Lakers to sign Kapono to 1 yr vet min.

[Slava]

NBA teams can't sign free agents until Friday, but the Lakers met with Kapono and were close to a deal for one or two years and about $1.3 million annually.

The Lakers would sign Kapono for a minimum veteran's salary and wouldn't have to dip into their main free-agent tool -- a three-year, $9.4-million contract known as the mini mid-level exception.

Kapono, who turns 31 in February, has career averages of 6.9 points and 43.7% from three-point range but averaged a career-low 0.7 points and 4.6 minutes last season with Philadelphia.

The Lakers made a few runs at Kapono over the years and were hoping he would be cut by the 76ers late last season, in time to sign with the Lakers for the playoffs.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 1429.story

Not sure if posted before. Couldn't hurt for the vets min and he could do a job like Peja did for Dallas last season even if he's slower than a moped on a freeway.

[billy_21]

this would make sense in the type of offense mike brown might bring to the lakers... he would do a similar job for the lakers like what anthony parker did for the cavs under mike brown.

[semi-sentient]

Not a bad deal at all. This guy can flat out shoot, and that's exactly what we need since teams are crowding the paint so much.

Remember at the start of last season when Brown and Blake were hitting better than 40% from downtown? Our offense looked like it was unstoppable.

My only concern is defense, but with good system in place we should be able to cover whatever weaknesses we have, which is pretty much the 1-3 spots. Our team defense is going to have to improve dramatically, so hopefully Brown can work some magic like he did with the Cavs.

[The_Trade_Seer]

Him and Delonte West would fill out our #1-3 spots though with Goudelock at the 2 I'd rather we sign a more athletic and defensive minded 2g than Kapono.

[BEazy]

I think Kapono will play a role that Gibson played under Mike Brown.

[TonyMontana]

I like this........... Im all for it.

[Draper]

Good signing for the vet's minimum.

Another Bruin back in LA, will Baron be next?

[ALL HAIL]

If I'm the Lakers, this deal should definitely be unguarenteed.

Why?

With the new coaches and new system, noone really knows how the pieces will fit.

With Kapono, that makes five small forwards (World-Peace, Barnes, Ebanks, Walton).

I'm cool with the move if you let Kapono come in and "beat out" Walton, Ebanks, and Barnes, but if you sign him to a guaranteed deal and he proves less effective than Ebanks and even Barnes, then it's potentially a waste of roster space and money (even for the minimum).

More than likely though, if this deal is guranteed, this spells the end of Ebanks.

Kapono has third string SF written all over him (which was Ebanks spot).

[shannWOW]

If I'm the Lakers, this deal should definitely be unguarenteed.

Why?

With the new coaches and new system, noone really knows how the pieces will fit.

With Kapono, that makes five small forwards (World-Peace, Barnes, Ebanks, Walton).

I'm cool with the move if you let Kapono come in and "beat out" Walton, Ebanks, and Barnes, but if you sign him to a guaranteed deal and he proves less effective than Ebanks and even Barnes, then it's potentially a waste of roster space and money (even for the minimum).

More than likely though, if this deal is guranteed, this spells the end of Ebanks.

Kapono has third string SF written all over him (which was Ebanks spot).

they are DEFINITELY keeping ebanks and kapono could play shooting guard so now our 3 shooting guards are kobe, goudelock, and kapono

[shannWOW]

If I'm the Lakers, this deal should definitely be unguarenteed.

Why?

With the new coaches and new system, noone really knows how the pieces will fit.

With Kapono, that makes five small forwards (World-Peace, Barnes, Ebanks, Walton).

I'm cool with the move if you let Kapono come in and "beat out" Walton, Ebanks, and Barnes, but if you sign him to a guaranteed deal and he proves less effective than Ebanks and even Barnes, then it's potentially a waste of roster space and money (even for the minimum).

More than likely though, if this deal is guranteed, this spells the end of Ebanks.

Kapono has third string SF written all over him (which was Ebanks spot).

they are DEFINITELY keeping ebanks and kapono could play shooting guard so now our 3 shooting guards are kobe, goudelock, and kapono

[shannWOW]

If I'm the Lakers, this deal should definitely be unguarenteed.

Why?

With the new coaches and new system, noone really knows how the pieces will fit.

With Kapono, that makes five small forwards (World-Peace, Barnes, Ebanks, Walton).

I'm cool with the move if you let Kapono come in and "beat out" Walton, Ebanks, and Barnes, but if you sign him to a guaranteed deal and he proves less effective than Ebanks and even Barnes, then it's potentially a waste of roster space and money (even for the minimum).

More than likely though, if this deal is guranteed, this spells the end of Ebanks.

