Guest Spicy McHaggis Report post Posted May 16, 2003 As an eternal optimist, I'm hoping this year's very early exit will convince Jerry Buss to open up his wallet and Mitch Kupchak to get some real talent. The only players I expect back are Shaq, Kobe, and George. I'd like to see Madsen and Fisher back because they play with the energy and intensity the Lakers need. But, objectively speaking, they are expendable. As are Medvedenko and Pargo, despite actually playing well. Definite goodbyes to Horry, Fox, Shaw, and Walker. This is my wishlist: Jason Kidd or Gary Payton: Lakers need a good, fast Point Guard. Kidd is definitely preferable, but Payton will do. Keon Clark: I love this guy. He needs to be signed, and the starting PF problems are solved. It would be great to get Bobby Jackson, as well, in a sign-and-trade. Alonzo Mourning: Finally... a back-up Center, and a kickass one at that. Those are the big pieces. I would start Kobe, Shaq, George, Keon, and Kidd or Payton. Mourning backs up Shaq, Jackson as the back-up PG, Madsen as back-up PF, and Fisher could take over Shaw's role. Now, that's a start. Obviously, some shooters are needed. Who else could help restock the bench? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted May 16, 2003 I don't think they have a prayer at getting Kidd, but they definitely need to revamp the bench and the PF spot. Here are some potential moves that the team SHOULD make: - sign Pippen for the veteran's minimum ($1 million) for 1 year - get veteran like Eric Piatkowski and Walt Williams - I think Elton Brand would be a good fit since he's a rebounding machine and was also leading the league in blocks up until February or March...plus Sterling probably would not match any offer that was given for Brand, that bastard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest redbaron51 Report post Posted May 16, 2003 what they need is Depth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spicy McHaggis Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Thanks... couldn't figure it out. [/sarcasm] WHO? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Sign the free agent Clippers and stay away from high school playas. Keep the crybabies of Kobe and Fisher along with Shaq, Medavelopinko, George and drop everybody else. Sign a Power Forward that can rebound and score when needed, to say that Horry lost the series for the Lakers is far, 0-28 for 3 Pointers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bricks Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Get Karl Malone! Yeah, he's old, but he's still good and that'll settle the power forward position for a couple years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spicy McHaggis Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Sign a Power Forward that can rebound and score when needed, to say that Horry lost the series for the Lakers is far, 0-28 for 3 Pointers. Definitely, the Game 5 miss was pivotal. When they pay you for one shot a year and you miss 28 in a row, that's it. I'm really big on Keon Clark, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted May 16, 2003 PJ Brown Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted May 16, 2003 When Horry missed the shots the Spurs started Fast Breaks and scored building up that 20 point blow out victory in Game 6. Lakers can trade their whole bench for Brand or Olokandi to the Clippers. That will teach them to lose the big game.........send them to purgatory hell that is the cross town team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted May 16, 2003 The real concern is if they can keep Phil Jackson as the Head Coach. If they can't, The Lakers are in bad shape because Only Jackson seems to be able to handle the colletctive egos of Kobe and Shaq and he barely could this season... Expect a purging of the roster this EARLY off season for the Lakers, Shaq, Kobe, George, Madsen and Maybe Medavko (whatever)... All they really need to do is Sign about 3-4 role players like P.J Brown and Piatowski... Sign Scottie Pippen (Jackson's presence would be great) or Gary Payton or perhaps a couple Clipper players like Brand... Shaq will be gone in 4 years at the most and if they go ahead and get Brand...they can somewhat build for the new era. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spicy McHaggis Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Jackson will be back, according to ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2003...tory?id=1554584 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Well...Fine then...It just seemed the retirement talks were having decent buzz... I wouldn't blame him if he left... If you really think about it... The Lakers ARE the Triple H of NBA... Great at one time..Injury problems...Inflated ego...Fucking the boses daughter... