2008-2009 Depth Chart

Post #1 » by **crazyeights** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:41 pm

Anyone else concerned about our depth this year?

Derek Fisher/Jordan Farmar
Kobe Bryant/(Sasha Vujacic)/(Coby Karl)
Lamar Odom/Luke Walton/Trevor Ariza
Pau Gasol/Vladimir Radmanovic
Andrew Bynum/Chris Mihm

I'm assuming we keep Sasha, and then probably Karl so that would make 12. Either way we still have 3 roster spots we could fill. Though we'll probably not use them all in case a good player gets cut...but I'm just sort of concerned about the bench. I don't know, I just feel we're not as deep, losing Ronny and Evans/Cook in a two for one (not that they were stellar, but they were apart of the Bench Mob).

Now I wouldn't be too concerned, I like our lineup but because Lamar, Pau, Sasha, Kobe and Vlad will all be switching between positions to fill out the gaps, that's going to put a greater strain on all of them throughout the marathon NBA season.

So, the true concern is if injuries play a part in the coming season, as they have for a while, will we be able to stem the tide this time around? Last year we were bailed out by the Gasol trade. If one of our key rotation guys gets hurt this year...I'm not sure sure we can manage.

What do you guys think? First, what will the minutes look like for everyone by position? And if a starter gets injured can we still excel in the playoffs?

I'd like a few more rotation players added to the roster to ease the strain on the starters.

ChocolateThundr · Post #2 » by **ChocolateThundr** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:09 pm

Mitch should've went after a 'couple' of players that have been signed by other teams these past weeks while he was playing staredown with the maloofs.

Post #3 » by **Danny Darko** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:31 pm

I don't think we are done yet. I'd like to see another vet big(Kwame, DJ,ZO) and a young big maybe(DJ or Mata-Real) plus Sun Yue or Crawford

Derek Fisher/Jordan Farmar/Yue or Crawford
Kobe Bryant/(Sasha Vujacic)/(Coby Karl)
Lamar Odom/Luke Walton/Trevor Ariza
Pau Gasol/Vladimir Radmanovic/Mata-Real
Andrew Bynum/Chris Mihm/Kwame or DJ or ZO

now I tend to think 3rd string pg ends up being a guy you really want to be a solid dude. Yue and Craw are both rookies, so Karl may actually slide into that roll better and the other guy ends up effectively being 4th string

3rd string big can be a project or a bunch of hard fouls as long as they play D. I thought DJ was developing a pretty good shot, actually, for a big strong dude he's posterized too much, but he's still very raw and young in his developmental. Kwame - grumble grumble, but I still consider him as a decent backup and the guys love him.

Chubby Chaser · Post #4 » by **Chubby Chaser** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:01 pm

I'm not worried about our depth. We definitely need a couple big men, preferable one that can switch between 4/5. But freeing up more time for our other bench players is a good thing in my book. Consistent minutes = consistent play from our bench players.

Post #5 » by **crazyeights** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:31 pm

That's true, but spread yourself too thin and one injury creates many.

joe.linnen · Post #6 » by **joe.linnen** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:20 pm

We need to go after Kwame Brown

Post #7 » by **Danny Darko** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:56 pm

joe.linnen wrote:We need to go after Kwame Brown

With torches and pitchforks?!

Yeah, I can't see any harm in it. I think we should too.

TommyTheCat · Post #8 » by **TommyTheCat** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:28 pm

if odom stays, i'm down for any defensive big body to backup the 4/5. there won't be many minutes left at the 4/5 with odom around since he should be getting some minutes at the 4. if odom is moved, i'm hoping for a starting 3 and a backup big in the package.

so if odom stays, i'm not too worried about the depth but if he's moved, another big will need to be found. i really think odom is going to stay and that's one of the reasons ronny wasn't matched.

Jajwanda · Post #9 » by **Jajwanda** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:24 pm

Well I'm hoping that if we do keep Odom he stays at PF. He was very very good this year playing with both Pau and Bynum. Why mess with that just to try to alleviate the hole at SF instead of giving that job to a guy like Ariza who's probably about as effective as Lamar at that spot?

My depth chart would look like this:

- Sign Ricky Davis to play backup SG and backup SF
- Sign Fransisco Elson

That should take the full MLE

PG- Farmar, Fisher, Mitchell
SG- Bryant, Crawford
SF- Ariza, Davis, Walton
PF- Gasol, Odom, Radmanovic
C- Bynum, Elson, Mihm

I have very good depth at all spots and a good starting lineup with an improved Farmar manning the point instead of Fisher most of the time.