Apparently we were all planning on a big trade, or at least a trade of some sort come draft day, obviously nothing happened and we drafted 3 project players, 2 of which will be playing overseas next season, so they won't be able to help us in any way, shape or form. So who are we after now? I know the offseason has just begun, and I may seem a bit impatient, but I'm just worried we'll come into next season with pretty much the same exact roster as last season. The front office promised changes this offseason, and so far I haven't seen any. The Jermaine O'Neal trade is pretty much dead since we aren't going to give up Andrew Bynum (I thought the Lakers were willing to part ways with Bynum in order to win now, apparently that was a lie), the Lamar Odom for Shawn Marion trade that was proposed by the Suns was shot down, rumors are Ron Artest is going to New York and now possibly Orlando, no mention of the Lakers at all (I thought we were front runners at one point?? What happened??), Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles is as big of a pipe as ever, since Minnesota has already said they aren’t interested in Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, or Andrew Bynum, the best package we have to offer. The Marcus Camby deal is one and done, and there has been no mention at all of Pau Gasol. Zach Randolph is a Knick. The Brian Cook for Luther Head deal hasn’t happened, rumors were we were also going to throw in Sascha Vujacic for Bonzi Wells, but that’s obviously too good to be true. Jerry West doesn’t seem like he’s returning to the Lakers, Chris Mihm wants MLE money which we are not going to spend, and Steve Blake is apparently out of price range because we aren’t willing to spend the full MLE on him. So what’s the plan? Do we plan on making any moves? Has anyone heard any new rumors or any new news?
I really doubt any big trade goes down. Saying that, I wouldn't mind as long as we make some moves and bring in perhaps players with smaller names but who are upgrades in certain positions, i.e. a solid, servicable point guard. I honestly believe we are a 48 win team right now(we also would have been last season had it not have been for injuries) so with one or two more additions, we could be a 50+ team.
I think the Lakers are waiting until July 11th to make any moves. I believe this is the date when the 2007-2008 contract numbers kick in. A lot of teams have already made their moves for the year, so the Lakers might get lucky by waiting it out and seeing what's available to them at bargain pricing. Darko Milic is still out there with his agent saying he won't ever sign with the Magic. The Lakers could offer him the MLE, plus a shot at heavy minutes, and any money he's losing out on could be made up with endorsement deals here in LA. Gerald Wallace still hasn't signed, and there are few teams who can pay him.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think the Lakers are waiting until July 11th to make any moves. I believe this is the date when the 2007-2008 contract numbers kick in. A lot of teams have already made their moves for the year, so the Lakers might get lucky by waiting it out and seeing what's available to them at bargain pricing. Darko Milic is still out there with his agent saying he won't ever sign with the Magic. The Lakers could offer him the MLE, plus a shot at heavy minutes, and any money he's losing out on could be made up with endorsement deals here in LA. Gerald Wallace still hasn't signed, and there are few teams who can pay him.</div> I'd love to have GW, but what is your take on the Lakers acquiring Darko? By all accounts he's perceived as lazy and not very good. As I'm sure you know, "lazy and not very good" is the best way to describe most players on the Lakers. Given that, do we really need Darko?
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'd love to have GW, but what is your take on the Lakers acquiring Darko? By all accounts he's perceived as lazy and not very good. As I'm sure you know, "lazy and not very good" is the best way to describe most players on the Lakers. Given that, do we really need Darko?</div> Darko has actually cleaned up his act. If you go to the Magic forum, they're all very high on him and pissed that he won't resign. I don't think he'll ever live up to being taken #2 overall in a draft that had Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh taken over him, but I'm guessing he can turn out to be a decent player
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Darko has actually cleaned up his act. If you go to the Magic forum, they're all very high on him and pissed that he won't resign. I don't think he'll ever live up to being taken #2 overall in a draft that had Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh taken over him, but I'm guessing he can turn out to be a decent player</div> Yeah. His was a contract year last season though, so I'm not sure if he'll continue to play like that for the Lakers.
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah. His was a contract year last season though, so I'm not sure if he'll continue to play like that for the Lakers.</div> I'm just wondering where you heard Darko Milicic was lazy. I don't believe I've ever heard he wasn't a hard worker
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm just wondering where you heard Darko Milicic was lazy. I don't believe I've ever heard he wasn't a hard worker</div> A lot of it is purely anecdotal. When he was in Detroit, he was often mocked by the media for his laziness. This is what Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press said: "Darko was a disaster-in-waiting at the outset. He never liked the game, an indifference exposed in his lackadaisical work ethic. But that's not the case with Delfino. He's canned energy and has a borderline-reckless spirit, which, when properly channeled, will serve him well at this level." Plus, he's young as hell. I think we need veterans honestly.
