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Pretty depressed about this team right now. No CP3 in Purple and Gold, LO dealt to one of our biggest competitors for nothing, sounds like no deals on the horizon, CP3 soon to be throwing lobs to Blake Griffin, new coach installing a new system in 15 days.
I'll try to keep the faith as much as I can that Mitch will eventually get something done with that pick and TPE. It's pretty hard right now, though.
Championship!Reading through Kupchak's comments, it sounds like he panicked with the Lamar thing. He says he's working on "big deals" though.
Yeah, I didn't like what I heard. oof.
http://20secondtimeout.blogspot.com/2011/05/lakers-face-crossroads-after-being.htmlKobe Bryant had a pretty bad playoff run last year too. His shooting percentage was his worst since 2004. His ppg was his worst since 2001. His rebounds and steals per game were his worst as full time player. His PER and TS% and eFG%, etc. all much lower than his career averages.Laker fans seem to want to place the blame for the season ending on Gasol. And yes, he deserves a lot of blame, cause he did indeed suck. But he wasn't the sole reason they lost.I can see a bad series. But a whole playoff run is another. Gasol is prone to mental funks, and I think the pressure of the Lakers going for a 4th straight Finals was too much for him. Plus if you recall, there was some locker room drama going on with he and another teammate, personal stuff, and I think he grew tired of Kobe (and then Phil) trying to snap him out of his funks, as well as Jackson tweaking him in the press as he did all season long. Given the stakes, and sans Jackson, this season would have even more pressure on the players. Gasol might not be able to handle the Hollywood glamour anymore. He sure folded underneath it last playoffs, and if Jackson and Kobe can't get him out of his funks, then there has to be something deeper there.Just like Kobe in that PHX series he gets blasted for. Pau seemed happy enough the three years he played in the finals. Maybe he just had a bad playoffs and was pissed about it. Did that ever occur to you?Yeah, I'm sure he played like he really wanted to be in LA during the playoffs.Yeah, I'm sure Pau wakes up every morning and thinks "Damn I wish I was still in Memphis!!!! Maybe I can get traded to Houston!!!!"
Like he not being happy in LA.
Lakers couldn't bid on him. Only teams under the cap were able to.
doh - thanks for the correction. I guess it's back to the Stuckey plan.
Don't think it's official, official yet. Yahoo reported it's for 2 years at the mini-mid-level. I believe he's a UFA.
Meh. it's a decent signing for the money, but the guy is no Lamar Odom, that's for sure.
Appreciate you clearing that up for all of those who thought McRoberts = Odom.
Sounds a bit like GM-speak to ease Gasol's nerves a bit. What you mentioned a couple days ago about coming back to Houston with Gasol makes some sense. I have to think that with the obvious interest on Houston's part that they may still be looking for third partner to form a deal. Although I like bringing in McRoberts and seemingly Troy Murphy now, I just think the Odom debacle puts them in a position of having to make a bigger deal in the next few weeks. If they stand pat after giving away Odom then Kobe is a bigger jerk than usual the rest of the season.
Stephen Idiot Smith has been blathering that he expects Kobe to demand a trade this year if they don't improve the roster. Not that I find Smith to be particularly accurate with his predictions (for instance just last Thursday he was telling people Howard would be a Laker within 24 hours), but between us Laker fans, I'd love it if Kobe demanded a trade. I'd ship his ### out so fast his head would spin - assuming I can deal him wherever I want. I'd call up the Nets and see if Richie Rus would give me Williams + picks for Kobe and Blake. If he takes it I flip the picks, Bynum and anything else Orlando wants besides Gasol for Howard and whatever bad contracts Orlando can ship out that will fit the Lakers' cap. Maybe I amnesty Artest first to get more cap room to suck up bad Orlando deals. I think Orlando would bite. Williams, Howard, Gasol = championship for the Lakers. Yeah it's a pipe dream, but what the heck.The albatross around the Lakers' neck right now isn't Bynum, Gasol and wasn't Lamar - it's Kobe's contract and personality. If I could find someone who thinks he's still worth top 5 player in the league consideration, and Kobe waives his no trade, I'd ship him out in a heartbeat.
Never say never. That Russian guy seems crazy enough to do it. And it might not even be that crazy from the perspective of putting asses in the seats when he opens up shop in Brooklyn. Kobe is a huge draw.
So would I. It would cement his legacy as an all-round classy guy.
Be careful what you wish for. If they really wanted to send him to Siberia, Toronto is about as close as it gets.
That would be a fantastic reason for me to cut ties with them and become a TWolves fan.Be careful what you wish for. If they really wanted to send him to Siberia, Toronto is about as close as it gets.
