Unfortunately, the NBA season is over, and the off-season starts... First issue: What should the Lakers do? rebuild or reload?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Unfortunately, the NBA season is over, and the off-season starts... First issue: What should the Lakers do? rebuild or reload?</div> RELOAD. Imagine if Karl had been healthy. BUT, BUT, BUT, Gary just doesn't seem to fit here. It might just be me, but he really doesn't.
I think if the Lakers re-sign Kobe, then reload... However, if Kobe leaves (which I think he will), then it's time to rebuild, despite Shaq's presence. I know Shaq's time is running out, but I just don't see how the Lakers will win any titles with an aging Shaq and no Kobe...and the ultimate goal is to win a title, not to be an 8th seed for the next 4 years...so rebuild...
Well if Phil Jackson doesnt come back, then the Lakers will have to rebuild(if one of the Lakers asst. coachs doesnt take over) because the Lakers dont have any other players that can make plays & create their own shot. And in a different offensive sysatem other then the triangle that will be exposed even more than it already has in this series. Gary Payton would probably be the only role player on the Lakers that would benefit from not playing in the triangle. So a new coach with a new system will clearly need different players than whats on that current Lakers roster.
REBUILD. I don't expect Phil to come back, and even if he does I don't expect it will be for a very long time. Besides the core of Kobe and Shaq, I think the Lakers need to completely rebuild the supporting cast. Although the older players broght in a lot of experience, I just felt they weren't athletic enough all season long. Early on when everyone was healthy we were getting away with just running good fast breaks off experienced and smart players, but as the injuries started to happen our whole offense took a hit. I just think we need to get deeper and younger, while keeping our core. If there's one player I want back besides Kobe in this offseason, it would be Karl. I don't expect him to be back to be honest, but if he chose to return I would love to see him for another year. It's going to be one hell of a summer.
Shaq and Kobe should stay PERIOD. I understand that Kobe wants to prove to everyone he can lead a team, but he should just end his career as a Laker. You don't see much elite players getting traded from their trademark team now do you? As for Shaq, I have NO CLUE why people are considering him for a trade. Malone's health and fitness is what's making him endure at the age of 41. He said he would of retired 4 years ago if he wasn't in his physical state. I believe he can endure for 2 more seasons, considering that. Payton should be benched if he was to remain as a Laker. Make Fisher a starting PG. No disrespect to him, but his game is diminished to the point that he doesn't deserve the starting spot. 2005 MIP Candidate - Devean George, 'nuff said. My point? Don't revolutionize. Reload.
woah, reload u see what happened after they reloaded last season? rebuild, even if kobe and shaq an d phil stay, they need bench players.
It could really end up a big mess for L.A. this off-season. If they can keep the main stars and just basically get better bench players they can be very good.
Rebuild. I don't see any way that Kobe, Phil, Malone and Payton coming back to play in LA together next year with Phil. 0% chance. However, some of the Lakers from this year might stick around a little bit and then the Lakers will have to go on rebuild mode. Kobe - I have no idea where he will be. Maybe a Lakers, maybe a Clippers (I really hope he doesn't go there and contaminate my fav team), Orlando, Grizzlies, LA County Jail, wherever. But he's had disagreements with Shaq and Phil so if those two stay, I don't think Kobe's gonna stay. Shaq - He should go. His huge contract is a big reason as to why the Lakers can't get any decent bench players and plus he's aging, his domination is decreasing and in less than 5 years he'll just be an average center. Malone - He's done. I don't think his knee can hold him up any longer. He might stay next year, but he won't do much and eventually retire before next season is done. Gary - If Phil stays, GP's gone. Easy as that. Phil - He's been exposed as the not-next-Red coach and clearly the inferior coach to Larry Brown. I don't expect him to come back either. My prediction #1 of the next year's Lakers lineup: Kobe, Gary, Devean, new center and a new PF. I predict the Lakers make a blockbuster Shaq trade getting a star PF and at least a decent C back. Phil Jackson is gone. Malone may or may not be there but even if he is, he won't stay for long. His knees will force him to sit out. My prediction #2: Shaq, Devean, trades Kobe for a star guard, decent new PF and Fisher at PG. Phil Jackson stays as coach. Same deal as above for Karl.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post">Gary - If Phil stays, GP's gone. Easy as that. My prediction #2: Shaq, Gary, Devean, trades Kobe for a star guard, decent new PF and Fisher at PG. Phil Jackson stays as coach. Same deal as above for Karl.</div> So you don't think Gary will stay if Phil does, but you have them both on your prediction? I'd try to resign Kobe, even if it means trading Shaq to build around Kobe. Shaq is 32 going on 33 next year, whereas Kobe will still be only 26 when next season starts, which is a good enough reason to me. If I could have it the way I wanted through, I would keep Shaq and Kobe together, and try to bring in a young athletic PF like Swift in Memphis. The Lakers clearly need to go young here, even if it means getting rookies or 2nd or 3rd year players as starters. From now on I think the Lakers have to start thinking for the long term, not just the next season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post">Rebuild. I don't see any way that Kobe, Phil, Malone and Payton coming back to play in LA together next year with Phil. 0% chance. However, some of the Lakers from this year might stick around a little bit and then the Lakers will have to go on rebuild mode. Kobe - I have no idea where he will be. Maybe a Lakers, maybe a Clippers (I really hope he doesn't go there and contaminate my fav team), Orlando, Grizzlies, LA County Jail, wherever. But he's had disagreements with Shaq and Phil so if those two stay, I don't think Kobe's gonna stay. Shaq - He should go. His huge contract is a big reason as to why the Lakers can't get any decent bench players and plus he's aging, his domination is decreasing and in less than 5 years he'll just be an average center. Malone - He's done. I don't think his knee can hold him up any longer. He might stay next year, but he won't do much and eventually retire before next season is done. Gary - If Phil stays, GP's gone. Easy as that. Phil - He's been exposed as the not-next-Red coach and clearly the inferior coach to Larry Brown. I don't expect him to come back either. My prediction #1 of the next year's Lakers lineup: Kobe, Gary, Devean, new center and a new PF. I predict the Lakers make a blockbuster Shaq trade getting a star PF and at least a decent C back. Phil Jackson is gone. Malone may or may not be there but even if he is, he won't stay for long. His knees will force him to sit out. My prediction #2: Shaq, Devean, trades Kobe for a star guard, decent new PF and Fisher at PG. Phil Jackson stays as coach. Same deal as above for Karl.</div> very good points but no team would choose to keep kobe instead of shaq. no one.
