Yahoo Sports is reporting a verbal agreement between Lakers, Rockets and Nets: Nets: Two Future First Round Picks (1 From Lakers, 1 from Rockets) Rockets: T. Williams from Nets Lakers: Joe Smith from Nets. What do you guys think? I think its a great trade as the Sasha is not contributing at all and we need more depth in the PF, C positions.
Lakers are saving money by getting rid of a 5.5 mill and getting a 1.35 mill contract in return.... Here is the link: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AtshodCzAsn3zk5E00lMSnW8vLYF?slug=aw-williamsrockets121410
Yeah, but the Lakers are either the most or 2nd most profitable team and being way over the LT threshold. Pretty good guys end up drafted at the end of the 1st round or in the 2nd round. I think I'd rather take a shot on getting a Taj Gibson with the #26 pick than have a really old Joe Smith who certainly has no upside (or current side for that matter).
Because of Theo's injury....the lakers are thin in the front court thus their current losses. Lakers were going to trade Sasha anyway because he is an expiring contract and Fish, Kobe, Brown, Blake and Barnes are taking most of those minutes... Smith just gives them a big body option to play 20 minutes a game and he has a decent jumper.
He's not even a 40% shooter anymore, and he's not played more than a few games this season for good reason. *shrug*
In another situation I might have been against the trade, but the LAKERS are in the NOW. Its all about winning now. We needed a BIG MAN badly, and we got one in a serviceable Smith. Not sure if there are any other BIGs out there we could have picked up at this moment. We dropped Sasha's contract, and we got a big man we needed in return. Ratliff doesnt look like he'll be contributing anytime soon. Look at the difference it made with Bynum back. The team as a whole got more rest and Bynum does look healthy. The Lakers need to keep him healthy by spreading out the minutes. Kobe played 24 minutes and scored 24 points. We all know its great when Kobe only plays 25-30 a game. Gasol played only 31. Its all about being healthy in the playoffs to give us a chance for 3 peat. That should be the only thing we are focused on now. The future can be discussed later, and I think we got two steals in Caracter and Ebanks anyway.
