What Do The Lakers Do Now?

[Doctor MJ]

Lakers are on the verge of losing in the second round for the 2nd consecutive season. Is it time to blow up the roster? Gasol's time is most certainly up as a Laker. He went Casper for the 2nd straight year in the postseason. Kobe as much as we all love him (Well Laker fans everyone else not so much) is clearly on the decline and you have to ask how much he has left in the tank. It's been said many times, but Kobe has played an incredible amount of minutes and even this season he averaged a flat our ridiculous amount of minutes. His contract is also a killer. He's got 2 years left at 30 million dollars. Good thing for L.A. is they will have capspace in 2014. Bynum will most likely stay. He's obviously immature, but he's young and hopefully he grows up. His name has been floated around in trade rumors for Howard, but Howard doesn't wanna play for the Lakers so that's not happening. There isn't another center worth trading him for. Sessions is clearly not a starting caliber point guard on a championship type team. There's a reason he's been bounced around and a career backup.

Well at this point I think everyone but Bynum & Kobe is fair game.

Bynum is probably untradeable, simply because it's quite possible he's the best big in the league other than Howard, and there are clearly a million issues with Howard coming to the Lakers.

Kobe is probably untradeable simply because he's too bulky to trade. Huge salary & will want to be the man as he declines. It's hard to imagine that really fitting in to any contender, nor the Lakers getting the return they want from a non-contender

So, you trade Gasol & whoever trying to get a younger star that will work with Bynum going forward, and hopefully, can work with Kobe too.

One thing: The "Bynum has the brain of a 6-year old" thing is a real frustration. I talk above with the recognition that this team needs to move past Kobe, but it's tough to do that when that means putting all your faith in someone as immature as Bynum. At times I feel like he'll clean up his act if the Lakers say "This is YOUR team now. You are our first option on offense, and it's up to you to be an example to lead everyone else" because I do feel like part of his issues come from him feeling like he has to sacrifice for Kobe's glory. But stuff like the continued parking in handicap spot? I mean I know it's minor, but it's hard at this point to think that he's doing it just because he's in a hurry. He appears to be a guy who just likes shoving it other people's face that the rules don't apply to him.

[Doctor MJ]

Lakers don't need to make HUGE moves, but moves that keep them competitive by:

-Actually having a bench and playing Kobe like Pop plays Duncan (around 30 MPG, not 38)

-Hopefully we re-sign Hill to the mini-MLE and maybe trade Pau in the offseason for a good package of 3 point shooter(s)/ young slasher/ a solid PF (Beasley, Scola, etc?)

-Trade Bynum for Dwight if the Lakers want some hype but I dont think this is necessary at all

- For our PG situation, my first option would be to try and get Dragic in a S&T (not sure if we can still do that). If that doesn't work then we can sign Sessions to a 3 year deal (NOT 5 YEARS) at something like 3 at 21 MIL

I think what Pop has done has skewed people's perspective. What SA is doing now is completely unprecedented. I'm with you that if Pop had had Kobe as his star there'd be no need to do serious rebuilding, but Lakers management isn't nearly that good.

I can't say it's impossible for them to have a bench that really comes together, but I don't think it likely.

I will say though, if anyone wants to say "Give it one more year. Let's see what Brown can do with a legit training camp", that seems very reasonable. I just really have the feeling that they are never going to be as good as they were last year with this core in place. They probably should have won the title last year so that is a high bar to compare it too, but the vibe of the Laker team now just seems spent.

[ClayDavis]

Lakers don't need to make HUGE moves, but moves that keep them competitive by:

-Actually having a bench and playing Kobe like Pop plays Duncan (around 30 MPG, not 38)

-Hopefully we re-sign Hill to the mini-MLE and maybe trade Pau in the offseason for a good package of 3 point shooter(s)/ young slasher/ a solid PF (Beasley, Scola, etc?)

-Trade Bynum for Dwight if the Lakers want some hype but I dont think this is necessary at all

- For our PG situation, my first option would be to try and get Dragic in a S&T (not sure if we can still do that). If that doesn't work then we can sign Sessions to a 3 year deal (NOT 5 YEARS) at something like 3 at 21 MIL

I think what Pop has done has skewed people's perspective. What SA is doing now is completely unprecedented. I'm with you that if Pop had had Kobe as his star there'd be no need to do serious rebuilding, but Lakers management isn't nearly that good.