I don't know what's more
- needing more reasons to stop being a Raptors fan or having the TWolves as your on deck rooting interest. I mean I get rooting for the underdog and all, but that's above and beyond.
TWolves for proximity. Ditching the Raptors because I hate MLSE.I don't know what's more
He loves the T Wolves because of Beasley.I don't know what's more
I think Skribbles has a dirty darko secret.He loves the T Wolves because of Beasley.I don't know what's more
I would think this 'big deal' talk has a serious ring of truth. That trade exception they got from the mavs is pretty hefty and has a one year expiration date. It seems like acquiring these small pieces now (McRoberts,Murphy, trade whore Gerald Green) is just setting up for something meaningful in Jan or Feb.
It must suck to be a Lakers fan when you wonder if you have to struggle to make the finals...
Have you seen their payroll? If you're not making the finals, what the heck are you spending all that money for? There could be some seriously lean years ahead unless Kupchak does pull off a big deal.
Come on! It's not liked he raped someone.
It's a business TGunz. The time to get the maximum benefit is now if he gives you the out. Dealing him isn't going to diminish what' he's done for the team, but hanging on to him until he's ready to retire is a surefire way to keep the team from being as good as it could be down the road. He's on the books for $28M next year, $30.5M the following, and I guarantee that if he's not an invalid after that he's going to try to keep playing and probably think he's worth a ton of money. You want to stay married to that?Wait, some are suggesting we should trade Kobe?
Jesus Christ. Where is the love? Sure the dude isn't Mr Personality off the court, and yeah, his ego sometimes results in a few bad shots. But the guy has worked harder than anyone to bring 5 titles to the Laker in the 14 years he's worn purple and gold. He should die a Laker.
Unreal.
Nope. That's the way it is. When you have a team that has been in roughly half of all the NBA Finals that have ever been played, any season that you don't win it all is a failure.
The demise of Kobe Bryant is way overdone. Guy had the 5th highest PER in the NBA last year. He's still the guy virtually every GM and player would want with the ball in his hands at the end of a game, despite nerds who point to small sample sizes and suggest Shawn Marion and Hedo Turkoglu are better closers. I see no reason why Kobe won't be an elite player for at least the next 2-3 years. And yes, I want him wearing Laker gold.It's a business TGunz. The time to get the maximum benefit is now if he gives you the out. Dealing him isn't going to diminish what' he's done for the team, but hanging on to him until he's ready to retire is a surefire way to keep the team from being as good as it could be down the road. He's on the books for $28M next year, $30.5M the following, and I guarantee that if he's not an invalid after that he's going to try to keep playing and probably think he's worth a ton of money. You want to stay married to that?Wait, some are suggesting we should trade Kobe?
Jesus Christ. Where is the love? Sure the dude isn't Mr Personality off the court, and yeah, his ego sometimes results in a few bad shots. But the guy has worked harder than anyone to bring 5 titles to the Laker in the 14 years he's worn purple and gold. He should die a Laker.
Unreal.
I'm not saying he won't be a top 10 player for the next couple of years (though the mileage is getting up there), but I don't think he's worth the money he'll be pulling down. Plus when his contract is up, he will try to keep playing and probably will expect to get paid close to top dollar - do you want to pay that premium so he can retire a Laker? Because it's going to severely limit how competitive they can be with the new cap rules if you do. I'm saying sell him now if you get the chance while you can still sell him as an "elite" player and get yourself into a much better position to win championships again in the nearer future.The demise of Kobe Bryant is way overdone. Guy had the 5th highest PER in the NBA last year. He's still the guy virtually every GM and player would want with the ball in his hands at the end of a game, despite nerds who point to small sample sizes and suggest Shawn Marion and Hedo Turkoglu are better closers. I see no reason why Kobe won't be an elite player for at least the next 2-3 years. And yes, I want him wearing Laker gold.It's a business TGunz. The time to get the maximum benefit is now if he gives you the out. Dealing him isn't going to diminish what' he's done for the team, but hanging on to him until he's ready to retire is a surefire way to keep the team from being as good as it could be down the road. He's on the books for $28M next year, $30.5M the following, and I guarantee that if he's not an invalid after that he's going to try to keep playing and probably think he's worth a ton of money. You want to stay married to that?Wait, some are suggesting we should trade Kobe?
Jesus Christ. Where is the love? Sure the dude isn't Mr Personality off the court, and yeah, his ego sometimes results in a few bad shots. But the guy has worked harder than anyone to bring 5 titles to the Laker in the 14 years he's worn purple and gold. He should die a Laker.
Unreal.
