Kobe to Portland? Oden, Randolph to be Lakers?? (updated 5/27)

"It's been three years and we're still at ground zero..."

"Do something, do something now..."

"I'm beyond frustrated..."

"Something needs to happen...now"

A boiling point? Bye Andrew.

I'm going to make this the official thread for Kobe's comments as I'm expecting things to flare up here.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe Bryant:</div><div class="quote_post">
"Do something, and do it now," Bryant said tersely. "Personally for me, it's beyond frustration. Three years and still being at ground zero. This summer's a big summer. We have to see what direction we want to take this organization. Make those steps and make them now."</div>
Source: LA Times

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe Bryant:</div><div class="quote_post">Later, he said: "I'd like to see them make some strides this off-coming season. Make some strides to try to bring some players here that can get us to being a contender."
</div>

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe Bryant:</div><div class="quote_post">"I'll do whatever it takes to win," Bryant said. "I've had to do a lot just to get us into the playoffs. I don't want to do that. I want to win championships. I don't want to be a one-man show, a team that goes onto the road, the opposition crowd wants to see me score 50 and lose.

"I'm not with that. I'm about winning. I want to win championships and win them now. So, they have some decisions to make."</div>

Source: LA Times

 

You know Kobe's going to get ripped through the media, especially because he did play particularly terrible in the second half of game 5, but these comments are justified. Kobe had to average 47.9 PPG to finish out the season just to secure a playoff spot. That's the most disgusting stat I think I've read in a long time.

Did Lamar play his heart out in game 5? Yes, but who cares. He didn't do it all year long, he did it really...when it didn't matter. We've seen that even when he is effective, we still lose. Obviously, the Lamar experiment is over and I think it's time that Mitch realizes that and we do make a move because Lamar can be valuable to a team that his style fits.

Andrew Bynum. Does he have potential? Yes, but is it worth keeping over the chance to acquire Gasol, Garnett, Kidd, or Jermaine? I think not. Kobe's done a lot for this organization and he's stuck with them, it's time the organization pays him the respect he deserves.

Smush Parker is gone, I have no doubt in my mind about that.

Kwame Brown is valuable in the sense that he's an expiring contract. That should attract a couple of people.

One thing is for sure, Kobe and Phil are going to press for changes to this roster. I think we can expect an offseason full of rumors and speculation, but I think for once, we can feel confident that Laker organization is going make some moves.

 

I feel if your out on the court, there is no reason for a season's worth of inconsistent play. If the injuries were that bad, he should've sat out longer. He hurt us a lot of times this year.

 

An All star level? Are you kidding? If I remember correctly you live in Iowa, you don't get to see all of the Laker games, right? Lamar wasn't playing at an all-star level...he was playing what we expected of him, but definitely not at an all-star level. He got injured and HE came back to early...his fault his injury didn't heal. He can control that one. Lamar did nothing in helping us make the playoffs. It's pretty damn evident when Kobe had to average 47.9 PPG to close out the season.

 

Those were some strong sentiments by Kobe Bryant. He put his feelings out there for a reason, and I think all Laker fans understand where he's coming from. This team doesn't play with the energy and passion needed to win a title. It has to be frustrating for Kobe to leave it out there every game, bust his butt in the offseason, and then find himself surrounded by a bunch of primadonnas who don't play with any heart on the court.

I thought Odom played very well in the post season, and was a warrior for the Lakers this season. He played through the pain, both mental and physical all season long. Ideally he's not the second option the Lakers need, but he's a fantastic third option, and I'd like to hold onto him. He was one of the few Lakers who actually gave a damn.

At this point I don't think the Lakers would get equal value for Odom, so there's really no reason to trade him and get even less talent in return.

One decision this franchise didn't make this season, seemed to carry over and sent the franchise into the wrong direction. The decision I'm speaking about is the Vladimir Radmonivic snowboarding incident. It's not the fact he got injured snowboarding, but it's the fact he went out of his way to lie about it. He violated the terms of his deal, and the Lakers had every right to void his contract. Instead, they gave him a stiff fine and allowed him to remain a Laker.

What kind of message does this send to the rest of your team and fans? The entire time I'm thinking to myself, if one of my employees had done this he'd be fired immediately.

There's no way Jerry West would have put up with that nonsense. He would cut or shipped Radman immediately.

Another two incidents were Brian Cook's blowup at PJax on the sideline, and Smush Parker's antics all season long when he was sent to the bench. No coach should have to put up with that crap coming from two scrub players.

These incidents all point to the organization not having control over it's personnel. I've followed the Lakers for over 20 years now, and I don't ever remember this many embarrassing incidents coming from the role players.

 

If we don't trade Odom, we don't make any moves. He's got to be the key piece in any deal (including Bynum, who I think has lost some value).

 

<div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If we don't trade Odom, we don't make any moves. He's got to be the key piece in any deal (including Bynum, who I think has lost some value).</div>

I guess it depends on who the "key piece" was. However, if I had to guess, I think the package would have to center around Bynum, and probably Kwame's $9M expiring K.

It will be easier to unload Kwame if Chris Mihm shows he can play again at the level he was at before getting injured, and he resigns for a reasonable deal. I think Mihm making $2.5-$3M can put up similar production to what Kwame was giving us at $9M.

 

<div class="quote_poster">kobe23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">just thinking of that kidd trade makes me say 'why didnt we trade bynum'... we could have had kidd, kobe and lamar... our very own laker trio</div>

We don't know all the details of the deal. Just to match salaries, the Lakers would had to have included either Kwame or Odom along with Bynum. OR they would have to trade close to 6 players to match Kidd's salary. Kidd is making $18M per season, Bynum is making $2M per season. The $16M difference is a big number to make up when you're talking trade.

I doubt the Nets would be willing to take back 6 players from the Lakers team, and then have to make additional moves to accomadate them.

The Lakers would have an even thinner bench, who do you add to make up for those 5 other players you ship out?

The Lakers could not afford to trade away two frontcourt players (Bynum + Kwame) or (Bynum + Odom) or (Odom + Kwame) for Jason Kidd.