I know the both of you, along with Coach Jackson, Jeannie, Jerry, and Jim, have all been tired of hearing it. The complaints from Lakers fans. The whining from season ticket holders. The trash-talking from Laker haters. The infamous Kobe Video. And the speculation from insiders and sports-talk radio.
Right now I'm sure neither one of you really knows what will happen in the upcoming weeks of the free agency period. There has been so much of this Garnett trade talk circulating around the NBA that a new team enters the picture every week. Who's next, the Clippers?
Kobe, I have one thing to say to you so you better stop complaining. Be patient, young padawan. The force will be with you. Phil, the Jedi Master, has your back and that should be enough to let you know that the Lakers will do everything they can to build a title contender this year. Chick Hearn is watching and he too is probably sick of hearing it from you.
And what are you complaining about? It's not like you've ever led a team to a playoff series victory anyway since Shaq left. You make $136 million, you have the top selling jersey in the world, your reputation and image are vastly improved, and the Lakers have reiterated over and over again that they will build around you. You've made your point. Now's the time to be adult and professional about the whole situation.
And I have your back too. That's why I'm writing this piece. If anyone in the Laker organization reads this, I sure as heck hope you get a copy Mr. Kupchak. And please give one to Brian Shaw, Kurt Rambis, Tex Winters, Jim Cleamons, Frank Hamblen, Mr. Buss, his grandkids... whomever. You guys up there in the war room who make all the decisions, you need to be a lot more creative when you pitch other GM's around the league about a proposal. How effective are you at selling the benefits of a Lamar Odom and an Andrew Bynum to other investors?
If Danny Ainge could pull off a trade to get Ray Allen for practically nothing, then why can't you execute anything of significance Mr. Kupchak? And if you are calling the re-signing of Luke SkyWalton a major move of signifcance, then maybe you need to call me in for a job interview with your scouting team and let me show you what I can do with a desk, computer, and a phone.
If the reality is that you won't have enough to sign KG, then allow me to make a pitch to you before you pitch it to them.
Go after YAO MING. It's clear that the Yao and T-Mac experiment will probably not work no matter how many guards the Rockets acquire. Do the Rockets actually think that bringing back Mike James will catapult them to the second round? What a joke! Then they go out and sign another point guard in Aaron Brooks and bring in an undersized power foward in Carl Landry, who makes me wonder if he is just going to be another Juwan Howard, whom they dealt to Minnesota for James. Looks to me like the Rockets are either going in circles or are heading for outer space to explore Mars. One thing is for sure, Mitch. It's time for you to make the call and help them out.
It's obvious that the Rockets may be on the verge of adopting a high-tempo style offense with the addition of Brooks and the hiring of Rick Adelman, who run-and-gunned with the Clyde Drexler Blazers in the nineties. So why not offer them point forward Lamar Odom, who would thrive in Houston next to McGrady, and Andrew Bynum, who would give them a young, legitimate post replacement for Yao? Odom and Bynum for Yao and Rafer Alston. Done deal. Just go out and sell it.
Next on the list should be Ron Artest. You have two scenarios to throw at the Maloof Brothers. They may not want to listen but you have to be aggressive. Since the King owners are in the casino business, you may want to have Jerry initiate the talks as well.
Scenario #1: Vladimir Radmanovic and Sasha Vujacic for Artest. The contracts match. All you have to do is find a way for the Maloofs to believe in the idea that European sharp shooters are good for their franchise. It worked with Hedo Turkoglu, it'll work with Radman and Sasha.
Scenario #2: Kwame Brown and Jordan Farmar for Artest. The contracts again will match up. Sacramento gets to unload Brown's contract after next year and they receive a solid defensive big man as well. Farmar is an easy sell because the Kings get a Pac-10 replacement for Mike Bibby in case he leaves.
As far as the midlevel exception is concerned, Steve Blake would be my choice for starting point guard. He is a team player who played for a contender in college and he is a sharp-shooting specialist as well. You won't have to worry about any egos with this addition. Everywhere he's gone he's played with a top notch two-guard (Juan Dixon, Michael Redd, Allen Iverson) so there won't be an issue playing with Kobe. Blake has veteran savvy, and above all he reminds me of a combination between a young Steve Kerr and Mark Price.
Last on the list, Mr. Kupchak, will be your $1.3 milliion veteran exception. If everything above happens to come to fruition, you will certainly need another big man. There are two viable candidates with this slot. Former All-Star veteran center Jamaal Magloire could help fill a huge need as backup center. Another player worth calling is Chris Webber, who strongly considered the Lakers last year and may actually leave Detroit after a failed half-season experiment.
