WT: Plan A is To Bring Back Team With Gasol

[magic wand time]

They can't tip there hand until Dwight is secured. Pau earned back some value with his strong play at the end and they can shop him from post-Dwight-signed July until the Feb T.D.. Pau will be the starting C if Dwight walks and one of the best in the west, at that. There's no new PG coming btw, this team is married to Nash/Blake for another season so just get used to it. The only real debates are which of Meeks/Morris/Goudelock is kept, who will be the SF acquired for the mini (Metta and Ebanks are gone), and can they keep Clark. Its going to be a boring off-season.

[The Laker Kid]

Gasol died as soon as Phil's knuckles landed on his chest. He will never be same.

[MAMBAEMD]

It all depends on what they can get for Pau.
When they were able to get Chris Paul, they certainly went for it. It just didn't happen because the owners convinced/coerced Stern into vetoing it.
Although the Laker FO may send out messages like this to make it sound like Pau is in their plans, I have no doubt they would trade him if they could get younger and more atheletic.
I disagree with thsoe that want to bring this group back thinking they will somehow miraculously be a contender next year.
The only impact player who is still young and probably still has upside to reach his prime is Dwight. His signing is a priority because although he has some short comings offensively, he can rebound and play D. He can be an anchor to build a team around.
I like Hill and Earl's potential although I think only Hill has starter potential.
Kobe will be back only because he is Kobe, and this organization is incredibly loyal to its marquee players. Nash will be back because they are stuck with him another 2 years.

This team, even without injuries, will not be much better next year, specially with MDAs system which does not emphasize rebounding and defense.

I love Pau, but you have to move him if you can get younger and deeper.
If not you hold onto him and shoot for 2014 when all these contracts come off the books. I really think the FOs "real Plan A" is to resign Dwight, and then to rebuild in small steps starting this off-season, if they can.

[Michael Lucky]

Makes sense since the real plan is to not take on long term contracts for 2014.

[DEEP3CL]

Gasol died as soon as Phil's knuckles landed on his chest. He will never be same.

As strange as that may sound, you may be onto something there.

Also this is nothing to overreact to, it's just Mitch staying in the cut on this. If teams flatout knew we were trying to cut out Pau, his value is lowered because we seem desperate. Say we want to keep him keeps Mitch in control of all trade talks.

[Kobe System]

Makes sense since the real plan is to not take on long term contracts for 2014.

Someone gets it.

Ride with the same team (with a few tweaks) and see how far we can go. Reload on 2014-2015. That was the plan since day 1.

I want Pau/Metta/Nash gone but we all know that we won't take long term contract in return.

[BEazy]

This offseason has too many questions...I think Pau is gone regardless if they say they want to keep him.

[kblo247]

I don't like how some of us (myself included) forget about the injuries we had and hyperbolae blame on Kobe, Gasol, Metta, Nash, Mike D, and D12 whenever it is convenient. although I am still not comfortable with Mike D as a coach I wouldn't mind giving the team a second chance next season.

as far as the belief that Phil was the cure I think it is hogwash. Phils system doesn't fit the players and would take even longer for the players to adjust especially since there were so many injuries. What we need to do is scout cheap players to fill our holes ala Spurs and bring in a defensive coach to help Mike D. with a full training camp and the major players that we have we can make some serious noise next season.

This team won with Nash off the ball - that's a Phil move
This team with both bugs starting more Pau to the elbow and made Dwight a flasher - Phil move
Kobe was the main facilitator and triple threat - Phil move

Everything the team did to get in the playoffs come off kobe telling dantoni and Nash sit in the corner, we are doing this, which all were triangle philosophies. Phil fit, dantoni didn't

[kblo247]

Besides he can't lower Pau's value by saying he's available nor will they make a move without knowing Dwight

[rocketsballin]

this is a shocker. i thought the lakers were gonna make at least some moderate changes to the roster. a starting pg that can defend, spread the floor, pass first, doesnt need to score. and a defensive/3pt shooting sf. there's plenty out there. the pg could be someone who plays a lot in the first and 4th quarter. doesnt need to be a 35mpg player. give most of the 3-4qtr minutes to blake or nash, whoever doesnt get traded.

yeah, players like u mentioned are not available for what the lakers have to offer.

a pg that can defend, spread the floor, pass 1st, doesn't need to score? sounds like a superstar

a defensive / 3 pt shooting sf? sounds like a premier role player that no one is going to give away.

i dunno what u had in mind but they dont have to be perfect.
next season is probably the last for the lakers to put together a contending team by keeping most of their core. so u dont need to sign anyone to long contracts

pgs - cj and earl watson, beauboi, gibson, mills
sf - miles, n young, brewer, webster, garcia

there's a lot of defensive/3pt shooting sf molds in free agency and to trade. not a lot of pgs but w/e there's still enough. you dont have the best trading pieces but they're not impossible to move.

[tugs]

this is just common sense imo. you have a former all star that played well against a good team in the Spurs, you have your back-up 4 PFs' future uncertain (Jamison may not re-sign, Hill may not still be 100%, Clark may have to play more 3 if re-signed), you have your "next franchise player" doubtful if he will remain with the team.

your 4 and 5 spots become thin. you can't trade Pau under those circumstances. you get your 1 and 3 and could have nothing at 4 and 5.

