<div class="quote_poster">Quoting lakerman34:</div><div class="quote_post">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)</div> Why do people assume Farmar will be a starter? When has Phil even started a rookie, let alone a bottom of the round rookie. I'm indifferent about this pick. Radmanovic gives us a much needed shooting presense to spread the spacing in the triangle. However, he's always been a tweener (too soft for a PF, too slow for a SF) and we already have a tweener in lamar. As Shapecity mentioned, either the LAkers front court toughen up this off season or we may have to swing another move to solidify the inside. I'm wondering though, how does this signing affect the supposed big FA run on '07?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting illmatic:</div><div class="quote_post">lol @ farmar starting, stop kidding yourself.</div> I hate when people just automatically assume a new pick up is going to start. I also don't get why everyone is wanting M'Banks so bad. He is like a small step above Smush. I like this trade and I don't. Like others have said he is streaky, no defense, no rebounding, and doesn't like to bang elbows. He does however space the floor with his shot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trench:</div><div class="quote_post">I hope this was not the big move Mitch was talking about... The whole MLE? Five years too? gah...</div> I can assure you this isn't the move Mitch was talking about. Word of mouth: Mihm, Cook, and Mckie are gone to Minnesota in a sign and trade for Marcus Banks. Off Topic: Wanna trade SIGS? lol
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting lakerman34:</div><div class="quote_post">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> As far as im concerned hassell isnt a possiility unless kobe is concerned. im not even joking. he is definetely an untradable for us. he is an elite defender and is improving his shooting touch year by year. i honestly think that if he was told to score more, he could average 15-17 ppg. his mid range game is money, and he is a descent enough penetrater to score inside. that just isnt his role.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Why do people assume Farmar will be a starter? When has Phil even started a rookie, let alone a bottom of the round rookie. I'm wondering though, how does this signing affect the supposed big FA run on '07?</div> Don't get fool with Phil never starting a rookie PG. Smush who was actually a rookie last season started all 82 games. The Lakers definitely in need for a pure PG, Farmar can helps solve that problem. If Farmar proves to Phil that he can controls the offense, plays consistently on the court, be a playmaker and makes great decision down the sketch, I don't see a reason why he shouldn't be a starter? Our teams right now lack a PG spot the most. With Smush showing some inconsistency and Phil doesn't like Sasha as a starter, Farmar might be the guy to start unless, of course if we sign a vet player, then Farmar can contributing coming off the bench. I wouldn't be surprise if Farmar as a starter next year though. There is noway we can sign a big FA in '07. With the MLE already being used and the extension on Brown's contract, we pushed that plan back to at least '08. Even in '08, we can't sign a max contract unless we do a sign and trade. But I'm hoping we can get Ron Artest in '08 though. I can almost guarantee you that Artest does not want to end his career in Sac Town. His ideal home is either LA or New York. With Artest, Rad, Lamar, Brown, and Kobe, we have the firepower offensively and defensively. We should definitely be a contender by then, with the improving Bynum as well. So I see our future pretty bright.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't get fool with Phil never starting a rookie PG. Smush who was actually a rookie last season started all 82 games. The Lakers definitely in need for a pure PG, Farmar can helps solve that problem. If Farmar proves to Phil that he can controls the offense, plays consistently on the court, be a playmaker and makes great decision down the sketch, I don't see a reason why he shouldn't be a starter? Our teams right now lack a PG spot the most. With Smush showing some inconsistency and Phil doesn't like Sasha as a starter, Farmar might be the guy to start unless, of course if we sign a vet player, then Farmar can contributing coming off the bench. I wouldn't be surprise if Farmar as a starter next year though. There is noway we can sign a big FA in '07. With the MLE already being used and the extension on Brown's contract, we pushed that plan back to at least '08. Even in '08, we can't sign a max contract unless we do a sign and trade. But I'm hoping we can get Ron Artest in '08 though. I can almost guarantee you that Artest does not want to end his career in Sac Town. His ideal home is either LA or New York. With Artest, Rad, Lamar, Brown, and Kobe, we have the firepower offensively and defensively. We should definitely be a contender by then, with the improving Bynum as well. So I see our future pretty bright.</div> That's a fair point about Smush starting. However, just by watching Farmar play at UCLA, do u really think he's ready to start in the league? Personally, I dont think so. His game still needs a ton of work and I dont think Phil will tolerate his mental lapses. AT best, I think he'll be brought in off the bench to defend the small quicker guards when Smush has trouble staying in front of them (which seems to be often)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't get fool with Phil never starting a rookie PG. Smush who was actually a rookie last season started all 82 games. The Lakers definitely in need for a pure PG, Farmar can helps solve that problem. If Farmar proves to Phil that he can controls the offense, plays consistently on the court, be a playmaker and makes great decision down the sketch, I don't see a reason why he shouldn't be a starter? Our teams right now lack a PG spot the most. With Smush showing some inconsistency and Phil doesn't like Sasha as a starter, Farmar might be the guy to start unless, of course if we sign a vet player, then Farmar can contributing coming off the bench. I wouldn't be surprise if Farmar as a starter next year though.