<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Karl Malone is prepared to join the Lakers, with or without Gary Payton at his side, and it might be only a matter of days before the 14-time All-Star makes a verbal commitment, according to sources close to the situation. Malone was the first free agent to meet with Lakers officials last week, and it appears he will be the first piece of their rebuilding project to fall into place. He has given Lakers officials every indication he is ready to end his 18-year relationship with the Utah Jazz and accept a major pay cut to play alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Nothing can become official until July 16, the first day of the NBA's signing period, and there's nothing to prevent Malone from changing his mind, if sentiment and emotion intervene. But Lakers officials quietly are confident that Malone already has decided to come to L.A. and pursue the championship that long has eluded him. One source went so far as to call it "a done deal.' The Lakers continue to woo Payton as well he was expected to meet Monday with general manager Mitch Kupchak but his decision will not necessarily affect Malone's, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Malone offered to play for the $1.5 million exception, thus enabling the Lakers to use their mid-level exception, about $4.7 million, to sign Payton or another impact player. But the notion that Malone's decision to play here is contingent on Payton's has been "way overplayed' in news reports, said a source close to the situation. If Payton declines the Lakers' offer and the Lakers fail to entice another impact player Malone simply will ask for the full $4.7 million exception. He also would be willing to split the exception with another free agent. Scottie Pippen or Tyronn Lue are possibilities. In any case, it appears Malone, who turns 40 in two weeks, soon will cut ties with Utah, his home since 1985. The Jazz can pay Malone considerably more he earned $19 million last season but team owner Larry Miller has said he won't offer more than $5 million. Malone has all but ruled out returning. San Antonio and Dallas also have expressed interest in Malone and could make late attempts to pry him from the Lakers. But the Spurs are busy courting Jason Kidd, the Mavericks are banking on Alonzo Mourning and Malone has yet to meet with officials of either team. Malone already has the full endorsement O'Neal, who according to a friend is "very, very excited' about the prospect of Malone joining him in the frontcourt. O'Neal has long pined for a rugged power forward to assume some of the rebounding and defensive burden in the paint. Malone, a career .517 shooter, would demand the full attention of defenses and prevent them from crowding O'Neal. There is considerably less confidence among Lakers officials, and others close to the team, about Payton's willingness to accept a pay cut to play here. They consider Payton to be "a money guy' who ultimately would prefer to force Milwaukee into a sign-and-trade deal that would bring him closer to last year's salary of $12.6 million. Portland and Indiana are among the teams with the assets to trade for Payton. His agent, Aaron Goodwin, recently told ESPN.com that Payton has narrowed his choices to the Lakers, Portland and Miami. He indicated the Lakers are his top choice. The Lakers, of course, have been down this path before and been burned. Charles Oakley strung them along in 1999 before re-signing for more money with Toronto. A year later, Kendall Gill gave the Lakers a verbal commitment, then took a better offer from New Jersey the next day. Kupchak will not talk specifics about his current discussions, other than to say nothing is guaranteed until contracts are signed. "I feel we have a legitimate chance to acquire a free agent that would have an impact on our roster,' he said, "but until we have a signature on a page which really can't happen until July 16 I'll have very little comfort level.' Kupchak continues to speak with agents for other major free agents, and said he has not ruled out anyone. It is known, though, the Lakers have scheduled no in-person meetings with P.J. Brown, Brad Miller or Juwan Howard, the other top big men on the market. </div>
GP and Kobe and Malone and Shaq might be too much scorers on one team... unless they start playing with 2 basketballs.. But without GP it could work, they all will score 20+ a game, and that is what Malone needs to get the all time scoring record, which he definately wants to get... He?s almost 40, but in real good shape, so he might be playing for another 2 seasons... If they sign Malone they will win a lot of games next season!
I wonder what Malone will do if he doesn't have the scoring title or a ring in two years. Do you think that he is determined enough to play in his early forties?
Malone has now totalled 36.374 points, Kareem has 38.387. Malone is a career 25.4 ppg scorer, so he would need 80 games to pass Kareem if he continues to average that. He has to average 12.3 ppg in 164 games (2 seasons) to pass Kareem. If he averages 20.6 like he did last season he will need 98 games. To answer your question... I don?t doubt he will pass Kareem, unless he will have a career ending injury... I don?t know about the ring though, because that will be a little bit harder to get... I don?t see him playing more than 2 years...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "magicfrankie":</div><div class="quote_post">Malone has now totalled 36.374 points, Kareem has 38.387. Malone is a career 25.4 ppg scorer, so he would need 80 games to pass Kareem if he continues to average that. He has to average 12.3 ppg in 164 games (2 seasons) to pass Kareem. If he averages 20.6 like he did last season he will need 98 games. To answer your question... I don?t doubt he will pass Kareem, unless he will have a career ending injury... I don?t know about the ring though, because that will be a little bit harder to get... I don?t see him playing more than 2 years...</div>When you play on the same team as Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, Rick Fox, and Shaquille O'Neal, the odds are that you wont be getting 12.3 ppg.
