Guest MrRant Report post Posted July 4, 2003 Negotiations between Los Angeles Lakers and free agent power forward Karl Malone are moving in a direction where the Lakers could could sign him and be in a position to take on another free agent, point guard Gary Payton. According to the Los Angeles Times on Friday, sources with knowledge of conversations between Malone and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Malone would consider a deal for less money with the Lakers if it means a better chance at winning the NBA championship. The scenario would go like this: Malone signs for the veteran's minimum exception ($1.5 million for the first year), or whatever salary level that would help the Lakers attract Payton. Malone, 39, would enter his 19th NBA season. Having lost in back-to-back NBA Finals while with the Utah Jazz to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in 1997 and '98, Malone has made clear his goal would be to win the championship. Last season, Malone averaged at least 20 points for the 17th consecutive season. Malone also has drawn interest from the San Antonio Spurs. Payton, who made $12.6 million last season while playing for the Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks is expected to meet with Kupchak this weekend. Teams cannot sign free agents until July 16. ESPN.com If Payton does sign with LA, I will make it a point to go to the Sonics game against LA next season and boo the ever-loving shit out of him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Human Fly Report post Posted July 4, 2003 If they sign Malone and Payton (and they have no problem with their roles) then they might as well give them the trophy right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 4, 2003 Now that is music to my ears. But if Kidd ends up at the Spurs, there will be a great new rivalary in the west. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MrRant Report post Posted July 4, 2003 Except the Spurs are still boring... will always be boring and no one outside of Texas and die-hard NBA fans really care about them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Flyboy Report post Posted July 4, 2003 If they sign Malone and Payton (and they have no problem with their roles) then they might as well give them the trophy right now. Indeed. That would be extremely ghey as well. Fuck the Lakers. EDIT: The only way San Antonio would have a chance if they signed Kidd and O'Neal, and I don't see that happening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted July 5, 2003 Malone-Payton-Shaq-Kobe? That's the closest thing to an ALL-STAR roster (name wise) i've ever seen in the modern era... I still think Malone will be better served in San Antonio... I'm thinking he signs a year with LAL...Wins the title...leaves...Signs with NO to retire in home town and break the record... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 5, 2003 I'm thinking he signs a year with LAL...Wins the title...leaves...Signs with NO to retire in home town and break the record... And I'm thinking that'd be just fine! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20 Report post Posted July 5, 2003 Bah. Fuck the Lakers. I hope their egos get in the way. Prays for: 1. Payton to resign with the Bucks or anywhere that keeps him out of a Laker Jersey. 2. San Antonio woos Jermaine O' Neal & Jason Kidd(Although I don't want him to leave Jersey). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted July 5, 2003 That Laker team will give Phil Jackson a heart attack. 4 ball hogs that only think about ME ME ME ME ME ME ME 1st then team second.......will make the playoffs but will most likely loss in the 1st round to somebody like the Suns or T-Wolves. Except the Spurs are still boring... will always be boring and no one outside of Texas and die-hard NBA fans really care about them I'm sorry nobody on the team has a shoe deal or retro jerseys that you do not want to buy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted July 5, 2003 This is boo-shit. Malone is just trying to squeeze the Jazz out of every last possible cent before resigning. But I hope it does happen so I can watch Kobe and Karl literally fight over the ball in the middle of a game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 5, 2003 This is boo-shit. Malone is just trying to squeeze the Jazz out of every last possible cent before resigning. But I hope it does happen so I can watch Kobe and Karl literally fight over the ball in the middle of a game. I think this year was a wake up call for the Lakers. I don't see something that petty coming from them winning the championship next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChris Report post Posted July 5, 2003 This really surprised me. I always thought Malone would care more about getting paid and breaking Kareem's all-time scoring record...NEITHER of which can happen in LA. I'm only on board with this if they get the GP who didn't sleepwalk through the second half of last season with the Bucks. If they get the old Gary Payton, look out NBA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted July 5, 2003 If the Spurs get Kidd or Jermain O'Neal you can just hand them another title no matter what the Lakers do. I guess the Lakers are trying to put together a senior league team with Malone and Payton. Probably won't happen though as there won't be enough balls to go around and I doubt Malone will sign with a team where he'll probably only average 10-12 points a game especially since he wants to break Kareem's career scoring record. