Do the unthinkable...
Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 1:53 pm
...keep the team largely together.
Yes, they have been dispatched in the second round, but the core of the team is not the problem. I do not see a drop off for any of the big three next year, Kobe, Gasol, or Bynum. I think Kobe and Gasol can maintain their level of play physically this year, next year, while improving their offensive and defensive execution in their second years with the Lakers new systems. Bynum, assuming he is healthy again, can still improve in all facets.
There is the obvious payroll problem, but while Kobe is a Laker, the Busses pretty much have to go all in, even if it means millions and millions in luxury taxes over the next couple of years. While Kobe is very well compensated with a max contract, the Lakers still owe it to him and the fans to go all in these next two seasons. A HOF career and even more importantly five championships give you that kind of cache.
I do not think the Lakers can reconstruct the team better around Kobe by trading Bynum or Gasol. One, you do not trade a young all - star center - you just don't. While Magic and Kobe may be the most celebrated Lakers of all time, Laker basketball dominance has come from the pivot with Mikan, Chamberlain, Abdul - Jabbar, O'Neal, and even Gasol.
If you traded Gasol - what would you get for him? A very good to great point guard? An outstanding small forward? Maybe two good players at each position? I do not think acquiring either type of player would work in conjunction with Kobe. Kobe dominates the ball, so if bringing in an elite point guard, you would not get your bang for the "Gasol bucks." An all - star caliber small forward? Again, Kobe wants to dominate the ball and is a volume shooter, again negating the impact an all - star small forward could have on this team.
So, if going all in the next couple of years, you are better off keeping Gasol who is going to shoot a high percentage along with Bynum - something you really need when building a team around a volume shooter, plus it gives the Lakers 48 minutes a night of all - star level center play - something no team but the Lakers can boast. Gasol is one of the few if any players in the league with his talent level that would be willing to defer to Kobe and Bynum consistently without causing locker room rumbles.
I think you bring everyone back that you can. The kids are cheap and could still develop. Morris, Ebanks (bigger role next year), and Goudelock can be easily brought back. Blake and McRoberts are good, end of your rotation role players - if necessary.
Sessions should now have to opt back in after a disappointing end of the season and playoffs. Still, with an offseason to work with the team and a full training camp ahead and experience playing with the Lakers, he can improve on his own performance and help the team next year.
While there may never be consistently World Peace, and he actually throws in unexpected (or expected) drama to the mix, the bottom line is that defensively, who could the Lakers get at his salary that can reasonably guard Durant, LeBron, etc. He is a deft passer at times and can move the ball inside fairly well and has the ability to make big shots while not taking a lot of them (shots). That's pretty much what you want in a small forward that will be playing with Kobe.
The players likely moving on are Matt Barnes, Jordan Hill, and Troy Murphy. Barnes and Hill should be able to get better contracts elsewhere than what the Lakers can offer and Murphy would only be back at the minimum again to fill a roster spot. However, the Lakers are likely moving on from him, too. Hill showed some moxie this year after being acquired from Houston, but he is not likely in the cards for the Lakers.
The two acquisitions I would go for are Chauncey Billups with the mini - mid - level exception and Lamar Odom (assuming Hill cannot be retained) at the league minimum for one year. The Clippers could have a hard time keeping Billups since Mo Williams is opting back in. Billups could get starter's minutes with the Lakers, being a combo guard where he can play the one and two, with Kobe getting some minutes at the three behind World Peace. Billups has one of the highest basketball IQs and that is something this team needs. Billups would also allow Blake to be a very effective fourth guard, where he can play off of Billups or Kobe, but a backcourt of Sessions and Blake is just too short to be out there together and they get exposed by taller shooters and penetration at times.
Odom is said to be working on resurrecting his basketball career after a dismal season in Dallas. What better way to do that than with the Lakers again, backing up Gasol at the four and giving the Lakers that strong front court rotation. Perhaps he does not log as many minutes as in the past, but depending on foul trouble for Bynum and Gasol, he could log anywhere from 24 - 32 minutes a night. He should be more than capable of that. Obviously, getting back to LA would be important to Odom and he would likely get a lot more minutes with the Lakers than the Clippers.
Then you still have the trade exception to use by December to either add a piece you want or make a move in case of injury. As for the 60th pick in the draft, do a Euro-stash. Take a foreign player that you could look to bring in after this team is ultimately blown up in a couple of years.
Obviously, with the personnel staying largely in tact, the Lakers will need to play smarter and more cohesively next season, but with a year (almost) and a full camp with the new systems, as well as, more rest and practice time for a veteran team with a full regular season next year, they could make noise in the playoffs and contend again in 2013. Kobe will also have to keep in mind in regard to his shots - like a lot of people in a struggling economy - less is more.
