Lakers in market for big man

Posted: Tuesday January 15, 2008 07:09AM ET

Now that Andrew Bynum will be taking at least an eight-week break, the Lakers are perilously thin in the middle. The Lakers are sifting through the free-agent bin and coming up with such names as Chris Webber, P.J. Brown and DJ Mbenga. The Lakers were intrigued by Webber a year ago and have been in contact with his representatives. They think he fits the mold of a triangle-offense player -- good passer, good jump shot -- but are concerned about his physical condition.

Los Angeles Times

P.J. Brown , Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

P.J. Brown , Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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Physical condition and pSYCHOLOGICAL condition too?

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Guess trading shaq was not as good as they thougt? He may only have one more ring but that is one more than Kobe. It would habve been interesting if they had played together 3-4 more years. I guess it is okay as long as they bow to Kobe and let him lead.

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thought...have...sorry it is early..

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It never amazes me how people STILL complain about an overweight center who lost his drive years ago, and was fortunate enough to be paired with a Rising Superstar (who BTW won Finals MVP) in the Very UnderAchieving Eastern Conference, and got another ring. Shaq in the Western Conference, Shaq still with 3 rings. Bottom Line. The Lakers LEAD the WEST RIGHT NOW. Bynum is going to be great, and has been playing very well, but lets not forget who the team is built around: The Best Player in the League. Record may drop a LITTLE, but have no worries...We still CAN WIN THE WEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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It is sad when your best player is a rapist and thinks the entire world is about him.. Shaq may not be the best to ever play but he is a winner.

Blah.. blah..blah.. until you win the ring.. it is all talk.

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The Bynum injury truly hurts. I like Mbenga but I'm guessing that Kobe and Phil might want a veteran.

My guess is Chris Webber. He's not his old self (I know that) but for a few minutes a night he can get the job done.

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WOW!! Simple Minded Fellow! Cmon Silly, the case was dismissed, the woman changed her story, had relations with MORE THAN 1 PERSON ALREADY THAT NIGHT, and LIED THROUGH HER TEETH!!! I mean, sure, if the story had ANY weight, maybe it would have been at least something to talk about, but it didn't, doesn't, and won't! We are not discussing the personality aspect; we are speaking about Basketball Talent. That is the problem with those who don't give Kobe his deserved respect: Their own irrational emotions get involved. Too bad...instead of witnessing one of the Greats, you must miss it due to your own inadequacies! Not me though!

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Hilarious that I read yesterday that Webber said he would be in uniform and on the court with a club in two weeks. Might be sooner than that.

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BTW--Winner??? The Heat have the worst record in the LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!! What a fool!! Lakers? Lead the West! Who's the winner?!

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J. Hova,

I agree with you. Bynum was developing into a force. I'm not sure the Lakers can hold on for 2 months w/o him. Kobe got 48 last night on 44 attempts. Your boy Lamar didn't show up....something like 3-15, c'mon. Kobe will go back to not trusting Kwame after he miss a couple of nice passes that should've been dunks.

Kobe scoring had dropped and the Lakers were winning and I think Kobe was okay with that. Now his scoring will increase but I'm not sure it will equal wins.

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kb goat... do u know i threwdown 3 times that lakerws would have a better record than last season.... lost ounce drawn one and won one.... shows how idiotic all the laker haters are and how blind they are to massive basketball potential in a young laker side led by the out and out best player in the world... i think i might have been right about the rtecord.

also i had a throwdown saying they would be a top 4 side... that is looking more and more likely by the day.


jhova....... i hear wat your saying but i think ur right in the fact that lakers will want a vet... but i just hope that vet will be ready to sit wen bynum is back.

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come on.... take ben wallace , kobe said he'd like to play with him.... what else is there to think about??? hahaha but ithink they will most likely end up with a chaep vet from Free Agency

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soflaboy.... i hear u but kobes scoring droped because his teammates improved... so he hasnt really had to step up. now he will and he obviously has no problem with that. ill be realistic the wins might drop a bit but i still think we can win 60 to 70% of our games to he is back.

i think the best thing to do would be to get webber... he might be old but he can score and can start. which we need bcoz brown is not a starter. webber can also score which helps out. also with kobe getting all the attention he will benifit from open looks and wen bynum gets back he will add some veteran depth to a allready verry deep side.

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come on.... take ben wallace , kobe said he'd like to play with him.... what else is there to think about??? hahaha but ithink they will most likely end up with a chaep vet from Free Agency

Prags | 01/15/08

Ben Wallace? Are you crazy?

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This is news to me. The Lakers look like theyre content with Kwame Brown, which is unfortunate for Laker fans. But there is no reason why the Lakers should waste their money on a nobody. We'll be fine if we can get Chris Mihm bach,

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KBGoat- Missing nothing. He has talent but if you believe he was not at fault... sad. His lack of leadership and trade me issues have cost them. I hope he does do well but I am not simple minded.. and can choose to watch who I please. He is a good player but so are others that are good to watch. If your arguement is he has character and leads well... uh no. I have been watching over 35 years and have not missed anything ....

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@drj0514: You still crying over the fact Kobe got cleared and the alleged victim was a liar and extremely promiscuos?? The only wrong Kobe commited was cheating on his wife, and if that hurts you too, then you need to get your head checked.

Talk ball loser, and keep all the stupid allegations between you and your loser friends. If you can't do that, shut up and keep on koving.

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he is one of the best leaders going around... he has lead a young team thatb wasnt given a chance to the top of the west. how is he not a good leader because of all the rumour and inuendo u hear in the paper? wat evidence has anyone got? he is a great basketball leader.... now any character issues u have set them aside and open ur blind eyes to one of the greats.

and did u ever relise that mayby there was a bigger picture with the trade me bynum sucks exercise? mayby he was singleing bynum out because he knew he had the potential to be a star and that he just needed one of the greats to critisize his endevour and work ethic and mayby that would bring out the best in him. bynum is only 20 wen a star like kobe says ur not good enough ur obviously going to try to prove them wrong. wat better satisfaction could you get then to say kobe u were wrong i can play.

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@drj054: His lack of leadership?? They at the top of the leaderboard, you think that happened by mistake? And the heat???? They have all the veteran players but still have a losing record. You make no sense old man. Your 35 yrs of watching must hav been done wearing purple colored lenses.

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I think the Lakers should use who theyve got.. Yeah, we'll lose some games now that our second best player is out, but itll give turiaf more minutes and kwame more confidence (hopefully)..

All this talk about Shaq and Kobe.. Please.. Yeah, shaq won another title.. But his career is pretty much over.. Kobe has the POTENTIAL to bring a few titles to LA.. We do have the best record in the western conference, and one of the youngest teams in the league.. Potential to win titles.. isnt that what fans watch for? Heat fans have no hope anymore.

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