</div> The only reason Smush started is because the team had no other PG. Would you rather see Sasha in the starting lineup? Smush didn't have much competition for the job, it's a no brainer on why he started.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">That's a fair point about Smush starting. However, just by watching Farmar play at UCLA, do u really think he's ready to start in the league? Personally, I dont think so. His game still needs a ton of work and I dont think Phil will tolerate his mental lapses. AT best, I think he'll be brought in off the bench to defend the small quicker guards when Smush has trouble staying in front of them (which seems to be often)</div> Farmar was expected to be one of the top 20 picks. We got him at #26, so we're very lucky. Farmar is a potential starter next season is all I'm saying. He has the whole summer + the training camp to work with Phil Jackson in the triangle. As far as I know, he has a higher basketball IQ than Smush, a better playmaker than Smush, better shooter, and much quicker. Adding to his good decision making, I see his future as a starter for the Lakers next season isn't a joke. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The only reason Smush started is because the team had no other PG. Would you rather see Sasha in the starting lineup? Smush didn't have much competition for the job, it's a no brainer on why he started.</div> That is exactly what I'm talking about. Last season, with Aaron Mckie being out, the only real contender for a PG spot is Sasha. This year isn't much different either. Sasha isn't ever going to be starter, so the only real two candidates are Parker & Farmar. It's all come down to which guys want it more, and who is a better fit for Phil's triangle. Parker has the size advantage, something Phil always prefer over smaller. But Farmar has that natural playmaker ability like Chris Paul, a fundamental player that Parker lacks in his skill. I don't know how many times Smush trying to do a flashy dunk just to end up missing them. Phil, for sure, doesn't appreciate that type of play. With Farmar, his game will be in more control, something Phil also loves.
Then if thats the case kobe4life, who will be coming off the bench for Farmer in the future? Smush or Sasha?
Unless there is a trade, SMUSH will start. I guarantee Jackson will give him the start. He has 82 games in the triangle behind his belt. Farmar could be a starter later in the season depending on how fast he learns the offense, and if he can pressure Smush out of his role. Regardless of the outcome, SMUSH will start at the beginning of this season unless he is traded, or we get a better PG via FA or trade.
good pickup by the lakers. vlade will be a good player for kobe to pass to once he is double teamed. vlade played pretty nice in the playoffs against the suns. i think with this signing, we might see brian cook in a deal of some sort. they are both pretty much the same type of players, only that cook is one notch lower "talent wise"
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting LO7:</div><div class="quote_post">I can assure you this isn't the move Mitch was talking about. Word of mouth: Mihm, Cook, and Mckie are gone to Minnesota in a sign and trade for Marcus Banks. Off Topic: Wanna trade SIGS? lol</div> You can use the sig man. Im planning to replace it soon.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">good pickup by the lakers. vlade will be a good player for kobe to pass to once he is double teamed. vlade played pretty nice in the playoffs against the suns. i think with this signing, we might see brian cook in a deal of some sort. they are both pretty much the same type of players, only that cook is one notch lower "talent wise"</div> Welcome back Brian. With Radman on the floor the Lakers have 3 legit scoring options in the starting lineup. The Lakers can run the Triangle with Odom in the post, Kobe on the baseline and Radman on the perimeter. Teams will have to choose their poison and think twice about double teaming.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Welcome back Brian.</div> thanks shape!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Then if thats the case kobe4life, who will be coming off the bench for Farmer in the future? Smush or Sasha?</div> In the future, neither!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe4life:</div><div class="quote_post">As far as I know, he has a higher basketball IQ than Smush, a better playmaker than Smush, better shooter, and much quicker. Adding to his good decision making, I see his future as a starter for the Lakers next season isn't a joke.</div> At this point, Smush is a much better long range shooter than Farmar. Their mid-range is a push IMO. Both guys need to set to shoot effectively. From the two years of Farmar i've seen, his decision making is hardly good (mental lapses, turnovers, forced shots), no where near his predecessors (Bozeman, Watson, Davis, Dollar, Edney etc...) He isn't much quicker than Smush either, and whatever slight advantage he has in that department is off-set by his disadvantage is size in comparison to Smush. Sometimes I wonder what the Farmar supporters were watching because it wasn't the same thing i saw. I honestly didn't see him as a first round talent (I know i'm in the minority). He wont be a different maker IMO, especially in his rookie year. Keep in mind he's only 19 years old. He has a chance to get better, but I think it will be later rather than soon.
