OT: BD Opinion

[DubaLakers]

I used to LOVE Baron Davis, he was easily my favorite NBA player that wasn't a Laker. As most of you probably know, he wanted to be a LAL, he thought he was coming to the LAL, and Mitchie had all intentions of him being a Laker before he landed in GST, but in the 11th hour Mitchie pulled the deal, he had enough hesitation because of BD's back and other ailments, and the fact that he's had an injury plagued career to a certain extent.

Whether it was GP on fumes, Baron Davis almost coming here, my frustration every season is that the LAL can never get a dominant PG stud. We've had Ervin, Van Smack, Sedalle, DFish, that's about it. Anyway...

I've lost a ton of respect for BD if this story is in fact true. He's whining about being a LAC, he supposedly isn't getting along with Dunny, and doesn't much care to be a LAC, and now there are talks he may want to go back to GST and be rejoined with the Warriors and his buddy SJax. If this is in fact true, what a wimp!

The other thing with Baron that's always bugged me is the dude got injured IMO because he was overweight. Remember that ESPN "the season" Hornets behind the scenes I remember Baron was putting on his jersey I'm like WOW dude's got a boiler. This is when he was like MVP going into the All Star Break, until he got hurt. There should be some kind of weight clause in all contracts, why should teams have to pay players that can't keep fit in the freaking NBA of all places, no excuse. Yeah I'm 15lbs over what I'd like to be weight wise, but if my job was being a professional athlete how hard is that to keep fit?

[Erik Eleven]

I heard Dr Buss was the one that worried about putting too much money on BD's injury plagued back, but I wasn't there so I could be wrong. I always loved his game and his competitive nature, but he's not a Laker so I don't care too much about this talk.

I feel bad for him in a way, the guy is truly a winner but he always ends up on losing teams, in losing organizations. I can see how he'd get extremely frustrated at this point of his career, playing for the freaking Clippers with a lame coach and little to no chance at a playoffs run. He's so much better than that and he and everybody else knows it. I think that if anyone could turn his mindset around by going to a good team, it's him.

Normally, I don't like complaining type players to end up as Lakers but I'd welcome BD with open arms despite any former attitude issues with any lame coaches. They were probably wrong and he was probably right. Should there be an opportunity for a trade, we must pounce on it.

[doozyj]

I heard Dr Buss was the one that worried about putting too much money on BD's injury plagued back, but I wasn't there so I could be wrong. I always loved his game and his competitive nature, but he's not a Laker so I don't care too much about this talk.

I feel bad for him in a way, the guy is truly a winner but he always ends up on losing teams, in losing organizations. I can see how he'd get extremely frustrated at this point of his career, playing for the freaking Clippers with a lame coach and little to no chance at a playoffs run. He's so much better than that and he and everybody else knows it. I think that if anyone could turn his mindset around by going to a good team, it's him.

Normally, I don't like complaining type players to end up as Lakers but I'd welcome BD with open arms despite any former attitude issues with any lame coaches. They were probably wrong and he was probably right. Should there be an opportunity for a trade, we must pounce on it.

I completely agree, plus he got duped with Elton Brand leaving as well. The whole Clipper situation became a mess for all parties involved. Lose, Lose, Lose situation.

[Erik Eleven]

Yeah, that whole thing stunk bad from the beginning and the stench is not going away. Bad vibes altogether. Maybe we should propose a hallway trade?

[DubaLakers]

Well I was speaking more to him giving up so easily, especially this early in the season. Maybe if he was in better shape he'd be able to play D and be lighter on his feet, they'd likely be winning more games. But yes all that being said, I'd love to have him. Mobley really hurt 'em they would have worked well together. Of couse that was a blessing for Cat that he was traded or else they wouldn't have realized his heart condition had worsened.

[crazyeights]

I disagree about having a lower opinion of him because he doesn't like being a Clipper. Have you ever watched Dunleavy? I have the unfortunate pleasure of living with a Clipper fan, so I see it all the time.

Dunleavy completely takes over the offense. He calls every play and he has hundreds of them. A coach's job is to manage talent. Baron's greatest talent is his creativity, which has been stifled by the ego of Mike Dunleavy Sr.

If anything it's inexcusable for Dunleavy to be this misguided. He doesn't have the same excuse most coaches do. They can't control which players are on their team...whereas Mike here ran Baylor out of town and now has complete control.

And another thing, the guy signed a contract, sure. But he signed it believing the team would be centered around Elton Brand. Not Cat Mobley and Paul Davis.

It's a job. Lots of people hate their job. And he's allowed to express frustration. I'm pretty sure our favorite Laker did that at some point in his career.

Do you still root for him?

[dockingsched]

dunleavy sucks. you don't sign baron davis and reduce his creativity to nothing. he has the worst offensive system ever. all iso, which i guess is why he traded for zbo and drafted thornton, two players that never met a pass they didn't pass up.

[DubaLakers]

EE I don't know if you'll see this hidden here, I can't respond to the threads now that they are locked, but the speculation topic locks are pure EE genious, nice ones sir. . The first one was very funny , but the topic edit to Speculation was the kicker, still laughing as I type.

Let's not insult anybody, at least that certainly wasn't my intention. I just want the whole board to read and follow the rules, so us mods don't have to babysit. Thanks though for chiming in, DL. Glad someone could see the humor in it since I couldn't.

EE

[Sedale Threatt]

I think it's pretty clear that Baron, as great a player as he is, hasn't put maximum effort into his basketball career in terms of his conditioning and his playing style. It's too bad, because when he's feeling good and motivated, as he was against Dallas a few years back, he is one of the most dynamic forces in the NBA.

And I certainly can't feel much sympathy for the position he's in. Granted, Brand backed out of his deal at the 11th hour, leaving Baron holding the bag. But the bottom line is, he signed a long-term contract with one of the worst-run, most hard-luck organizations in all of sports. What did he think was going to happen?