Will We Forgive And Forget ?

[iamworthy]

Nice article:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13332

[DubaLakers]

I am calm. You don't think they are all good points? What made you think I wasn't calm? Was it the caps lock? I was just trying to make a point. What is EE?

ALL CAPS = shouting. You also got a little rowdy in another thread — accumulative comment. You'll have to take your best guess at the EE abbreviation. Can't help you there. Although a clue would be that it's something redundant.

EE

[DubaLakers]

Bottom line he's still a bench player, yes he gets starter minutes, but that may change a touch with the new lineup. He played those minutes off injuries. The LAL are going to be more flexible next off season, and appear to me to have more options, as in a stud PG assuming DFish retires. LO is a great insurance plan for anybody because of his obvious flexibility, but is he worth the investment/risk (pumps candy like Wilt pumped chicks, finally gets it at 30 years of age, not a starter) for the LAL future? Big question, lucky we have a great mgmt team to figure it out for us.

[Verbal]

Fisher is an expiring contract in this upcoming season.

[Sedale Threatt]

Duba, why do you keep posting about this so-called flexibility? The decision to bring back or cast off Lamar isn't going to have any impact on our salary cap situation whatsoever. We're going to be massively over the threshold regardless (at least $62 million guaranteed on the pay roll), so the only way we pick up this alleged stud PG is by trade.

Yes, Lamar is basically an insurance policy for us. Just remember this -- as much as we all hate paying for it, be it home or car or whatever, when the time comes it's an absolute Godsend. As he's been for us the past two seasons when Andrew went down.

Because for all his flaws, there is absolutely, positively no way we would have won the championship without having Lamar on the roster.

[DubaLakers]

Sedale I'm talking about the following off-season when the Lakers have more flexibility which I count up to possibly 5 less guys...jf,dj,am,df,jp...that fat contract LO signs will affect the roster for what 3-5 years to come when the lal are already paying pau, kb24, and ab huge jack. That's when we sign the pg I've been craving for our lal since df left the first time. As far as this season let's see what happens, we'll be right there in the end either way; as good a shot as any to take that LOB imo.

I hate to keep rehashing the same shi* but he's just now getting wtf he's supposed to do at the age of 30, he pumps candy like it's endangered, and he's, according to our man JWest, he's in his last prime year, 28-30 he always said was prime. He's not going to start, and like I said he's the most expensive insurance player in the L. Let's see what these other cats have to offer...Ammo, Luck, Powell, Shanny, JFar, Sashafierce, maybe this new kid who looks like a kendrick perkins type, most with another year under their belt and a championship ring on their finger.

[Mindflayer]

Why not offer the Jazz ammo and Sasha and whatever seconds we have have next year for Boozer?

The Jazz save money, stay out of the cap and get a bargain in Milsaps contract. Only happens if Boozer for a salary dump.

We save money, get a better player than Odom, and can let Boozer walk at the end of season. We offer Lamar the LLE or tell him to sign elsewhere for one year and come back and we'll talk. Lamar doesn't sign for the LLE and we offer than to Gerald Green, Von Wafer, insert whatever quick guards you can think of, etc.

[Anklebreaker702]

not just about LO and how people jump to conclusions about whats going to happen, its about ariza and all the crap he and his agent get when its pretty clear that the lakers just wanted artest more. david lee shouldn't have gone to the media AGAIN (re: bynum), but i don't think there was anything they could have done.

Don't know if I agree cash. Yes the Lakers probably did want Artest more but Trev was priority also. LO is a different story IMO he's haggling over something that shouldn't even be. They came all the way to 9 mil from 7, he's only asking for 10, then it turns into years. It leaves that it's always something feeling in your mouth.

[Sedale Threatt]

Sedale I'm talking about the following off-season when the Lakers have more flexibility which I count up to possibly 5 less guys...jf,dj,am,df,jp...that fat contract LO signs will affect the roster for what 3-5 years to come when the lal are already paying pau, kb24, and ab huge jack. That's when we sign the pg I've been craving for our lal since df left the first time. As far as this season let's see what happens, we'll be right there in the end either way; as good a shot as any to take that LOB imo.

I hate to keep rehashing the same shi* but he's just now getting wtf he's supposed to do at the age of 30, he pumps candy like it's endangered, and he's, according to our man JWest, he's in his last prime year, 28-30 he always said was prime. He's not going to start, and like I said he's the most expensive insurance player in the L. Let's see what these other cats have to offer...Ammo, Luck, Powell, Shanny, JFar, Sashafierce, maybe this new kid who looks like a kendrick perkins type, most with another year under their belt and a championship ring on their finger.

