The absolute perfect triangle Phil/Kobe pg's

[tkb]

I couldn't possibly agree more. The only (somewhat reasonable) Odom big-for-small deal I'd entertain right now would be for Billups. Billups is my number one choice PG in fit the entire league. Has been for years, and will be until he gets too old. He is made for the triangle.

Agreed. I don't really get all the fuzz for Hinrich. He's not been good at all this season.

[Dexmor]

Did that comment about Odom get by everybody but me. Odom is not going to get paid to be a backup pf. Odom is not a pure PF who can't play the sf and when Bynum gets back Odom is going to be playing sf not Gasol's backup.
Anyway I think we got a little lost in the trade part. I think Billups is a little unreachable and I don't know what the exact trade is but Kirk is on the block and he would go perfect with us and he is very gettable.

[tkb]

Hinrich is on the block because he's played poorly all season long.

Trading Lamar for him would be downright stupid IMO after pulling a beautiful trade for Gasol. We can do a lot better than Hinrich.

To be honest I don't really see a strong fit here for Hinrich unless he steps up his game several notches up from this season. Fisher has been about just as good as him this season.

I don't really see the big need to deal Lamar yet either. We should negotiate a contract extension with him first, and if that doesn't go well we look at using his expiring contract at the deadline, not during the summer.

Why do people see a need to deal Lamar btw? We can give him a good burn at power forward each game. Pau takes up the backup center minutes which will probably be around 14-16 minutes a game so Lamar should get at least 24 minutes at power forward each game and 14ish at small forward which is fine. Be nice to have someone capable of playing power forward full time if injuries should strike again too. Dealing away depth in the front line is never a good idea unless you strike gold in the deal (which Billups would be, and Hinrich wouldn't).

[TommyTheCat]

Hinrich is on the block because he's played poorly all season long.

Trading Lamar for him would be downright stupid IMO after pulling a beautiful trade for Gasol. We can do a lot better than Hinrich.

To be honest I don't really see a strong fit here for Hinrich unless he steps up his game several notches up from this season. Fisher has been about just as good as him this season.

you mean if he went back and played as well as he did the previous 2 seasons? i think this year was more of aberration than the norm from him. that being said, i'd rather get billups but if hiny can be got with another player or picks............i'd think about it.

i like odom but i think the lakers will be moving him this offseason. he's a redundant piece and makes too much money. at least if the lakers move him this offseason, they should be selling at his highest market value since being with the team............big expiring plus his recent play

[milesfides]

I've always felt Hinrich was overrated. It has nothing to do with this season, although his struggles this season does reinforce my belief that he's not that talented, that he's not that tough, and he's not that good of a leader.

His defense has always been overrated too, imo. I just didn't see it. Most guards are quicker than he is, and he can get into early foul trouble.

But when he plays hard, he can be a good point guard. But he needs to play 100% all the time for that to happen.

Really, is he any better than Beno Udrih? I'd take Beno over him.

I think we're better off with Sasha Vujacic at the point guard, rather than losing Odom.

[milesfides]

Yeah, I don't think Portland is giving up Steve Blake. That combination with Jarret Jack is a terrific one. Steve is just a terrific ball-handler, great decision-maker, and a great 3-point shooter. And an earnest, chip-on-the-shoulder defense.

I'm just tired of being a broken record about him, I'm tired of fighting for him, and anyways, it doesn't matter because the Blazers love him, and I don't think they have any particular need for Lamar Odom or anybody else. They're a good, young team, and with Oden, they pretty much have all bases covered for the next 10 years. They're unselfish and they all like each other, I doubt they'll mess up their chemistry.

I think a good alternative would be to revisit Chris Duhon, who's a step down from Blake, but still a similar player. I'm guessing it would cost us little to sign him this summer. There's some risk since he's obviously pissed at the juggle going on in Chicago, but I'm guessing he's just ready for a new start.

[milesfides]

Actually, I think there's little opportunity to trade Odom anymore. Since we missed the trading deadline, he's now an expiring contract, and the incentive won't be there for Buss, since he wouldn't want to take on the salary that teams want to dump on us.

Perhaps if Buss goes for broke, and we take on a player like Kirilenko and his large contract, assuming he's still available. That's a huge if though, and I'm sure there's people in the org who would prefer resigning Odom over trading him for Kirilenko.

Why is this relevant in a point guard discussion? Because Kirilenko is a very good halfcourt passer, he even played point guard when Deron Williams was in foul trouble, thus relieving our need for a ballhandling point guard, i.e., we can keep Vujacic, Fish, and Farmar at point. Defensively, Kirilenko is such a good defender, especially help defender, that he would protect the basket from penetration, again covering for our point guards. Would I rather have Odom and say Kirk Hinrich defending at SF, or Kirilenko and Fish/Farmar/Vujacic? Give me the latter.

Likewise, I wouldn't rule out the option of going for a big guard like Joe Johnson who can handle the ball, shoot, and defend on switches, like Ron Harper. Having a big guard also helps denying the post entry pass. Brandon Roy is obviously untouchable, but he's the type of player who fits the bill. John Salmons might be an affordable and realistic option to look at.

Ideally, Chauncey Billups is the simple solution, but assuming we can't get him, I'd look at Duhon for a limited role, and if we're going to trade Odom, realistic options that could still help us may be Kirilenko (if Buss is going for broke) or Salmons (if Buss is going for cheaper but effective).

A lot will depend on how Odom plays when Bynum returns though. Bynum will protect the basket, which eases a lot of pressure on our point guards to prevent penetration.

[tkb]

I've always felt Hinrich was overrated.

That makes two of us at least

[Slava]

Re: trading Odom, "what if" Chicago is willing to do an S&T for Luol Deng? Add to the fact that Nocioni is a FA too next season.

[Dexmor]

It's a catch 22 with Odom. If he keeps up his play he will be up for a big contract and I don't know if they want to pay him. I would love for them to pay him but they might not.
I don't want a sg to play the point because I would be afraid Phil would make Kobe bring up the ball like before and that really takes a tole on you.
Although if Phil had the same concern he had for MJ like for Kobe I would love to have a sf who can play point forward and have 2 sg's.
Odom could be that sf. Perfect guys to play that role would be

Odom
Prince
Hedo
Diaw
Dunleavy
RJ
Iggy

Joe Johnson would be the perfect Pippen for Kobe to play pg or sf but getting him would be tricky although I might be willing to part with any 1 player (not Kobe) for him or multiple players if it's not the 2 big guys or Kobe clearly

[Dexmor]

Maybe the perfect pg is Sasha? 9 points in less then 20 minutes, sharp shooting 3 point shooter, 6'7. If Sasha could learn to make plays just a little better he would be perfect. Magic could teach him.

[f0gman]

Sasha has shown that he can't handle lead guard duties. He went to summer league three years and couldn't do it. He's a spot-up shooter who can play pesky defense at times. I cringe when he brings the ball up the floor.

Duhon would be a perfect pickup, but he might not come to the Lakers because of the limited minutes.

[LAKESHOW]

MR. GERALD GREEN!

that is, when he learns how to dribble.