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A high-ranking Western Conference executive with knowledge of the situation has told Pro Basketball News that both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers plan to "strongly pursue" Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas this summer. Arenas is signed through 2009, but has said he will exercise the early termination option in his contract and become a free agent. Pro Basketball News

While the Wizards would be able to sign him to a longer deal than any other team (seven years compared to five), the source told PBN they may be hesitant to offer him the maximum contract -- mostly because they've managed to stay in the playoff race without him. "They value (Caron) Butler and Antawn Jamison at least as much, probably more at this point," the source said. "They want to build the team around them." Pro Basketball News.

If that's the case, the Lakers may be willing to part with forward Lamar Odom and guard Derek Fisher, and/or a few bench players, according to the source (Odom's contract expires at the end of next season). Meanwhile, the Clippers have reportedly been trying to deal forward Corey Maggette and "would be willing to trade the entire team if it meant pairing Arenas with Elton Brand (also out for the year with a knee injury)," the source said. Pro Basketball News

edit: Keep it to 3 paragraphs, and please provide a link.

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

omg ron artest.

This wouldnt make sense at all. Lakers not only lose depth, but do it for a player that isnt needed.

Imagine if (god forbid) the frontcourt gets plagued by injuries next year, and there's no Odom to rebound?

That'd be disaster.

agreed, arenas is a volume shooter, dont need another one of those

wiz value jamison just as much if not more than arenas? suuuuure

Gilbert/Kobe>Pippen/Jordan

Laker_Love wrote:agreed, arenas is a volume shooter, dont need another one of those

Where's the link BTW? You can edit your first post and put it in there.

done, thanks

I doubt it .

Simply put his game doesn't fit the triangle............deal dead period.

Imho only, Gil will not be a Laker as long as Kobe is a Laker. Esp. not while Phil is the coach and we are running the triangle.

Gil and Kobe are just too redundant. Farmar will, sooner rather than later, develop into the perfect triangle PG and Fisher will become the ultimate back up PG. In this system, we are set at PG.

Thus, I don't see us giving a max contract (or anything close to it) to a PG.

I wouldn't bite on this rumor even if Sam Smith reported it.

you're missing the point, people, we'll finally be able to trade Lamar!

Kno wrote:This wouldnt make sense at all. Lakers not only lose depth, but do it for a player that isnt needed.

Imagine if (god forbid) the frontcourt gets plagued by injuries next year, and there's no Odom to rebound?

That'd be disaster.

Its not a good fit at all. I dont like giving up our depth for another kobe type scorer. Just doesnt make sense.

Pretty cool but these points come to mind when reading this . . .

1) How will Kobe share the ball with Arenas? They both love to shoot and they both want the ball in crunch time. Not to mention that Gasol and Bynum will want some shots as well.

2) How in the world is Buss going to pay 4 max contracts with Kobe, Arenas, Gasol & Bynum (he will get one sooner or later)? On top of that you need to be able to keep your bench intact, dont want to lose Vujacic, Turiaf, etc. With all those contracts we'd have to sign the entire D-Fenders roster to minimum contracts to be our bench. Also, less touches for Bynum would'nt be good for his growth as a good offensive player which we know he can become.

3) In order to get Arenas you'd have to get rid of big contracts . . . Odom (no problem) . . . Walton (will be hard) . . . Radmanovic (will be hard).

pass...

the only big name I would want in the off season is Artest, strictly for defensive purposes. I'd try to get better through trades for picks.

Someone has to want walton and/or radmanovic if someone took Kwame and Cook from us.... I'm not saying they're as bad as Kwame and Cook, but they're not earning their contracts IMO.

Can you guys please put (hoopsworld) in the topic title so I dont have to waste my time opening the thread? hoopsworld is to basketball what the christian science monitor is to science.

from what ive seen out of ariza, and that is only a very very small window and glimpse, i would be more than happy to ship lamars ass off on the next boat out of town.

I definitely see Gilbert coming to LA....but 100% not on the Lakers.

Maggette for Arenas.

djericho wrote:Someone has to want walton and/or radmanovic if someone took Kwame and Cook from us.... I'm not saying they're as bad as Kwame and Cook, but they're not earning their contracts IMO.

Thats true. I wouldnt mind to see them going to get some new.

I think it is also better to get artest than arenas...

Anyway take a look to boston, they just have 3all stars and no more.

If we have 4allstars next year with some more bench than celtics...