<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I said I was a fan of Lamar, and I will continue to support him. I loved the way he came back this season after suffering through so much in the offseason, and yes, I really do feel for him. I think he's a warrior for the way he played, and he's definetly earned my respect. But I'm a Laker fan, and I want what's best for the team. Lamar's story is moving, but in the end, he just isn't that great of a fit if you compare him to someone like J. O'Neal. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Lamar back on the squad, but if you can land an All-Star post presence in return, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I understand there are a lot of risks involved. What if a duo of Kobe and J. O'Neal don't get us much farther than we already are? What if Bynum develops into a great player a couple of years down the road? Well, those are big what ifs. Bottom line is, we've got to make some moves now, maybe throw in a gamble or two to get this team back on top. I don't believe anyone thinks we can advance past the first round next season with the roster we currently have. Obviously Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal doesn't guarentee us anything, but we've tried the Kobe and Odom experiement for 3 seasons, and it just hasn't worked. Again, I'm not saying the addition of Jermaine O'Neal will put us back on top, but it will certainly get us closer than before, and at least it will show Kobe that this management is at least trying to build some talent around him...</div> The problem is, you only get one gamble if you do this deal for O'Neal. There's no other moves available if the Lakers make this deal. That's my main concern, because Kobe and JO is not enough to overtake the elite teams in the West.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, you must have spent a lot of time with that blockbuster. Great job. I think everything looks solid, except for who the Kings end up with. If you swap Radman for Luke, it looks more fair for them. I hate losing Turiaf, but a front line of JO and Camby would be a shotblocking party every night. PG - who cares SG - Kobe SF - Artest PF - JO C - Camby That's a ridiculous starting 5.</div> That line-up is sick man the Lakers will be a top contender on the West for sure Kobe will stay and the Lakers will be a championship team again. I hope we do get Camby this guy could block shoots and is a good defender!
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The problem is, you only get one gamble if you do this deal for O'Neal. There's no other moves available if the Lakers make this deal. That's my main concern, because Kobe and JO is not enough to overtake the elite teams in the West.</div> I agree, and this is where Lakers fans have to be wary of their front office. I think this trade has just as many cons as it does pros and, if Kobe wasn't demanding a trade, the Lakers wouldn't even consider it. It makes you wonder about their intentions. Instead of aiming for a title, the goal may simply be to convince Kobe that they're aiming for a title.
<div class="quote_poster">lakerman34 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Here is a good trade, and if it doesn't appease Kobe, i don't know what will. The only problem is it is going to wipe out our roster, losing seven players. However, we will gain 3 from the draft, one for MLE, and one for LLE, which is 5 more players. We will be gaining 3 players from the deal, so that puts us up one. We will NOT be resigning Smush Parker or Chris Mihm, so that puts us just one under! Here it is: Sacramento Trade Breakdown Outgoing Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 18.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 apg in 37.7 minutes Incoming Vladimir Radmanovic 6-10 PF from Serbia-Montenegro (Foreign) 6.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 apg in 18.0 minutes Maurice Evans 6-5 SG from Texas 8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.8 minutes Sasha Vujacic 6-7 SG from Slovenia (Foreign) 4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 12.8 minutes Change in team outlook: +0.5 ppg, +1.2 rpg, and -0.3 apg. L.A. Lakers Trade Breakdown Outgoing Lamar Odom 6-10 PF from Rhode Island 15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg in 39.3 minutes Kwame Brown 6-11 C from Glynn Academy (HS) 8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.6 minutes Vladimir Radmanovic 6-10 PF from Serbia-Montenegro (Foreign) 6.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 apg in 18.0 minutes Andrew Bynum 7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS) 7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.9 minutes Maurice Evans 6-5 SG from Texas 8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.8 minutes Sasha Vujacic 6-7 SG from Slovenia (Foreign) 4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 12.8 minutes Ronny Turiaf 6-9 PF from Gonzaga 5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 14.9 minutes Incoming Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 18.