OFFSEASON MOVES

[TruSkool]

despite the lakers winning or not winning the championship in june..what do you guys think the lakers offseason moves will be?

here are my thoughts..
1. lamar will be re-signed.
2. ariza may be re-signed, or may not.
3. they will try to find a taker for ammo.
4. they will upgrade the PG position

[tlifeset]

Funny, I was going to post this untimely subject too ... much to my own chagrin. Dude, we're in the middle of playoff basketball!!! With a crucial game 6 tonight!!! And a stout opponent in the Nuggets coming up next!!! But since you cast a line ... I'll bite.

Obviously offseason moves are very much predicated on the outcome of this year. If this team wins, then I can see them going above and beyond to keep their core together, which means resigning Odom and Ariza.

If this team loses, I can see maybe Odom and Ariza being a little too expensive. Odom especially seeing as if the plan goes accordingly, he will be a 6th man and Bynum and Gasol will be the starting front line. And you just can't pay a 6th man 10+ mill a year and succeed ... Jason Terry says hello. Ariza would become increasingly valuable for this organization because they desperately need to solidify that starting SF position.

Now, let's address your other areas of need. I absolutely agree with you that we need another PG and I see really no other team that offers Jason Kidd a better chance to get a ring. Him and Kobe have a special bond and his skill set perfectly matches the Showtime 2.0 nature of these Lakers. Plus, he plays awful defense so he'll fit right in!!! Actually, he plays very good team defense and that's why Phil and Mitch will target him. It's a no-brainer and I'm already pre-ordering the jerseys.

Which obviously allows this team to start trading some of their depth at PG (Farmar) ... maybe for a future 1st round pick to replenish and create a little more cap space.

But what the hell am I writing!!! I've got some playoff threads to hit my man!!!

Lakers by 3. Bynum delivers.

[joe.linnen]

I say we keep Odom, Ariza, and go after KIdd

[slifersd]

Whether we win it all this year or not, we need to seriously address the problems of our bench. Kobe is getting up there in age and needs his rests, Fisher isn't 25 any more, our big men are typically pretty injury prone (Bynum and Odom) and our SF spot is very weak on both ends of the floor. Due to these factors, we need a strong bench to carry us through the entire season. Guys like Vujacic, Walton and maybe Powell needs to be replaced by better talents who can contribute consistently. As much as Odom has been playing well this season, I have my doubts about him coming back because I think he might be asking too much money for us to afford.

As for specific moves, we need to sign some good cheap veteran players who knows how to play consistently. Guys like Jason Kidd, Theo Ratliff, Antonio McDyess, Mike Bibby, and Grant Hill can be had for very cheap and contribute more than anyone on our bench.

[Kobe1986]

I say we keep Odom, Ariza, and go after KIdd

hell yea we need kidd to run the team

[fareweatherfan]

despite the lakers winning or not winning the championship in june..what do you guys think the lakers offseason moves will be?

here are my thoughts..
1. lamar will be re-signed.
2. ariza may be re-signed, or may not.
3. they will try to find a taker for ammo.
4. they will upgrade the PG position

This must be a first b/c I think I agree with every post in this thread. Of course, Star has posted yet

1. I like the idea of Kidd, not ideal b/c of D-ficiencies , but a good fit IMO.
2. I think there is a greater chance we loose Ariza than Odom. Some team will offer Ariza way too much, a la Ronny.
3. With the ecomomy effecting so many teams, there will be a few free agents out there that we grab on the cheap (hopefully Kidd is one of them).

This offseason will be crucial to our title hopes for the next 3-5 yrs, IMO.

[DEEP3CL]

Can we finish the DAMN playoffs first...........why do you guys worry about this irrelevant stuff during the playoffs ?

[TylersLakers]

Totally agree with DEEP. After we win the Championship, then we can each post our own off-season thread.

[larry14r]

Guys rigth idea wrong PG then PG we should be looking at is Jarrett Jack of the Pacers because guy can be our PG for the next ten years he's only 25 and need to think not just the present, but the future as well. And besides we had bad luck with veterans lately because they because useless when we sign them.

[larry14r]

Whether we win it all this year or not, we need to seriously address the problems of our bench. Kobe is getting up there in age and needs his rests, Fisher isn't 25 any more, our big men are typically pretty injury prone (Bynum and Odom) and our SF spot is very weak on both ends of the floor. Due to these factors, we need a strong bench to carry us through the entire season. Guys like Vujacic, Walton and maybe Powell needs to be replaced by better talents who can contribute consistently. As much as Odom has been playing well this season, I have my doubts about him coming back because I think he might be asking too much money for us to afford.