Again, Lamar isn't going to make any difference on our immediate salary cap flexibility.

Take those five guys away, don't pick up any options and we're still at about $64-65 million dollars next summer -- which is going to be way, way over the threshold, especially if the cap drops again. So this so-called stud PG simply isn't going to come via cap space. It's almost certainly going to be a similar story in '11 and '12 after Kobe and Pau get their extensions.

So the only way we can pick up anybody significant in the immediate future is if we catch an Artest-like break via the mid level. I would much, much, much rather shell out the cash for Lamar than rely on either another stroke of luck or retreads like the ones you just mentioned -- seriously, Adam Morrison is going to pick up the slack? -- to provide much-needed depth and insurance.

All we should be worried about is maximizing our window over the next 2-3 years. Beyond that -- why would we even care at this point? We have a set, proven championship team right now, and we're only going to be older at that point. Win titles now, worry about future later.

In that regard, overpaying Lamar for an extra year or two down the road in order to win now is a small, small sacrifice. Not to pick on you, because you're far from the only one, I just think you guys are fooling yourself if you think we're not going to miss what Lamar gives us.

[TommyTheCat]

Seeing how these negotiations have went first with Trevor and now with LO, the question is this:

Can you forgive and forget these guys once this process is done with ?

In Trev's case we knew it was orchestrated by his agent to get him from here ever since his failed negotiations in the Bynum deal in which he couldn't secure the max deal he was seeking. He was hell bent on getting Trev out of LA period.

So maybe we can forgive him in the long run, but after that he'll be just another player that comes to LA for a game on a regular NBA night.



In LO's case which is getting touchy with the fan base because of previous statements LO has made as far as "wanting to end my career in LA", now to many he's being view as a hypocrite and a liar. Years ago we were never in tuned to what was going on in the free agent process as we are now. It use to be once the season ended we waited for next season to start and became surprise when we saw a new player.

Now with how it's covered through media, it brings the fans into the process right down to the numbers being discussed. So with LO and seeing how this is shaking out do you forgive him if he stays ?

Do you forget it and just chalk it up to business as usual ?

Or does this leave a bad taste in your mouth because how this turns out weather we keep him or not ?

it's a business. once a player leaves the lakers organization i usually don't give them much thought one way or the other. i don't understand the need to feel like a jilted lover

[ElGrandeA]

I find it ironic that the OP stated that Odom has stated that he wanted to be a Laker for life and it is being said that he is backing away from that statement. Odom has done nothing that varies from his original statement. Odom turned down a three year deal. I can guarantee that Odom will be in the league for more than just three years.

It is pretty clear that Odom wants more than a three year deal and it is also pretty clear that the Lakers are not going to negotiate against themselves.

I am sure things will work out and Odom will stay.

[10scott10]

I won't forgive him, because there is nothing to be upset about in the first place. He is taking a pay from his previous deal, but he wants a smaller pay cut than originally offered. I see nothing wrong with trying to make money with off of your skills as long as you aren't underhanded and negotiate in good faith.

[ElGrandeA]

Odom said that wanted to a Laker for life. The Lakers offering him a three year deal does not equate to being a Laker for life. How can you be upset?

[Verbal]

I find it ironic that the OP stated that Odom has stated that he wanted to be a Laker for life and it is being said that he is backing away from that statement. Odom has done nothing that varies from his original statement. Odom turned down a three year deal. I can guarantee that Odom will be in the league for more than just three years.

It is pretty clear that Odom wants more than a three year deal and it is also pretty clear that the Lakers are not going to negotiate against themselves.

I am sure things will work out and Odom will stay.

most likely man.

5 year deal is fine but he won't be making as much...

I think Buss should just ctc and offer him 38-44 million for 5 years now and save himself some lux tax, stockpile the talent, and end the speculation. (I can't believe this has become a 50pg thread)

LO should take the deal b/c he likes it here and he's found a nitch in the system... there wont be much pressure on him to be an all-star and his legs will be with him longer w/ less minutes/stress.

When a new coach comes in, if he does come in, LO might really shine as a dark horse and emerge into a Big Game James role if he plays his cards right.

Shoulda been done already, so I dont get why both sides are playing these games.

I hate agents that can't follow orders.

If LO's got one of those ****, he might as well dump him and save himself an extra 3-5 million ez on his next deal.

But I'm just a helpful fan, so what do I know.

Good luck w/ negotiations, if LO stays he'll get my blessing.

If he wants to bolt, I'm still a fan.

Drink up, I know I'm drinking.


I might even end up playing some ball later tonight if I get something to eat and don't get drunk in the meantime...

Gotta go back to being the younger Verbal, a-sap. hahahaha.