I can't say it's impossible for them to have a bench that really comes together, but I don't think it likely.

I will say though, if anyone wants to say "Give it one more year. Let's see what Brown can do with a legit training camp", that seems very reasonable. I just really have the feeling that they are never going to be as good as they were last year with this core in place. They probably should have won the title last year so that is a high bar to compare it too, but the vibe of the Laker team now just seems spent.

defense wasnt the problem last night it was offense. you give mike brown a decade and he cant figure out how to play an offense. bynum and kobe need spacing. teams have zoned them all year. at the very least htey have brought some youth with sesisons and hill. barnes is trash he has to go. they should try to do the hakws route and build a veteran bench, its effective enough

[theTROOF]

Lakers don't need to make HUGE moves, but moves that keep them competitive by:

-Actually having a bench and playing Kobe like Pop plays Duncan (around 30 MPG, not 38)

-Hopefully we re-sign Hill to the mini-MLE and maybe trade Pau in the offseason for a good package of 3 point shooter(s)/ young slasher/ a solid PF (Beasley, Scola, etc?)

-Trade Bynum for Dwight if the Lakers want some hype but I dont think this is necessary at all

- For our PG situation, my first option would be to try and get Dragic in a S&T (not sure if we can still do that). If that doesn't work then we can sign Sessions to a 3 year deal (NOT 5 YEARS) at something like 3 at 21 MIL

So a 3rd straight 2nd Round exit?



IF they want to win a title with Kobe....then you deal Gasol & Bynum for Howard

IF they want to build a perenial contender around Bynum.....then you deal Kobe


Don't understand why a franchise like the Lakers are letting themselves get hijacked by Kobe. They didn't do this with Shaq

[lodom7]

two options:

1. Blow it Up

2. Keep most of the team together and build a bench:
a. A backup for Kobe, maybe Goudelock will fill this role, but kobe can be kobe but not for 35+ minutes a night, find a shooter who can defend and doesn't lack size.
b. A bench leader/scorer, Beasley would be ideal

Still this team can compete with a full training camp and plenty of rest and time to work out chemistry:
PG: Sessions/Blake
SG: Kobe/ FA/ Goudelock
SF: Artest/ Beasley/Ebanks
PF: Gasol/McRoberts
C: Bynum/Hill

This is probably unreasonable but its nice to dream

[lodom7]

Lakers don't need to make HUGE moves, but moves that keep them competitive by:

-Actually having a bench and playing Kobe like Pop plays Duncan (around 30 MPG, not 38)

-Hopefully we re-sign Hill to the mini-MLE and maybe trade Pau in the offseason for a good package of 3 point shooter(s)/ young slasher/ a solid PF (Beasley, Scola, etc?)

-Trade Bynum for Dwight if the Lakers want some hype but I dont think this is necessary at all

- For our PG situation, my first option would be to try and get Dragic in a S&T (not sure if we can still do that). If that doesn't work then we can sign Sessions to a 3 year deal (NOT 5 YEARS) at something like 3 at 21 MIL

So a 3rd straight 2nd Round exit?

what good is dwight down low if kobe won't even go to him in the final minutes like he did with bynum and gasol last night?



IF they want to win a title with Kobe....then you deal Gasol & Bynum for Howard

IF they want to build a perenial contender around Bynum.....then you deal Kobe


Don't understand why a franchise like the Lakers are letting themselves get hijacked by Kobe. They didn't do this with Shaq

[dhh2h]

I definetly think that its premature to blow it up (also it would be impossible to do so with Kobe and Gasol on the books until '14... If rebuilding doesn't work by 2014, then you blow it up THEN)

Two options I also forgot to mention:

1) Try to get Nash to come over on a 3 year deal for the MIN

2) Get LO for the MIN

I think 2) is more likely, but if we do what I said earlier and maybe replace Brown with a coach like JVG who understands more about basketball than just the defensive end, we could end up with something like:

(Nash)/(Dragic)/ (Sessions) / Blake
Kobe/ (Player like Kevin Martin/ Courtney Lee/ Ray Allen/ Jason Terry/ Danny Green)
Peace/ (Player like Beasley/ Delfino)/ Ebanks
(Scola)/ (Ryan Anderson)/ (Hill)
Bynum

- A trade involving Pau to the Magic for some combination of Ryan, JJ Reddick, and Jameer could be interesting?