I think Malone will start, and he will be getting 25-30 minutes probably, enough for him to get those 12 points, he's got quality enough to do that... Don't forget opponents have to choose... will they double team Shaq and leave Malone open for the shot? Or will they play 1-on-1 versus Shaq and get destroyed? Malone always draws fouls on his drives, and he's a good FT shooter... Like I said before... with Payton it will be harder, because GP likes to score also...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "Spartanfan2003":</div><div class="quote_post"><div class="quote_poster">Quoting "magicfrankie":</div><div class="quote_post">Malone has now totalled 36.374 points, Kareem has 38.387. Malone is a career 25.4 ppg scorer, so he would need 80 games to pass Kareem if he continues to average that. He has to average 12.3 ppg in 164 games (2 seasons) to pass Kareem. If he averages 20.6 like he did last season he will need 98 games. To answer your question... I don?t doubt he will pass Kareem, unless he will have a career ending injury... I don?t know about the ring though, because that will be a little bit harder to get... I don?t see him playing more than 2 years...</div>When you play on the same team as Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, Rick Fox, and Shaquille O'Neal, the odds are that you wont be getting 12.3 ppg.</div> Fox is out for the season.
They can't win without Rick Fox I beleive that even with GP and Malone, the Kings are still better on paper, the Spurs are better overall, and the Mavs, are... well they have a lot of luck.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!! Jesus, that was the greatest laugh I have ever gotten. HA!!! After the "Big 4" They have the pussy Rick Fox, the overrated Fisher, they might have the overrated Devean George, the stiff Medvedenko, the bust Luke Walton, the one I like who isn't that good Kareem Rush, they might have Samaki Walker, and Jannero Pargo. Who do the Kings have? Almost triple double C-Webb, Nowizki if he could rebound Peja, the next Jason Kidd Mike Bibby, the best role player in the league Doug Christie, the would-be Iverson if RA would start him Bobby Jackson, the funk master Scot Pollard, the fly swatter Keon Clark, the ridden with talent Hedo Turkoglu, the best dunker in the NBA Gerald Wallace, and whoever the hell is Darius Songaila. Not to mention the aging, yet wise Vlade Divac.
I don't care how weak the rest of the lakers are..the big 4...shaq,kobe,GP and malone..might well be the greatest team ever built....webber is aroudn the same kind of talent as lakers 3rd option..malone....lakers would have one of the best PG in the history..most dominating in shaq...a great two man in kobe....and a guy who is 2nd all time leading scorer...forget the rest..kings only stars are webber and peja rest are talented role players...lakers have 2 superstars and 2 allstars....no team can compete with that on paper... Bibby the next kidd? get out of here..this why bibby is so damn overrated doug "wipped" christle best role player in the NBA? hahaha stay off the crack Bobby jackson would be AI with minutes? get real.....
First of all, Shaq's overrated. His signature play is to anchor himself into the paint for 5 seconds, receive the ball, throw an elbow, travel right to the rack and commit an offensive foul while "throwing it dooooown". Kobe's good, but if these allegations are correct, he is a pig and doesn't deserve to be in the NBA. Malone will be washed up. He'll average at the most 12 points and 5 rebounds. Payton isn't anywhere near his peak. To sum it up: Bobby Jackson is better than Payton at this point. Malone is about as useful as Keon Clark at this point in his career. Shaq cheats. Kobe is good. That's it.
Get real..shaq overrated? the guy who has had loads of MVP trophies..led L.A to a 3-peat whiel being a 27 and 11 guy...malone washed up? he averaged 19 and 7 this year..and stays in great shape every year...GP passed his peak? he is a damn 19 and 7 assist guy.... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">To sum it up: Bobby Jackson is better than Payton at this point. Malone is about as useful as Keon Clark at this point in his career. Shaq cheats. Kobe is good. That's it</div> Are you serious? Bjax as good as GP? get real.....malone as useful as clark? seriously who is giving you these drugs.... do all kings fans overrate their team as bad as this? my word...
You know, I hate trash talking, so I'm not going to start. Payton was a 19 and 7 assist guy because he played for the Bucks half the year. The Bucks suck. He might get 10 and 5 this year at best. Bobby Jackson was about an 18 and 5 assist guy when he was starting, and the spark he provides to the Kings is unmatched in the NBA. He's fast, he's explosive, he's underrated, and best of all, he's cheap . Keon will start, and you will see his talent unfold. The guy is capable of 15, 9, and 2+ blocks a game.
:shock: Say what? GP has been a 20 and 8 kind of player all his damn career..10 and 5 at best on L.A? my god...keon is just another swift..the guy from memphis....how the hell you can say GP would be only a 10 and 5 on on the lakers i have no idea...just crazy...your points are so bogus...
allnet... why do you even reply to this nonsense? It's easy to see that this guy couldn't even see the difference between basketball and chess...
Thank you, but I don't like trash talking. First of all, 10's a fair assessment. Shaq will be averaging about his usual 27 and Kobe will be right around 25. Malone will be around 12. 5's a fair assessment too, because don't forget Derrick Fisher on the bench. You know, I can't see how a fan of the Pistons can also be a fan of the Lakers. I don't understand it. The Pistons are a frachise of class and amazing talent, and the Lakers are a franchise of a bunch of a-holes who can't keep their mouth shut.
