The Back-to-Back NBA Champion LA Lakers Offseason Thread | Page 12

LA9erFan · 2010-06-20T22:53:55-07:00

Laker Free AgentsPhil Jackson - It's being reported that he's strongly leaning toward returning. The only potential hiccup would be Dr. Buss trying to slash his salary. Considering the ownership's commitment to success, I'd be very surprised if something didn't get worked out. Derek Fisher - A virtual lock to be re-signed. For all of his misgivings, he is the emotional leader of the team, and once again came up huge in the postseason. He'll probably get a two year deal as a sign of respect from the Buss family, around $3.5M per year. Jordan Farmar - Farmar is probably gone. He is a restricted free agent, which means that the Lakers can match any offer that he receives, but my impression is that they will let him walk. He's expressed a desire to spread his wings in a more open court offense, and the triangle doesn't match his skill set. He competed hard for the Lakers this postseason, and I wish him well if he does in fact go elsewhere. Shannon Brown - Brown holds a player option on his contract, which he probably won't exercise, but has expressed a desire to stay in LA and a separate contract should be worked out. I believe that they will come to an agreement on a 2 year contract worth around $5M, with a team option for a 3rd year. Josh Powell - Probably gone. The Lakers will likely look to sign a better PF/C at the vet minimum, and there are several available. DJ Mbenga - I think Mbenga's a 50/50 shot to come back. If so, he'll get a minimum contract. Adam Morrison - Goner. So that leaves us with this roster. Let's say Mbenga doesn't re-sign: PG: Derek Fisher SG: Kobe Bryant, Shannon Brown, Sasha Vujacic SF: Ron Artest, Luke Walton PF: Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom C: Andrew Bynum Team Needs -Outside Shooting -Someone who can get to the hoop -Athleticism What I think the Lakers will look to do in Free Agency With Farmar's departure being likely, our most obvious need is at the PG spot. With that in mind, I believe that one of the following 5 players will be a Laker next season. Earl Watson - Watson is a solid veteran that the Lakers will likely strongly consider. If I had to put my money on one guy signing with the Lakers, it would be him. He's a superb defender at the PG spot, but is a streaky jump shooter and not great at getting to the hoop. Only a so-so distributor as well. Has a nice nasty streak in him, and would fit in well with the defensive mentality of this team. A Watson/Kobe/Artest/Gasol/Bynum defensive squad is a pretty enticing prospect. Steve Blake - Blake is a steady veteran with a high B-ball IQ, and an excellent catch & shoot player. Decent defender. Not a guy who can get to the hoop or finish all that well, but would likely organize the 2nd unit's offense in a way that Farmar did not. He would be a severe downgrade in transition though. Luke Ridnour - From the "God, I hope not" files, Ridnour is an option for the Lakers. Despite being the distributing PG in the group, he's very poor on the defensive end and only a so-so catch & shoot guy. Doesn't seem like a good fit for a team that runs the triangle, but he's a possibility if the Lakers want a "pure PG". Tracy McGrady - Well wouldn't this be a nice and juicy subplot to next season? There are rumors that McGrady is strongly interested in playing for the Lakers, and would a role off of the bench. While he isn't a PG, he would likely fill that role on offense, with Shannon Brown guarding PGs on the other end. As presently constructed, Kobe is the only Laker that can get to the hoop and create shots for others, and T-Mac would be a welcome addition in this respect. Of course there are concerns about his health, but I believe it's worth the risk. He's the player I'd want most out of this group. The second, smaller (but important) signing I believe that we'll make is for veteran, front court depth. I believe that we'll sign either Kurt Thomas or Joe Smith, with Thomas being more likely. With Bynum's injury issues, it would be wise to address our front court depth. Raja Bell: Added to the list due to rumors. He would make a lot of sense in the respect that he's intelligent, defensive minded, and can knock down a catch and shoot three pointer. If we sign him, keeping Shannon Brown is a must though, IMO, due to his athleticism. As is true with all of these guys, what we'd lose in athleticism will be gained in intelligence. The Farmar/Brown backcourt was a dumb one. NBA Draft The Lakers own the 43rd & 58th picks in this year's draft, as Memphis owns our 1st round pick, which finishes up the Pau Gasol trade. I actually think that one or both of our picks is going to make the team this year, despite being a 2nd rounder. I believe that we can address some of our athletic deficiencies in these spots. Here are some of my favorite prospects that may be available at these spots, or guys that the Lakers have worked out. Jarvis Varnado PF - This is the guy I want the most. For some reason, a lot of mocks have the NCAA all time leader in blocked shots slipping down into the Laker's area. It's his one real NBA skill, but he's dominant at it. Blocks shots with both hands, has ridiculous length, and great timing. The idea of the Lakers getting a shot changer like this guy in the 2nd round makes me shake my head. Mikhail Torrance, PG - If it isn't Varnado, Torrance is my 2nd choice. Has great size for a PG (6'5", 209lbs) and is a very good athlete. Has legitimate PG distributing skills, as well as the tools to become a very good defender. I think he has the potential to fit in very well in LA. He's #2 in this video. Nothing incredible here, but you can see his size, length, & glimpses of his athleticism. Charles Garcia, SF/PF Garcia's a bit of a mystery. He has lottery talent, but apparently a 10 cent head, which is why he plays at Seattle University. All of seen of the guy is this clip, and it inspired me to read up on him. He's 6'10", mobile, and explosive, as you're about to see. Matt Bouldin, PG/SG I'm not a huge fan, but the Lakers have worked him out. I don't think he has the lateral quickness to be a factor in the league. Alexey Shved A 6'7" PG out of Russia that's intriguing. Has a bit of Goran Dragic to his game. Final Roster In a big picture sense, we're looking for depth that can minimize the wear & tear on our core group. Fisher/Bryant/Artest/Gasol/Bynum/Odom are going to get the lion's share of the minutes when games are on the line, but if we can get guys that can minimize the stress of the mileage that's put on during the regular season AND contribute in small doses in the playoffs, it will be a successful offseason. PG: Derek Fisher, Earl Watson, 2nd Round pick SG: Kobe Bryant, Shannon Brown, Sasha Vujacic SF: Ron Artest, Luke Walton PF: Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom C: Andrew Bynum, Kurt Thomas, 2nd Round pick That's the squad that we're most likely to see at the beginning of next year, IMO. OKC's athleticism concerns me against that group, but against anyone else that would be a really tough squad to beat in a 7 game series. And T-Mac instead of Watson would be very, very intriguing. [ Edited by LA9erFan on Jun 22, 2010 at 19:43:05 ]

