Laker Trading Thread

I thought i would be cool like all the otha peeple and make a laker tradin thread...jk its a good idea.....wha should they do...i think they need to get rid of fox, horry, walker, and shaw

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "purehoops":</div><div class="quote_post">why is everyone so quick to jump off Horry's bandwagon, the Lakers would only have a 2peat if it wasnt for him... he should still play for em (or Houston) as a solid benchie

Lakers should sign JHoward... hope the dont tho, hate those FAKERS</div>

i aint jumpin off his bandwagon, he siad he wants to play closer to his daughter in H-town....how r they fakers atleast they can get out of the first round of tha play offs

 

The Lakers should sign PJ Brown because he is a great defender, rebounder, and can play a little center.

Horry is still a good player, but it might be time for him to come off the bench.

The Lakers just need to add more depth to their roster and upgrade some of the bench mob. I'd like to see a better PG who can score to be added to the team along with PJ Brown.

If we sign Payton or Arenas we should draft David West to play PF.
If we sign PJ Brown we should draft Troy Bell or Walton.

 

Actually there's an article from the Oakland Tribune about Arenas willing to play for less to join the Lakers and play in his hometown.

Lakers figure to be Arenas' first option:

ONE MONTH from today, NBA teams can begin negotiating with free agents. Don't be shocked if the Los Angeles Lakers phone Gilbert Arenas.
That would make sense. Arenas, the Golden State Warriors' second-year sensation, becomes a free agent July 1. And the Lakers need a new look after their early departure from these NBA playoffs.

The Lakers no longer are formidable, and the reason is a weakened supporting cast around megastars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Think of the jolt Arenas could give that team. It would be electrifying.

Arenas is 21. Bryant turns 25 in August. The Lakers backcourt would be set for the next 10 years, maybe longer. Arenas isn't a natural point guard, but Derek Fisher isn't Magic Johnson either when it comes to assists.

The rumor that keeps resurfacing has Arenas winding up in Denver if he doesn't re-sign with the Warriors. That's nonsense. The only right-thinking free agents who go to Denver go there to play for the Broncos.


But the Lakers make perfect sense for Arenas, for four reasons.

First, it's a quicker opportunity for him to get a championship ring. The Lakers have won the last three NBA titles, and their history is predicated on getting what they want. Their dynasty isn't dead just yet.

Second, Arenas was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Van Nuys. He's a Southern California kid, which is something Northern California can't compete with, even though the living here is 10 times better.

Third, Arenas was interviewed last month on the "Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Net. When asked if he would like to be a Laker, he broke out in a big smile and answered strongly in the affirmative.

Fourth, why do we keep hearing the Warriors will draft Oregon point guard Luke Ridnour on June 26? If the Warriors do take Ridnour, then figure Arenas is as good as gone.

With a chance to play with Shaq and Kobe, you think Erick Dampier and Jason Richardson can hold Arenas back? Of course not. Arenas will do exactly what Jamaal Wilkes did, leave the Warriors for the Lakers.

Another rumor has the Lakers signing Gary Payton and Scottie Pippen to revitalize the team. That makes no sense. Payton remains a star, but he'll be 35 next month, or 14 years older than Arenas. Pippen, approaching 38, is done.

Arenas would be more subservient to Bryant than Payton would. And if the Lakers do add a forward, it will be Karl Malone. True, he's almost 40, but he's so well-conditioned, he might have two good years left. And he has the motivation -- he wants to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA scoring record.

The hang-up with Arenas is money. His agent, Dan Fegan, is talking crazy. In Friday's Denver Post, Fegan was quoted as saying that $7 million a year is too low a figure to sign Arenas.

At $7 million, the Warriors are out of the picture. So are most NBA teams, except for Denver, which has room under the salary cap. But, once again, who wants to be a Nugget?

The Lakers won't pay Arenas $7 million either. But to be an important third wheel for Phil Jackson, Arenas would be a fool to refuse a lesser offer. The Lakers have a tight salary cap, but they are known for making intelligent moves, cap or no cap. And they do know how to win.

So what happens to the Warriors if Arenas leaves? It would be chaos, unless they find someone to run the team. Ridnour could use his senior year in Eugene, which he has chosen to pass up. But he wouldn't be a bad replacement.

Think Steve Nash, who didn't beat anyone off the dribble at Santa Clara, but now is a catalyst for the Dallas Mavericks. Nash is a good passer and a clutch outside shooter who has learned how to get to the hoop.

Ridnour is a fine passer and accurate from the outside. And he will discover in time how to weave through the paint, although not like Arenas, who is a fantastic driver.

If the Warriors did lose Arenas, they'd lose their best player. Sorry, Antawn Jamison. But they'd be better off with a point guard in the mold of Nash or John Stockton, someone who makes everyone better by distributing the ball, and who still gets 15 points a game. Ridnour has that potential.

So could the Warriors get to .500 without Arenas and with Ridnour in his place? Perhaps. But if not next season, the Warriors would be .500 or better for years to come with a versatile guard like Ridnour.

It's all speculation now, of course. We'll learn more June 26, and a whole lot more starting July 1.

 

As for Jerry Buss being cheap, he's actually willing to dish out the money, the Lakers have the 6th highest payroll, but Buss does a great job of getting veteran players to sign for cheap. A lot of players can make money outside of the NBA playing in Los Angeles, marketing deals, promotions, hollywood, etc.

Also in the past the Lakers have been unconventional due mostly in part to Jerry West. But now that he is gone the Lakers haven't "rolled the dice" on any possible trades to improve the team. They blew a chance at Reef, Terry, Ratliff last season and I hope they don't make a mistake the same mistake again this year.