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 apg in 37.7 minutes Jermaine O'Neal 6-11 C from Eau Claire (HS) 19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg in 35.7 minutes Marcus Camby 6-11 C from Massachusetts 11.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.2 apg in 33.9 minutes Change in team outlook: -7.3 ppg, -5.1 rpg, and -2.7 apg. Indiana Trade Breakdown Outgoing Jermaine O'Neal 6-11 C from Eau Claire (HS) 19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg in 35.7 minutes Incoming Lamar Odom 6-10 PF from Rhode Island 15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg in 39.3 minutes Andrew Bynum 7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS) 7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.9 minutes Change in team outlook: +4.3 ppg, +6.1 rpg, and +3.5 apg. Denver Trade Breakdown Outgoing Marcus Camby 6-11 C from Massachusetts 11.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.2 apg in 33.9 minutes Incoming Kwame Brown 6-11 C from Glynn Academy (HS) 8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.6 minutes Ronny Turiaf 6-9 PF from Gonzaga 5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 14.9 minutes Change in team outlook: +2.5 ppg, -2.2 rpg, and -0.5 apg. Sacramento Trade Breakdown Outgoing Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 18.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 apg in 37.7 minutes Incoming Vladimir Radmanovic 6-10 PF from Serbia-Montenegro (Foreign) 6.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 apg in 18.0 minutes Maurice Evans 6-5 SG from Texas 8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.8 minutes Sasha Vujacic 6-7 SG from Slovenia (Foreign) 4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 12.8 minutes Change in team outlook: +0.5 ppg, +1.2 rpg, and -0.3 apg. L.A. Lakers Trade Breakdown Outgoing Lamar Odom 6-10 PF from Rhode Island 15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg in 39.3 minutes Kwame Brown 6-11 C from Glynn Academy (HS) 8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.6 minutes Vladimir Radmanovic 6-10 PF from Serbia-Montenegro (Foreign) 6.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 apg in 18.0 minutes Andrew Bynum 7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS) 7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.9 minutes Maurice Evans 6-5 SG from Texas 8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.8 minutes Sasha Vujacic 6-7 SG from Slovenia (Foreign) 4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 12.8 minutes Ronny Turiaf 6-9 PF from Gonzaga 5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 14.9 minutes Incoming Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 18.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 apg in 37.7 minutes Jermaine O'Neal 6-11 C from Eau Claire (HS) 19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg in 35.7 minutes Marcus Camby 6-11 C from Massachusetts 11.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.2 apg in 33.9 minutes Change in team outlook: -7.3 ppg, -5.1 rpg, and -2.7 apg. Indiana Trade Breakdown Outgoing Jermaine O'Neal 6-11 C from Eau Claire (HS) 19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg in 35.7 minutes Incoming Lamar Odom 6-10 PF from Rhode Island 15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg in 39.3 minutes Andrew Bynum 7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS) 7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.9 minutes Change in team outlook: +4.3 ppg, +6.1 rpg, and +3.5 apg. Starting 5: PG Jordan Farmar SG Kobe Bryant SF Ron Artest PF Jermaine O'Neal C Marcus Camby NO DEPTH ON BENCH ____________________________________ I much rather have this trade: Denver Trade Breakdown Outgoing Marcus Camby 6-11 C from Massachusetts 11.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.2 apg in 33.9 minutes Incoming Kwame Brown 6-11 C from Glynn Academy (HS) 8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.6 minutes Ronny Turiaf 6-9 PF from Gonzaga 5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 14.9 minutes Change in team outlook: +2.5 ppg, -2.2 rpg, and -0.5 apg. Starting Five: PG Jason Kidd SG Kobe Bryant SF Luke Walton PF Cliff Robinson C Marcus Camby MORE DEPTH. IF we can get Magloire w/ MLE, we don't even have to get Marcus Camby, so our starting five would be: PG Jason Kidd SG Kobe Bryant SF Luke Walton PF Kwame Brown/Ronny Turiaf C Jamaal Magloire Those are 3 SOLID starting lineups. Still, I don't like management's idea of thinking large w/ Artest, Camby, and O'Neal, but I'd rather get rid of the Artest and Camby idea and just get Kidd. That way we will still have youth in Jermaine O'Neal, and we will be damn near unstoppable. One of the league's best shotblockers, the best defensive point guard, and the best player in the league.</div> Great trade scenario. It'd be a ridiculous lineup for the Lakers if they can get Artest, JO and Camby. It would also help unite the former Pacer buddies.
