<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It was all quiet on the Lakers' front, but not necessarily in their front office. No statements were released by the organization and there were no public words Friday from Kobe Bryant, which meant relative silence for the first time in six days, at least on the exterior. Behind the scenes, Lakers officials continued to chase their goals of getting better in the frontcourt and appeasing their unhappy superstar. The Lakers have begun talks with the Denver Nuggets regarding center Marcus Camby, the NBA defensive player of the year, who has led the league in blocked shots the last two seasons. Camby, 33, averaged 11.2 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks last season. He has a decent midrange jump shot and doesn't demand the ball often in the post, doing most of his scoring with outside shots and after offensive rebounds. The Nuggets are reportedly trying to lower their payroll, which would make Lakers center Kwame Brown a possibility in trade talks, a league source said. Brown has only one year left on his contract, for $9.1 million; Camby has three years and about $26 million left on his contract. The Lakers might have to add another low-salaried player or a draft pick to make such a deal more equitable for the Nuggets. Camby and Brown have missed their share of games because of injuries. Camby has played more than 65 games in a season only three times in his 11-year career. Brown has averaged only 61 games a season in his first six years in the league. The Lakers have also been in contact with Indiana regarding forward-center Jermaine O'Neal, a six-time All-Star. If the Lakers trade for O'Neal, they would likely have to part with Andrew Bynum or Lamar Odom, or perhaps both. O'Neal, 28, averaged 19.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks last season, although the Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in his seven years with Indiana. He has three years and $64.1 million left on his contract, numbers that could ultimately put the Lakers over the luxury-tax threshold. The Lakers have two centers on their roster, Brown and Bynum. Chris Mihm becomes a free agent next month, although he might be re-signed at an inexpensive price after sitting out last season because of ankle problems.</div> Source: LA Times Did you know that the longest span of consecutive games played for Marcus Camby is 28...scary. I don't know, I think we might be looking to make too many changes. Kwame's expiring contract is a really attractive offer, if we could package his contract with the 19 pick or our two second rounders, I think Denver might bite. I don't think this is an impact trade for us though, Camby is notoriously injury-prone and he's only 33, injuries don't get better with age. However, I'm glad we're trying to get things done. Kobe played his hand, now the organization is acting on it.
Hey we can always sign Kwame when he becomes a free-agent again... then again what do you think the Lakers would feel if Kwame suddenly had a breakout season due to his impending Free Agency LOL
The season before his FA year in Washington, he had a good year...then he broke his foot. He's got feet issues and that's a career killer, especially for a big man. If Denver is serious about wanting to save cap space, Kwame Brown's expiring contract and the 19th pick has got to be really attractive. That still leaves us the S&T option with Sacramento to get Artest. This offseason is huge for the Lakers, they know that. If they don't improve, Kobe Bryant will opt out in 2009 and they could potentially get nothing for him. It's make or break time, Jerry Buss' has got to decide if he wants to pony up the money or trade Kobe.
33 year old injury prone player with a huge contract. I don't know. He's definetly an upgrade when healthy, but if his career high is 28 games without an injury, that's a bit frightening. The guy can go down any minute. Of course if all we have to offer is Kwame Brown, then I say go for it, we really have nothing to lose except for Jerry Buss's pocket money, but I'm not willing to give up too much for a guy that can't ever seem to stay healthy
<div class="quote_poster">Trench Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Im really not sold on Camby. Aren't there other big bodies out there for less money?</div> We could sign Jamaal Maglorie with the MLE, but that would still leave us without a point guard.
