<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Gary Payton will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers next season, exercising a $5.4 million option despite struggling throughout his first year with the team. ``It's something we expected,'' Lakers spokesman John Black said Tuesday. Payton, who turns 36 next month, had until Wednesday to make a decision. Payton's decision assures the Lakers of having at least one of their four stars back next season.</div> Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylc=X3oD...ov=ap&type=lgns
Damn, you're fast.I just noticed the ESPN article came up so I was about to come here and post it, but ofcourse you already have it up.. lol. We all knew this was coming, and that it was just the matter of it becoming official. I'm actually looking forward to Gary redeeming himself. Although I havent' been too supportive of him recently because of his playoff performance, I still do believe he has a little more left in him. It was obvious that the triangle was not working for him, but I'm looking forward to Gary running our transition basketball next season. If there's one guy who knows how to get a team out and running, it's Gary Payton.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MR_SAC_KING:</div><div class="quote_post">Gary Payton's Back With The Lakers!! Anybody Love or Hate This Move??</div> I think it is a good move for them if they plan on going back to the showtime offense. If the continue to run the triangle it is a horrible move which I dont think they will do since mr. buss has said a reason for phil leaving is that he was tired of seeing the triangle run. If the lakers build an athletic team and kobe stays I see them becoming sort of what the nets are a fast break team more than a half court team. Since they wont have a decent center or power forward that can post up and manuever his way on offense.
I suppose it's a good move. Payton obviously wasn't comfortable running the triangle. He didn't like the fact that he wasn't allowed to go right at his opponent and post him up to the extent he did in Seattle for 12 years. I think he'll excel as a Laker now that Phil is gone, along with the triangle.
I'm not really feeling too good about Payton returning. Even though the triangle was not his style, he still showed a poor attitude towards the organization and its players. As far as the Lakers' offense next year, I don't think they'll be running the triangle not only because Jackson is gone, but because Shaq may be out of the picture. The triangle is designed for the big man in the first place...and I doubt Buss will agree to continue to use it if it's not benefitting Kobe as much, without Shaq.
IMO it's better to have Gary Payton back... he knows how to play this game. It is clear that he didn't fit in Phil's triangle offense, which does not revolve around point guards. I think with a new set of offense from a new coach, he can rediscover his scoring touch and confidence and be a threat again, although not as deadly. Better an old GP than inconsistent point guards.
Gary Payton will benefit in the long run without Jackson as coach..I mean Jackson's syle of coaching really didn't fit Payton's ballstyle period,and if Rudy T gets in,he will definetly fare better under his coaching techniques So i'm drawing the conclusion that Payton returning is good for the Lakers peroid!
Yay??? I was kinda hoping gary wouldn't cuz Fisher has little to no incentive to come back to the Lakers and out of the two: I want Fisher back. He's bled purple and gold and instead of sticking up for him, we've decided to choose the complaining aging and whiny payton. i dont know if payton has it in him to make a rebound. Who here has ever seen a player of payton's caliber drop so quickly and rebound so fast? Even Deke Mutombo never got it together after his New Jersey fiasco. He's never hit that DPY. Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill.... and at 36, GP is maybe overpriced for his position. I hope though we can salvage something. Does anyone know how soon we can trade Payton?
5.4 million for gp that's way too much for him. He played like crap last year! I understand his style of offense doesn't fit with the triangle but what the hell happened to his D? I got real tired of seeing point guards abuse him through out the playoffs. I was hoping he would opt out so we could give that money to Malone. Oh well, has anyone heard anything new about malone?
GP is a plus, you guys think he got abused? I really don't think that, I mean...wat great defensive player is not gonna get abused in the pick and roll? remember guys great offense always beats a great defense, i admit he's definately not the same defensive GP but he can still play, the only difference was before he had a chance to go back at the player that was beating him, but with the BS triangle he couldnt do that....I really think that this is why the lakers lost..by playing the triangle, ESPECIALLY playing the triangle with ONLY shaq and kobe...why not give GP and mailman a chance once in while to be involved with the triangle?
