I think with Artest on board we are OK!

[SALMIEN]

every one is waitting for us to lose LO so that they can open thier mouthes, hai this is la lakers they can do it with or without odom, and you'll wittness that

[Sedale Threatt]

do you guys think kobe will take more of the offensive load if lo isnt signed because we wont be as deep as last year artest can cover the best player on the other team and kobe can save his energy for offense

That's not even an issue. It's about losing quality depth in the frontcourt, something you can never have enough of. Good as he is, Kobe can't do anything about that.

[Rain_Maker]

i think the Lakers are OK as well

i mean, if we would have been in danger i am sure that Mitch and Buss wouldnt do what they did, which is not signing LO and TA

they are not stupid enough to weaken the team

if we dont sign LO, i am sure that we will sign good role players that can improve our bench alot

also i am saying that:

Bynum will be getting 17 and 10 stats

Shannon Brown will be getting about 12 pts per game

Sasha would be back and be able to make his three more consistently and help us out

Fisher
Kobe
Artest
Gasol,
Bynum

and our bench could be

Brown
Sasha
Luke
Powell
and a signed player

Ammo will get some minutes at SF

Farmar will get a good number of minutes at pg, not as much as brown

Mbenga would also be a back up for the big men

if we can get a good guy that can produce from our bench, i see ourselves repeating

[Dexmor]

This is denial and a little of not knowing anything about Morrison for 1 example. He is not an nba talent let alone will replace Odom. They need Odom. Why are we talking like this. You really want the feeling to be the Lakers fans don't feel they need Odom? That's not even true.

[what would jack bauer do?]

Does anyone remember when Odom took off the whole summer last year and was basically the only player on our roster that came in out of shape? Does anyone remember us being the 1st seed in the NBA the first 2 and a half months of the season with a healthy Bynum getting 30mpg and Odom coming off the bench only getting 7pts and 6rebs? Odom said he had trouble getting into any type of rhythm coming off the bench and his head was never in the game. He basically stunk when Bynum was healthy and playing well.

I know that Odom is historically steps up his game in the playoffs but, I just wonder how his body will hold up as he ages past 30 with his lackadaisical workout regimen. I've always thought with an elite defensive sf in place of odom we'd be a better team, but that's only if our guys our healthy. With Bynum and Gasol pretty injury prone, it's an extremely really risky move letting odom go though... but there is a good chance we'll be fine without him

[One Love]

100% Agree... You can't focus too much energy on first and second unit given the Lakers rotation... D Fish and Bynum will sub out at the 8 minute mark... Kobe will sub out at the 12 minute mark... Bynum will come back in and play with Farmar, Shannon, Artest & Powell... We will always have either Kobe or Artest on the floor with Bynum or Gasol which makes us a solid team... Pick another team in the NBA with a better trio than Kobe, Artest & Gasol... Is Parker, Duncan and RJ, no... Is Dirk, Howard & Kidd, no... Howard, Lewis & Carter, no... Bron, Shaq & Mo, hell no... In summary, we are fine...

[Rain_Maker]

i am sure Bynum will be back, and help Pau destroy other frontcourts

[Erik Eleven]

Ron Ron is as predictable as the weather at Turnberry. I wouldn't hang my season-hat on his joining the Lakers. For all we know, he could be suspended for the year as early as ten games into the season.

Ariza posed another unknown factor, which I believe had something to do with the Lakers FO's unwillingness to pay too much for him — injury prone by virtue of reckless playing style (see Wade, G Wallace etc).

Artest might never understand the triangle. He might be many things, but he's definitely not the smartest player in the NBA. I won't rest easy until we re-sign Odom or sign and trade him for somewhat comparable return (Millsap/Lee).

I disagree with the OP's statement.

[mr-EEE]

hey guys .... Erik Eleven, lakers has nothing to lose with ron artest, he brings hustle, toughness, and anything else you want from him he'll bring it