LA Times: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers have also reached out to free-agent guard Steve Blake, who was with Denver last season and could turn out to be the efficient veteran ballhandling guard they're seeking. "They're really interested," a league source said. Blake, 27, was traded early last season from Milwaukee to Denver and averaged 6.4 points and five assists in the Nuggets' high-scoring offense. Steady but not flashy, he is a pass-first player who can hit open shots. At 6 feet 3, he also has decent height. There's a good chance he won't re-sign with Denver, and the Lakers are desperate for a ballhandling guard. Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar are the only ones who return from last season, and first-round draft choice Javaris Crittenton played only one season at Georgia Tech. More-prominent free-agent point guards — Detroit's Chauncey Billups and Milwaukee's Mo Williams — are expected to re-sign with their teams for more money than the Lakers could offer. The Lakers still have the mid-level exception at their disposal, and can offer a free agent a deal up to five years and about $30 million. </div> The full MLE? Hmm... Looks like it may be a race between Steve Blake or The Papa on whom accepts the offer first, unless the Lakers plan on splitting up the MLE. But at the rate we're going, it definitely looks like we might be ending up with half a dozen PG's before training camp starts. Steve Blake's <u>career stats</u>.
I'd love Steve Blake, but if we got him, I'd be almost 100% positive that either Jordan Farmar or Javaris Crittenton is on their way out of town, along with Lamar Odom or Andrew Bynum. Blake/Farmar/Crittenton Kobe/Evans/Sasha Walton/Vlad/Evans Odom/Turiaf/Cook Bynum/Kwame/ Mihm is still a FA. Hm, I don't know...I don't like having Blake, Farmar, and Crittenton...that is too many capable PG for the position.
This is both a smart and a dumb move by the lakers... why dumb? well if we were pursuing a PG with the MLE then why the hell would they draft 2 PG's??? in Javaris and Sun Yue??? LOL Why smart? coz i really like steve blake as a pg
Smart move in my opinion. If we land Blake, we don't have to force either Farmar or Crittenton into to the starting lineup this year. Also, realize people, we have an NBDL team we can send one of them too. Also, if this does happen, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them were on their way out. But even if that doesn't happen, again, we have an NBDL affiliate we can send one of them down too so we don't have a point guard overload. And to whomever mentioned or mentions Sun Yue, he more than likely won't suit up for the Lakers next year and they'll likely delegate him to continue playing overseas to enhance his game. If he does show up as a Laker next year, I'd be surprised.
<div class="quote_poster">Moo2K4 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Smart move in my opinion. If we land Blake, we don't have to force either Farmar or Crittenton into to the starting lineup this year. Also, realize people, we have an NBDL team we can send one of them too. Also, if this does happen, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them were on their way out. But even if that doesn't happen, again, we have an NBDL affiliate we can send one of them down too so we don't have a point guard overload. And to whomever mentioned or mentions Sun Yue, he more than likely won't suit up for the Lakers next year and they'll likely delegate him to continue playing overseas to enhance his game. If he does show up as a Laker next year, I'd be surprised.</div> Great point Mook24. I think this is a valid reason to sign Steve Blake with the MLE. The Lakers don't have any veteran guards in the backcourt with McKie, Shamu, and Smush not returning. Steve Blake would be the best shooter out of the three, and would create the space on the inside for the post players to operate. The only concern I have with Blake is his ability to function in a halfcourt offense. He looked great in Denver, but they play fast paced basketball. It will be an adjustment for him to find a comfortable rhythm in the Triangle. Also I'm a concerned about him on the defensive end. Blake isn't exactly the perimeter defender the Lakers are in desperate need of to take some pressure off Kobe. With Jason Kapono in Toronto now, I wouldn't mind watching the Lakers target Mo Peterson.
