Lakers : Free Agency

[KingLakers]

^ Oh I didn't know that but still Calderon will be the one traded if a trade happens he makes nearly double what Jack makes and he's older.

[ALL HAIL]

We'll see, I don't think they're completely against giving up Jack it meant getting a good return to play alongside Calderon. But yes, they'd prefer to get rid of Calderon over Jack ... just like we'd prefer to get rid of Walton ovre Vujacic.

[Jase]

Get Bell and Crittenton, absolutely. Let Farmar walk, and watch as Brown walks. That's a start.

[ALL HAIL]

^I think you're right.

If I were a betting man, my money's on Bell and Crittenton with Brown opting in.

i actually like that better than Blake and Crittenton.

With Brown in, and the Lakers signing Bell and Crittenton to (near) minimum deals the team would look like this to begin the season:

PG - Fisher - Vujacic - Crittenton
SG - Bryant - Brown - Ebanks (in street clothes)
C - Bynum - Mbenga
PF - Gasol - Odom - Powell
SF - Artest - Bell - Walton (in street clothes)

So Bell and Crittenton would be the only additions.

Absolutely no playmaking added though (unless Critt shows more savvy).

I think playmaking is as important as shooting and PG defense because of our team being built around post scoring.

But Bell and Critt, combined, will make less than 3 million (maybe less than 2.5).

[BeleiveInGosh]

PG - Fisher - Vujacic - Crittenton
SG - Bryant - Brown - Ebanks (in street clothes)
C - Bynum - Mbenga
PF - Gasol - Odom - Powell
SF - Artest - Bell - Walton (in street clothes)

There is something about this lineup that doesn't blow me away. In fact, I'm very unsatisfied.

I don't know why, there's something deep inside my Laker heart that will never let me love Raja Bell. After the many years I've spent wishing venereal disease/death upon him, this just doesn't make me happy.

[ALL HAIL]

PG - Fisher - Vujacic - Crittenton
SG - Bryant - Brown - Ebanks (in street clothes)
C - Bynum - Mbenga
PF - Gasol - Odom - Powell
SF - Artest - Bell - Walton (in street clothes)

There is something about this lineup that doesn't blow me away. In fact, I'm very unsatisfied.

For an additional 4 million dollars (taxes paid), that squad could look like this:

PG - Livingston - Miller
SG - Bryant - Fisher - Vujacic
C - Bynum - Mbenga
PF - Odom - Gasol
SF - Artest - Ebanks - Walton

But if Shannon Brown opts in ... all this shanges ... if Brown opts in with his 2.2, LA will not spend more than 2 million additonal dollars to plug the rest of the "wing" (PG, SG, SF) holes beyond what Brown and Ebanks offer.

If Brown opts in, I think they might just roll with Bell and Crittenton.

Of course I still have faith that our squad looks like this to begin the year, with Roger Mason Jr cracking the rotation by Christmas:

PG - James - Odom
SG - Fisher - Bell - Mason
C - Gasol - J. O'Neal - Mbenga
PF - Artest - Walton - Ebanks
SF - Bryant - Vujacic

[iamworthy]

I typically dont post in the transaction threads or the who we are gonna get threads. I have this year just because. I just had one question. Do most people post who they want, or who the lakers are going to actually get. In other words....is the make believe or reality?

[BeleiveInGosh]

To me, the need of a solid big off the bench is unquestionable. Mbenga won't cut it, and I'm not ready to wait for Ebanks, ready or not.

James or not (realistically not)...we need a bruiser off the bench to come in, rebound and play some solid D.

Shaq-Fu anyone?

[KingLakers]

Shaq even at his best was never known for his defense. Not that he was a terrible defensive player but he wasn't Zo or Mutombo.

[BeleiveInGosh]

Shaq even at his best was never known for his defense. Not that he was a terrible defensive player but he wasn't Zo or Mutombo.

I know me and you will agree on him being a step up from Mbenga.

[KingLakers]

He is a step up from Benga but is it really necessary at that position to really find someone that is right now better than Benga whats wrong with young big taking over for Benga.

[The Skyhook]

I typically dont post in the transaction threads or the who we are gonna get threads. I have this year just because. I just had one question. Do most people post who they want, or who the lakers are going to actually get. In other words....is the make believe or reality?

