Kobe Bryant (photo. Mannion)We continue our look at current NBA Team needs with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Needs: The Lakers fill a huge need immediately with the imminent return of Andrew Bynum. It says a lot about the Lakers that they made it to the NBA Finals without their young stud center. That being said, the Lakers clearly need one thing – toughness. They needed a little more PJ Brown and James Posey and a little less Vlad Radmonovic. They need more attitude, but that attitude needs to be able to play. LA could also use a little more bench depth, they need a true back up center (sorry Chris Mihm), and they really need to add one more leader to the team next to Kobe and Derek Fisher. A true point guard backing up Fish and Farmar couldn’t hurt either.
Their biggest in-house decision right now is Sasha Vujacic, who is a free agent that the Lakers would love back.
The Possible Solutions: The Lakers can’t really do too too much. The cap is not their friend right now, so their moves are extremely limited. They’ll pay a little luxury tax if they have to, but they need some favors from players who want to compete right now. Signing Sasha is a priority and it should help that he just switched agents to Rob Pelinka, who also represents Kobe. The biggest talk in LA Land is the Ron Artest and Odom swap (with some additional expensive pieces being traded as well). Artest brings the toughness that LA needs, but he brings a little bit of attention in a city where “extra attention” really doesn’t help things. Outside, the Lakers will probably be picking up the pieces after the entire free agent market shakes out. Once all the money is spent, the Lakers will swoop on in and offer the likes of Chris Anderson, Theo Ratliff, and maybe even a Telfair. Some other names to watch out for? Kurt Thomas and Zo. Both players would fill that vet tough man role. Michael Finley should also get a call.
Our suggested moves? Gotta resign Sasha. Your core and fans love him. Let the Artest deal go. At least for now. It can be revisited during the season. Other than that, GO CHEAP. A Zo or Kurt Thomas to a one year deal would be ideal.
If you’re once hated, now adored Mitch Kupchak, what do you do?
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July 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
alaskan_fire_dragon says:
get kurt thomas
July 20th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
AG says:
There is only one name I want to see, and that name is Kurt Thomas.
This dude is a proven difference maker with whom the stats don’t tell the whole story. He brings you toughness, savvy, and smarts rolled up all in one.
Forget another useless PG, with Kobe on the court and Lamar’s ball handling abilities they’re all a waste of space as far as I’m concerned. The Lakers need a big and tough guy, and that guy is Kurt Thomas.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Damon says:
Dirks got it, lets go to Beijing. Goooo Germany!!!
July 20th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Bruce says:
Screw you Adolf!
July 20th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
the mamba says:
Chris anderson. The birdman may fly again!
July 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
JRUF says:
Strange as it may seem, but sign Kwame Brown to the vet min or the mid level.
July 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
The Jed says:
Kurt thomas? Really? He’s your answer?
July 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
The Lakers need toughness, defense and ATTITUDE!
Bring in RON RON!!!
July 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Tha Boddy says:
Last year with the Sonics Kurt Thomas was bringing down what like 9.2rebs in a limited role and was good for almost a block…Even at this point in his career he is way better than Ronnie T in his prime (whenever that may come)
But I really think the Wizards should look at Kurt Thomas 2 he would make a hell of a role player and tough guy.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Dagomar says:
If I’m the Lakers I’m worrying less about the Celtics or whoever comes out of the East next year and more about the Hornets. The Hornets can at least throw Kobe a few different looks with the Posey signing; who’s guarding Chris Paul? If Kidd couldn’t, why can Fisher?
July 20th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Yoooo says:
Ron Artest & Kenny thomas for LO & Vlad and maybe even a pick. The Kings love foreign shooters and LO can do multiple things for them. Kings get cap space after next year and dump an unservicable contract. At least Vlad can do SOMETHING .
I just want someone else who can guard elite perimeter players and help on offense. Artest does both at a high level. He’s a better shooter than LO and can get to the basket just as easy cuz he’s so strong. I just doubt sacto would help the Lakers.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
AG says:
Hell yeah Kurt Thomas is my answer.
