Right now, with Vlad all but locked up, our starting lineup is horribly defensively, but could be awesome offensively: PG: Smush Parker/Jordan Farmer SG: Kobe Bryant/Maurice Evans/Laron Profit (possible LLE) SF: Vladimir Radmanovic/Luke Walton PF: Lamar Odom/Brian Cook/Ronny Turiaf C: Kwame Brown/Chris Mihm/Andrew Bynum I hope to God Mitch has a deal on the table for a point guard. We have Chris Mihm, an expiring contract in McKie, Brian Cook, and some other pieces we can trade for a decent PG. If we dont' acquire a PG, we'll get throttled defensively. I do like the addition of Radman, though. He's a 6'10 SF who can really stretch the defense out. I do believe Phil had a lot of say in this signing, Radman seems like a Phil kind of guy. I fully expect him to get often wide open looks, especially with Kobe commanding doubles and Lamar at times demanding doubles.
Mitch's move was a complete joke. Rad is a shooter but not a winner. I rather see the Lakers sign Sam to a 2 years deal (10-11mils) and still have the option to sign a max player in 2008. Now it looks like our '08 plan get toss out of the window thanks to Rad's 5 years contract. Like you said, our starting lineup is horribly at defense and we know defense wins championship. I don't like Mitch's move at all!
Get real, the '08 plan was dependant on Carmelo and LeBron signing extensions, both in which they're about to. Mitch had hopes of getting one of those. I do agree, we need another move to bolster our defense, because outside of Kobe and Kwame, we're soft on defense. On offense though, we could light it up.
No, he's not really bad at defense, but he is horribly bad. Guys can run right pass through him. I rather take our chance in '08 when we are going to win BIG with a big free agent sign. Dirk will be available in '08, so as KG and Ron Artest. With our current lineup, we won't advance any further in the playoff, too bad defensively.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe4life:</div><div class="quote_post">No, he's not really bad at defense, but he is horribly bad. Guys can run right pass through him. I rather take our chance in '08 when we are going to win BIG with a big free agent sign. Dirk will be available in '08, so as KG and Ron Artest. With our current lineup, we won't advance any further in the playoff, too bad defensively.</div> Well Radman doesn't really effect the 2008 plans because he took the MLE. Also the Lakers could always use him as a trading piece in a sign and trade move. At least Mitch is making some moves, this one improves our depth on offense and gives the consistent outside threat this team was lacking. Now the Lakers need to add a couple of defensive enforcers. Hard to imagine Brian Cook is around next season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Well Radman doesn't really effect the 2008 plans because he took the MLE. Also the Lakers could always use him as a trading piece in a sign and trade move. At least Mitch is making some moves, this one improves our depth on offense and gives the consistent outside threat this team was lacking. Now the Lakers need to add a couple of defensive enforcers. Hard to imagine Brian Cook is around next season.</div> How it doesn't affect our 2008 plans? Can you clarify that Shape? If we're going to sign a big free agent, we need all the money left to sign a max contract. With LO's contract expire in 2009, Kobe's contract will increase, and Kwame's contract extend to 2009. Even if we have Brain Grant's 10 mil contract off the hook, all we have at max is about 10-15 mil to sign a big free agent player. But you're right, we can do a sign & trade though. Just hope, by that time, Kwame and Bynum develop into a consistent low post player, then we really don't need to sign any big name players. Just add a couple players here and there, then we're set to contend for a championship. We have a defensive mind player in Evans. Prop to Mitch for that trade
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I do agree, we need another move to bolster our defense, because outside of Kobe and Kwame, we're soft on defense. On offense though, we could light it up.</div> We have Mo Evans, and Ronny Turiaf to add to defense as well. Still though we do need more defensive/does the dirty work players. Who knows though, Phoenix had very little defensive players and they still were able to push foward because of their incredible offense. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kwame and Bynum develop into a consistent low post player,</div> Bynum I can see being that, however Kwame I can't. He has butterfingers, I can't count how many passes went to him and he just looked at it or fumbled it. The boy needs hands and foot spacing if he is to become a good post player.
I agree with pretty much everyone here. I like our team offensively right now, but it is definitely something to be desired defensively. Kobe and Kwame are the only people that are good defenders on this team right now. I'm really hoping for a sign and trade to get either Banks or Cassell, that way the PG spot isn't hopeless again like it was last year.
