Guest GameCop Report post Posted July 10, 2003 From Espn.com The Mailman delivered his decision. A league source told ESPN the Magazine's Ric Bucher that Karl Malone has decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers. The move comes just days after Gary Payton joined the team as well. Malone showed strong interest in the Lakers from the start of the free-agent negotiations on July 1, to a degree that the Hall of Fame-bound power forward is apparently willing to join the dethroned champions for a mere $1.5 million -- a cut of almost $18 million from his 2002-03 salary. The $1.5 million figure is the most L.A. could offer Malone next season after committing its $4.9 million mid-level exception to Payton. Malone would have likely been able to get more money if he signed with San Antonio, Sacramento or Dallas. The Jazz were exploring sign-and-trade possibilities (with the Kings) and the Lakers' three West rivals were hesitant to let Malone join L.A.'s new star trio unopposed. But it was believed that Malone, who turns 40 on July 24, wasn't considering re-signing with the Jazz for less than the $8 million earned by John Stockton in his final season. With Malone signing elsewhere, and with Stockton opting for retirement, Utah likely has nearly $20 million in salary-cap space to undertake a dramatic restructuring of its roster. Wow... Kobe, Shaq, Payton, and now Malone!? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted July 10, 2003 NOOOOOOOOOOOO. I heard that the Jazz reportedly offered Elton Brand a 6 year $66 million contract which pales in comparison to the Clippers offer of 5 years at $65 million. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted July 10, 2003 Alonzo Mourning wants to win and wants out of Miami if Riley is going to rebuild. Why doesn't Mourning just go to the Lakers and get his ring like everyone else? Lakers=Yankees Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GameCop Report post Posted July 10, 2003 If the Lakers don't re-sign Robert Horry, they'll have $5.3 million to offer Mourning. Zo could be a great back-up center for Shaq. Do you know why players want to play for the Lakers? Because they've got the two best players in the world -- Kobe and Shaq. Who wouldn't want to play alongside the greatest tandem in the history of the NBA? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted July 11, 2003 They want a ring, and it has NOTHING to do with the "two greatest players in the world", Gamecop. The only team that has more of a chance to win it all are the Spurs, and I cannot seem Malone playing backup PF to Duncan, since Duncan hates playing center. if this happened five, even three years ago, I would have automatically said dynasty. I may not like what is going on, but you know I would be a hypocrite if I blasted the Lakers for doing what they are doing, because my beloved Yankees do the same thing, they're just a little more honest about it. I don;t think that Zo would want to play backup to Shaq though... he could do better in either Sacramento, Dallas or San Antonio. But who knows, players are willing to do anything to get a ring in the NBA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 11, 2003 They will win the championship next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JHawk Report post Posted July 11, 2003 The Lakers are becoming the HHH of the NBA. Since I doubt they'll ever lose with that roster, I'll probably be back to my "Fuck the NBA" stance on watching games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted July 11, 2003 Ahh blind faith.... a sports fan's life preserver to keep him afloat, or an albatross around his neck to curse him until he dredges up the courage to remove it. We shall see how things pan out this coming season. if they can all contain their egos and play like a team, then its all good. But we shall see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The ChriZa Report post Posted July 11, 2003 The Wizard of 'Zo is my favorite player of all time. If he jumps coasts and heads for L.A., I'm never watching basketball again. Period. As a former Blazer fan, I've had enough heartbreak in my NBA watching life, I don't need this too. And Malone, I love you man, but have some loyalty. This is like last year when Deion Sanders tried to get in on the NFL Playoffs with the Raiders just to win one more ring. I love the guy, I even have his jersey, but he can eat my ass for trying that little stunt. But at least he was already retired. Malone still is with a team in a city that worships him, supposedly a "franchise" player, and now he's proving having a shiny ring to wear is more important than his fans, friends, and teammates. You know, Karl, Dan Marino never won a ring either. But he is respected by almost everyone because of his loyalty to the team that chose him, and gave him every opportunity in the world for nearly 20 years to win the big one. All said and done, he didn't get the job done, but he holds virtually every important QB record there is, almost to the level of dominance that Jerry