Mitch May Not Be Done Playing With His Wand

I prefer Miller or Artest to Butler. But all 4 bring a different aspect in the game... All of which KB24 has LOL (Miller - Outside shooting, Artest - Defence and mental toughness, Butler - Firepower, Odom - Rebounding and ball handling)

Miller's outside accuracy would compliment Kb's game (Kb drives in the lane, dishes to miller for the 3 LOL) more than Caron's athleticism but he would certainly be an upgrade over odom.

Artest could be brought in so that Kobe can concentrate on the offence... Scoring, passing etc. Plus we will have a real 'fighter' not someone who'd simply watch while your team mates is being bullied by the opposition.

 

How about this?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>OK, with Kobe in questionable health and the Lakers already "all in" for this season, if the Bulls really want to get something in return for Ben Gordon, shouldn't they call up Mitch Kupchak?

Maybe something like this:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/trad...p;te=&cash=

Which boils down to
Bulls send: Wallace, Nocioni, Duhon, Gordon
Lakers send: Odom, Ariza, Farmar, Radmanovic, Karl, Mihm

Gives them a lineup of
1- Fisher, Duhon
2- (Kobe), Gordon, Vujacic
3- Nocioni, Walton
4- Gasol, Turiaf
5- (Bynum), Wallace, Mbenga

And in the long run they get back Bynum and Kobe, to put Gordon in the super 6th Man role everyone has him pegged into and put Wallace down as the third big man.

The only thing I think is sort of an issue for them is they don't exactly have a bunch of defensive juggernauts at the 3 spot there. But Trevor Ariza broke his foot, so he's not playing anyway and I wouldn't expect him to be top notch when he comes back.

The logic for the Bulls is pretty simple. Odom's got an expiring deal next year and we wipe off our two bad contracts from the books. Even taking back Radmanovic the Bulls come out way ahead in that respect. On this team, Wallace and Nocioni don't make a lot of sense. The Bulls get Farmar, who might be the true PG we're looking for, and a few fairly young players who might stick on reasonable contracts (Ariza, Vujacic, Mihm - although it's unclear when the two hurt guys will ever play again).

1- Hinrich, Farmar
2- Thabo, Vujacic
3- Deng, Ariza, Radmanovic
4- Odom, Thomas, Radmanovic
5- Noah, Smith, Mihm</div>

 

No thanks to that deal. Ben Gordon would end up being a rental for the remainder of his contract because with Kobe, Gasol, Wallace and Noc, the Lakers would have no cap space to give him much of a deal. Plus, I don't want Wallace, plain and simple. I don't want him as a Bulls fan, and I don't want as a Laker either. His contract is crap and his abilities have already diminished far quicker than one would have expected.

 

It's kind of funny that a few weeks ago many Lakers fans were willing to take on Wallace and it's too big a change. Obviously I don't like him on the Bulls, but basically in that deal you're getting three starting quality players for one.

As far as the finances, what's a little more luxury tax among friends? If they're gonna pay it, they might as well do everything they can to secure themselves a title or two over the next couple years

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC @ Feb 18 2008, 05:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's kind of funny that a few weeks ago many Lakers fans were willing to take on Wallace and it's too big a change. Obviously I don't like him on the Bulls, but basically in that deal you're getting three starting quality players for one.

As far as the finances, what's a little more luxury tax among friends? If they're gonna pay it, they might as well do everything they can to secure themselves a title or two over the next couple years </div>

Hmmm....I don't recall any Laker fans here saying we wanted Big Ben, I know I was against the idea.

As it is, the Bulls give up too many key players in that deal and it'd really screw with the chemistry at this point, something that's extremely strong with this group of players we have and a big part as to why we're playing so damn well. And I also don't foresee the front office wanting to pay THAT MUCH for luxury tax. They're clearly not against paying it since they did bring in Gasol, but if we brought in anymore, nuh uh. Plus, I don't think Wallace is worth a damn anymore and while I like Gordon, I don't want to give up our PG of the future for a rental.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Moo2K4 @ Feb 18 2008, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC @ Feb 18 2008, 05:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's kind of funny that a few weeks ago many Lakers fans were willing to take on Wallace and it's too big a change. Obviously I don't like him on the Bulls, but basically in that deal you're getting three starting quality players for one.

As far as the finances, what's a little more luxury tax among friends? If they're gonna pay it, they might as well do everything they can to secure themselves a title or two over the next couple years </div>

Hmmm....I don't recall any Laker fans here saying we wanted Big Ben, I know I was against the idea.

As it is, the Bulls give up too many key players in that deal and it'd really screw with the chemistry at this point, something that's extremely strong with this group of players we have and a big part as to why we're playing so damn well. And I also don't foresee the front office wanting to pay THAT MUCH for luxury tax. They're clearly not against paying it since they did bring in Gasol, but if we brought in anymore, nuh uh. Plus, I don't think Wallace is worth a damn anymore and while I like Gordon, I don't want to give up our PG of the future for a rental.
</div>

Big Ben totally ruins that deal but giving up Odom for Nocioni + Gordon/Duhon/Filler wouldn't be so bad. We could let Kobe have surgery and take some time to recover while we hold off the fort. We would have decent depth as well.