Kapono has third string SF written all over him (which was Ebanks spot).

they are DEFINITELY keeping ebanks and kapono could play shooting guard so now our 3 shooting guards are kobe, goudelock, and kapono

[ALL HAIL]

Just because a guy can shoot doesn't mean he can play SG.

Kapono can't guard 90% of the SGs in the league to save his life.

Bad idea ... unless the other four guys on the floor are top flite defenders (to mask him).

[KingLakers]

I think Kapono, Barnes, and Ebanks are going to be spending more time at SG this season specifically Barnes and Ebanks. Maybe Kapono will come off the bench at SF to just hit 3's and stretch defenses. Goudelock has to make the team first before we say where fits on the roster.

[Imadogg]

He's whatever. I love him for the team because he can straight knock down 3s..... but that's only if someone passes to him when he's wide open. Otherwise, he's useless. He can't pass, he can't run, he can't defend... iono. There's a reason he doesn't get too many minutes even though he's one of the best long range shooters ever by %.

[semi-sentient]

He's whatever. I love him for the team because he can straight knock down 3s..... but that's only if someone passes to him when he's wide open.

That's exactly the type of situation he's going to be seeing. Consider how many times Artest (or Barnes) is being left all alone on the perimeter. That has consequences on our bigs ability to effectively play in the post, not to mention Kobe's ability to drive. You add a guy like Kapono and suddenly there's more room for everyone else to operate.

Otherwise, he's useless. He can't pass, he can't run, he can't defend... iono. There's a reason he doesn't get too many minutes even though he's one of the best long range shooters ever by %.

Agreed, but he fills a big time need. We lost to the Mavericks because they hit their shots and we didn't. Plain and simple. We need guys that can shoot, otherwise our offense doesn't function worth a damn, and that has consequences for our defense as well.

I wouldn't worry about Kapono's defense. We're bringing in a defensive-minded coach that is going to teach this team how to play defense as a unit, so individual defense becomes less important. What's important is that we have the potential to be a top notch defense even though all of our perimeter defenders are largely garbage, so it's just a matter of playing together and staying focused.

[Imadogg]

He's whatever. I love him for the team because he can straight knock down 3s..... but that's only if someone passes to him when he's wide open.

That's exactly the type of situation he's going to be seeing. Consider how many times Artest (or Barnes) is being left all alone on the perimeter. That has consequences on our bigs ability to effectively play in the post, not to mention Kobe's ability to drive. You add a guy like Kapono and suddenly there's more room for everyone else to operate.

Otherwise, he's useless. He can't pass, he can't run, he can't defend... iono. There's a reason he doesn't get too many minutes even though he's one of the best long range shooters ever by %.

Agreed, but he fills a big time need. We lost to the Mavericks because they hit their shots and we didn't. Plain and simple. We need guys that can shoot, otherwise our offense doesn't function worth a damn, and that has consequences for our defense as well.

I wouldn't worry about Kapono's defense. We're bringing in a defensive-minded coach that is going to teach this team how to play defense as a unit, so individual defense becomes less important. What's important is that we have the potential to be a top notch defense even though all of our perimeter defenders are largely garbage, so it's just a matter of playing together and staying focused.

I'm with you, but I prefer a guy who can shoot 3s AND do something else, instead of a guy who can just shoot 3s.

[picc]

Just because a guy can shoot doesn't mean he can play SG.

Kapono can't guard 90% of the SGs in the league to save his life.

Bad idea ... unless the other four guys on the floor are top flite defenders (to mask him).

I agree. Even Sasha wasn't as one-dimensional as Kapono, he could at least attempt defensive hustle. Kapono is just a turnstile with no skills at all beyond shooting. He cant even be played against certain teams in the playoffs.

Be a lot more comfortable with a West/Afflalo/Battier signing.

[semi-sentient]

For the vets min, there isn't anyone who can hit at a high rate that also plays good defense. Kapono is probably the best we can get for that kind of money. West isn't really a knock down shooter, and he addresses a different need (defense, playmaking).

Afflalo would be perfect because he does both extremely well, but I don't see how we can possibly get him since Denver is looking to retain him.

Battier would also be awesome, but I'm not sure if he's shown any interest.

[ennui]

Watching Raps games, I`ll say he turns down shots in order to keep his percentages up and is a pylon on defense. He is a poor mans Mike Miller.

[Slava]

Aren't vet min contracts half paid by the league? They can also be waived anytime during the season so this is good value for the money if Artest decides to pull a stinker and/or Barnes is injured like he was for most part of the season.

Its fine and dandy to want someone that can play defense and shoot but those guys are called Shane Battiers and they want the full MLE.