Evans comes in next season beastly?) A Veteran w/Leadership Capabilities (Everyone is talking Sam Cassell, but with all the PGs we have, I'm not buying this)
As a follow up to my last post, here are 3 defensive minded players that we should look into the we can get in a sign and trade or just a regular trade that are cheap and will upgrade our team. All are shooting guards, my choices are in order: 1. Denver Nugget's Greg Buckner(about $2M)-Defensive Specialist that can hit the 3. 2. Philadelphia 76ers's Willie Green($1M-$2.5)- Good perimeter defender who scores in spurts. 3. Minnesota Timberwolves's Trenton Hassell($4.5M)- Perimeter Defender, not much offense, plays w/ loads of heart. Below Green because of price.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">When was Radmanovic put in crunch time situations and dissapeared? Radman saved us a lot in the Phoenix series. He almost brought us back the one game when he hit like 5 three's, and in other games he hit big three's. Radmanovic isn't a star anyways, and you guys are paying him like $6 million per, so I'm not sure why you'd expect him to be clutch. Radmanovic doesn't have to start, he can backup at SF/PF, but obviously we don't know right now. Also about Sam, I don't think you guys have the money to sign him after getting Radman.</div> I remembered some game, he missed a potential three to tie up the game. Was it against the Phoenix? I don't really remember. Like I say, he plays like Stojakovic, when he's hot, he shoots light out. When his shot is off, he looks like a complete trash. I don't know, puttting all the 5 MLE on Rad when you can invest in a 2 years player in Sam Cassel? If i'm the owner, I'm willing to pay Sam 3 mils a year just to sit on the bench teaching these players how to play the right way, the smart way! Although Sam is old but his basketball IQ is extremely high. Sam has that swagger like Kobe, the mentality to be the best on the court, I love that attitude. LO does't have that, Rad doens't have that, Kwame doesn't have that.
Two quality signings so far for the Lakers. Adding Evans and Vlad is going to help the teams depth alot. Its hard to imagine what type of lineups we'll see though, the lakers now have 3 players that can all play significant minutes at the 3 spot with Odom/Vlad/Evans. Evans enables the Lakers to allow Kobe to slide over and play point guard, so we could see a lineup of Kwame/Odom/Vlad/Evans/Kobe. Thats a lineup that could cause problems. I wouldnt count on signing Bobby Jackson though. I think he might play in turkey before he plays for the Lakers
