Malone & Payton to stay together Gary Payton and Karl Malone arrived in tandem in July, and apparently they will remain so this summer. Payton said Friday that wherever he plays next season, it probably will be beside Malone. Both can opt out of their contracts after this season. "Whatever he does in his career from now on, I think I'm going to be right there with him," Payton said. "If he's going to come back to the Lakers, I think I'm going to come back to the Lakers too. If he's going to go somewhere else, I'm going to consider going somewhere else with him. So, just whatever he wants." They plan to spend time this summer at Malone's Arkansas logging ranch, where they will, according to Payton, work out and smoke cigars on the porch. "He's going to have me knocking down trees and all that log stuff, so I got to get ready for that." http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp...eadlines-sports
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting worldchamps9903:</div><div class="quote_post">Gary Payton and Karl Malone arrived in tandem in July, and apparently they will remain so this summer. Payton said Friday that wherever he plays next season, it probably will be beside Malone. Both can opt out of their contracts after this season. "Whatever he does in his career from now on, I think I'm going to be right there with him," Payton said. "If he's going to come back to the Lakers, I think I'm going to come back to the Lakers too. If he's going to go somewhere else, I'm going to consider going somewhere else with him. So, just whatever he wants." They plan to spend time this summer at Malone's Arkansas logging ranch, where they will, according to Payton, work out and smoke cigars on the porch. "He's going to have me knocking down trees and all that log stuff, so I got to get ready for that." http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp...eadlines-sports</div> This is old news. Everybody knows this by now. I'll just say this.....the Lakers better be hungry to take back their title because if they don't, I expect Payton to leave for his frustration over limited minutes, and I feel Karl Malone might hang them up because his body is too fragile and breakable at 40 years old, and with a death in his family to someone that was close to him I've heard, all that would be too much for him to take. But if the Lakers do re-take the 2004 championship, I'd expect these two to come back as healthy and possible and try to earn a 5th one. I like our position right now up 2-0 in this series, and 14 games to go that'll decide a champion. Only time will tell.
Well I never really liked Payton....he's good and works hard. But I hate his fearless and cocky attitude, Malone's always been well behaved in my eyes, just somewhat tough. They go good together, but he's no Stock.
I wish GP could get a good grasp of the triangle. It would make things alot easier for the Lakers and he could get back to his 17 to 20 points a game and 8 to 9 assists game. His defense has gone down, with his age being a factor. He is no longer the glove, like my sister said. He's more like a mit now. Anyways, everybody knows their both gonna leave if they don't win the championship this year.
malone is probably gonna go this season because of his injury prone body i agree even if we'd win the finals. and as to payton, i love him as a player on the court, but hate him off the court like most people. imo he is the most important player after shaq. I would prefer kobe to go honestly
I think they'll stay regardless of what happens because this is the best opportunity they have. Honestly I can't think of another team they can go to who are: 1. legitimate contenders 2. Have a need for their services. Malone's not going to retire after the year he's had. He's gonna wanna prove himself again. In fact, to stir things up a little bit, I'd say they secretly wished Kobe or Phil would leave, so that they could play a more prominent role on the team, Not something I would personally like to see but even in this worst case scenario I can't see Payton or Malone not wanting to giving it one more shot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DonJuan:</div><div class="quote_post">I think they'll stay regardless of what happens because this is the best opportunity they have. Honestly I can't think of another team they can go to who are: 1. legitimate contenders 2. Have a need for their services. </div> What? If LA doesn't win how is this place still "the best opportunity they have"? Are the Lakers still the only "legitimate contenders" IF SOMEONE ELSE WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP? And ANY team could use their services to some extent.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">What? If LA doesn't win how is this place still "the best opportunity they have"? Are the Lakers still the only "legitimate contenders" IF SOMEONE ELSE WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP? And ANY team could use their services to some extent.</div> To what extent? To be backups? Do you understand the motivation which brought them to LA in the first place? It?s not just about winning championships. It?s about winning championships on their own terms. They didn?t just want to win, they wanted to contribute. Payton and Malone didn?t sign with L.A. to be backups. LA Lakers had two voids which they filled perfectly. Think about it for a second. If they left where would they go? Sacramento, Minnesota, San Antonio, Dallas, Indiana, Detroit? All of these teams are legitimate contenders and all of these teams have exceptional power forwards and point guards (Indiana not withstanding). Do you really think that Malone and Payton would sign with these teams? At best they?d be backups. That completely goes against what they?re about in the first place. That?s why I say LA is still the best opportunity they have if they want to do it on own terms. How sweet would it be win a championship without Phil and Kobe when everybody counted you out?
They only thing i have to say about Karl and GP is that wither the Lakers win or Lose the ship this year has a big impact in their decision. But the real thing is if Gp can stand not getting as many shots off next year and if Karl thinks his body can stand another year of punishment. Jerry West will Fight hard to keep them here regardsless if we win or lose this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe=DaMAN:</div><div class="quote_post">Jerry West will Fight hard to keep them here regardsless if we win or lose this year.</div> You really miss him, don't you?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Undertakernv:</div><div class="quote_post">You really miss him, don't you?</div> lmao, that's funny man...maybe he just wants to forget that mitch runs the show... DonJuan brings up a good point...GP and Malone want a ring, but I don't think they want it Mitch Richmond style. What's a ring worth when u feel u didn't really contribute towards it. However, my feeling remains that GP is just talking out of his ass. I think Malone will stay and probably retire as a Laker but GP will move on somewhere else next season. I n addition, a lot of what happens over the summer will depend on the success of the Lakers...if they win a title, who's to say that Malone would stay for another one...he could very well retire or go somewhere where u could break the scoring record.