As for specific moves, we need to sign some good cheap veteran players who knows how to play consistently. Guys like Jason Kidd, Theo Ratliff, Antonio McDyess, Mike Bibby, and Grant Hill can be had for very cheap and contribute more than anyone on our bench.

Expect we can't afford any of them due to the luxury tax, and also no one wants Sasha or Luke's contract because they are too big for anyone to take especially when 2010 on the way. P.S if we want more depth then go draft and develop it.

[YiYaoYue]

Kidd has the same limitations on defense... he couldn't gaurd billups nor any of the quicker guards. Sure his rebounds/assists are nice but he is declining as seen this year with Dallas and how many TOs he made.

What we need is another player that can create shots besides kobe... plays defense... hits threes easily... is a leader.. has heart.. The player that comes to mind is Stephen Jackson... Marion has everything but the heart, creating own shot, and leadership quality which can go well if Lakers get Kidd as well since he can create for marion. S Jax alone will be enough imho. With a player like Marion we will need Kidd as well.

[larry14r]

Kidd has the same limitations on defense... he couldn't gaurd billups nor any of the quicker guards. Sure his rebounds/assists are nice but he is declining as seen this year with Dallas and how many TOs he made.

What we need is another player that can create shots besides kobe... plays defense... hits threes easily... is a leader.. has heart.. The player that comes to mind is Stephen Jackson... Marion has everything but the heart, creating own shot, and leadership quality which can go well if Lakers get Kidd as well since he can create for marion. S Jax alone will be enough imho. With a player like Marion we will need Kidd as well.

Expect we have no chance at S. Jax for 2 reasons we can't afford him and Golden State is not going to trade within the divison either. If we want another creater then we must get our own.

[Dr Aki]

nellie ball is kinda wierd

theyre basically 3 swingmens, a SF/PF and a PF/C

not sure if theyd go for it, but powell + walton (who can play PF) + farmar + ammo +29th pick might land him if the warriors wanted savings

but other teams would probably be able to offer much better deals if they wanted sjax

and the lakers probably aren't exactly keen to add another long term contract, i doubt the lakers make any trades that add money to the payroll

[scoobs07]

Jason Kidd would be a good fit. The Lakers need a player other than Kobe to initiate the offense in the starting unit. Thats when they are at their best. I think thats one of the primary reasons they have been succesful with LO in the starting line-up as the initiator. If Kidd sign for lets say, 2.5 million per year, the Lakers get a guy that dribbles and passes better than LO, and is a good rebounder to boot. They would get that for one quarter of the salary that they paid LO this year! I think this is something Buss is definately looking at, with Kidd's Deficiancies and all.

[ahwi_quacoe]

Pau gasol........ Incredibly skilled but in all honesty Your bigs are supposed to be the toughest players on your team. He chokes in big games and is too easily intimidated by other power forwards.


Bynum..... where do I begin.... the money has gone to his head ...or something. He does not get involved on any play . He isn't not aggressive on the boards either offensive or defensive. He doesn't play any defense. He should be traded. I don't care how good he could be.He is a prima donna and his attitude is all wrong for a potential championship team.

Lamar is a guy who just can't stay focused in any game . He is not Championship material. No mental toughness.

These are three of your biggest players and neither one is creating offense for themselves tonight. No wonder they go trounced by the Celtics last year. The Rockets without Ming , without Mcgrady and our bigs can't punish them ??????

This could not be a championship team

I would go after Iguodala at least he would be good in the Triangle and could allow Kobe yo play at the three full time. Gasol or Bynum could be traded . Either one , couldn't care which

[ChuckTaylors310]

hey guys rasheed wallace would be a perfect fit... that wud mean we cudnt keep lamar and/or arize maybe but rasheed is what we need. a MEAN big who can do work downlow and also spread the floor... im just saying

[The Laker Kid]

Let's sign Shaq

[Tekkenlaw]

My ideal offseason would be to move up in the draft for a late lottery pick or even a top 10 pick if someone is willing to deal with us, and take a player like Jrue Holiday or Stephen Curry. I think they could do this by trading Farmar+Ammo+29th pick for a bad contract and a 1st rounder. Then signing Kidd in free agency. Also resign Ariza if he's willing to take around 4-5 million, and resign Odom if he's willing to take around 8 million or less.

[doozyj]

hey guys rasheed wallace would be a perfect fit... that wud mean we cudnt keep lamar and/or arize maybe but rasheed is what we need. a MEAN big who can do work downlow and also spread the floor... im just saying

Doesn't Sheed wants 8MM per year.

[joe.linnen]

SF:???/Ariza/Walton
PF:Gasol/Odom/Powell
C:Bynum/Wallace
SG:Bryant/Vujacic/Brown
PG:Kidd/Fisher/Farmar