From a pure economic/efficiency standpoint - you're 100% correct. I don't think it's possible to get fair value at this point - in large part b/c Kobe's value to the Lakers is probably higher than his value to any other team. While his statistical value will surely fall a few years from now, how much is his win-at-all-costs attitude worth? I'd argue that his leadership and work ethic is something you can't put a price tag on. When anyone walks through that door and puts on a Laker uni, they know they have high standards to meet, and the guy who sets the bar is #24. How valuable is having arguably the #1 player in the world with a legendary work ethic in your organization?I'm not saying he won't be a top 10 player for the next couple of years (though the mileage is getting up there), but I don't think he's worth the money he'll be pulling down. Plus when his contract is up, he will try to keep playing and probably will expect to get paid close to top dollar - do you want to pay that premium so he can retire a Laker? Because it's going to severely limit how competitive they can be with the new cap rules if you do. I'm saying sell him now if you get the chance while you can still sell him as an "elite" player and get yourself into a much better position to win championships again in the nearer future.The demise of Kobe Bryant is way overdone. Guy had the 5th highest PER in the NBA last year. He's still the guy virtually every GM and player would want with the ball in his hands at the end of a game, despite nerds who point to small sample sizes and suggest Shawn Marion and Hedo Turkoglu are better closers. I see no reason why Kobe won't be an elite player for at least the next 2-3 years. And yes, I want him wearing Laker gold.It's a business TGunz. The time to get the maximum benefit is now if he gives you the out. Dealing him isn't going to diminish what' he's done for the team, but hanging on to him until he's ready to retire is a surefire way to keep the team from being as good as it could be down the road. He's on the books for $28M next year, $30.5M the following, and I guarantee that if he's not an invalid after that he's going to try to keep playing and probably think he's worth a ton of money. You want to stay married to that?Wait, some are suggesting we should trade Kobe?
Jesus Christ. Where is the love? Sure the dude isn't Mr Personality off the court, and yeah, his ego sometimes results in a few bad shots. But the guy has worked harder than anyone to bring 5 titles to the Laker in the 14 years he's worn purple and gold. He should die a Laker.
Unreal.
That'd be really valuable. Problem is, that guy isn't on the Lakers roster right now. Instead they're going to be paying $30.5M two years from now to a guy who has no chance to be worth it and will probably be pitching a hissy fit because his very own contract will keep them from being a viable championship contender. And will you still love him when that's happening, and you have no chance to deal him for what you could get for him now?Bryant is not the Lakers. The Lakers are bigger than any single player that's been with them.
I gotta agree with TGunz here. Despite what we may think of his personality, Kobe is what makes this team a contender and allows the Lakers the luxury of plugging in new pieces to remain a contender. You couldn't possibly gain value on a Kobe trade or have Bynum or Gasol carry those pieces anywhere past the first round of the playoffs. Whereas you could still gain value in a Bynum or Gasol deal and Kobe would carry it to at least the conference finals. Beside, as TGunz said, the career he's had for the Lakers has earned him the Laker for life tag...you couldn't do this to Magic or Jerry and I just don't see it as good thing to do it to Kobe. I think it just cheapens the Lakers as an organization.
Walton is still around? Wow...maybe the Lakers are the new Clippers...getting uglier by the second.
This doesn't seem to be happening. I don't think there's a good chance of it happening anymore either. They could add one max contract type of guy at this point (because of Kobe's contract). That's not going to get it done considering the flotsam and jetsam their roster has become.
I think if you did it soon you could get good value, maybe not commensurate with what he's worth this year, but in relation to his contract and his inevitable decline shortly very good value for the long haul.
And I ask again, when he's done with this deal, just off making $30.5M and he's not ready to retire (you bet your ### he'll hang around as long as it takes him to get more titles than Jordan and/or become the all time scoring champ or no one will hire him - whichever comes first), how many more years are you going to pay him salary in the range of what he's accustomed to so he can retire a Laker? Because he doesn't strike me as a guy who's going to play at a discount or be readily willing to admit he's not worth top level money anymore.
You pay Kobe whatever he wants and you let him stay as long as he wants, period. What he's done for this franchise has been invaluable. He is the Lakers greatest player ever and he's still 32. I see 2-3 years like we saw last year, at a slow decline, barely noticeable. Then MJ Wizard years after that.
Actually, they put a value on that - it's what he's gotten/getting paid. And he's gotten an obscene amount of money for it. Also he's 33 now: Born: Aug 23, 1978.
It seems like you don't personally like Kobe, it also seems like you are a win at all costs guy, its all a business, nothing personal.You don't trade or release the Jordan's, the Magic's, the Bird's, or other of the greatest players in the sport's history. The Lakers will be forever over the cap, you reload and revamp the team around him, that's Mitch's job.