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted July 5, 2003 If this happens, this is what I see... Shaq loses his motivation once again and blimps up to 450 lbs over the summer. Karl Malone, a man who is known for avoiding injury throughout his career, will suffer a season ending injury with a torn ACL in the first regular season game. GP and Kobe's egos will clash all season prompting them to brawl during a game against the Clippers, where they eventually lose 140 - 75. Afterwards, Kobe leaves the Lakers for the greener pastures of Philadelphia because he wants to be closer to his dad now that their relationship is back on the upswing. Jack Nicolson dies and all of Lakerdom will succumb to the Clipper Nation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 5, 2003 If this happens, this is what I see... Shaq loses his motivation once again and blimps up to 450 lbs over the summer. Karl Malone, a man who is known for avoiding injury throughout his career, will suffer a season ending injury with a torn ACL in the first regular season game. GP and Kobe's egos will clash all season prompting them to brawl during a game against the Clippers, where they eventually lose 140 - 75. Afterwards, Kobe leaves the Lakers for the greener pastures of Philadelphia because he wants to be closer to his dad now that their relationship is back on the upswing. Jack Nicolson dies and all of Lakerdom will succumb to the Clipper Nation. ****Pinches Polish Rifle**** Wake up dude, you're dreaming again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviekick Report post Posted July 5, 2003 As a die hard Utah Jazz/Philadelphia 76ers fan (UJ's my fav team, but Philly's my local), I really hate the Los Angeles Lakers with a passion. But as a Karl Malone mark, if he went there I would have to like them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted July 5, 2003 This is hands down my favorite topic. I'll take Elton Fucking Brand over Karl Malone anyday! So what if the Lakers are putting together a bunch of over the hill legends who are past their prime? That's not what Kobe wants and when all is said and done, he will not resign with a team filled with dinosaurs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviekick Report post Posted July 5, 2003 As a die hard Utah Jazz/Philadelphia 76ers fan (UJ's my fav team, but Philly's my local), I really hate the Los Angeles Lakers with a passion. But as a Karl Malone mark, if he went there I would have to like them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Flyboy Report post Posted July 5, 2003 I just wish that Kobe would tear his quad or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted July 5, 2003 This really surprised me. I always thought Malone would care more about getting paid and breaking Kareem's all-time scoring record...NEITHER of which can happen in LA. that's exactly what I'm thinking. Malone knows the Lakers want him, so he's going to use them as leverage to get Utah to cough up more cash. I don't know if it's true, but I think Payton could live with Kobe. He's like Shaq in that he doesn't really dominate the ball even though he's a good offensive player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 5, 2003 I just wish that Kobe would tear his quad or something. Why? Because he's so good, or are you jealous? Seriously though, why wish harm on one of the best players in the league? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Flyboy Report post Posted July 5, 2003 A very talent athlete that I can't stand. Not to mention he's very overrated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 5, 2003 Well you are intitled to your opinion, but wishing harm on him is quite juvenille. I hate the Spurs, but I would never hope that Duncan suffered an injury. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Flyboy Report post Posted July 5, 2003 I was being sarcastic with my "tearing quad" remark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 5, 2003 Oh, ok. Sorry for giving you a hard time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 5, 2003 The Lakers could have Magic, Worthy, and West in their prime and if Shaq shows up fat and out of shape they aren't winning anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest phoenixrising Report post Posted July 5, 2003 I have trouble seeing both Malone and Payton in Lakers uniforms next year. Malone is trying to chase down Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record. He's about 2,000 points away...Malone has said he will play two more years. If Malone comes to LA alone then he'd probably get the touches necessary. If Payton goes...well on paper it's a done deal with four future Hall Of Famers in the starting lineup. But will Payton be able to handle not scoring a lot of points. He's always been in the 18-20 ppg range, but he'll probably dip to 10-15 on the Lakers. Will he be satisfied with playing defense. Plus Payton, Malone, O'Neal and Bryant are all very vocal. Would they be able to put the team above themselves? It will be interesting to see if they can. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 5, 2003 No chance in hell Malone is in a Laker uniform when and if he breaks Jabbars record. It would definetley be for one year, and he'd move on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted July 5, 2003 Where did all this "Gary Payton is a ballhog" stuff come from? I watched Payton play up here in Seattle his whole career, and he's never been like that. The seasons when he was shooting a lot was because no one else on the team was man enough to take big shots and he had to do it himself or the shot clock would run out every possession. But whenever he's had some talent around him (Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, Hersey Hawkins, etc.) GP has been more than happy to be a playmaker and play defense. I don't feel like looking it up, but Payton has got to be in the top 15-25 for career assists. That doesn't sound like a ballhog to me. And if he's playing with Kobe and Shaq, he'll lead the league in assists next year. But besides all that, I hope GP signs with Indiana anyway. If they get him and resign Jermaine O'Neal, they could win a title. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted July 5, 2003 This team will implode with Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Payton all on it. I just hope Kobe can control his tears if he loses playing time to Payton. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
