If Odom can learn to guard sf's he is our best option (futur

[Dexmor]

Regardless of what anybody says even the logo himself (I don't know if he is jelous or why he would say Gasol and Bynum can't play together) but next year Bynum will be playing Center and Gasol is a pf and will be finally playing pf for us next year when Bynum gets back.
Even if Bynum comes off the bench in the begining of the year to get him back in the fold you don't have a top 20 and according to some here top 10 player off the bench, espially when he makes us go from a weak defensive team to one of the best defensive teams.
So with that said they would have to bring Odom off the bench which is waste or play him at sf or trade him for a sf. Now as I said part of me wants that defensive sf and thinks that would help Kobe but with Farmar surely to get more minutes and Odom's ball handling ability Kobe would not have to be fulltime playmaker and if Farmar does turn out to be the player I think he will be a 12-14 point a game guy with 5 dimes we don't have to worry about getting Kobe that Pippen because with Bynum-Gasol-Odom-Kobe-Fisher (then Farmar starting 2010) Kobe will not really have to score more then 20 points a game for them to win. I am sure he will but he doesn't have to. He could probably even take on the olympics role of super defense man and win dpoy. Hell he will probably win another mvp and dpoy getting 25 5 5 with 3 steals.

The only question is can Odom guard sf's? If he can they are way better off keeping Odom then getting A Prince or a RJ or a Wallace or even Artest. Defensively they would only have 1 lockdown defender, 1 one on one defender in the starting 5 although Farmar has a shot but the opposition would have to only shoot jumpers to score. They would probably get alot of jumpers and get around Odom alot if he is the sf but with Bynum, Gasol and Odom now blocking shots they potentially could have a great defensive team and if Farmar does become at least a Fisher level defender with his atheltism the backcourt would be safe and we would surely lead the league in blocks espially if Kobe goes back to blocking shots.
If Odom can learn to guard the sf the Lakers would have a center who grabs 12 boards a game a pf who grabs 9 and a sf who grabs 9-11 with a 2guard who grabs 5.
They would have 4 players in the starting 5 who can post up and not only post up but need double teams. Think about that. You can't single cover Bynum or it is a very high % shot, with Gasol you got a 7 footer so there are maybe 5 players that you can play him without a double in the post and Odom is to big for every sf to not need a double team. That is not even our best post player which is Kobe Bryant who you need a double team for.
Odom starting off as a sf when he first entered the league and has gotten really better at the 18 foot jumper. Offensively you don't have to be a 3 point shooter to play sf just hit the jumper and drive and he can do it all.
Plus pf's have played sf alot in the past. All Odom needs to do is hire a Pippen or Pete Myers or some specialist or maybe even have Kobe teach him to play D.

The Lakers with Odom at sf would be the #1 rebounding team, #1 shotblocking team and Odom has guard and forward skills, Bynum and Gasol can both run the floor better then almost everybody at there positions so not only do they have the triangle, super post players, and they can be the best running team in the league.

If they can get Bynum at a discount because of the injury they need to throw him the 50 million and then sign Odom for 4 years and 40 million if he is willing to take it. Then the only other objectives will be sign Sasha and Farmar. Ronny is just a backup as much as I love him and he will sign with us anyway.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

I remember in the series with the suns on switches Odom could even keep up with Nash. His shooting is what I see as a problem.

[Dexmor]

Well if that is true then why are the Lakers thinking or even talking about trading him. I am being an idealist but my sinical side says another good reason to keep him is he plays pf great and if Bynum has to miss 4 games or so because of the knee Odom can step inas the 4 and Gasol as the 5 and if Gasol needs a week off then Odom goes to the 4 then to. No other sf can do that.
If he can guard sf's he is not a tweener he is truely a hybrid who can play pf and sf and is invaluable and needs to be not traded and signed.

[Gerald3Wallace]

odom will be fine

[Dexmor]

Well he is right Odom has played many pg's so he can guard sf's. I wonder if he will cover Pierce in this series. Hell maybe he should all series.
I am not worried about Odom I just worry a little Mitch might make a stupid trade, hell one I would have done a while ago and it would have been a mistake.
As long as he knows Odom can play sf and Bynum and Gasol will play great together we will have so much hardware.

[Dexmor]

Also with Gasol moving back to PF he is less likely to get injured.
Odom also is less likely to get injured at the sf spot.
Just in case there are some who are wondering why is going against bigger stronger players it wears you down. Gasol would still be on the thin side compared to the opposition but it will be a closer margain and Odom would never have to go against the monster pf's but the sf's so compared to them he would be the monster.

The Lakers will have the perfect team for the next 8 years

C.Bynum
PF.Gasol- What he lacks up in strength he more then makes up for in height and that's not to mention the skills and plus his arms make him 7'5
SF.Odom
SG.Kobe
PG.Farmar

I know Fisher is the point guard now but Farmar is the pg of the future. Phil might even put Fisher as 6th man by the allstar break.

[Gerald3Wallace]

yeah..

who in the league would want to take it in the paint against 3 guys 6'10 and taller with 7'0 + wingspans? and pure atheleticsm

[NBAWestFan]

Do what it takes to keep the team like it is except for Mihm and carl.

with Bynum next year and Ariza healthy the lakers will blow out teams

Resign the guys to keep the team in tact and this team will make title runs for as long as Kobe can game it up and they keep Odom or an equal type of player

[islander009]

I think LO is doing pretty well right now defending players, staying aggressive, doing what he needs to do. Game 3 of the Spurs series where LO blamed it all on himself and stated that he would be better, guess what he did play much better. He played with more heart and that is the difference between him now then last year. He played with heart throughout the playoffs last year but there was something more this year knowing that he had all the support from his team. I do think LO's weakness is his jumper, when its on its on, but most of the time when he takes those shots i just hope that it falls. But if its worked on in the offseason to a point where he is consistent i really dont see anything to change.

[Dexmor]

Yeah and seeing him on Pierce will be the perfect test. I think Odom is going to be a great sf. It was only 3-4 years ago Odom said I am not a pf.

[Dexmor]

Of course he won't be on Pierce much but he will be a lil.