Slimpack wrote:I think cleveland, LA, and MIL are the only place we might possibly be able to ship Randolph.
The situation in LA is similar to Cleveland. Kobe can and will opt-out in 2009. The same summer Bynum will become a restricted free agent.
I think the Lakers will keep their money to resign both Kobe and Bynum.
With Bynum improving each year, the Lakers don't need Zach Randolph who could very well ruin Bynum's development.
And don't forget Jerry Buss, when they had Shaq and Kobe, the Lakers always acquired role players for cheap. They never paid the luxury tax even with two gigantic contracts like Shaq and Kobe. Buss always refused to pay the tax.
With Kobe and Bynum, the Lakers look at two possible large contracts to sign in 2009. I would be surprised if they traded for a large contract like Zach in the meantime. Very very doubtful.
They had talks for Kidd, Jermaine, KG and it ended nowhere. I think the Lakers are building around Kobe and Bynum.
The ridic ulous thing about the Lakers is they traded Caron Butler for Kwame. Imagine if they kept Butler. With Kobe + the young Butler and Bynum developing fast they could have a team capable of wining the championship in one or two years.
Kobe is a perennial All Star. Butler and Bynum can also become All Stars in the future. Trading Caron Butler was a momumental mistake for the Lakers.
I think it's one of the reason Kupchak was so dead set on keeping Bynum even though Kobe complained and wanted Kidd. Kupchak didn't want to jettison another potential future All Star. He was ridiculed by Kobe and the medias last summer but the man was right as we can see now that Bynum is exploding and fulfilling his potential. Kupchak deserves credit for sticking to his guns. Most GMs would have pleased their best player and put job security first. Kupchak has put the interests of the Lakers first. He wasn't afraid to lose his job if Bynum didn't develop. Kudos to him.