Since you mentioned the halfcourt thing, I don't see how that's going to be an issue. 80% of the time, Blake probably won't be asked to initiate the offense, that'll likely come through Kobe or Walton. I think the main role Blake would be playing would be the consistent outside threat the Lakers want. Someone who can step outside and extend the defense to give Kobe and everyone else some more room to operate closer to the hoop. However, I definitely can see the concern on the defensive end. He's never been that great of a defensive player, but anything is better than Smush. I also second the notion of going after Mo Pete. Is he available though? If so, he's a solid defender and very good shooter, a couple of things the Lakers lacked last year.
I think the point guard spot is the main problem, if we had Blake last season I think we could of had more wins when Lamar and others were out. I know this sounds insane but I'd be as happy to get a good passer as I would to get another star, again I know it sounds nuts but I really think the biggest weakness last year was not having a distributor even though we had Lamar his primary concern is not passing he's supposed to rebound and score so I'm all for the signing of Blake!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Moo2K4 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Since you mentioned the halfcourt thing, I don't see how that's going to be an issue. 80% of the time, Blake probably won't be asked to initiate the offense, that'll likely come through Kobe or Walton. I think the main role Blake would be playing would be the consistent outside threat the Lakers want. Someone who can step outside and extend the defense to give Kobe and everyone else some more room to operate closer to the hoop. However, I definitely can see the concern on the defensive end. He's never been that great of a defensive player, but anything is better than Smush. I also second the notion of going after Mo Pete. Is he available though? If so, he's a solid defender and very good shooter, a couple of things the Lakers lacked last year.</div> My concern is whether or not Steve Blake is a deadly spot up shooter or not. He seems to be a lot more productive when he gets out on the break and pulls up for his jump shots.
Isn't he a defensive liability? I'm honestly not sure what's so attractive about him. Yes, he's a veteran, but that is tempered by his unfamiliarity with the triangle. His shooting ability isn't even all that impressive.
c'mon guys we had Smush last year, I'd take Blake over Smush anyday mainly cos Smush is a SG and Blake is a pass first PG which is a rare type of player in the NBA
I still say the best option at MLE is Papaloukas. Greece just defeated ALL OF EUROPE, and Papa was MVP!
<div class="quote_poster">lakerman34 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I still say the best option at MLE is Papaloukas. Greece just defeated ALL OF EUROPE, and Papa was MVP!</div> Wasn't that guy on Indiana Sasha or Saruanas good in Europe?? That doesn't always translate into the NBA.
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Isn't he a defensive liability? I'm honestly not sure what's so attractive about him. Yes, he's a veteran, but that is tempered by his unfamiliarity with the triangle. His shooting ability isn't even all that impressive.</div> From what I've seen he's an above average defender, and Blake is an excellent shooter. I think for the MLE, for what he can bring to a team when he actually gets PT, he's a pretty good pickup. He would definitely resolve the starting point guard situation, and there is pretty much no way he could possibly play worse than Smush.
<div class="quote_poster">rafy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">From what I've seen he's an above average defender, and Blake is an excellent shooter. I think for the MLE, for what he can bring to a team when he actually gets PT, he's a pretty good pickup. He would definitely resolve the starting point guard situation, and there is pretty much no way he could possibly play worse than Smush.</div> How would you rate his catch and shoot ability from the pass coming out of the post?
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">How would you rate his catch and shoot ability from the pass coming out of the post?</div> Out of a 10, I'd give him a 7 or 8. Mind you, I've only seen a select few of his games in their entirety. He's a great shooter, spot up especially. The only knock I can think of is that he doesn't really have the ability to create his own shot. I don't mean that he doesn't have any handles, but let's just say he's not the quickest guy in the league, and as opposed to forcing something he'd much rather pass. I think the best thing about Blake though, is how consistent he is. He has his off nights like everyone else, but you pretty much know what he's going to bring to the table every night, and that has nothing to do with stats. In Portland, there was a massive difference between seeing Sebastian run the point, and Blake. I just can't stress enough how fundamentally sound he is, he's pretty much the model point guard imo.
Having Blake will be nice this is a guy that could play great basketball and we need a Veteran PG and he will fit into that spot.