[Dr Aki]

for the first time in a long time, the lakers probably won't be dealing from a position of power.

not unless player X (that we want) demands a trade (LAL doesn't have to be the destination) and significantly damages their trade value

[gotokyo]

Plan A,B and C should be to fire D'antoni and hope for the slim chance Phil is willing to come back. I think the current core could still be a dominant factor if they manage to stay healthy and have a competent coach.


It's clear the Lakers need to be playing inside out. What exactly is the benefit of keeping D'antoni when throughout his entire coaching career he's always been against slow pace and post play. His "adjustments" are nothing more then trying to figure it out on the fly, why not bring in someone who actually understands how to play inside out and are familiar with it.

[Kilroy]

Gasol died as soon as Phil's knuckles landed on his chest. He will never be same.

As strange as that may sound, you may be onto something there.

No... Pau was useless long before that... He'd lost his heart since the beginning of the playoffs.

Strangely enough, that was when Phil "Zen Master Coach of all Coaches" died for me...

He let the situation get way out of control, and sat their on his puffy chair watching the team implode, and it wasn't until we were already half way down the toilet that he jumped up and started shoving Pau...

It was very 'Un-Zen' and completely unlike anything I'd ever seen before from Phil... It also sent a clear message to everyone that Phil thought Pau was the source of all the problems with the Lakers... It put all the blame on Pau... Which simply wasn't true. Nobody on that team was sharp.

I'm a huge Phil Jackson fan, but that image sticks with me as a sign that maybe it was time for him to stop coaching.

[Father Time]

So plan A is to stand pat, got it.

[kblo247]

Gasol died as soon as Phil's knuckles landed on his chest. He will never be same.

As strange as that may sound, you may be onto something there.

No... Pau was useless long before that... He'd lost his heart since the beginning of the playoffs.

Strangely enough, that was when Phil "Zen Master Coach of all Coaches" died for me...

He let the situation get way out of control, and sat their on his puffy chair watching the team implode, and it wasn't until we were already half way down the toilet that he jumped up and started shoving Pau...

It was very 'Un-Zen' and completely unlike anything I'd ever seen before from Phil... It also sent a clear message to everyone that Phil thought Pau was the source of all the problems with the Lakers... It put all the blame on Pau... Which simply wasn't true. Nobody on that team was sharp.

I'm a huge Phil Jackson fan, but that image sticks with me as a sign that maybe it was time for him to stop coaching.

Pau was the sole reason or that sweep, e and he alone gave away game 1. He is the one who fouled up 1 with none to give 30 feet out intentionally to everyone's dismay. He the guy who dirk shot 60% against. And the round before he was the guy everyone double to protect vs Landry, the hornets just missed the 3s unlike Dallas when they all sagged. Pau deserved to be bitch slapped for his play and lack of attention to any details let alone not competing vs dirk who was kicking his ass

Phil had every right to say man the **** up out frustration

[Kobean]

As strange as that may sound, you may be onto something there.

No... Pau was useless long before that... He'd lost his heart since the beginning of the playoffs.

Strangely enough, that was when Phil "Zen Master Coach of all Coaches" died for me...

He let the situation get way out of control, and sat their on his puffy chair watching the team implode, and it wasn't until we were already half way down the toilet that he jumped up and started shoving Pau...

It was very 'Un-Zen' and completely unlike anything I'd ever seen before from Phil... It also sent a clear message to everyone that Phil thought Pau was the source of all the problems with the Lakers... It put all the blame on Pau... Which simply wasn't true. Nobody on that team was sharp.

I'm a huge Phil Jackson fan, but that image sticks with me as a sign that maybe it was time for him to stop coaching.

Pau was the sole reason or that sweep, e and he alone gave away game 1. He is the one who fouled up 1 with none to give 30 feet out intentionally to everyone's dismay. He the guy who dirk shot 60% against. And the round before he was the guy everyone double to protect vs Landry, the hornets just missed the 3s unlike Dallas when they all sagged. Pau deserved to be bitch slapped for his play and lack of attention to any details let alone not competing vs dirk who was kicking his ass

Phil had every right to say man the **** up out frustration

I agree with a lot of what you said but to be fair nobody could stop Dirk it wasn't just Pau, Lamar had a go at defending him, MWP had a go, Bynum had a go he was just unstoppable in those playoffs....but it didn't help that Pau was useless too.

[kblo247]

But he shot less than 60% versus those two. Its one thing not to stop him, but when you have Pau out there getting lit up like that, he should've been outright benched. Phil had every right to be livid. Pau got them swept by himself. That was the first postseason Andrew was healthy s he had to play most his minutes at 4 instead of 5 next to LO and it was also the start of a trend of ugly exposing defense and offense.

[Kilroy]

Go back and watch Phil pushing Pau... He's almost laughing... It's fake emotion (fake hustle), even he doesn't believe it.

Pau was part of the problem, but so was Phil, so was Bynum, so was Kobe... They were all playing 1:1 out there...
And Phil's mind was elsewhere.

The whole team just imploded.

[Michael Lucky]

we got swept that series because Kobe was playing on one leg. Enough of the Pau hate anyways. The Mavs were simply a better team at that point.