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted May 16, 2003 When Horry missed the shots the Spurs started Fast Breaks and scored building up that 20 point blow out victory in Game 6. Lakers can trade their whole bench for Brand or Olokandi to the Clippers. That will teach them to lose the big game.........send them to purgatory hell that is the cross town team. NOOOOOOOOOO. I don't want my team riddled with laker scrubs. We'll be content with the rest of the league's scrubs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted May 16, 2003 You know you want Fox, Horry, Madsen on the Clippers team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted May 16, 2003 I think we need to look at what the lakers could REALISTICALLY do. Brand...not a chance...that guy can ask for the max...will get the max and Sterling actually said he would match any offer that came for him (not that I believe him). The Lakers can't give another player the Max contract. That basically rules out ALL allstar calibre players. Michael Olajakandi doesn't like Shaq...and I don't think he would like being a back up center or second fiddle at the PF spot...not gonna happen. Alonzo Mourning...he's not gonna be anyones backup. Karl Malone possibly will be a laker. But he won't be shit...he''s why. Why you have a little short wearing white dude who thinks pass first and looks for you as his first option all the time, you will look really good if you can knock down a 15 footer. WHO on the lakers is thinking pass first. WHO. Now if they sign Payton(a real possiblity) maybe. He wants to win a championship, he is a big guard(which Phil loves) and he likes the West Coast. Adding Malone and Payton(along with a couple of role players like Piakoski) will be all the lakers do in the off season. They will think it is enough...but there is only one problem. The Spurs WILL have a Jermain O'Neil or a Elton Brand or a Michael OlaiKandi or SOME all-star big man to replace robinson. They are EXTREMELY young, EXTREMELY talented and have ALOT of money for a free agent. The lakers will get better, but they won't get better than the Spurs. Problem two...you just witnessed the Chicago losing to the Pistons in the first round again..only this time it was the Suns/Spurs. I know...I am a suns fanboy and this will come off as wishful thinking...BUT.. Amare Stodimire is only going to get better...Stephon Marbury was the best point guard this side of jason Kidd this year and knows he can be a winner now...Shawn Marion is becomeing godlike(he can hit from anywhere on the court)...Bo Outlaw is that Hustling crazy defense Mo'Fo everyone needs...Love him or hate him, Penny Hardaway can still play and can still pick apart a defense at the kinda point position. This team is on its way. My main point is, if the free agents look at the field, they could go to LA and be nothing but fodder while Kobe and Shaq shot all day or be a contributor on a team like the Suns and Spurs and have just as good(or better chance at being a champion. So how do the lakers rebuild...I don't think they can for the next few years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted May 16, 2003 I do want to add that the lakers biggest mistakes in the offseason...not resigning Penberthy and Isaiah Rider. Rider..for all his faults can flat out SCORE and was a good defender while Penberthy was one hell of a shooter that I would take over PARGO anyday...what the hell kind of name is pargo anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Does Anyone know how much longer Shaq will be around? I would say with his already having 3 titles and constant injuries...and he's accomplished so much...He won't be around for no more then three years... Lakers need to build up for the post-Shaq era... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted May 16, 2003 I do want to add that the lakers biggest mistakes in the offseason...not resigning Penberthy and Isaiah Rider. Rider..for all his faults can flat out SCORE and was a good defender while Penberthy was one hell of a shooter that I would take over PARGO anyday...what the hell kind of name is pargo anyway. Are you mad man? Rider, Shaq and Kobe on one team? Jackson will die from a bigger heart attack trying to keep those egos in check... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Outside of Being late to practice, Isaiah Rider worked very well with the lakers a season ago. VERY well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Still Fly Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Realistically, the Lakers need to add a third scorer and and a big man that can play power forward. Dont worry Laker haters, we will be back! The players that sould be shown the door: Fox (retiremnet) Horry (retirement) Shaw (retirement) Walker (trade) Players tht shoeld stay: Shaq, Kobe, Madsen, Fisher, Pargo, Rush, Slava M., George My Wishlist: Karl Malone, Nick van Exel, Jason Kidd, Scottie Pppen, Keon Clark, Jermaine O'Neal (one can only wish!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted May 16, 2003 The problem with all this is that the Lakers are totally screwed right now salary cap wise. They have no money to spend even with the expiring contracts. Bryant and O'Neal are eating up the salary. Everybody complains about Minnesota not being able to do anything because they have Garnett's salary, well LA has TWO superstars eating up the money. Shaq makes 25 and Kobe makes a little under 15. Don't forget Kobe can opt out of his contract soon and he'll be demanding the max so once that happens that 15 number will probably go up to 20-25 as well. So, if anything, the Lakers will have to start CUTTING salary to be able to keep Kobe. For next season, the Lakers only have 7 players signed (Shaq, Kobe, Fisher, Fox, George, Medvedenko and Rush) and those 7 players will be making 55 million alone. That 55 million ALREADY takes up their entire cap room. So the only thing they have to work with next year is the mid-level exception (that's around 