Operation 2014: Please Kobe/D'Antoni
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:23 pm
I suspect Kobe will re-sign next summer for a reasonable number. So the challenge becomes finding talent that wants to play with Kobe and fits the only system Coach D can run.
Unless this current team is a lot better than I think it is... hopefully Nash can be moved to Dallas or something. I can't imagine at 40 he's worth the 9 million the Lakers would have to pay him.
It is already out there that nobody with the Lakers thinks Lebron will come to LA. I can tell you as a Nuggets follower that you don't really want Carmelo. He held the ball a lot in Denver... and the Nuggets have made it with out him as they've gotten the ball moving a lot better.
I really think Deng is a better catch than people realize. He's a two way player out of the bulls system that will fit in. I think his personality will do well with Kobe's. A Deng/Kobe core is something I could get behind.
Missing the playoffs this coming season wouldn't be the worst thing. Draft boards have Mario Hezonja going as low as 14... and he's a big-time talent. So you can get something in the draft. Maybe you can move Nash for Larkin and Koponen.
If you can dump Nash it makes it real easy to give Deng 4 years 48 million next summer and still have lots of room. Plus there will be some 2014 free agent role players that can shoot the ball.
The real challenge is finding guys that want to play with Kobe (he's a demanding dude, that's why we like him) and can fit in the offensive system. Deng fits... perfectly.
I'd suggest the FO scout Europe pretty heavily. That's where you'll find high skill guys that can make shots and play grind it out basketball.
Ante Tomic from the Jazz would make a lot of sense. Bouroussis makes sense. Two very skilled 5's. Spanoulis has talked about giving the NBA another try. Lorbek was in the Spurs plans but no longer is. Tomas Santoransky has been trashing the team that holds his rights in the media. Diamantidis might have another good year or two. Teodosic is NBA ready at the PG spot.
It will be a real challenge finding talent that fits what Coach D can coach and can handle Kobe's competitiveness.
Deng makes a lot of sense. There will be some other vets that could join him. But the only way I see the Lakers contending again is to sign a couple of euro stars to go with a 2014 NBA free agent grab.
Unless this current team is a lot better than I think it is... hopefully Nash can be moved to Dallas or something. I can't imagine at 40 he's worth the 9 million the Lakers would have to pay him.
It is already out there that nobody with the Lakers thinks Lebron will come to LA. I can tell you as a Nuggets follower that you don't really want Carmelo. He held the ball a lot in Denver... and the Nuggets have made it with out him as they've gotten the ball moving a lot better.
I really think Deng is a better catch than people realize. He's a two way player out of the bulls system that will fit in. I think his personality will do well with Kobe's. A Deng/Kobe core is something I could get behind.
Missing the playoffs this coming season wouldn't be the worst thing. Draft boards have Mario Hezonja going as low as 14... and he's a big-time talent. So you can get something in the draft. Maybe you can move Nash for Larkin and Koponen.
If you can dump Nash it makes it real easy to give Deng 4 years 48 million next summer and still have lots of room. Plus there will be some 2014 free agent role players that can shoot the ball.
The real challenge is finding guys that want to play with Kobe (he's a demanding dude, that's why we like him) and can fit in the offensive system. Deng fits... perfectly.
I'd suggest the FO scout Europe pretty heavily. That's where you'll find high skill guys that can make shots and play grind it out basketball.
Ante Tomic from the Jazz would make a lot of sense. Bouroussis makes sense. Two very skilled 5's. Spanoulis has talked about giving the NBA another try. Lorbek was in the Spurs plans but no longer is. Tomas Santoransky has been trashing the team that holds his rights in the media. Diamantidis might have another good year or two. Teodosic is NBA ready at the PG spot.
It will be a real challenge finding talent that fits what Coach D can coach and can handle Kobe's competitiveness.
Deng makes a lot of sense. There will be some other vets that could join him. But the only way I see the Lakers contending again is to sign a couple of euro stars to go with a 2014 NBA free agent grab.
