Free Agency

[3-Pt_Shooter]

Kobe has 2 or 3 good years left.
Ideally, the Lakers should make trades to make the team a contender during Kobe's tenure and build a foundation for the future of the team at the same.
IMO, the only way you can do that is by getting Dwight or Deron. Those are players that you can build a team around when Kobe retires.
The only way you get one of those two is by trading Bynum and/or Pau.
They should do their best to get Dwight or Deron.
If not, they should sit tight this year and just find a decent PG and strengthen the bench with their trade and mid level exemptions. It will be easier to trade Pau next year as an expiring.
Buss seems to think yo can build a team around Bynum. He may be right but I doubt it.
The time to trade Bynum is now.

Well said... Jim Buss needs to take a step back and contemplate the future of this great organization. Kobe does only have a couple of "elite seasons" left in the tank. The best thing for the future is to trade Pau and/or Andrew for other stars in their prime.

According to Espn.com, http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8090057, the Nets would be interested in a trade package for Derron Williams that would center around Bynum. If that's the case, why wouldn't the Laker's make Bynum available? Could you imagine a big three of Kobe, Derron, and Pau over the next few years or so?

[3-Pt_Shooter]

I think this subject is looked at improperly pretty often. I think if Pau enjoyed playing down low they would be just fine. Pau doesn't dominated down low like he could because he doesn't like the rough stuff that's why he's going to be traded imo.

Well, I think that Pau Gasol was played out of position all last year. He is not a power forward. Pau is a center. He had to vacate the low block to make way for Andrew Bynum. Pau is an extremely versatile player and can play the "PF" spot, but that is not his "natural position" at all.

In his career with the Lakers, Pau has posted PER’s while playing C of 26.7, 26.3, 28.1, 24.3, and 21.7. As a PF, Gasol has posted PER’s of 21.0, 21.4, 25.4, and 20.1.

Also IMO, Pau doesn't get enough credit for his toughness. At 7'0 and 250 lbs, he has a fairly slim build but Pau has always been willing to bang with the bigger bodies of the NBA.

Pau may in fact be traded. But I'd support the Lakers keeping him in the fold. He is extremely gifted and a true competitor.

[AcecardZ]

The time to trade Bynum is now.
The time to trade Bynum is now.
The time to trade Bynum is now.
The time to trade Bynum is now.
The time to trade Bynum is now.
The time to trade Bynum is now.

If Bynum is capable of passing a physical and other teams are willing to give us pieces that would work with Kobe and Pau we need to make the move. Taking a shot with Pau in the post is risky but he's been playing out of position with Bynum on the block and I'm convinced if Pau would be lethal again if paired with an athletic power forward. Pau's soft but the thug D we used to see from Boston is no longe a problem.

Couple of dream lineup possibilities... (ya ya unlikely but let's think big!)

Bynum for Noah + Deng

Noah
Pau
Deng
Kobe
Sessions
Bench
MWP
Hill
Goudelock
Morris
Ebanks

Perhaps we can coax Lamar back and with TPE maybe add that last necessary piece. Yes i realize this lineup would need another pg if Morris isn't ready.

Bynum + ?????

Deron + ?????

Bynum to Boston for Rondo + Bass?

What else? I'm sure there's some multi-team trade scenarios that would net us some pieces that would make the team better.

Perhaps gamble that Bynum's knee will be less of an issue next year after orthokine treatment? We might be stuck with this exact scenario. Historically the Lakers have been lucky! He'll probably co
me back as greatest center ever next year! Lol ya right!


Sorry this post isn't a little more coherent. I do love the Lakers though and would love to see them in the NBA finals one more time before Kobe calls it quits.

[crazy8ights]

I'm pretty sure most us knew this awhile back. I hate to play should of would of could of game but I'm still in lay low mode

Just improve the bench with Beasley and _______. With our current team we barely made the second round but showed glimpses of a full calibre machine.

-if Sessions didn't get injured
-if Barnes didn't get injured
-if Bynum continued his play before All-Star weekend
-if Kobe took less dumb shots
-if Game 7 Denver Pau showed up at least once every other game.

we might have gone further

[The Skyhook]

If we aren't going to be making any major moves I think the best thing to do is to stand pat until the contracts of Kobe and Gasol come off the books then rebuild. Hardest part about rebuilding is how Bynum would fit into the whole rebuilding process. It seems Lakers are going to resign him which means he will most likely be there after the years of Kobe and Gasol but I just don't seem him as the number 1 guy you build the team around.

[AcecardZ]

If we aren't going to be making any major moves I think the best thing to do is to stand pat until the contracts of Kobe and Gasol come off the books then rebuild. Hardest part about rebuilding is how Bynum would fit into the whole rebuilding process. It seems Lakers are going to resign him which means he will most likely be there after the years of Kobe and Gasol but I just don't seem him as the number 1 guy you build the team around.

I couldn't agree more.

[Sroek]

We might as well just clean house and start over.

My thoughts exactly. I wouldn't mind converting Kobe into a ton of young players and picks.

[I Love You Kobe]

Interested in Jonny?

After a rocky start to his career that has been challenged by hip surgery and two trades since being selected No. 6 out of Syracuse in the 2009 NBA draft, Jonny Flynn is seeking a fresh start this offseason and just might find it with the Los Angeles Lakers. Flynn has identified six teams -- the Lakers, Portland, Phoenix, Toronto, Chicago, and Brooklyn -- as potential destinations and should find mutual interest from the potential suitors, according to a source close to the unrestricted free agent point guard.

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lak ... lynns-list

[I Love You Kobe]

also from the link right above,

" As the days tick down until NBA free agency officially opens on July 1, unrestricted free agent Jordan Hill and the Los Angeles Lakers both want to see the 6-foot-10 big man wearing purple and gold next season.

"They're the leader in the clubhouse right now," Hill's agent, Kevin Bradbury, told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Wednesday.

Even though Hill is unrestricted and the Lakers are over the luxury tax for next season, the Lakers hold partial Bird rights to him and can offer Hill a maximum of $3,632,450 a season for up to five years. "

[tugs]

5 years? I think that's too long. probably at most 3.

[Jajwanda]

At that price? You have to get him back. He's a very reasonable big man.

[Stebo_SSK]

At that price? You have to get him back. He's a very reasonable big man.

Potential starter also just in case we come off one of our Bigs...