I wouldn't mind taking a shot at Darko. He could be what this team needs. He'd give us a solid low post scorer who can also extend the defense a little bit with his mid range game. Beyond that, he also strengthens our interior defense and frontcourt depth. I definitely think taking a shot at him would be worthwhile.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Apparently we were all planning on a big trade, or at least a trade of some sort come draft day, obviously nothing happened and we drafted 3 project players, 2 of which will be playing overseas next season, so they won't be able to help us in any way, shape or form. So who are we after now? I know the offseason has just begun, and I may seem a bit impatient, but I'm just worried we'll come into next season with pretty much the same exact roster as last season. The front office promised changes this offseason, and so far I haven't seen any. The Jermaine O'Neal trade is pretty much dead since we aren't going to give up Andrew Bynum (I thought the Lakers were willing to part ways with Bynum in order to win now, apparently that was a lie), the Lamar Odom for Shawn Marion trade that was proposed by the Suns was shot down, rumors are Ron Artest is going to New York and now possibly Orlando, no mention of the Lakers at all (I thought we were front runners at one point?? What happened??), Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles is as big of a pipe as ever, since Minnesota has already said they aren?t interested in Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, or Andrew Bynum, the best package we have to offer. The Marcus Camby deal is one and done, and there has been no mention at all of Pau Gasol. Zach Randolph is a Knick. The Brian Cook for Luther Head deal hasn?t happened, rumors were we were also going to throw in Sascha Vujacic for Bonzi Wells, but that?s obviously too good to be true. Jerry West doesn?t seem like he?s returning to the Lakers, Chris Mihm wants MLE money which we are not going to spend, and Steve Blake is apparently out of price range because we aren?t willing to spend the full MLE on him. So what?s the plan? Do we plan on making any moves? Has anyone heard any new rumors or any new news?</div> Brian you have just made me really sad but there's still time I think when looking at trades or signings I look at what would make Kobe happy or in other words what would make us a contender. Does Milicic make us a contender? And how much is he asking for?
<div class="quote_poster">bronbron23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Brian you have just made me really sad but there's still time I think when looking at trades or signings I look at what would make Kobe happy or in other words what would make us a contender. Does Milicic make us a contender? And how much is he asking for?</div> The only way we are a contendor or being close to one is accquring KG, or getting JO and Danny Granger in a trade with the Pacers. Both of the deals are dead, so there basically is no way Kobe will be happy.
Darko is considered lazy and not that hard working, but that was mainly in Detroit when he knew he wouldn't play. Last offseason he worked pretty hard and had a very good FIBA World Championships before Brian Hill screwed him over with PT. I think he can be a 12 and 8 with 2-3 block type player this year if put in the right place and given the right PT(Orlando!!!!). That would be with a dominating low post player, who actually plays the low post where he doesn't have to be the #1 option downlow and a scoring wing. I don't know if LA would really be a great fit because Darko will likely have to be the #1 option downlow. It would be good though for the exposure that he wants. He would certainly be worth the MLE though, so it doesn't hurt to offer it to him. His agent wants a 10 mil a year deal, but no team will give anything close to that. There are really only 3 teams that will be able to offer Darko above the MLE, with the Magic(depending on this Shard S&T) likely can offer the most. Memphis is in the market for a young PF to play alongside Gasol, so they could give him an offer over the MLE, although there are rumors that they are targeting Varejeao more. The Bulls have said publicly that they have a lot of interest in him, but unless they renounce the rights of Andres Noiconi it's not likely they will have enough. My guess is that the Magic will try to free up around 7-8 million in cap space in the Shard deal to give him the best offer. If his agent really doesn't want him to play for the Magic then they might sign somewhere for the MLE, but money seems to be their #1 priority, so I wouldn't be surprised to actually see him sign back in Orlando.
<div class="quote_poster">bruin007 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's like watching paint dry with Mitch Kupchak at the helm... </div> I know, you guys have the most passive GM of all time. Compared to Isaiah Thomas - that guy LOVES trading players.
I think the Lakers are going to stay the same all the JO and KG rumors are dead the Lakers don't want to trade Bynum the only player some teams will want.I signing Darko will be great but we need a player that could average 20 and 10.
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'd love to have GW, but what is your take on the Lakers acquiring Darko? By all accounts he's perceived as lazy and not very good. As I'm sure you know, "lazy and not very good" is the best way to describe most players on the Lakers. Given that, do we really need Darko?</div> You can never have enough big bodies on your roster. I know Darko has been the brunt of a lot of jokes and considered a bust, but he's a legit 7 footer, produces when he gets minutes, and is still very young. Darko can block shots, has a nice mid-range shot, and has improved with his back to the basket offense. I think he's lacked a coach who's willing to be patient with him and build his confidence up. In Detroit there was a language barrier he had to overcome, along with assimilating to US culture. He also played behind two All-Stars, and played for a very demanding coach in Larry Brown. In Orlando he played with a lame duck Brian Hill, who tried to put short term success ahead of long term goals the front office was asking for. It ended up costing him his job. I think signing Darko for the MLE would be bargain for the Lakers, and it gives us some insurance incase Bynum, Kwame, or Odom get injured. PJax has made a career getting the most out of underachievers. He should be able to find the right buttons to push and tap into Darko's potential moreso than most coaches. The Lakers also have Vlade Divac working for the organization, and he's a hero for players coming out of Yugoslavia.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Have we shown any interest in Darko Milicic? Or is this just pure speculation?</div> Pure speculation on my part. I'm just listing out some big name free agents still available, who are slowly watching their options disappear in the free agent marketplace.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Pure speculation on my part. I'm just listing out some big name free agents still available, who are slowly watching their options disappear in the free agent marketplace.</div> I don't see the Lakers signing Darko for the MLE. His agent is being a dick right now but he'll probably end up resigning with Orlando. I'm not saying that cuz I'm a Magic fan, but to be honest, it probably will happen. I think you guys need to resign Mihm and get someone like Mo Pete.
Apparently the Heat are already making big plans of landing Mo Williams: http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread...9634#post839634 My question still is, what are we doing? I have a feeling that by the time we decide to sign free agents, we will only be left with "leftovers." If we don't start moving, by the time we go out in the free agency market, all the good quality players that can help fill our needs will be gone. The management has to stop dreaming about KG, he's not coming here. They have to stop wasting their time and start makings some splashes in free agency with the MLE