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:19 PM

#166

dman
Veteran
Posts: 7,453

Originally posted by GameOver:
Originally posted by phatbutskinny:
lakers sign steve blake 4 year 16 million

Blake Agrees To Four-Year Deal With Lakers
Jul 02, 2010 6:26 PM EST

Steve Blake has agreed to a four-year deal with the Lakers, according to a report from John Canzanao.

According to FanHouse, the deal is worth $16 million over four seasons.

RealGM Note: Blake bounced around the NBA for several seasons before finding a home with the Blazers in his second tenure. He was dealt to the Clippers shortly before the 2010 NBA deadline in a deal that brought Marcus Camby to Portland.

The point guard position was one area where the Lakers addressed as a high priority this offseason.

Link

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:21 PM

#167

StOnEy333
Hall of Fame
Posts: 99,664

4 year, $16 mil? I like it.

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:22 PM

#168

dman
Veteran
Posts: 7,453

Originally posted by StOnEy333:
4 year, $16 mil? I like it.

I like it too but no Mike Miller, oh well PG was more of a need.

Looks like 2mil. left on the MLE (for Fisher I hope)

And maybe another guy for the Vet min.

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:23 PM

#169

susweel
Hall of Nepal
Posts: 122,221

Is Blake any good ?

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:23 PM

#170

NineFourNiner
Hall of Fame
Posts: 78,773

Originally posted by susweel:
Is Blake any good ?

Not yet.

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:29 PM

#171

StOnEy333
Hall of Fame
Posts: 99,664

Originally posted by dman:
Originally posted by StOnEy333:
4 year, $16 mil? I like it.

I like it too but no Mike Miller, oh well PG was more of a need.

Looks like 2mil. left on the MLE (for Fisher I hope)

And maybe another guy for the Vet min.

Miller would have been nice, but Blake makes way more sense. I wonder if there is still a chance for McGrady. He'd definitely be playing for the minimum if he came to the Lakers now.

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:30 PM

#172

sacniner
Member
Posts: 31,684

Good signing for you guys... Farmar is pissed.

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:31 PM

#173

sacniner
Member
Posts: 31,684

Originally posted by susweel:
Is Blake any good ?

He is a solid backup PG

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:33 PM

#174

dman
Veteran
Posts: 7,453

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:35 PM

#175

susweel
Hall of Nepal
Posts: 122,221

Originally posted by sacniner:
Originally posted by susweel:
Is Blake any good ?

He is a solid backup PG

Thats what Im thinking, they better not make him a starter. We still need DFish back.

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:46 PM

#176

phatbutskinny
Veteran
Posts: 27,247

do we have enough money to resign fisher, brown and add another FA or are we way over cap now

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:51 PM

#177

susweel
Hall of Nepal
Posts: 122,221

Originally posted by phatbutskinny:
do we have enough money to resign fisher, brown and add another FA or are we way over cap now

We need to trade Odam so we can get some more players.

Jul 2, 2010 at 4:57 PM

#178

phatbutskinny
Veteran
Posts: 27,247

Originally posted by susweel:
Originally posted by phatbutskinny:
do we have enough money to resign fisher, brown and add another FA or are we way over cap now

We need to trade Odam so we can get some more players.

hell no

Jul 2, 2010 at 5:02 PM

#179

dman
Veteran
Posts: 7,453

Originally posted by phatbutskinny:
Originally posted by susweel:
Originally posted by phatbutskinny:
do we have enough money to resign fisher, brown and add another FA or are we way over cap now

We need to trade Odam so we can get some more players.

hell no

Jul 2, 2010 at 5:27 PM

#180

FredFlintstone
Veteran
Posts: 46,741

Originally posted by AmpLee:
Blake, Fisher?, Sasha
Kobe, ?
Artest, Walton, ?
Gasol, Odom
Bynum, ?

So at this point there are 4 spots up for grabs. I think if the Lakers can get Fisher back, sign TMac or Raja (unlikely) to a vet min, sign a young athletic high flyer (Gerald Green or Caracter), and get Kurt Thomas on a vet min, then we are poised to repeat. I think aside from Fisher's heroics, Blake is a far better all around option at the point, but I'd still like to see Fisher on this team.

I'm a little bummed that Mike Miller won't be an option as I was starting to like the idea. I also was hoping for JCrit to compete for a spot on this team, but the potential of Gerald Green is intriguing. We'll see. At this point, I am hoping either Raja or TMac would be willing to play for the vet min but that might be too much to ask. Maybe Walton decides to retire (back) and we free up some room.

is gerald green smar enough to play in the triangle. with all the other teams hes been on he hasnt done anything