Lakers or Portland

[Wizenheimer]

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Exactly, the team is playing way over their heads and STILL can't crack the top 8 in the west currently. Everybody knows they'll burnout sometime soon, but props to them though for what they've accomplished so far this year

they've had bad stretches and good stretches like all teams and especially young teams. They've taken advantage of opportunities in their schedule and have done a excellent job of protecting their homecourt. Saying they are 'playing over their heads' is like saying the spurs are playing under their heads...it's not a provavble contention.

They are in the playoff hunt in the West when everybody expected them to be a bottom dweller. They are a longshot to make the playoffs in the west, but if they were in the East, they'd be in 4th position and a playoff lock.

Saying they're 'playing over their' heads or that they'll 'burn out soon' is just another way to try and take credit from a team that has worked very hard, plays team basketnball, and has a better record then 18 other teams while playing one of the more difficult schedules.

[hermes]

lakers
i'm not sold on this oden guy yet

[mojomarc]

Has to be the Blazers--Portland isn't in any danger of dropping into the ocean when the next big one hits.

[Young_Star11]

Lakers for the next 3-4 seasons

- Kobe will still be performing at a high-level
- Bynum comes into his own
- Gasol still high-calibre
- Farmar the JET-type scorer and playmaker

Portland after that

- Roy, LMA, GO all extended and a dominant three-pronged attack
- Will have a very good bench
- Plenty of cap-space coming up
- (More) attractive FA destination than before

I think people are over-rating Oden at the moment. He doesn't need to be anything special for the Blazers to reach levels of greatness. A Dikembe Mutombo-type would be good.

[ClubLakers KB8]

Seeing as I think Bynum will be a better pro than Oden, and that Gasol is only 27, AND that they still have Kobe Bryant.

Lakers.

[Hard2dhole]

Lakers have a bright 2 years ahead but I wouldn't even guarantee a WCF appearance.
Portland is looking like a long term (4+ year) power house.
Blazers win.

[Basileus777]

It depends on how much each owner is willing to spend to keep all the talent they have accumulated. Paul Allen might be willing to do it, but will Buss?

[SabasRevenge!]

Portland Trailblazers
Oden (20) Pryzbilla (28 )
Aldridge (22) Outlaw (23)
Webster (21) Jones (27)
Roy (23) Fernandez (22)
Blake (27) Jack (24)

Frye (24) Rodriguez (21)

Starters Average Age = 22.6
Team Average Age = 24.08

2007-2008 Salary = 73.8 Million
2008-2009 Salary = 75.1 Million, not including James Jones' PO, Rudy Fernandez rookie scale contract

Summer 2009 - Steve Francis' $17.2 million and Raef Lafrentz $12.7 million contracts expire. Portland's committed salary will be about $33 million for 7 players, not including Blake's TO, Webster, Frye, and Jack QO's, Rudy Fernandez rookie contract, and any draft picks.

Including picks and Fernandez, Portland will have at least 20 players after the draft. I'm not going to speculate on what exactly will happen, but something will happen between now and next season. Perhaps Webster, Frye, and Jack will all still be here and sign for a combined $15-20 million in '09. Portland's cap number is then up to $48-53 million for 10 players, not including draft picks. If the cap rises to $62-64 million in '09, Portland will be at least $9 million and at most $16 million under the cap. In '10 Aldridge and Roy's extensions will kick in and the Blazers will probably be over the cap for the next decade+.


LA Lakers
Bynum (20) Mihm (28 )
Gasol (27) Turiaf (25)
Odom (28 ) Walton (27)
Bryant (29) Vijacic (23)
Fisher (33) Farmar (21)

Radman (27) Ariza (22)

Starters Average Age = 27.4
Team Average Age = 25.83

2007-2008 Salary = 71.8 Million
2008-2009 Salary = 75.3 Million not including Vujacic's QO, Mihm's PO,

Summer 2009 - Decision time for the Lakers!

Odom, Ariza, and Mihm's contracts expire. LA's committed salary is $58 million for 6 players, including Farmar's rookie scale option, not including Andrew Bynum's QO and a 2009 draft pick.

Andrew Bynum will be up for a contract extension this summer. I'll assume that the Lakers will either try to extend him for slightly under the max this summer or for the full max next summer. Mihm exercises his PO for one year and Vujacic is signs a QO or small contract. In 2009 Bynum's extension (starting at between $10 and $13.5(max) kicks in. The salary number is then around $74 million for 8 players. Odom, Mihm, and Ariza could be resigned, possibly for $10-12(pay cut), $4-7, and $2-3, upping the roster to 11 players and the salary number to $90-96 million, not including any draft picks, MLE signings, etc. Of course, this is all assuming there are no more trades.

Is Buss willing to go over $100 million, costing him a probable $30 million luxury tax hit to keep this team assembled as it is? Obviously we'll know more when we see how they play together.

IMO the most important question for the Lakers: Kobe Bryant is 9+ years older than Andrew Bynum. After 12 years in the League, how much longer will Kobe be able to perform at such a high level?