No HUGE moves, but I dont think this Laker team needs huge moves

[Blame Rasho]

You try and win the series, and then worry about what happens if you dont end up with a title.

[Else_where]

Just blow the team up this summer and make a trade with Bobcats, build around Corey Maggette

[RIPskaterdude]

Can someone explain to me why Nash would suddenly sign to be on the Lakers for just the minimum? Anyone?

[-[Clippers]-]

Can someone explain to me why Nash would suddenly sign to be on the Lakers for just the minimum? Anyone?

Easy... they're the Lakers, they're entitled to Nash.

[Else_where]

Can someone explain to me why Nash would suddenly sign to be on the Lakers for just the minimum? Anyone?

he won't

[Blame Rasho]

Can someone explain to me why Nash would suddenly sign to be on the Lakers for just the minimum? Anyone?

I hate to say this, but I can see Dallas somehow trading for Howard, and signing Nash for some exception that they have.

[RIPskaterdude]

But that's Dallas, and he would probably do that just to retire there. But why the Lakers? It seems like every time the Lakers lose in the playoffs, 70% of their fan base just assumes that they're suddenly going to get someone like Howard or Steve Nash. It just doesn't work that way.

[Archerbro]

Start blowing it up. Too many bad contracts, and this team isn't going anywhere as presently constructed. For the first time since '05, it might be time for the Lakers to start thinking lottery.

With Kobe Bryant on our roster that is simply not an option.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2005.html

not sure if serious .........

[ShowTimeERA]

Kobe willingly going to the bench and becoming the 6th man?

Exactly...this year Kobe shot 42% and the rest of the Lakers shot nearly 48%.

Chris Paul my ass...you can put 4 other superstars with Kobe...he will still take the most shots and be the least efficient.

Case in point...2008 Olympics, Kobe was #1 on the team in shot attempts but only 4th on the team in scoring, and the only player in the top 8 of the rotation that shot under 50% (he shot 46%).

Did you watch the Olympics or look at the box score after each game? Kobe was a spot up 3pt shooter and guess what that isn't his specialty. When the elimination rounds came around, Kobe had some of his best games when he was allowed to play his game as the best player in the nba.

[FAH1223]

Lakers are stuck for the next two seasons.

Bynum is worth keeping. Dwight Howard has commitment issues and will bolt if you trade for him

The Lakers need to find guys who can hit the 3

They also should keep Hill and Sessions since they are two young, athletic pieces that just need to grow in the moment.

Bynum will be resigned in 2013 and he'll be the only big contract they'll have on the books in 2014 most probably. They need to keep their picks from now on though. The Spurs have drafted well in the late 1st, 2nd rounds the past few years

[bobbyc]

Bynum extension.

I don't see Nash signing with the Lakers. He is not a ring chaser. + I'm pretty sure he hates the team and Kobe.
I think if he goes anywhere, he goes to NY or DAL. Lives in NY already and likes it there. DAL to bring back old memories.

Try to deal with HOU around Scola and either a sign and trade or a shooter to come off their bench(martin, Bud,). Hou has a huge crush on PAu.

They are good thats all that needs to be done. And really can be done.

oh and Re-sign Lamar Odom.

[ShowTimeERA]

First things first, win game 5.

Moves for the offseason

- look to trade Bynum for Howard.
- convince Nash to sign for the vet min or mini mle
- sign kg with what's left of the mini mle or vet min
- let go of sessions if Nash signs, Troy, and Barnes
- resign hill, ebanks, and Morris to cheap contracts.
- look to see if a Mcbob for mayo deal is available
- look to use the Tpe
- sign Beasley with mini mle if available

Nash/Blake
Kobe/mayo
Artest/Beasley/ebanks
Pau/hill/kg
Howard or Bynum/kg

[RIPskaterdude]

First things first, win game 5.

Moves for the offseason

- look to trade Bynum for Howard.
- convince Nash to sign for the vet min or mini mle
- sign kg with what's left of the mini mle or vet min
- let go of sessions if Nash signs, Troy, and Barnes
- resign hill, ebanks, and Morris to cheap contracts.
- look to see if a Mcbob for mayo deal is available
- look to use the Tpe
- sign Beasley with mini mle if available

Nash/Blake
Kobe/mayo
Artest/Beasley/ebanks
Pau/hill/kg
Howard or Bynum/kg

What is this, NBA2K12?