I'm all for it as long as we somehow get Artest as well. We lose alot of versatility with Odom gone. I don't mind trading Odom and Bynum but if we could somehow keep Walton it would be great. Another point is that if Odom and Bynum get traded, it would have been as a result of Kobe's outrage and yet again he'll get blamed if the trade turns out to become a failure. Oh, and the trade involving us getting Camby, O'Neal and Artest will never go down, although it seems to be fair for all the teams involved.
I think Mihm could probably make 2-3.5 times the Vet's min, but actually if teams aren't sure of him he might only get offers of 2-2.5 mill.
Bottomline is moves need to be made. Hopefully Phil can come up with schemes to use O'neal in the most effective way. I think his inside post presence and his defense will help out tremendously. Also playing alongside Kobe and being coached by Phil might make O'neal more hungry than ever. Landing Artest will be the X-factor. The Lakers would arguably have one of the best starting units defensively with Artest, Kobe, and Oneal. I would love to see him in a Laker uniform.
Thats true how the Lakers will be a deffensive team with that trio and I think thats what the Lakers need more <u>DEFENSE</u>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The problem is, you only get one gamble if you do this deal for O'Neal. There's no other moves available if the Lakers make this deal. That's my main concern, because Kobe and JO is not enough to overtake the elite teams in the West.</div> I agree....if the lakers can't get o'neal AND another key addition this offseason (like artest) then I think this is a bad move....if they can get both it would be great though...
I think if we get O'neal, it's an upgrade. We're a 2nd round team, but that's it. If we can get Artest, which should be rather easy if we press for him (remember, Sacramento wants to unload his baggage), we're a contender. Either way, Jermaine O'neal is a major upgrade over Odom and Bynum, I don't see how Laker fans don't realize that. Do you guys want another year of being raped by Phoenix?
<div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think if we get O'neal, it's an upgrade. We're a 2nd round team, but that's it. If we can get Artest, which should be rather easy if we press for him (remember, Sacramento wants to unload his baggage), we're a contender. Either way, Jermaine O'neal is a major upgrade over Odom and Bynum, I don't see how Laker fans don't realize that. Do you guys want another year of being raped by Phoenix?</div> Exactly. I don't understand how we will get any worse from this trade. It's a gamble, yes, but with Jermaine O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, we're easily a better team. Maybe not championship contenders YET, but it's easier to build a championship contender around two All-Stars than it is with one All-Star. If we don't trade for J. O'Neal, and still keep Bynum and Lamar around next season, does anyone honestly expect us to have a chance in the first round? J. O'Neal gives us a better chance, plain and simple
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly. I don't understand how we will get any worse from this trade. It's a gamble, yes, but with Jermaine O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, we're easily a better team. Maybe not championship contenders YET, but it's easier to build a championship contender around two All-Stars than it is with one All-Star. If we don't trade for J. O'Neal, and still keep Bynum and Lamar around next season, does anyone honestly expect us to have a chance in the first round? J. O'Neal gives us a better chance, plain and simple</div> Here's where you are mistaken. The Lakers don't have anymore options after this trade, if they don't get an Artest in or keep Odom out of the package. It's basically JO or bust for the next 4 years, because there is no cap room, and all your trading pieces are gone.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Here's where you are mistaken. The Lakers don't have anymore options after this trade, if they don't get an Artest in or keep Odom out of the package. It's basically JO or bust for the next 4 years, because there is no cap room, and all your trading pieces are gone.</div> Well, I get your point, but with two All-Stars on your team, the gap between championship contenders and mediocrity can be filled by adding one or two key pieces. But if you only have Kobe Bryant, and say, Lamar Odom, you've still got a long ways to go before getting to contending level.