REBUILD god. Expect proly Shaq noone is gonna stay. Kobe is gone, malone kind of retires and payton ... no way phil can stay longer (damn) and the young players have no consistency. They need experienced players hell plus reconstructing the bench. We need kind of a kobe typed player that scores consistently (while not forgetting to play unselfishly) and a big body like Shaq plus pgs !!! We didnt really have a decent pg like Spurs or Pistons had, did we? Otherwise lakers are not even gonna be found in the playoffs in 2 years .... f*** i really wanne sol (shout stead of laugh) This summer is done even if France wins in portugal.
REBUILD Get rid of Kobe get Payotn and Malone's sorry A$$ out of LA keep Shaq which i think is the only Laker that would stay and build around him he is the most dominate C in the game.They also have good role players Walton,Rush,Cook get a good free agent and a decent head coach. Then MAYBE you'll be fighting for the 8th spot next year. Good Luck in the off season
REBUILD The Lakers need to start building for the future and not just for next season. What will happen, no one really knows not even the front office. If I was Buss, I would do away with the triangle offense, get players who want to play as a TEAM, stress defense and get some players for our bench. I think the world of Shag but with his weight and age how many more years can he play? I believe he is being paid $33 a year. We all know the problems with kobe and Shag and Jackson. Buss has indicated that he loves Kobe. As much as I hate to see this, get rid of Shag and Jackson and rebuild around Kobe. We have seen that two players don't make a team. Detroit prove that with their NBA championship. I want to see the Lakers be aggressive, hustling, dishing out assists and playing great defense. As my coach always told us, two things will win games--defense and play as a team together. There is not I in TEAM. I am looking forward to this next few months because of the changes that will happen and hope they will be best for the Lakers and their fans. It is great to be a Laker fan. GO LAKERS :thumbsup:
It's simple. Our Lakers have to reload. One thing we must understand is a lot of contracts are up this season. I've already heard Gary Payton and Karl Malone are going to opt out today according to their agents, so it looks like they will be gone this year. That frees up a bit of some free agent money to spend on the table. Plus, we still have that huge contract for Kobe to sign with the Lakers if he does want to resign with the team. If not, I expect the Lakers to use that money to sign in my opinion, a shooting guard, a young athletic power forward, and most importantly a new bench with oustide shooters. This has haunted us for many years now, and other teams in the Western Conference get the picture that they need better depth from their bench, so why not LA go out there and find shooters? It will be an interesting offseason, but we must understand that if your team is owned by Jerry Buss, you really wouldn't see any losing season anytime soon. We're in good hands.
I think the lakers are going have to take one step back to get two steps forwards.. ya know what I mean? like this offseason, they're going have to set the framework to reach the finals in maybe a couple years. that said, the lakers need to go young. and I dont mean luke walton young or cook young. i mean athletic like rush. develop him as a sf and kobe as a sg. the number one priority should be getting the lakers youth to develop upon. you guys can see where this leads... Shaq is essential to the Lakers future. if they can do anything to trade him for worthwhile pieces, i think the Lakers would be better off... if you look at the past couple season champions, other than the lakers, the league is changing, huge bulky centers are fossils. while this used to make shaq so extremely valuable as the MDE.... he's aging and he's not getting any lighter, quicker. we should unload and reload for the future.
I think Kobe is definitely out to either NY or to see Jerry West in Memphis, Malone is retiring with Phil, Payton will go else where because I think he wants to being the only superstar on a mediocre team, and Shaq is staying. I want to let all you know that you should stop hoping for a superstar like TMac VC or AI coming to LA because it's not happening. Your year to win it was this year, being loaded with superstars and it didn't work out. There will probably never be a team in the NBA like this ever again.
^There will be always another team like this. Houston had it's own team full of superstars just like the Lakers this year. The only diff is they won and the Lakers didn't.