All this nonesense about picking up Posey was just talk, it was never going to happen. And listen, the dude is tough, I get it, but the Lakers would’ve been paying him more to avoid him having being put on Kobe than anything else.
I mean he’s a good defender, but he wasn’t the one that put the clamps on LeBron and Kobe, Truth was. He’s a good 3 point shooter, but he was putting up other world like numbers in the Finals. He’s a career 35 percent shooter from the three point line.
Furthermore, I don’t get this idea that the Lakers desperately need another guy at the SF position. Sure I’m not sold on Lamar in the clutch, but who’s to say Ron Artest is going to be that huge of an upgrade (assuming the Kings pull the trigger on a Laker deal which I don’t see them doing) considering what he brings to the table? This isn’t the Ron Ron of Indiana we’re talking about. Folks discuss the man like he’s some kind of all world defender, and for the past two seasons he sure as hell wasn’t. Dude is living off his defensive rep the way Kobe was prior to this past season when he started actually D’ing folks up again.
You need an experienced, tough, and savvy BIG cuz that’s what the Lakers are severely lacking. Who’s your backup, Chris Mihm? Gonna bring Mbenga in again? Kurt Thomas IS the answer to what the Lakers need.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
goldkmb says:
Ron would mos def give Lakers an attitude with play but another scenario I havn’t heard is could they possibly get Stephen Jackson from the Warriors for Odom? Warriors need a PG, but with Odom, they wouldn’t need one anymore. Lakers would get a SF would can knock down 3s and play tough defense along with an attitude. Don’t know how the salaries and such would match but can it be a possibility at the least?
July 20th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
doc says:
They need balls for everybody except kobe
July 20th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Yoooo says:
I’ve said bring Stephen Jackson on board a loooooong time ago. Id love him on LA too. Maybe even more than Artest cuz he’s a better shooter and more clutch with championship experience. He also doesn’t mind playing D. Artest or Jackson would get my vote.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:52 am
florida_evans says:
No doubt,you need a straight hoodrat on your team to win a chip.james posey was said hoodrat for the celtics.A straight n-bomb.And I don’t mean nitrogen,dumb@ss.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:20 am
Bruce says:
Can we bring back Devean George?
July 21st, 2008 at 3:54 am
Edwin says:
Why is everyone making such a big deal about doing a big trade during the summer? We made our big trade for 2008 and got Gasol of basically nothing. If we can add a veteran big man like a Kurt Thomas or Zo, then great, but remember… we made the NBA Finals (and were favored) with one of the youngest teams in the League. That team loses Rony Turiaf (4 mil a year is way too much for him), but we are adding Bynum and are able to have a full training camp with Gasol and Ariza.
Speaking of Ariza, he’s a 6′8″ athletic marvel, who is working on gaining some muscle, improving his shot and ball handling ability (per the exit interviews). He is also in a contract year and knows that he has to work his ass off to show that he is worth a multi year mid-level deal.
The youngsters on this team grew so much over last summer, I think that after a taste of the Finals they are going to come back even better. The scary thing is that these guys already know the triangle offense almost perfectly… now they can concentrate on their defense. We have the talent and the athleticism (not to mention the big shot blocker anchoring the defense) to be a great defensive team.
Other then a Kurt Thomas or a ZO, we’re fine. Just need to players to come into camp healthy and ready to play. Lakers will bring the trophy back to LA in 2009 and have all the makings of another dynasty…
July 21st, 2008 at 4:10 am
Cammy Z says:
Forget backup to Fish, get a real starting point guard. One that can get at least 5 assists per game. Jamaal Tinsley has good size, can rack up assists and has fallen out of favor in Indy. I think Phil Jackson can keep him in line.
As noted above, no way Fish can stop CP3.
Also, that toughness people are talking about. Who says signing Kurt Thomas takes care of that? It helps, but Kurt won’t be starting and the Lakers need a LOT of toughness. So trade for Ron Artest and grab Kurt for cheap and trade someone (I don’t think the Pacers will be too picky), ANYBODY (even Farmer) for Jamaal Tinsley or maybe someone like Ramon Sessions. Someone who can actually create on offense (so Kobe doesn’t have to facilitate all the time) and be quick enough to slow down the likes of CP3.