Yes, they have been dispatched in the second round, but the core of the team is not the problem. I do not see a drop off for any of the big three next year, Kobe, Gasol, or Bynum. I think Kobe and Gasol can maintain their level of play physically this year, next year, while improving their offensive and defensive execution in their second years with the Lakers new systems. Bynum, assuming he is healthy again, can still improve in all facets.
There is the obvious payroll problem, but while Kobe is a Laker, the Busses pretty much have to go all in, even if it means millions and millions in luxury taxes over the next couple of years. While Kobe is very well compensated with a max contract, the Lakers still owe it to him and the fans to go all in these next two seasons. A HOF career and even more importantly five championships give you that kind of cache.
I do not think the Lakers can reconstruct the team better around Kobe by trading Bynum or Gasol. One, you do not trade a young all - star center - you just don't. While Magic and Kobe may be the most celebrated Lakers of all time, Laker basketball dominance has come from the pivot with Mikan, Chamberlain, Abdul - Jabbar, O'Neal, and even Gasol.
If you traded Gasol - what would you get for him? A very good to great point guard? An outstanding small forward? Maybe two good players at each position? I do not think acquiring either type of player would work in conjunction with Kobe. Kobe dominates the ball, so if bringing in an elite point guard, you would not get your bang for the "Gasol bucks." An all - star caliber small forward? Again, Kobe wants to dominate the ball and is a volume shooter, again negating the impact an all - star small forward could have on this team.
So, if going all in the next couple of years, you are better off keeping Gasol who is going to shoot a high percentage along with Bynum - something you really need when building a team around a volume shooter, plus it gives the Lakers 48 minutes a night of all - star level center play - something no team but the Lakers can boast. Gasol is one of the few if any players in the league with his talent level that would be willing to defer to Kobe and Bynum consistently without causing locker room rumbles.
I think you bring everyone back that you can. The kids are cheap and could still develop. Morris, Ebanks (bigger role next year), and Goudelock can be easily brought back. Blake and McRoberts are good, end of your rotation role players - if necessary.
Sessions should now have to opt back in after a disappointing end of the season and playoffs. Still, with an offseason to work with the team and a full training camp ahead and experience playing with the Lakers, he can improve on his own performance and help the team next year.
While there may never be consistently World Peace, and he actually throws in unexpected (or expected) drama to the mix, the bottom line is that defensively, who could the Lakers get at his salary that can reasonably guard Durant, LeBron, etc. He is a deft passer at times and can move the ball inside fairly well and has the ability to make big shots while not taking a lot of them (shots). That's pretty much what you want in a small forward that will be playing with Kobe.
The players likely moving on are Matt Barnes, Jordan Hill, and Troy Murphy. Barnes and Hill should be able to get better contracts elsewhere than what the Lakers can offer and Murphy would only be back at the minimum again to fill a roster spot. However, the Lakers are likely moving on from him, too. Hill showed some moxie this year after being acquired from Houston, but he is not likely in the cards for the Lakers.
The two acquisitions I would go for are Chauncey Billups with the mini - mid - level exception and Lamar Odom (assuming Hill cannot be retained) at the league minimum for one year. The Clippers could have a hard time keeping Billups since Mo Williams is opting back in. Billups could get starter's minutes with the Lakers, being a combo guard where he can play the one and two, with Kobe getting some minutes at the three behind World Peace. Billups has one of the highest basketball IQs and that is something this team needs. Billups would also allow Blake to be a very effective fourth guard, where he can play off of Billups or Kobe, but a backcourt of Sessions and Blake is just too short to be out there together and they get exposed by taller shooters and penetration at times.
Odom is said to be working on resurrecting his basketball career after a dismal season in Dallas. What better way to do that than with the Lakers again, backing up Gasol at the four and giving the Lakers that strong front court rotation. Perhaps he does not log as many minutes as in the past, but depending on foul trouble for Bynum and Gasol, he could log anywhere from 24 - 32 minutes a night. He should be more than capable of that. Obviously, getting back to LA would be important to Odom and he would likely get a lot more minutes with the Lakers than the Clippers.
Then you still have the trade exception to use by December to either add a piece you want or make a move in case of injury. As for the 60th pick in the draft, do a Euro-stash. Take a foreign player that you could look to bring in after this team is ultimately blown up in a couple of years.
Obviously, with the personnel staying largely in tact, the Lakers will need to play smarter and more cohesively next season, but with a year (almost) and a full camp with the new systems, as well as, more rest and practice time for a veteran team with a full regular season next year, they could make noise in the playoffs and contend again in 2013. Kobe will also have to keep in mind in regard to his shots - like a lot of people in a struggling economy - less is more.