What do we do though shape? Stay status quo or go for broke? Kobe will be 29. He's not getting any younger. Changes need to be made. The duo of Kobe and Odom obviously hasn't worked very well. Odom inconsistencies on offense really bug me. He's a consistent rebounder, but we need someone to take the scoring load off Kobe. O'neal seems like the candidate to do so. His presence in the lanes will also be a huge factor on defense. After O'neal the MLE becomes that much more important. We've signed busts since 2004 with the MLE and its been terrible. The Lakers should get O'neal now. Take the risk. He's the best thing to come along since BOOZER which LA totally screwed themselves with. I don't think we have the option of passing on O'neal. We need to take that chance. Buss will look like a fool to pass off another ALL STAR. After securing O'neal, push the limits until we can get Artest. Hopefully we can keep Turiaf and Luke and get a solid signing of a pg with the MLE. someone that will actually play instead of benchwarm!!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Trench Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What do we do though shape? Stay status quo or go for broke? Kobe will be 29. He's not getting any younger. Changes need to be made. The duo of Kobe and Odom obviously hasn't worked very well. Odom inconsistencies on offense really bug me. He's a consistent rebounder, but we need someone to take the scoring load off Kobe. O'neal seems like the candidate to do so. His presence in the lanes will also be a huge factor on defense. After O'neal the MLE becomes that much more important. We've signed busts since 2004 with the MLE and its been terrible. The Lakers should get O'neal now. Take the risk. He's the best thing to come along since BOOZER which LA totally screwed themselves with. I don't think we have the option of passing on O'neal. We need to take that chance. Buss will look like a fool to pass off another ALL STAR. After securing O'neal, push the limits until we can get Artest. Hopefully we can keep Turiaf and Luke and get a solid signing of a pg with the MLE. someone that will actually play instead of benchwarm!!!!</div> If the Lakers are willing to deal Bynum and Odom, what else is available? Regardless of how it's worked out, this is a valuable package the Lakers are putting out there. Right before the deadline the Lakers only had to give up a package of Kwame, fillers and Bynum to land an All-Star, Jason Kidd. Now the Lakers are having to include Odom instead of Kwame to get an All-Star? I'd rather go after someone younger and less expensive with that package. Chris Bosh? Pau Gasol? Emeka Okafor? Elton Brand? What more (if anything) would we have to send out to get a deal for one of those players instead? The Lakers need to negotiate the deal to keep Odom, and swap him for Kwame. In return the Lakers can take back one of Indy's bad contracts (Dunleavy, Muphy, Quise, or Tinsley).
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Chris Bosh? Pau Gasol? Emeka Okafor? Elton Brand?</div> None of those are realistic options though. Chris Bosh isn't going anywhere, neither are Emeka Okafor or Elton Brand. Pau Gasol also has stated that he doesn't want to be traded.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">None of those are realistic options though. Chris Bosh isn't going anywhere, neither are Emeka Okafor or Elton Brand. Pau Gasol also has stated that he doesn't want to be traded.</div> How do you know they aren't realistic? No one in the league is untouchable. Maybe they would be tough to get this offseason, but how about next year? The Raptors are going to have a tough time down the line deciding between Bosh and Bargnani. The Raptors actually did just fine when Bosh was injured, adding a young center, and the perfect third option (Odom) on their uptempo team would improve their depth and production IMO. Elton Brand will likely opt out if the Clippers don't make any progress. He's wasted his career with this team. Pau Gasol has changed his mind just as many times Kobe has. Bynum's value in relationship to this draft, would have been the #3 overall pick. Since Memphis ended up with the #4 pick, and without a chance at a franchise center in Oden, landing Bynum could be the second best option for them. Odom is a good fill in for Gasol in the meantime, while they build around Bynum, Gay, and this year's pick. I'm not sure Jordan and CO. are sold on Emeka Okafor being the team's franchise player. He'll want a max deal when his rookie contract expires. Bob Johnson is cheap.
