<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There are a host of contender teams lobbying for Karl Malone, but it seems more and more likely that he will remaing with the Los Angeles Lakers. Shaquille O'Neal has actively recruited the Mailman, but an O'Neal associate said it was the center's belief that Malone eventually would elect to return to the Lakers. That possibility appears even stronger now that Malone's children have been enrolled in schools in suburban Los Angeles. The Heat and Spurs can both offer him the NBA minimum of $1.1 million for the coming season. The Lakers could offer slightly more, while it appears increasingly likely that the Timberwolves are not to a factor.</div> <div align="center">Link</div>
Awesome...but don't the Timberwolves still have their MLE ($5 million)? I don't know why I'm saying this, though...I believe if Karl already enrolled his kids in Los Angeles, he's intending to stay or retire, considering he'd have to go through that process again while buying a home in another city he's not quite familiar with (compared to LA or Utah).
oohh yeah!! malone is here to stay. he's enrolling his children in school..obviously he intends to stay in LA. unless he's leaving his children in LA to play in a diff. team.
If Malone opts to remain in LA, this will be huge. The Lakers already have a pretty good foundation in their frontcourt with Brian Grant, Lamar Odom, Vlade Divac and Horace Grant. So with the addition of Karl Malone, that will give them some size, strength and depth and most importantly experience. He?s about to head into his 20th season in the NBA, and his experience is by far greater compared to any other player in the league. And from what I remember, he?s done fairly well for himself before he sustained that injury again the Suns last season. So basically, if Malone stays in the LA, the Lakers playoff chance will dramatically increase.
Yeah it looks obvious that Malone will stay a Laker for another season since his kids are enrolled in suburban LA schools, and if he really did want to sign with another club outside of LA, what's the point of moving your kids to different school districts all over again if he could've done that from the beginning? I remember I said months ago, I didn't want Malone returning to the Lakers, but I take that back. Malone provides us not only with leadership capabilities, but much more depth at the frontcourt positions. His offensive numbers may have taken a huge decrease last season, but Karl Malone is still one of the most hungriest players in the game today and guarantees he will give you 48 minutes a night. (Remember the torn jersey incident in the quarterfinals last year? ) And plus, his defensive tactics. Malone really proved himself on the defensive end by containing some of the best power forwards in the game in last years playoffs, and with the Western Conference once again being stacked with spectacular, skilled forwards, Karl Malone's strategies will be a tremendous plus. Now with Malone possibly returning, will he come off the bench since Odom and Butler will take the three and the four?
If Karl comes back? <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center">Link</div></div> If Karl comes back, then Grant has to go. Who else stays? Who wants our rejects? The Lakers can only keep 13 roster spots at most, here's my picks: center: Vlade, Mihm pf: Malone, Slava, Grant (if he's not traded) sf: Odom, Butler, Walton sg: Kobe, Rush, Bobbit pg: Atkins, Sasha George can stay on the injured list all year or until someone else gets injured
Here is a bit more info on KM and his decision. http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,20...2391396,00.html <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Karl Malone wants to play next season, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Thursday he remains optimistic but uncertain that Malone will choose to remain in Los Angeles. Kupchak said he has spoken with Malone in the past two weeks but the conversation did not delve into specifics. Malone has spent his offseason rehabbing his right knee and weighing offers from the Lakers, Miami, San Antonio and Minnesota. "I don't think our feel of the situation is any different than it was a month or two months ago," Kupchak said. "I'll admit we're a little more antsy now because we would like him back and he hasn't decided yet." Malone told the San Antonio Express-News on Thursday that he is going to be able to play this season. He also said he has made up his mind where he will play. "I know what I want to do," said Malone, who would become the ninth player in NBA history to play past his 41st birthday. "I'm just not ready to say yet."</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Should Malone not return, the Lakers would turn to Brian Grant at power forward, with Chris Mihm, Slava Medvedenko and Brian Cook all counted on for substantial contributions. "It's not really what we'd hope for, but I think we'd be able to get going and far enough into the season to get a feel for what we need to do," Kupchak said. "But you can't compare a team having Karl Malone to not having him." </div>