5 million isn't it?), the veteran's exception (1.5 million) and IF Rick Fox can't play next year they'll get a 2.35 disabled player exception. With only 7 players on the roster, they need to sign at least 5 players before next season just to have a 12 man roster. That means they really can't afford to waste a huge chunk of what small cap room they have just to sign one guy like a Malone or a Payton. None of those exceptions above can be combined, they can only be used seperately. So they most they can pay somebody is around 5 million. Yes, it would be nice to see some player come out and say, you know what, I'd rather win than get paid so I'll sign with the Lakers. But chances are you ain't gonna see that happen. I'd use the mid-level on Dale Davis to fill in at PF. He'd give the Lakers a big, tough enforcer to protect Shaq. A guy that thinks defense and rebounding first. He's no spring chicken but I think he'd be a big help for the next couple of years and would be a much better defender on guys like Webber and Duncan than Horry was. I'd use the 1.5 veteran on Travis Best. A slightly younger version of Brian Shaw. A guy that can come in and run the offense and who has also had a history of being able to come off the bench and knock down big threes in the playoffs. I'd use the 2.35 disabled exception on Jumaine Jones. He's young and he'd give the team some athleticism off the bench that they desperately need. Then I'd resign Madsen and Pargo to round the team out. Plus do some overtime scouting to try to get somebody in the draft that actually has a shot at contributing for once. Note - the site I was looking at listed those three guys as free agents, if the site is wrong and they're not, well...I wouldn't sign them I guess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted May 16, 2003 Well..Shaq can't be around for no more then three years so expect L.A to go with an.. Let Shaq carry the team until we HAVE to spend money... I won't be shocked if they just sign Pippen and hire bench players expecting Kobe, Pippen and Shaq with George and Madsen as the starting five and expect that to be good enough... I would rather Pippen stick around in Portland because he really seems to be a good moral leader there... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted May 17, 2003 Malone wants a ring so badly he would offer up Stockton on an altar if it meant he would get one... I think he's going to go to the Lakers for the 1 million exception. Pippen looks like he's through in Portland, and I would not be surprised if he did the same thing.... Old as they are, I would not be very happy about being the opposing team if I was facing a lineup of Fisher, Kobe, Pippen, Malone and Shaq. Personally I cannot stand the way the Lakers are now because of Kobe's selfishness, Shaq's juvenile behavior and Phil Jackson's subtle arrogance. I personally hope that they will always be right there to get another ring, but never do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviekick Report post Posted May 17, 2003 As much of a Lakers hater as I am, if it meant that Malone would finally win a championship, the Malone-mark that I am would approve. If you were to get rid of either Kobe or Shaq,who would you ditch? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly Report post Posted May 17, 2003 The Lakers should have never let Tyron Lue go. Derek Fisher is an overrated defender as well as an overrated player. As a matter of fact, the Laker defense in general needs some work. They got a standing ovation, but they played like a bunch of pussies in the fourth quarter. They watched the Spurs take it to them and did nothing about it. I'm not trying to bash them, but I was disappointed in the effort that they put forth yesterday, particularly in the fourth quarter. I was hoping to see the proud defending champions rise to the occasion, but they went out like a bunch of bitches. Kobe not scoring 20 points until the final moments of the game, nobody boxing out, no body switching on the pick and rolls and nobody trying to score on offense was what I was treated to watching last night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest AlwaysPissedOff Report post Posted May 17, 2003 Who the hell would be stupid enough to trade for friggin' SAMAKI WALKER? Seriously, that guy is a total load at this point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted May 17, 2003 Who the hell would be stupid enough to trade for friggin' SAMAKI WALKER? Seriously, that guy is a total load at this point. The Celtics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest AlwaysPissedOff Report post Posted May 17, 2003 I just now remembered the Vin Baker trade... Poor, poor Boston... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MrRant Report post Posted May 17, 2003 BWAHAHAHAHAHA~! Sure the Sonics didn't get to the playoffs but no Baker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted May 17, 2003 Walker will be a free agent, so nobody will be trading for him, somebody will be wasting cap space to sign him. I would think that a team in the East that is lacking in size would pick him up. Orlando might be that desperate. Plus it seems like teams always see a guy that has been on a championship team as worth having even if that player was a chump on the team just for the so called "experience". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
