<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>SAN ANTONIO - Media speculation about a trade between the Lakers and Bulls resumed this week, several months after Chicago general manager John Paxson declared dead a possible deal between the teams. During training camp, Kobe Bryant was rumored to be headed to Chicago for a package of players before Paxson said in early November there would be no trade. The Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith, however, suggested a new deal the other day in his NBA column, with the Lakers acquiring power forward Ben Wallace in exchange for center Kwame Brown and backup forward Vladimir Radmanovic. Wallace has two seasons after this one remaining on his contract at a total of $28.5 million. Brown has $9 million left on his expiring deal. Radmanovic, who is making $5.6 million this season, is signed through the 2010-11 season. The trade deadline is Feb. 21. WALTON HURTING Luke Walton's right ankle hasn't been sound since before training camp started. His pedestrian statistics (7.5 points per game, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists) can be linked directly to his injury, Jackson said. "We just have to watch that he's not overplayed," coach Phil Jackson said. "Too many minutes are going to hurt him, wear him out and tear him down. "Offensively, he's struggling. Defensively he's doing a good job for us." Jackson plans to move Bryant from guard to small forward in order to give Walton more breaks, leaving Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar to handle the backcourt. Lamar Odom also might be moved to small forward from power forward. PLAYERS' COACH Sports Illustrated recently asked 242 NBA players to name the coach they'd most like to play for, excluding their own. Jackson finished in a dead heat for first place with Mike D'Antoni of the Phoenix Suns. "A system of how you play ball is really important," Jackson said. "Phoenix has a wonderful way of playing basketball, so I understand that. I don't know why anyone would want to play for me because I'm too rigid and perhaps too confining in a lot of the ways we do things. But it is nice to know that." INJURY UPDATES Radmanovic and Chris Mihm remained in Southern California while the Lakers left for their two-game trip to Texas, the better to continue their rehabilitation exercises. The Lakers hope Radmanovic (right ankle) and Mihm (right ankle) will be fit in time to join the team on its nine-game trip that leads into the All-Star break. Both players performed rehab exercises while their teammates practiced Tuesday.</div> Source: Pasadena Star News
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kobe23 @ Jan 24 2008, 01:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No no and No to Ben Wallace!</div> I agree. I don't want his sour puss moody attitude around.
Big Ben? Would be interesting. Will he be better than kwame now for us? He still cant shoot the rock, but can he play defense like his former Defensive player of the Year type defense?
I've said no multiple times before this, and I still say no. I don't think he adds much to this team, and when Bynum gets back, I think it'd create too much chaos on the roster and probably kill some chemistry.
Hell yeah, do it!!! I like Kwame for what he is, defender and a rebounder, and Ben is better then Kwame in both of those categories. I am not worried about Ben’s attitude for two reasons, Phil is good at dealing with people like him and Phil preach deafens, and Ben loves to play D. Radman is just a waste at this point of his career.
Great point! Phil is the best, bar none, at getting attitudes to work out. A lineup of Fisher, Kobe, Odom, Wallace, and Bynum is just plain nasty. You run a bench of Farmar, Sasha, Ariza, Turiaf, and Kwame... bench mob is back. I'd do this deal in a heartbeat and then I focus on getting our players healthy.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Trench @ Jan 24 2008, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Big Ben? Would be interesting. Will he be better than kwame now for us? He still cant shoot the rock, but can he play defense like his former Defensive player of the Year type defense?</div> That defence requires his athleticism and exlopsion whenever he jumps... he does not have that anymore
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ Jan 24 2008, 10:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Great point! Phil is the best, bar none, at getting attitudes to work out. A lineup of Fisher, Kobe, Odom, Wallace, and Bynum is just plain nasty. You run a bench of Farmar, Sasha, Ariza, Turiaf, and Kwame... bench mob is back. I'd do this deal in a heartbeat and then I focus on getting our players healthy.</div> I thought we were gonna send kwame for big ben? LOL Yea that lineup would be ok IF WE HAD BYNUM... but we dont so NO
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 24 2008, 07:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Are there actual talks going on or is this just pure speculation?</div> I think its just speculation. I haven't heard much about the Lakers talking about B.Wallace.
Whoa, just speculation? I was under the impression that there were talks... I meant Mbenga in the lineup, my bad.
Mamba: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Media speculation about a trade between the Lakers and Bulls resumed this week, several months after Chicago general manager John Paxson declared dead a possible deal between the teams. During training camp, Kobe Bryant was rumored to be headed to Chicago for a package of players before Paxson said in early November there would be no trade. The Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith, however, suggested a new deal the other day in his NBA column, with the Lakers acquiring power forward Ben Wallace in exchange for center Kwame Brown and backup forward Vladimir Radmanovic. Wallace has two seasons after this one remaining on his contract at a total of $28.5 million. Brown has $9 million left on his expiring deal. Radmanovic, who is making $5.6 million this season, is signed through the 2010-11 season.</div> I thought it was just speculation until I saw so many fans actually discussing this trade. There was a thread made in this forum a couple days ago about Sam Smith "speculating" a Ben Wallace trade to Los Angeles. It's all just speculation, nothing is going on at this point, or at least I don't think so. Also, if I remember correctly, Sam Smith doesn't exactly have a great track record, so chances are this deal isn't even being discussed