[Black Jesus 1]

The answer to this will be portland because everyone hates the Lakers.

That's because you guys act like Gasol is the 2nd coming of Wilt, and think he can help carry you guys to the finals THIS YEAR

Dude has yet to win a playoff game. 0-12 in his career... Good luck with that.




Lakers, though. Kobe has a lot left.

[DaVoiceMaster]

At this point, the Lakers are the better team, but I like Portland's chances in the next few years. Only time will really tell though.

[That Nicka]

Dude has yet to win a playoff game. 0-12 in his career... Good luck with that.

He played for the Memphis Grizzlies and played against the Spurs, Suns and Mavs.... Thats a knock on Gasol?

[Milkdud]

Like others have mentioned Lakers are clearly a better team currently but for the future im taking the Blazers. And just like when all of boston hype was out there im taking a wait and see approach til I crown the Lakers.

[SabasRevenge!]

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He played for the Memphis Grizzlies and played against the Spurs, Suns and Mavs.... Thats a knock on Gasol?

Yes, I believe it is a knock on Gasol. He was their #1 franchise player and he failed to lead them to even one playoff victory in three series. They were over matched in each series, but getting swept all three times is pretty terrible. Even an underdog should gut out a win or two in a 7 game series. Gasol is not a leader, he's not the kind of guy who can carry his team, but for whatever reason he's also not the kind of guy who will just shut up and play.

I think 0-12 is just another reason why it is important for Gasol to be on a team where he's a 2nd or 3rd option.

There's a good reason Jerry West was laughed off the phone when he wanted LaMarcus for Gasol last year.

[Black Jesus 1]

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He played for the Memphis Grizzlies and played against the Spurs, Suns and Mavs.... Thats a knock on Gasol?

Umm, yea. Name another player like Gasol to start 0-12 in the post season, that's horrific, his 03-04 Grizz team was 50-32..win at least 1 playoff game

[ponder276]

This season and the next 2 or so seasons: Lakers
After that: Blazers
Lakers have a young bench, and an amazing team right now, but outside of Bynum, they have no high-end young talent. Kobe is 29, Odom is 28, Gasol is 27, Fisher is 33. Actually, the only Lakers under 25 are Bynum (20), Farmar (21), Vujacic (23), and Ariza (22) - Bynum is the only future all-star, and outside of that only Farmar looks like he should be a solid starter.
Compare that to Portland's core: Brandon Roy is already an all-star at 23, they have another two future all-stars in Oden (20) and Aldridge (22), plus tons of other young talent like Outlaw (23), Webster (21), Frye (24), Sergio Rodriguez (21), Rudy Fernandez (22), and Jack (24). Plus in 2009 Steve Francis and Raef LaFrentz come off the books for a combined $30mil, and Miles comes off at $9mil in 2010. The Blazers have by far the brightest future in the entire league.

[SabasRevenge!]

This season and the next 2 or so seasons: Lakers
After that: Blazers
Lakers have a young bench, and an amazing team right now, but outside of Bynum, they have no high-end young talent. Kobe is 29, Odom is 28, Gasol is 27, Fisher is 33. Actually, the only Lakers under 25 are Bynum (20), Farmar (21), Vujacic (23), and Ariza (22) - Bynum is the only future all-star, and outside of that only Farmar looks like he should be a solid starter.
Compare that to Portland's core: Brandon Roy is already an all-star at 23, they have another two future all-stars in Oden (20) and Aldridge (22), plus tons of other young talent like Outlaw (23), Webster (21), Frye (24), Sergio Rodriguez (21), Rudy Fernandez (22), and Jack (24). Plus in 2009 Steve Francis and Raef LaFrentz come off the books for a combined $30mil, and Miles comes off at $9mil in 2010. The Blazers have by far the brightest future in the entire league.

[That Nicka]

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Umm, yea. Name another player like Gasol to start 0-12 in the post season, that's horrific, his 03-04 Grizz team was 50-32..win at least 1 playoff game

Luckily for us he wont be entering this postseason as a #1 option...

but also, its not like he's underperformed in the playoffs... his career playoff averages are 20 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.5 bpg on 49%....

[Spykes]

It depends on how much each owner is willing to spend to keep all the talent they have accumulated. Paul Allen will be willing to do it, but will Buss?

Fixed.

[That Nicka]

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Fixed.

Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Farmar, Turiaf, Ariza will definitely be around long term... Which is pretty much our core... Lamar is the only one that may not be resigned, but that doesnt mean that he wont be... Luke and Radman basically play the same position and expire around the same time so we have a choice on which one of those two to extend (my bet is probably Luke).... Fisher will probably stick around regardless... Thats leaves Sasha, Mihm and Radman... Sasha would be nice to keep around but I dont think any of the three are necessary to contend

But we are one of the largest markets, have probably the largest fanbase and generate more money than most, if not all, teams, I dont think Buss has a problem paying lux tax as long as we are contenders......