I think that people are over-reacting about trading Odom. Prior to the Finals and after Gasol arrived, Odom was putting up a double double and shooting over 60%, I dont see how he cant put up the same type of numbers with Gasol and Bynum.
Not necessarily.Odom is a inconsistent outside shooter.Thats what hurt the Lakers on offense.No one is saying Odom cant put up good numbers,the problem is when the Lakers play against a good defensive team,he's ineffective.As you said the Celtics just clogged the lane and forced him to take jumpers.Once Bynum returns the Lakers will be hard pressed from behind the arc.All of their outside shooting would come from their bench.Odom has a nice all around game but the Lakers reminded me of the Cavs when they played the Cetlics.Since the rest of team was ineffective,the superstar was also ineffective.Kobe worked harder than I ever seen him work just to score 20 points in most of those games.
Lamar at the SF outmatches any small forward in the league.
I dont see how.He's 6"11 and he rarely posts up smaller players.He's not quicker than your average 3 so theres really nothing he can do but play like Boris Diaw while he's a 3.He can be a rebounder,passer,and he'll be left wide open for the mid range jumper.Once again he's capable of playing the 3,but theres a reason Phil Jackson doesnt like him playing it.That reason is he is ineffective there with the Lakers.Odom's game is getting past the slower pf and scoring a easy layup or making a play for someone else.He's also good at getting long rebounds.So lets say the Lakers will be better on defense but dont you need offense too?
there is very little flexibility and with Bynum's contract coming up for an extension this doesnt make our cap situation any better. Next season might be a little better with Odoms contract coming off the book but thats considering we dont resign him or trade him for what will likely be another big contract with a longer term.
There would be if the Lakers dont sign Vujacic and Turiaf.They already have enough overpaid players and their about to add 2 more.Odom's contract coming off the books doesnt do the Lakers any good.The Lakers could care less about salaries when Kobe's contract is on the verge of ending in 3 years.The focus right now should be to win a title no matter what.After Kobe there is going to be a rebuilding process.Its smarter to trade Odom for something in return rather than worry about cap flexibility.As long as they stop signing dumb contracts and Kobe's expires,the Lakers will have plenty flexibility in a few years.Odom is too good of a player to lose for nothing in return.I dont see the Lakers resigning him either.Unless he has some sort of career year I think the Lakers would be reluctant to offer him the full mle.They'd probably prefer to part separate ways.
But no, Maggette would rather be a small fish in a big pond than a big fish in a small pond, that is, he would rather win a championship with the Celtics than be the second or third option for the Lakers. Word.
Vic hit it on the nose here.Maggette will be a small fish in a big pond one way or the other.Lets not talk as if the Lakers are scrubs.They just need some minor tweaking and even if they dont make changes they'll still be title contenders.I just wouldnt see them winning a title without a few changes.
However crotch I'm going to agree that Bynum wouldnt have made that much of a difference.Bynum is another overrated player as of now.He has a bright future but he's not some big gamechanger right now.Kendrick Perkins when healthy can give Bynum all he can handle on defense.I doubt Bynum wouldve been able to open up the Lakers offense playing against him.What couldve opened up the offense was another guard that could penetrate the lane besides Kobe.
As for the topic of this thread, I want to remind everyone that the Lakers also have Ariza, who I think is certainly better than Radmanovic and Walton.
Are you serious?Ariza has bad feet and a terrible outside shot.He's also not a good dribbler and he's completely useless on offense.He brings energy on the defensive end but I wouldnt depend on any of these guys to be huge factors in a playoff series.Why would the athletically challenged Magic trade away a promising g/f?Probably because he's not really promising.I'd rather play Walton who has the better all around game than both Ariza and Radmanovic.Ariza would be traded in a heartbeat without remorse along with anyone stupid enough to take Radmanovic and Walton.As soon as the Magic traded Ariza there were rumors about the condition of his feet(rumors were thats why they traded him).Not long after that he was out with a foot injury.
The rest of the NBA should just mail it in barring major injuries Lakers will go 4-4-4-4 and take the title and laugh as Shaq and Suns miss playoffs.
You Lakers fans said this last year and look how far that went?Then after the Lakers lose you start making excuses about the presence of Bynum.However even while Bynum was down and you guys were in 1st place there was nothing but talk about how the Lakers would win a title without Bynum.After they lost well...it wouldve been better with Bynum is the excuse.The Lakers still wouldve lost with Bynum,this is why they need to make changes.
Trippdub-A lot of your ideas are, well, retarded. First of all, there is no way Deron Williams would be going to Los Angeles next season, he's in talks now of signing a 4-5 year deal. 2nd of all, Utah is not a terrible defensive team in which you said.
Okay I admit him coming to the Lakers was an outlandish statement.Especially since the Jazz could match any offer anyway if he didnt get the extension.So I'm not even going to argue with that statement,I'll take that on the chin.If Odom's contract expires and Kobe opts out,the Lakers could sign a big free agent though.However saying the Jazz are a terrible defensive team isnt quite as outlandish.13th in the league in opp ppg isnt bad,however 22nd in bpg and 24 in rpg isnt impressive.They were 4th in the league in steals but what does that prove?The Warriors and Nuggets were 1st and 2nd.The Jazz are a soft defensive team which is why the Lakers had no problem beating them.
