I have noticed this Laker board to be virtually empty since the Lakers started losing. I remember in the off-season when every thread used to be filled to 3-4 pages of debating, mostly concerning Kobe and Shaq. I think Shaq made his point and let his team's record speak for itself. However, I'm not here to discuss that, it's just an interesting side note I noticed about the level of productivity on this board now compared to before when Real Deal was around (what happened to him anyway?) Anyways, I think that the Lakers should do some wheeling and dealing in the off-season. Obviously, this roster did not work out like they had hoped. Maybe package Grant and George and send them off somewhere. We desperately need a big man (though Divac would do, he's very fragile) at center and power forward. Someone reliable. Odom playing power forward in the West just won't work as we have witnessed by his Clippers and the Lakers sessions.
This year was obviously a transition period. I completely expected it when we started training camp overloaded with SFs and lack of depth at other positions. I was optimistic that the Lakers would be borderline of making/missing the playoffs -- which held true for the first half of the season -- but then completely tanked towards the end. I agree with you on Odom; he should not be a PF for the Lakers. We need to get some big bodies on the squad so we can slide Odom down to SF. I'm still optimistic that he can thrive on this team. As for Caron Butler, I love the guy and obviously so does Kobe....but he is our only significant trade bait right now as Odom is coming off a sub-par season and surgery. If we're gonna get an impact big, it might be at the expense of Caron.
I think if we draft a pg that will really help us (Deron, Raymond) and acquire a PF then we can be back in the playoffs. If the peices are just right, we can contend for 4-6 seed.
We have to wait and see. Who knows, Kupchack could pull a Rob Babcock and draft a player they don't need at all (Wouldn't doubt it either).
I think it all depends on the moves they make in the offseason as to where they will be next year. If they can manage to get Felton, Williams, or Paul out of the draft, that'll be a big help. They're primary concern has to be the pg, as Chucky proved he's not the guy for the job. They need someone who can make it so Kobe doesn't have to take the ball down the court as the primary ballhandler. Aside from that, I think snagging Gerald Wallace would be a huge help for them, along with attempting to trade off Odom for Chandler (obviously there would be others involved). Aside from that, getting a new coach and attempting to Grant's contract off the books would be nice as well.