Of course we may still be able to get in the post-season without another deal, but we're always exploring possibilities.

 

I don't like Ben Gordon on this team. I don't see how effective he'll be when we have guys like Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol needing touches. I'd rather just keep the roster the way it is. Like Mamba said, this trade will change the team completely. No way will we trade for so many new guys midseason, none of which have any triangle experience what-so-ever. And even if this was the offseason, I'd probably pass as well. Honestly, I'm very happy with our roster as is. Obviously there is still room for improvement, but that deal is just too much.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 18 2008, 07:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't like Ben Gordon on this team. I don't see how effective he'll be when we have guys like Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol needing touches. I'd rather just keep the roster the way it is. Like Mamba said, this trade will change the team completely. No way will we trade for so many new guys midseason, none of which have any triangle experience what-so-ever. And even if this was the offseason, I'd probably pass as well. Honestly, I'm very happy with our roster as is. Obviously there is still room for improvement, but that deal is just too much.</div>

I think Kobe needs the surgery. If that's the case, we definitely need to get rid of Odom because' he's not a real small forward, we were going to trade his ass one day anyway, and Gordon can help us clinch a playoff spot in the West. Gordon spends most of his time at SG as well, and we need that while Kobe is Recovering.

We want to win a title right? I don't see what's wrong with this deal (minus Big Ben if it can be worked out of course), we are already going to be devastated by Kobe's absence despite what some of you may think about him playing through the pain. This ligament has shown that it can own Kobe's ass. It doesn't even matter if Gordon walks at the end of the season (expiring contracts aren't so bad sometimes), we get rid of Odom's contract and have more money to sign Bynum/Kobe to an extension.

 

I wouldn't even do the Miller/Odom trade. I might if they included Hakim Warrick. But other than that, I think this roster can get us a chance to the finals. Odom always seems to do good in the playoffs. Our starting 5 is a matchup nightmare.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman @ Feb 18 2008, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't even do the Miller/Odom trade. I might if they included Hakim Warrick. But other than that, I think this roster can get us a chance to the finals. Odom always seems to do good in the playoffs. Our starting 5 is a matchup nightmare.</div>

If we're not healthy that changes the entire dynamic of our roster. We are in jeopardy of not getting in the post-season, a savvy trade would not hurt right now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ Feb 18 2008, 11:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Odom is a choker. Remember game 7 against Phoenix? Or his missed rebound in game 6?</div>

I don't remember game 7, but Odom was outplaying Marion for most of that series.

 

why would you mess with the chemistry of a team that just went 7-2 on the road? As long as Odumb is the third option behind Kobe and Pau, or Kobe and Bynum, or fourth option behind Kobe, Pau and Bynum he is fine. Bynum is on track to return in 3 wks, but Ariza may be out for the season and Odumb can play some small forward along with power forward. Leave this alone for the playoffs, and if a change is needed trade Odumb in the offseason.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Whatthef? @ Feb 19 2008, 07:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>why would you mess with the chemistry of a team that just went 7-2 on the road? As long as Odumb is the third option behind Kobe and Pau, or Kobe and Bynum, or fourth option behind Kobe, Pau and Bynum he is fine. Bynum is on track to return in 3 wks, but Ariza may be out for the season and Odumb can play some small forward along with power forward. Leave this alone for the playoffs, and if a change is needed trade Odumb in the offseason.</div>

I want to wait for the off-season too, but it does look like Bynum will come back fine taking away from Odom's impact on the starting line-up.

Since we don't have a real SF and since Kobe might need some rest, I don't think it would kill to acquire a SG-SF type of player to make a run at a title, <u>this</u> season.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Recent speculation that the Lakers may be shopping Lamar Odom appear to be bogus. Multiple sources said that the plan … for right now is to keep Odom until this summer. For one, the Lakers are worried that without Andrew Bynum, they can’t afford to lose Odom’s rebounding. Two, they want to give this group some time to see if they can gel. Odom is such an unselfish player, the thinking is that he can become more of a facilitator in the Lakers’ offense.</div>

http://thelakersnation.com/blog/?p=2167

to good to be true.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bynumite @ Feb 19 2008, 09:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Recent speculation that the Lakers may be shopping Lamar Odom appear to be bogus. Multiple sources said that the plan ?€? for right now is to keep Odom until this summer. For one, the Lakers are worried that without Andrew Bynum, they can?€™t afford to lose Odom?€™s rebounding. Two, they want to give this group some time to see if they can gel. Odom is such an unselfish player, the thinking is that he can become more of a facilitator in the Lakers?€™ offense.</div>

http://thelakersnation.com/blog/?p=2167

to good to be true.
</div>

Well the deadline is this Thursday, so it's too early to trade Odom and rely solely on Andrew to replace Odom in rebounding and such (unless Bynum's injury was less severe than we thought, though that's unlikely).

 

Again, 15 million expiring contract next season.

It's better to just wait a couple more months, because we're likely to get more value from Lamar then than we would now.