<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Brown Not Interested With Andrew Bynum out, the Lakers are in the market for another big man. Veteran P.J. Brown, a 6-foot-11 veteran who played for the Bulls last season, fits the bill, but his representative said that for the time being, Brown is content being out of basketball and not trying to return. "I don't think it's something that he is looking to do," Mark Bartelstein said by phone. "There are a bunch of people inquiring about him, but there is nothing (in terms of his interest) right now." -- Riverside Press-Enterprise</div>
More power to PJ Brown enjoying his retirement. The good news is the Pistons don't have room for Webber. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Pistons have not completely shut the door on bringing Chris Webber back this season, though it's still a long shot. "We don't have a roster spot," said John Hammond , Pistons vice president of basketball. "If we did, then that is something we would look at." This has been the Pistons' stance all along. If the Pistons can move Flip Murray , Primoz Brezec or both, president Joe Dumars could look to add Webber. It has been made clear, though, that Webber's role would be as the fourth front court player behind Rasheed Wallace , Antonio McDyess and Maxiell.</div> Source: Detroit News If Webber could give us around 12/8 with a couple of assists and a block we'd be good to go. I think those are realistic numbers for Webber.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jan 16 2008, 01:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In 48 minutes and on 38% FG shooting </div> I'm hoping he can post similar numbers to what he did for Detroit last season. 11.3/6.7/3.0 48.9 FG% in 30 minutes of play The Lakers play a faster pace and Webber should get a lot of high percentage shots in the offense.
He was pretty pathetic by the end of the season. There's a reason nobody's signed him... Especially Detroit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jan 16 2008, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He was pretty pathetic by the end of the season. There's a reason nobody's signed him... Especially Detroit.</div> Yeah he did, but there aren't many options available with his skill set out there.
You'd think the NBDL would be full of younger guys who can stand in the paint with their hands up. I realize the Bynum injury is a big blow to the team's chances, but it's always seemed like the Lakers are bitten by an injury at inopportune times the past few seasons. What's Mihm's status? When he plays, he plays pretty well - a lot better than Webber or PJ Brown would at their advanced ages...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jan 16 2008, 02:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You'd think the NBDL would be full of younger guys who can stand in the paint with their hands up. I realize the Bynum injury is a big blow to the team's chances, but it's always seemed like the Lakers are bitten by an injury at inopportune times the past few seasons. What's Mihm's status? When he plays, he plays pretty well - a lot better than Webber or PJ Brown would at their advanced ages...</div> Mihm is out for at least another two weeks. He's looked terrible this season and hasn't shaken any rust off his game. I agree the NBDL should be loaded with guys, but PJax is fickle with young players and there's the Triangle offense barrier players will have to overcome before PJax trusts them on the court. There's a lot of guys I wouldn't mind, but Webber would be a good short-term band aid fix assuming he's in shape and can compete still.
I saw PJax work with a lot of scrubby C's in his days with the Bulls. Luc Longley wasn't particularly agile, though he was a decent enough passer and could hit the mid-range shot. On defense, you could see that PJax really did just want him to stand in the lane with his hands up. This should be the opportunity that Mihm needs, once he's back, to get that rust off. There are guys like Jelani McCoy (Lakers' NBDL team), Jahidi White, and Michael Ruffin, who I'd rather take a flyer on. There's also Zach Randolph out there, supposedly available, but the Lakers would have to go small to use him and I dunno what kind of trade they could offer for him. Assuming the Lakers don't sign Webber or PJ Brown, they're going to have to do something, no? Or nothing and go with the guys they have. What do you see as the alternative?
While Joe Smith is better on offense by a wide margin, PJ Brown's interior defense was a ton better, and he was the true reason why our defense didn't suck like it does this year. (and he kept Tyrus' spirits up). I think his original plan was to come join us again this year, but that plan went to shit. His plan B was probably to join Miami sometime during the year, but that went to shit as well. I think he'll end up back in New Orleans now.
Denny, I completely disagree about Mihm being better than Webber. Pre-injury, at the stage Webber is now and how Mihm was...I'd agree. But ever since coming back, Mihm's look TERRIBLE. Honestly, it's time for him to hang it up before he does further damage. I'd love Webber, he'd help this team out immensely while Bynum was out and would compliment Bynum perfectly when he comes back healthy. A playoff lineup (pending injuries) of: Fisher Kobe Odom Webber Bynum Would be awesome!
PJ Brown was first on my list, but I'm not really surprised he rejected our offer. I don't think he will return anytime soon, he seems pretty content on retirement.
I could see the Lakers grabbing Elton Brown again. Webber seemed to take shots away from everyone else which lead to Billups being upset. I know 8 weeks is a long time but adding Webber means for the rest of the season.
Didn't Webber come off the bench for Detroit? I wonder if he'd do that for L.A.? At full health, we'd be: Fisher/Farmar Kobe/Crittenton (I can hope he steals Sasha's PT) Ariza/Walton Lamar/Webber Bynum/Kwame I really like that second unit, especially with J Farm and J Critt in the back court. I think they play off each other so well.
Would Odom move to the bench, I wonder? Fisher/Farmar Kobe/Critt Ariza/Walton Webber/Odom Bynum/Kwame
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bynumite @ Jan 17 2008, 12:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Webbers more of a PF, I think.But when Bynum is back he's bench!</div> I agree once Bynum comes back and gets up to speed Webber needs to move to the bench. I'd start him while Bynum is out because he would be our best scorer in the paint. PG - Fisher/Farmar SG - Kobe/JCritt SF - Odom/Luke or Ariza PF - Webber/Odom C - Kwame/Turiaf
I disagree, I think or best lineup if we get Webber and we're healthy is easily: Fisher/Farmar/ Kobe/Crittenton/Sasha Walton/Ariza/Radmanovic Webber/Odom/Turiaf Bynum/Brown I believe that Webber is the perfect complimentary player to Bynum in the post because of his ability in the mid range game. I still think he's capable of 11 and 7. I'd start Luke over Ariza because Walton and Odom in the same lineup is just terrible. With this rotation, I love how strong the bench is. We've got two playmakers in Farmar and Crittenton who can both score quickly, along with a rebounder and another playmaker in Odom, and a slasher in Ariza and Kwame to anchor the D. I really hope that Crittenton still sees burn when Sasha is healthy, IMO he's a much better player.
