Pretty much, but there was always a best-case-scenario hope that Nash came back healthy and playing more like the Nash of old, Gasol stepped up, some young guys came into their own and Kobe came back not missing a beat. I thought they should have blown it up at the end of the season, worked out an agreement with Kobe to amnesty him, have him play in Europe for a few months when recovered and brought him back next year, and rigged for Wiggins. But that was never going to happen because of this hope. Now there is no hope remaining. Time to blow it up.
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:X Lakers 13/14 Thread: 6th Draft Slot "Locked Up" :BYE: (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Gr00vus
- Start date
Gr00vus
Footballguy
I don't know there's much they need to do to "blow it up." Everyone (except Nash of courseShrugs said:
) is off the books at the end of the season. I don't think anyone is going to offer up anyone for Gasol that the Lakers would actually want to commit to, maybe they can get some draft picks from a contender once it gets closer to the trade deadline? I can't imagine they'd be very good draft picks.
Abraham
Footballguy
Really? I think there are a few teams that would like to have gasol. Milwaukee, Atlanta ...I don't know there's much they need to do to "blow it up." Everyone (except Nash of courseShrugs said:
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Gr00vus
Footballguy
Sure, and what would they be giving the Lakers in return?Really? I think there are a few teams that would like to have gasol. Milwaukee, Atlanta ...I don't know there's much they need to do to "blow it up." Everyone (except Nash of courseShrugs said:
Gr00vus
Footballguy
Yet another failure in a back to back. These guys just can't bring it consistently.
Getting lost in the miasma of this season is that Jordan Hill is playing very well. There aren't too many players on this squad I'd care to see hang around long term, but I think he might be at the top of that list.
Getting lost in the miasma of this season is that Jordan Hill is playing very well. There aren't too many players on this squad I'd care to see hang around long term, but I think he might be at the top of that list.
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
When you watch them play, you think so. But then when you watch a number of other teams out there you realize they will have plenty of competition for a top pick.
I don't think they are a bottom-3 team. But I'll be shocked if they do not end up with a top-3 pick in the lottery.
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
Completely agree. No idea why this had to be done now, and why they have to make him the highest paid player in the league going forward. Lunacy.Gr00vus said:
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
If the Lakers completely washed their hands of Kobe after this year, what kind of contract would we expect him to land on the open market? Assuming he comes back as the same player he was before he hurt the Achilles.
Abraham
Footballguy
Gr00vus
Footballguy
I thought I heard that the CBA has something in place such that you can't make a commitment to guys over 36 (???) for more than 2 years.
Anyway, the number I keep hearing in regard to what Kobe would get on the open market is about $12M a year.
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Gr00vus
Footballguy
We have no idea whether he's washed up or not. That's the idiocy of committing $24M a year for 2 more years at this point. See if he can ####### play anywhere near his old level first - how hard is that? What's going to happen between now and 2 or 3 months from now that the Lakers felt like they needed to get this done today?
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
Maybe the discount only applied if the Lakers acted now? I don't know. I agree with the wait a couple of months logic, but you guys have been trying to hang the dunce cap on Mitch for a looooooong time now, and he's been a damn good GM. I have to think there were negotiations and considerations that perhaps we're not privy to.
Are you really doubting Kobe's return? If ANYONE deserves the benefit of the doubt, it's #24.
fantasycurse42
Footballguy Jr.
Kobe is entering that time of his career which I would compare to MJ in Washington.
Coming off of a major injury, at 35, with probably close to 1500 games played.
All time great, but nobody escapes father time.
Coming off of a major injury, at 35, with probably close to 1500 games played.
All time great, but nobody escapes father time.
Gr00vus
Footballguy
How can you not, at least to some extent? I mean, what are you expecting here? I think best expectations are at least bit less than what he was doing last year, when I don't think he was worth $24M. Honestly, I think he'll be lucky to be as good as Monta Ellis this year and probably going forward.
As to Kupchak - I don't think it's his show, Jimmy is the problem. Jamie too if she signed off handing over 2 more years at $24M per for a 36 year old coming off an achilles rupture who hasn't played a game since the injury.
I can't imagine Dr. Buss making a decision like this, I really can't. He'd let Shaq Kobe head off to wherever, maybe even deal him now, before he'd do something like this.
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
Not doubting his return so much as doubting him playing at a level which merits him being the highest paid player in the league. Why not wait and see how well he plays before signing him?
Abraham
Footballguy
I'm curious as to why we shouldn't doubt Mitch. The lakers haven't been a relevant contender in 3+ years. They traded for Howard, didn't work out. Same with Nash. Jamison didn't do much. So on and so forth. The last good move he made was getting gasol which happened years ago.