I feel like its a mix between both from looking through the threads based on possible rumors and such. If you see something like Hinrich then you know it someone people want but if you see guys like Miller, Bell, and T Mac that is based off rumors that they have interest in playing for us.

[TylersLakers]

I typically dont post in the transaction threads or the who we are gonna get threads. I have this year just because. I just had one question. Do most people post who they want, or who the lakers are going to actually get. In other words....is the make believe or reality?

Depends, but this season and most people it's been fairly realistic. Obviously we're not going to trade for Chris Paul or some big name to plug another and add on another crazy salary.

It's going to be guys like Crittenton, Steve Blake, etc.

[The Skyhook]

Looks like Raja is considering Miami. If the Heat sign Bosh/Lebron/Wade I think Bell will be playing for the Heat. After signing those 3 all they will be able to sign would be vets for cheap.

Dime: Are there any teams that you are considering in particular?
RB: I’d obviously like to play for a winning team and win something. I got two boys and a wife and our home base is Miami so anywhere up and down this east coast would be a great fit for me.

http://dimemag.com/2010/06/nba-rumor-ra ... -the-heat/

[Lakeshow2417]

I trust Mitch will shore up the deep shooting/bench and backup PGs this offseason( if farmar and brown walk). they really need to look a that

[KingLakers]

It looks like the backup PG position will be filled by either Blake, Ridnour, or Livingston none of them will get more than half the MLE and for Livingston he may not get more than the minimum for 4 or 5 yrs in the league. The SG if Brown opts out is tougher Raja, Miller, T Mac, Stackhouse are all possibilities and outside of Miller none of them will get more than the minimum. A cheap solution would be signing Livingston for the minimum and using half the MLE on MIller.

[Lakeshow2417]

it would be really nice signing miller or bell ( although reports have said bell lives in MIA and is interested there first)

signing miller would be great plus with attaining farmar or brown for the least amount of $ available to do so.

[Tekkenlaw]

I'd cream my pants if we signed Livingston.

[zelezeal]

According to Hoopshype.com: the Lakers have 7 players under contract.

1.Kobe
2.Gasol
3.Bynum
4.Odom
5.Artest
6.Sasha
7.Walton

Sasha plays limited minutes and subs in for Kobe or Artest. When we need to go big at the 3, we can bring Walton in the game and leave Sasha on the bench. I actually thought Sasha should have been given way more minutes last year; Brown took away many of his minutes. (Brown earned the minutes, do not get me wrong)

I just have admired Sasha since he came here. He works hard and does what he does very well; he moves without the ball and knocks down jumpers. Despite his struggles at times, I love his passion and the fact he always give an effort on the defensive end. As logical as it sounds for me wanting Shannon Brown back in LA, apart of me wants to see him go to sure up playing time for Sasha. I think one area that the Lakers struggled with last is allocating playing time for the bench. I think our bench will be even better this year if we give them more time on the court....which means less competition for playing time...which hopefully equals more chemistry.

Starting lineup:
Bynum
Gasol
Artest
Kobe
Fisher (hopefully will be back)

PG: If Farmar is gone, we need to add a point guard. I like Chris Duhon. Any pg in his mold -- I think would give the Lakers quality minutes. (plus, run the offense well)

Backup Center is huge imo: I think (and have thought this for years) it would do wonders for Bynum and the Lakers to add a veteran backup center who can step in for Bynum, preferably a center with some size and touch around the basket. I think a center like this would not only give us quality minutes but would keep Bynum on the edge. (great motivation)

I do not know how much game BIG Z has left, so i'm just throwing this out there, he comes to mind when I think of that veteran backup center who could provide inside scoring and motivation to Bynum off the bench.

A bench of:

Big Z (just throwing it out there)
Odom
Walton
Sasha
Duhon
Filler
Filler
Filler

I guess what I'm saying is, a ''fundamentally sound backup point guard'', a backup center who can actually provide something on the offensive end (preferably a vet), and a shorter bench rotation will produce a better Lakers team next year imo.

[laduane1]

Lakers want to get rid of more salary. So the bench might be just guys who are cheap.