Rice has in his own category. I don't think Malone should be lynched by the Utah fans or anything, but it IS disappointing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 11, 2003 Zo is damaged goods. I hope they don't get him. Malone and Payton are plenty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The ChriZa Report post Posted July 11, 2003 I think Payton is more washed up than any of them. Alonzo's still got the flavor, baby. And Malone...well he's Malone. He'll look like he's moving in slow motion next to the rest of the Lakers though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 11, 2003 I won't be rooting for the Lakers. But, if they play to their full potential. They'll be a very enjoyable team to watch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted July 11, 2003 With Malone on board, I shudder to think how many calls the Lakers are going to be getting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 11, 2003 Poor Devane George!He'll forget what a Basketball looks like. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted July 11, 2003 Here's a thought Malone was #32 for Utah for his entire career... What is his new #? Since Magic wore it and it's retired (Shaq also had to change his #) I'm betting #38 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bravesfan Report post Posted July 11, 2003 I'm pretty disappointed in Malone, as well; even if IT IS a championship ring he secures next year, it's somewhat tarnished by the fact that he played his entire NBA career - 16 years - with one team, failing to reach the top once. This signing looks like a desperate move by Malone to abandon Utah and get his ring: thing is, which fans will actually cheer him? The Laker fans who have DESPISED him for over a decade? Or the Jazz fans, that he "turned his back" on? At least Bourque knew he was loved in Boston, even after the deal to Colorado. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted July 11, 2003 ^^^^ Because Raymond Bourque has CLASS. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted July 11, 2003 I don’t know if they can do it, but I read on NBA.com or espn that Magic Johnson said if Karl comes to LA, he can wear #32. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spicy McHaggis Report post Posted July 11, 2003 A few things... 1. The Lakers are not the Yankees. They got Payton and Malone for a combined $6.4 million using the mid-level exception and the veterans' minimum. That is not buying a ring. That's getting the most bang for your buck perhaps of all time. From what I read, Shaq and Magic had a big hand in persuading Payton and Malone, respectively. These guys want to come and play for a ring with the two best players in the league. 2. Egos may clash, but they won't destroy the team. These guys wouldn't sign for such little money if they didn't know they would be playing a role. Also, these two fit perfectly with the team's needs. The Lakers need, in order, a power forward, a defensive point guard, a back-up center, and a shooter. Malone is one of the best pf's for the triangle... he can rebound, defend, and hit the 15-footer. Payton is The Glove for a reason. I would like a back-up center, but these additions enable the Lakers to have two primary scorers on the floor even without an actual back-up for Shaq. If they get Piatkowski... it's over. 3. They still have to play the games. 82 regular season and 16 playoff wins. Nobody's going to hand them the title. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 11, 2003 Except Malone CAN'T defend and he CAN'T rebound. Gary Payton nearly out rebounded Malone last year, and he CAN'T defend anymore. Payton USED to be the glove. Don't get me wrong, they are both still quality players but they are not the All-NBA quality players they were 5 years ago. They are not getting the Malone that would go to the boards and played hard physical defense. They are getting 7 rebound a game malone that gets embarassed against all the PF in the West. They are not getting Gary "I can shut down any guard in front of me" Payton. They are getting the guy that I don't even think cracked the top 10 in steals, and gets abused by opposing PG's on a regular basis. The Lakers DEFINATELY got better. But they didn't become unbeatable. Far, far from it. They are a above average team with no bench, and love them all you want, Malone is still 40 and payton is still slowing down and Shaq still won't run and they are in the west. Someone please explain to me how the Lakers are suddenly suppose to be better than the Spurs when Malone won't do anybetter against Duncan than Walker or Horry, and Payton will probably do worse against Parker than Fisher did (payton has trouble with quick or big guards...basically every guard on a playoff team out west.