In sum, here are my new starters for 2007-08: 1- Blake, 2- Kobe, 3- Artest, 4- Webber, 5- Yao. Bench rotation will include Evans, Crittenton, Cook, Turiaf, Gasol, and either Farmar and Brown or Radmanovic and Vujacic.
So there you go. I've put on my Laker GM cap and made my moves. Kobe and Mitch, it's time to make yours.
Otherwise, give me a call and TO the file to me. I'll close the sale.
Well we ain't taking your garbage for Artest, yes we do want to move him but you would have to give us Odom! You have no players on that team other than Kobe worth trading for! Kwame please!! I'd be moving out of town and becoming a Laker fan if we end up with that Bum! You been on a vacation J-Dizz or what?
VearlthePearl: Maybe Bynum and Vlad Rad for Artest, but not Odom. No way, not with the baggage that Artest carries.
I'm glad to be back. I went on vacation to Spain to see Mark Gasol, had a chat with Kobe and Dr. Buss, and went to China to scout Sun Yue. Other than that, I'm still a Laker fan.
Let's be realistic...the Lakers aren't getting Yao Ming, nor would I want Yao.
Acquiring Artest is going to take way more than V-Rad and Farmar. Farmar is unproven. I think that a deal may be swung for Walton and Kwame. Maybe Kwame and Bynum.
I love Artest as a player...even though he may be insane as a person.
If anyone can contain the 'Tru-Warrior...it's Phil.
HOFFMAN: I'm dead serious. Why wouldn't you want Yao?
He is a true legit All-Star center in this league. Imagine how much better he would be in the triangle.
Grant Hill would be a nice pickup but I am willing to bet the Lakers don't go after him because of durability issues.
Mitch Kupchak just said the other night on an interview that the Lakers are only concerned with players who can play an entire year (understandable because of all the injuries and wasted money from last year), and with Hill that is a huge question mark given his age and his history.
Walton and Brown for Artest would also be a good proposition, especially if Mike Bibby doesn't leave Sactown.
Not bad at all. I think you're a little delerious in what you're offering in trade for Yao. I think Radthe bad and Maybe Evans would be better suited to the Sacramento push type ball and considering the Kings Management and the "wholesome image" the Maloof Brothers are trying to project while they work like beavers on getting that Las Vegas franchise (yes it was set back during the all star game but it's still on) and the bad blood between them and Artest, this is as good as it will get with Artest at this point. He's toast in Sac and you better take what you can get. Sweeten the pot a bit for Yao. Yao under phil would be awesome.
I think you're way too nice to Mitch who should be fired and saying "would you like fries with that order" for a living.
And Jerry Buss is out of control. Everyone knows he like his young honey's and that was fine. Just part of the Laker legend but when you get busted with 22 year old honey's not once but twice drunk and you are 70 miles away from you home base and wandering around a little town "sneaking" and you know that's what you were doing. You skunk you. You're looking and reminding me more and more of Al Davis every day.
Fire Mitch and give the job to Dizzle. He's light years ahead of Mitch.
Last edited by anotheroutlaw on July 2nd at 9:03 PM.
Well, thank you Mr. JD....
We are just tired of all the negative words about KOBE... we want to read some positive words about what he is trying to do...really..this is how we read & see what he did, "He was trying to get team mates that he can pass the ball to and get the points when this team mates shoot the ball.. not the team mates that pass it back to him to get the points for him. He had always said, "I am happy just to get 8 points a game, if I had team mates that can step up and do what ever to get the job done for the team". LOL
UC IRVINE graduate and proud to be an ANTEATER. My claim to fame is having played against the likes of Tayshaun and Tommie Prince, Jacque Vaughn, and Charles O'Bannon, plus getting dunked on by Schea Cotton in a CIF second round match in the nineties.
WIDELY KNOWN on FOX as one of the most biased LAKER HOMERS in blog history, highly criticized for hating on the PHOENIX SUNS fan base, and has been told on more than one occasion that LAMAR ODOM isn't worth the suit he's wearing.
Believe that "excellence is not an act but a habit."
Believe that the things you do and the things you don't do, they all send a message.
Believe that in order to know the world one must first know thyself.
And believe that it's the journey not the destination.
Finally, as the great Bruce Lee once said, "Man - he is constantly growing and when he is bound by a set pattern of ideas or way of doing things, that's when he stops growing."
This is the Way of the Dragon. Embrace it.