BigSteelThrill
Footballguy
timschochet
Footballguy
The Lakers made 3 very good moves in the last couple of years:
1. Acquiring Chris Paul.
2. Acquiring Steve Nash.
3. Acquiring Dwight Howard.
None of these worked out as projected. Paul was nixed by Stern (in a totally BS move), Nash got injured, and Howard wasn't fully recovered and turned out to be more immature than anyone thought. But they were all great moves at the time.
Abraham
Footballguy
1. They didn't get Chris Paul. You don't get credit for that.
2. Nash has not played a week of quality ball for them yet. Trading for a post prime hall of famer for a slew of assets is not a good move.
3. Howard led the league in rebounding. He is dojbg so again this year. He isn't a bad player. He didn't fit the team, which is as much an indication of other factors then of the player himself.
Saying moved looked good at the time and didn't work out is pitiful. You don't hear the sixers clinging to hindsight about Bynum. The reality is they aren't a good team and aren't made better by signing Kobe right now.
drummer
Footballguy
The league got involved and interfered with landing Paul. You know this. So go back and crawl into your beer.
Abraham
Footballguy
drummer
Footballguy
Damn, you took that bait way too easy. I knew your passive/aggressive "we" setup/post was as transparent as the old boxers you're sitting around the house in while swilling yourself into drunkeness, waiting to mix it up with Laker fan. I just figured you'd stretch it out more like your old waistband on said boxers.
Abraham
Footballguy
drummer
Footballguy
Gr00vus
Footballguy
Yeah hindsight is great isn't it? At the time they made the Howard and Nash moves many, many people (and not just Laker fans) were predicting a finals appearance. Maybe even including you, I'd have to go back and check the posts from around then, but it's a waste of time. And they were playing great basketball when Bryant got injured last year - so they might have actually made some noise in the playoffs. We'll never know.Abraham said:
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
Abraham said:
The Lakers "suck" for several reasons, most notably the best player in the history of their franchise, and a top 10 NBA player, tore his Achilles and has been out for 6-8 months.Additionally, Dwight Howard pulled an unprecedented move and walked away from the franchise. In another unprecedented move, the NBA vetoed a trade that the general managers of the New Orleans Hornets and Lakers had agreed to preventing the 3rd best player in the NBA from donning purple and gold.
Damn Mitch Kupchak for not anticipating these events!
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Abraham
Footballguy
I thought the Nash trade was a boon for them, and I think I had them as 2nd best in the west behind OKC when the season began. My observation is really about how Lakers fans/apologists seem to think that the organization should be getting some sort of "credit" for these moves that looked good on paper and didn't work out. That makes no sense to me. The list is LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG of moves that "looked good on paper and didn't work out." Cavs fans don't see the Shaq and Jamison acquisitions as 'good' in hindsight because they looked solid at the moment.
Abraham
Footballguy
So if Howard had stayed and Kobe were healthy you think they would be a legitimate contender?Abraham said:
Additionally, Dwight Howard pulled an unprecedented move and walked away from the franchise. In another unprecedented move, the NBA vetoed a trade that the general managers of the New Orleans Hornets and Lakers had agreed to preventing the 3rd best player in the NBA from donning purple and gold.
Damn Mitch Kupchak for not anticipating these events!
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
Yes, I think Howard, Chris Paul, and a healthy Kobe Bryant are title contenders.So if Howard had stayed and Kobe were healthy you think they would be a legitimate contender?Abraham said:
Additionally, Dwight Howard pulled an unprecedented move and walked away from the franchise. In another unprecedented move, the NBA vetoed a trade that the general managers of the New Orleans Hornets and Lakers had agreed to preventing the 3rd best player in the NBA from donning purple and gold.
Damn Mitch Kupchak for not anticipating these events!
Yes, I think a healthy Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, healthy Steve Nash, and healthy Kobe Bryant are title contenders.
Gr00vus
Footballguy
-fish-
Footballguy
my next aliasYes, I think Howard, Chris Paul, and a healthy Kobe Bryant are title contenders.So if Howard had stayed and Kobe were healthy you think they would be a legitimate contender?
Additionally, Dwight Howard pulled an unprecedented move and walked away from the franchise. In another unprecedented move, the NBA vetoed a trade that the general managers of the New Orleans Hornets and Lakers had agreed to preventing the 3rd best player in the NBA from donning purple and gold.
Damn Mitch Kupchak for not anticipating these events!
Yes, I think a healthy Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, healthy Steve Nash, and healthy Kobe Bryant are title contenders.
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
drummer
Footballguy
Yeah, Abe be trying to do work here, but we all know he ain't that bright to pull it off.
Abraham
Footballguy
suit yourself. Congratulation to laker fans on acquiring Chris Paul, a healthy Steve Nash, and the best center in the league. Hope you enjoy beating the heat and getting Kobe more rings!