<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I've heard nothing in the last month to sway me from the belief that Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal is the most realistic trade target for L.A. -- much more realistic than Jason Kidd or Kevin Garnett -- no matter who in the Lakers' front office is doing the chasing. If O'Neal leaves Indy, everyone knows Kobe's Lakers and Isiah Thomas' Knicks are the teams he'd love to join. Kobe Bryant remains equally geeked about hooking up with a younger O'Neal, who has been his close friend since they were drafted into the league together in 1996. The Pacers, meanwhile, are open to moving Jermaine, according to NBA front-office sources. What kind of package can the Lakers assemble? Lamar Odom (shoulder) and Kwame Brown (ankle) might be coming off surgeries when next season begins, but Odom's talent and Brown's expiring contract still make them attractive trade commodities . . . along with young center Andrew Bynum and L.A.'s decent first-round pick (No. 19) in the June draft. The Pacers, at present, have no first-round pick next month.</div> Source: Marc Stein's Blog
Odom, Bynum, Kwame, for Jermaine, Marquis, and Diogu? We could throw in the 19 pick... Marquis/Farmar/Sasha Kobe/Evans Vlad O'neal/Diogu/Cook Turiaf That'd be or lineup after the trade. In FA we could re-sign Mihm, re-sign Walton, offer the MLE to Maagloire and Blake. If they both agreed then our lineup: Blake/Farmar/Sasha Kobe/Daniels/Evans Walton/Vlad O'neal/Diogu/Cook Maagloire/Mihm/Turiaf or we could run Kobe at SF and strengthen our bench by moving Walton to the bench. Blake Marquis Kobe O'neal Maagloire
I'm not a big fan of Diogu. He has a low basketball IQ, and isn't very good in the post. I'd rather get Jeff Foster or David Harrison. Marquise Daniels would be amazing for the Lakers. I've always wanted him on the team because he has the size and ballhandling to play the PG in the Triangle. He's very good at getting into the paint, has a beautiful mid-range game, and is also a solid defensive guard. Teams would not be able to murder us in the pick and rolls anymore with a backcourt of Quise and Kobe. PG - Quise / Farmar SG - Kobe / Evans SF - Luke / Radman PF - O'Neal / Turiaf / Cook C - Foster / Mihm This is a solid starting 5 for the Lakers and an upgrade at PG and PF. The next move would be re-signing Chris Mihm and then going after a wing-defender in free agency. Quinton Ross? Andres Nocioni? Mickael Pietrus? James Posey? Desmond Mason?
Nocioni isn't going anywhere, he's going to get more than the MLE. I'd love to go after Dmase or Posey. Daniels / Farmar Kobe / Evans Mason / Walton / Vlad O'neal / Turiaf / Cook Mihm / Foster
<div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Nocioni isn't going anywhere, he's going to get more than the MLE. I'd love to go after Dmase or Posey. Daniels / Farmar Kobe / Evans Mason / Walton / Vlad O'neal / Turiaf / Cook Mihm / Foster</div> Nocioni would be highly unlikely, but he's exactly what this team needs. These players from Argentinia's National team are all ideal role players (Ginobili, Oberto, Hermann, and Nocioni).
<div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Odom, Bynum, Kwame, for Jermaine, Marquis, and Diogu? We could throw in the 19 pick...</div> I highly doubt the Pacers would throw in Marquis and Diogu in the deal, considering they are still young pieces. We will most likely have to take back a contract like Tinsley's or Dunleavy's. I also don't see us with a first round pick this season, because IMO, any big trade that goes down will see us waving goodbye to the 19th overall pick.
Uh, duh Brian...did you not see me say we could throw in the 19 pick? I'd take Dunleavy if we could get Marquis.
This is not going to happen, Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss already have a list of reasons not to. A. "Jermaine O'neal cannot guard other power forwards and centers." B. "Jermaine O'neal is injury prone." C. "Jermaine O'neal makes too, much money." D. "Jermaine O'neal will remind fans of Shaquille O'neal." E. All of the Above
I pretty much agree with Shape. Jim Buss is content with averageness right now. He'll make moves when he's the full-time owner. Laker fans, think we can win 45 next year?
