Lakers,free agents and more... | Lakerfan24's Blog

We were totally humilliated in game 6 of the NBA Finals that it made me realize that our players invest a lot of time learning the principles of the triangle offense that they hardly spend time practicing their defense game.Sasha,Radmanovic,Walton or Jordan all they can score,but can they defend?HARDLY... That's why I think we should trade some of our players,and here is why: Bynum is looking for a max contract worth $80 mill for 5 years ,Is he worth it? I don't know,in one side he has the potential to be a great center and he is just 20 years old,but at the same time even when he has shown some improvements we need to see more to offer him a big contract,something is for sure:we can't keep Kobe,Gasol,Bynum and Odom with those HUGE salaries,it will kill us with the luxury tax for the next years... So once Bynum comebacks and plays center,Gasol goes to his natural position PF,seems to me that Odom becomes expandable...The Lakers are talking about let him play the 3 spot but it doesn't make sense,first he is due $14.5 mill for the next season,add Radmanovic and Walton salaries($10.5 mill) and we have $25 mill invested in 3 players that will play the same position and that can't play any defense whatsoever,are they gonna stop Lebron,Carmelo,Pierce or even Butler?I don't think so...all seems to point out to trade Odom,now they are rumors that we will trade with Miami for Marion,but even when Marion seems like a perfect fit for the Lakers,his salary is bigger than Odom and he is also looking for a big contract...it won't happen... For awhile Artest made a lot of sense for our team,but his stupid mistake for not opting out will cost him a lot,Artest is not a $7.4 million player he is worth way more,but a lots of teamss just can offer him the mid-level exception,but not anymore,he needs to wait and see what the Kings are planning for him,we are hoping that we will get a chance to bring him to L.A. but I don't think the Kings will be willing to put the missing piece for a possible Lakers dynasty... So that limit our options to Posey and Barry...Posey looks more attractive to us because the way he influences the outcome of the game with his defense,plus we are willing to offer him more than the Celts want,a 5 or 6 years contract,I know he will be good for maybe just 3 or 4 years but is a good gamble that we can take...I also noticed that offers that we made to Vujacic and Turiaf that to be honest they are so low ...we offered $2.6 mill to Vujacic but I think he is worth between $3.5 or $4 mill...and what we offered to Turiaf is ridiculous,$ 1mill,that's it? he is worth at least $3 mill and they are teams like JAZZ that will be willing to pay him that money,he is a great player and what he brings to the Lakers is priceless,to me he is the emotional catalyzer in our team and we need to show him that we appreciated what he is done for us,so we need to take care of our players and I don't think with those offers we are doing it...but well let's hope for the best and see if we can bring some players that can spell defense for our team...

Comments (6) Add A Comment

Comment has been removed

July 7, 2008 05:31 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

LA won the West without Bynum, so there's no need to panic and make any foolish moves. There was no need to offer Turiaf and Vujacic anything more, they're restricted FAs. LA has the right to match any offer they get, so it was a wise move. Why pay more when a minimum offer might be enough to scare other teams off (many RFAs never get an offer from another team).

And, just because Odom starts the year in a LA uniform doesn't mean he'll end it. There will be plenty of teams looking to clear cap space near the trade deadline, and Odom's expiring contract will be attractive. Look what they pulled off with Kwame and he was terrible. No consider Odom's contract is almost twice what Kwame's was, and the fact he is actually decent, and LA should have no problems getting something in return.

perfect360

Pittsburgh , PA

Total Comments (989)

July 7, 2008 11:18 AM ET

I will say it again they need to scrap the triangle, and come up with something else. Every team knows how to defend it, and the back door on the lakers all the time. If any body needs to go it should be mims, and get some one to teach them how to play defense. Plus phil jackson got out coarched in the finals, plus they need to bring back bengal and let him play a little, he is a physical player which is something they dont have.

moon shot

Cairo , IL

Total Comments (22)

July 7, 2008 04:00 PM ET

The Triangle can work, I mean The Chicago Bulls with Jordan and Pippen would run the triangle, defense is definetley the key in sports though, I mean we are always told "defense wins championships" which I find to be VERY true, I mean sure hot flashy offensive teams look enticing to analysts and people (just like the past finals with the Lakers being the flashy offensive team, no offense intended), but often its the team with the great collective team defense who wins the game, or the series.

Celticsfan57638

None Of Your Bee's Wax, MA

Total Comments (90)

July 7, 2008 06:36 PM ET

What does the Triangle have to do with getting backdoored on defense?

The Triangle is fine, assuming you have the right personnel and you play defense. I agree they need a renewed focus on defense, but I don't think they need huge personnel changes to do it. Bynum will certainly help defensively, and let's not forget, Ariza had limited playing time due to injury. I'm not making excuses, as a healthy Ariza probably doesn't change the outcome, but he's gotta be a better defensive option than Vlad. And I think Farmar, with the right coaching, could be a very effective defensive player. Those three, combined with Kobe, more than make up for Gasol's lack of physical defensive play.

Now that being said, if they can get a defensive SF with some offensive skills for Odom, even better.