<div class="quote_poster">Trench Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I was thinking more in the lines of trading Brown for someone else....</div> Hm, I don't really know. Doubt it
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We could sign Jamaal Maglorie with the MLE, but that would still leave us without a point guard.</div> Thats not right we have Jordan Farmar as our our point guard or Sasha Vujachic we dont need another point guard
<div class="quote_poster">Bacon Smeller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Thats not right we have Jordan Farmar as our our point guard or Sasha Vujachic we dont need another point guard</div> Sasha Vujacic is crap. Plain and simple. Jordan Farmar is solid, but he's not starter material yet IMO. Definetly a couple of years down the road, but coming into next season, I don't feel comfortable with him as a starter. He'd be a great backup, but we need a veteran point guard, someone like Steve Blake or Charlie Bell. Maybe even Jannero Pargo?
wow i cant beleive you said we dont need a point gaurd when we already have farmar and vujacic! you realise that the main reason we havent been doing well the last 3 seasons is that we've never had a good point? seriously man come on now, farmar is a third string point at the moment, maybe he can become a good backup in a couple of seasons, and vujacic is, well, i cant beleive this is possible but vujacic is worse than smush. i know, the same smush that could well be the worst starter in nba history, vujacic isnt as good as him, unbeleivable but true. if we keep vujacic it will show how really insane our front office is, vujacic is so bad my cat could beat him in a one-on-one matchup. anyway i dont think its a good idea trading for camby, but if there is no better option at the center then we should do it. im sure camby will be injured if we get him, thats why we need JO as well, because he can play well at center. and artest can play PF for us if we need him to because the guy is stronger than alot of PF, can block shots inside, get a bunch of rebounds, and post up well. if we can get JO without giving up odom we could have a pretty good lineup of: PG MLE/farmar/Shamu SG Kobe/Evans SF Odom/Evans/Artest/Cook PFArtest/Turiaf/Cook C JO/Turiaf/FA or Draft player
<div class="quote_poster">AKIRA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">i cant beleive this is possible but vujacic is worse than smush</div> I agreed with you until that quote. No. No, no. Nothing is worse than Smush. At least Vujacic gives it 110%, plus, he hit that game winner against Dallas this season. Vujacic > Smush Atkins > Smush Tierre Brown > Smush Samaki Walker > Smush
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I agreed with you until that quote. No. No, no. Nothing is worse than Smush. At least Vujacic gives it 110%, plus, he hit that game winner against Dallas this season. Vujacic > Smush Atkins > Smush Tierre Brown > Smush Samaki Walker > Smush</div> lol, why did Phil Jackson start Smush and give him the majority of minutes at pg, if those guys are better? Last season: 82 starts, 33 mpg This season: 80 starts, 30 mpg
The reason Phil started him is because he had no other choice. Sasha is more of a two guard and Farmar is not ready. Smush was literally the only option. As for Camby, he's definitely an upgrade. He'd practically be a guaranteed double double when he's healthy. The thing I like most about him though is how much better our interior defense would be. We'd finally have an intimidator in the paint, something we haven't had in a long while. However, with the good comes the bad, and you always have to be worried about his injuries.
The Nuggets supposedly laughed at us. I'm glad they did, It goes to show that we're not going to get anybody notable without letting go of Odom, Bynum, Farmar, and/or our pick.
Well Camby does bring a lot of defense but he has a huge contract and is already 33. But Camby is way better than Kwame and he brings a lot of defence. Trading Kwame will be a good idea but for Camby it's a tricky trade. But glad Kobe's demand of asking for a trade has the front office looking for key players.
ooh man, what is wrong with you guys, getting Camby would be a HUGE pickup. He is a monster ... and yeah he gets hurt a lot, but that was the reason we didn't get Baron Davis! Imagine if somehow we can get BOTH JO and Camby.. then resign Luke ... okay okay i'm getting overexcited
<div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">But dude, his career record for consecutive games played is only 28. That doesn't scare you at all?</div> no, because i dont care about consecutive games, i care about games played, and Camby plays about same amount of games Kwame did and will play, which isn't great but it will suffice. Camby is the best defensive center in the game right now. If all we have to do is give up injury prone crappy Kwame and fillers for injury prone defensive monster Camby, I dont see how you wouldn't pull the trigger. <div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">But dude, his career record for consecutive games played is only 28. That doesn't scare you at all?</div> btw, that's something Mitch/Jim Buss would say