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted July 11, 2003 If the Lakers win it all, it won't be because of Malone. It'll be because of Shaq and Kobe. Malone couldn't get the job done running his own team and had to join up with the current big dogs. Malone=Mitch Richmond 2002 Yeah, he'll mean more to the Lakers than Richmond did in terms of his role, but in the end if they win, it's not going to be remembered as Malone winning it. It'll be Shaq and Kobe winning their 4th with some hanger ons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviekick Report post Posted July 11, 2003 Except Malone CAN'T defend and he CAN'T rebound I'm sure his rebounding will be higher this season. He doesn't have to worry about carrying the offensive load that he did in Utah. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 12, 2003 I don’t know if they can do it, but I read on NBA.com or espn that Magic Johnson said if Karl comes to LA, he can wear #32. That shouldn't even be up for discussion. Malone should tell the Lakers he wants a different number. 32 should be off limits. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted July 12, 2003 I'm pretty disappointed in Malone, as well; even if IT IS a championship ring he secures next year, it's somewhat tarnished by the fact that he played his entire NBA career - 16 years - with one team, failing to reach the top once. This signing looks like a desperate move by Malone to abandon Utah and get his ring: thing is, which fans will actually cheer him? The Laker fans who have DESPISED him for over a decade? Or the Jazz fans, that he "turned his back" on? If people boo Malone for giving up millions and millions of dollars in order to play for a championship cailber team, then those people should not call themselves fans. Sports should be about one thing and one thing only, being the best, winning the championship. Now here's a guy that proves that is truly what he wants. He has money, he doesn't need anymore of it, he wants a ring. He could've become the leading all-time scorer, but no, he wants the ring. He could've taken the bigger contract to stay in Utah just for the money but he didn't, he's in sports to win. He's given Utah 16 years, the best years of his career. Malone and Stockton took a small market team and made them contenders, took them to the finals twice with little to no help at all. The Jazz and the Jazz fans owe everything to Malone and Stockton. They wouldn't be shit today without them. So if they turn on Malone for going for a chance at a ring instead of staying in Utah to play lame duck old man for a couple years during a rebuilding phase, screw em. Karl Malone DESERVES this chance, why bust his balls over taking it? More power to him. I'm hoping he gets it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Deebo Report post Posted July 12, 2003 ^^Totally agree. I don't see how anyone can bash GP and Malone. Athletes today get criticized for putting money above championships.. so these two guys, two future hall of famers, basically take chump change compared to what they could have gotten, for a chance to win a ring and they get bashed? Completely insane. Payton and Malone have their priorities straight. And they are NOT washed up. Is Malone what he used to be? No Is he one of the top PF's in the NBA? Yes. Payton is still as good as any PG in the league as far as I'm concerned. He averaged above his career high's in scoring and assists last season and is STILL a great defender. I don't know where people get this stuff about him not being able to defend anymore. Do they just say that because he's older now or what? Everytime I've seen him he's been great. Look.. I hate the Lakers, but they didn't use any money that other teams didn't have. They aren't creating some monopoly by outbidding for players, and GP and Malone are players who should be applauded for not being money hungry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted July 12, 2003 It's the fact they went to the Lakers that make people think they are "Sell-Outs"... If they had gone to Dallas or New Orleans or something...People would'nt lambash them... I'm convinced these are one year stops...If they don't win... Payton and Malone will finsh out their respective careers in Home town (Golden State and New Orleans)...Malone can get his scoring title after next season if he wants it that bad... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted July 12, 2003 They aren't sell outs. They'd have to be getting more money to be called a sell-out and they are not. They are going after what it's all about, a title. And the Lakers is the only place that would take them that has a chance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted July 12, 2003 It's the fact they went to the Lakers that make people think they are "Sell-Outs"... If they had gone to Dallas or New Orleans or something...People would'nt lambash them... I'm convinced these are one year stops...If they don't win... Payton and Malone will finsh out their respective careers in Home town (Golden State and New Orleans)...Malone can get his scoring title after next season if he wants it that bad... I believe that's true for Malone as he only signed for a year, but Payton signed a multi-year deal. 4 or 5 years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