Although, you cannot deny the greatness and the numbers Karl Malone has produced over his career with the Lakers now moving to the youth generation I do not believe Karl Malone would fit to well with the team he would be learning his third offense in three years the first that does not involve him on a consistent bases, as well as the fact he would be in a rotation that had players such as Lamar Odam (although will probably play the three), Brian Grant, and Brian Cook. Grant has a pretty descent size contract so unless he is cleared on waivers which I do not see happening or traded (which I also do not see happening due to his contract) he will not be sitting on the bench for 35 minutes of a game and earning over a million dollars a year (possibly an exaggeration not sure of the exact number). If Karl came back which I think he may or may not its 50/50 on this point with the stories of Malone going to the Wolves or Spurs. Anyway, if he came back I think he would probably be a starter by default, and play at most 30 32 minutes a night since the Lakers may want to be conservative to avoid another freak injury like last year as well as make sure it is fully healed so it is not pulled or does not continue to nag him all year like how it effected him in the finals and cost the Lakers (well not cost because I do not want to take anything away from Detroit, but it seriously hurt there chances) by not having a descent power forward to body up Wallace who was not much of a factor in many games because of foul trouble, but players like Okur Campbell who was sometimes used at the power forward, and as well as made them lose veteran leadership with a whining Gary Payton, injured Malone, a big guy trying to carry the team, and Detroit defense playing to tight and not letting Kobe get open the finals became a nightmare that the Lakers never woke up from.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting True Talent:</div><div class="quote_post"> he will not be sitting on the bench for 35 minutes of a game and earning over a million dollars a year (possibly an exaggeration not sure of the exact number). </div> Hehe...I got a kick out of this part of your post. I'm not making fun of you...don't get me wrong...I just found it funny. Brian Grant would be very pissed off if he made a million a year, because his contract right now reads around $13.4 million per year (with increases each year after). Surprised? Brian Grant is the 25th highest paid player right now...Kobe earns $14.1 million. As far as Malone goes, I really hope he returns. I'll be looking forward to the Western Conference Finals actually...because I believe the Lakers can do it...possibly further. Ahh...also, welcome to JBB and the Laker forums.
I Fully expected Malone to come back with the Lakers.the word about his retiring seemed premature,but if you look at it malone wanted another shot at an NBA ring before he say's goodbye to a great career.Malone coming back to the Lakers is a good thing,and i expect he will do well this season,which is bad news for Kings fans like myself LOL
I want Malone to return next season to give the Lakers a defender against KG & Duncan. He's also a great passer and sets some of the best screens in the NBA. Having Malone will make the transition easier for the younger and new players, because he will be able to manage the media pressure and be the locker room leader for the team. He should be the starting PF if he comesback, allowing Odom to play the majority of his minutes at SF. Having Malone also gives the Lakers some insurance for Brian Grant getting injured and even more depth in the frontcourt.
YEAH! YEAH! YEAH BABY! Malone here to stay, I mean if he wasn't planning on playing in Los Angeles why would he enroll his kids in Los Angeles if he wasnt I mean, if i was retiring after years of playing in the NBA i would buy a ranch where i could live in peace, not in a city like Los Angeles. Hes Playin, The Lakers Are Solid.
Well I guess he is a fool according to Stephen A Smith since it looks like he's returning. But oh well, I'd love to have him back. He's old, but he's still in great shape and like others have pointed out. He gives superstars like KG and Duncan a tough time and that's very vital for this team.
no ****, dont underestimate the purple and gold also the majority of Stephen A. Smith commentary and opinion is ridiculous, this is the man is 100% spurs fan and if the lakers brought in KG to play pf he would say there going to loose. hes ridiculous
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Billa_Bong:</div><div class="quote_post">no ****, dont underestimate the purple and gold also the majority of Stephen A. Smith commentary and opinion is ridiculous, this is the man is 100% spurs fan and if the lakers brought in KG to play pf he would say there going to loose. hes ridiculous</div> What... Stephen A. Smith is a 100% Sixer fan. And in the past he has actually supported the Lakers often, so what are you talking about in the KG comment? He might make his statements bold, but I don't think they're rediculous. I like him a lot, he's one of my favorite columnists.
I like Stephen too. But I do remember him saying that Malone would be a fool to stay in L.A. Just meaning if he wants to get a ring it isn't with the Lakers. But at the same time it would make him look even worse and it's obvious he would do anything to get at that ring. I wouldn't hate him for it. I'm just glad he's staying in L.A.
Some more info on Karls decision from the LATimes. I don't think we'll know his decision until Mid-October, like Mitch said there is no deadline for KM to make a decision as long as he returns to the Lakers. I hope he comes back. http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/n...orts-nba-lakers <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Karl Malone has not fully recovered from off-season knee surgery and is expected to sit out part of the exhibition season, possibly more, if he decides to come back for a 20th NBA season.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He is working out and all signs are pointing to a 100% recovery, but that is still many months away," said Malone's agent, Dwight Manley. "There is no timetable."</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Our understanding is that Karl's not 100% at this time," Laker spokesman John Black said. "We don't know when he will be."</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"We're going to respect the space that he needs to make a decision," General Manager Mitch Kupchak said of Malone, who averaged 13.2 points and 8.7 rebounds last season. "Certainly he's earned that type of respect, not only for what he did in Utah [in 18 seasons with the Jazz] but for what he did for us last year."</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"We're not going to give a deadline," Kupchak said. "We're saving a spot for him."</div>
