Are the Lakers still saving this for Karl Malone? It's one of the few assets we have to get a decent player, it's time to use it. One idea I heard on the radio was using it to get Alonzo Mourning. Having him play 15 to 18 minutes a game would be perfect for the Lakers. Of course this can only happen if Toronto plays along. Other teams are tapping into the free agent market. The Suns added Smush Parker, the Cavs signed Keon Clark & Jerome Moiso, and the Rockets signed Rod Strickland. Of course the Lakers will need to cut a player, that's easy, Tierre Brown. I'd like to see the Lakers bring in Darrick Martin, Marcus Haislip, or Derrick Coleman at this point. Darrick Martin is a former UCLA player and also spent time with the Clippers. Adjusting to LA, won't be a problem for him. He's a little old, but Martin has always been a good mid range shooter and has a good assist to turnover ratio. A rotation of Atkins-Bobbitt-Martin is a lot more attractive to me, than Atkins-Brown-Bobbitt. Marcus Haislip is a man on a pogo stick registering a 40 inch vert. He was the 13th overall pick by the Bucks in 2002. He never really developed for the Bucks and he didn't find much playing time behind Joe Smith and Brian Skinner. He played for the Pacers a little this season, but was eventually cut. I would like to add him because he can be the athletic, defensive presence down low the Lakers are lacking off the bench. Brian Grant has been great, but he's not a shotblocker and can't guard the quicker, athletic forwards in the league. At worst, Haislip could be a poor-man's Marcus Camby for the Lakers. Finally Derrick Coleman makes the list. Yeah he's a shell of the player he once was, but DC can still post up and put the ball in the basket. The Lakers don't really have a solid post up game and a thick player to take up space in the lane. DC can sign for the exception and then have some endorsement deal incentives based on his production. LA is the land of fast food, can't you just see DC as the poster child for Krispy Creme, FatBurger, or In-N-Out Burger?
I wouldn't mine Alonzo or Coleman. I really don't know much about the other two players. Adding Alonzo though would really help us I think. He is a shotblocker that we could use off of the bench when Mihm is having an off night.
I always saw Haslip as more of an oversized perimeter player. Granted the last time I saw him was at Tenneesee, so he may have changed his style since then, but he's too soft to be a Camby type of player for the Lakers. The Lakers need some interior toughness and I just don't see him providing that. The prospect of Morning is intriguing, but the Lakers already took a chance on one dead weight (Divac) at center, so I'm not too sure if taking another chance is in the best interest of the team. There are a few guys in the NBDL I'd like the Lakers to take a shot on (I know I know, we'd be replacing one D-League scrub for another). That Ousmane Cisse kid seems to be developing nicely in the NBDL ... If you recall, he was that kid who averaged a triple-double in HS ... from what I hear, he's a bulkier Bo Outlaw Omar Cook is another outstanding NBDL-er... he's got his fg% up over 40% now down there. His assist-to-turnever ratio is very high, especially considering the types of passes he makes. He could provide speed on the defensive end as well... or if you want a vet, isn't Tryone Hill still on the mareket?
Now that Jamal Sampson is free from Charlotte, the Lakers could pick him up. I really liked how he performed for us last year and he's a young banger we can develop.
Jamaal Sampson was promising for us last time, has decent size. But i wouldnt try and repackage him, if he couldnt contribute in charlotte, i doubt he could be anymore then what we already have. Alonzo could be intresting at C for LA, he would ad that extra experience down low if he could stay healthy. Lakers could have really used Karl this year, especially when the inexperience of this young laker squad shows and they get bullied around. Malone is the kinda kat that would go to war with you, and lakers need someone like that in a bad way. DMK
The Raptors officially waived Alonzo Mourning and Malone is officially retiring. I think it makes sense for the Lakers to give him the $1.5M. The Heat are also very interested in Zo. It would actually be funny to have O'Neal, Zo, and Laettner all on the same team, the Heat would have the top 3 picks from the 1992 draft.
