If it wasn't for the dirt, I'd say this is just a move to force the Laker office to go after a big name player. I can't imagine how hated Buss will be if he loses both Shaq and Kobe in the span of 4 years, but Kobe seems serious. Maybe they should trade him to Denver....
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatrickStar  BTW - Caron Bulter 2007 All-Star. |
Yep. Averaged 15.5, 5.8, and 1.9 in 04-05 with the Lakers. But with Lamar and Butler playing the same position at small forward, along with Luke Walton, I think it was their intention to move Butler for a power forward all along. And with Lamar giving slightly better numbers, and Luke a fan favorite (not that it mattered for Shaq and Madsen) and also a good decision maker in the Jackson/Winters triangle offense, Butler was the logical choice to go.
But I agree with Kobe to some extent. Injuries aside, the Lakers just aren't getting it done. Lamar should be a 20-15 player instead of the 16-10 of this year. Kwame may never be a scoring machine but he is averaging under 6 rebounds/gm for his career? 6 rebounds from your power forward/center? He needs to be in the 12 range if he is only going to give you 8.4 points/gm. Smoosh Parker is a complete bust going for 11.3, 3, 3.3 - not enough points or not enough assists to justify his spot on the court.
So I see Kobe's side. 2 years wasted with Smoosh, who I expect will be gone this year. In his place is 2nd year Farmer who should be better, but could use a few more years to mature/improve. And they could have still had Derek Fisher, who while certainly not in the same class as Kidd, Nash, or even Parker, is a definite upgrade over Smoosh. Fisher was let go over money IIRC, and was only making ~$3 million year as the starting PG on a 3-peat team (damn, have to send Riles a check now).
Kwame's name and notoriety far surpasses his 8.4 - 6.0 averages, coupled with the fact that he's making $8.3 million per and isn't what I would call a defensive force. Another bust. Bynum should pass Kwame's numbers this year, but he's still a few years away from filling Shaq's shoes, if ever.
The Lakers wasted 3-4 seasons with Slava Medvedenko. Traded Devon George who would have been the 3rd best player on this past year's roster. Traded Mark Madsen who would literally frustrate the hell out of anyone he guarded, brought real energy, and who was always on the floor for lose balls (and got the crowd going). Their big name offseason signing went for 6.6, 3.3, and 1.2 in 19 mins this year, only playing 55 games. Brian Cook didn't seem to improve any this year. In short, this season seemed like a wasted year all around, and it's still going to take at least 2 more years of maturation given the current lineup for the Lakers to be able to get out of the first round in the west, and that still might not be enough to contend without signing a big name player.
