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J-Cool
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Post subject: Rumors: Big Name Rundown
 Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 04:30 PM PST
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Laker GM
Joined: Jul 15, 2007 Age: 18
Posts: 3208
  
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At the First Turn: A number of prominent players have been rumored to be on the trade block. Some requested trades; others are in rebuilding situations. Presently HOOPSWORLD is running a series looking at each team twenty games in. In the spirit of that, how does the trade market stack up a quarter of the way into the season?
Here are the big names that have been rumored to be on the block - in order of least likely to be moved, to most:
Kobe Bryant: For a brief moment Bryant was almost traded to the Chicago Bulls, but that door has since been closed. Even after the December 15th date passes (when recently signed free agents can finally be traded - like Andres Nocioni), the Lakers are simply playing too well to consider moving Bryant.
While he won't come out and publicly declare he wants to be a Laker for life, Bryant is slowly becoming fond of the team he has around him.
Future owner Jim Buss may have been doubted by many both in and outside of the organization, but it's starting to look like his pet project (Andrew Bynum) is for real.
Jason Kidd: With the Nets annually underachieving, Jason Kidd clearly isn't happy.
Then again if New Jersey offers a big enough contract extension, happiness has its price.
With Kidd's age and salary there just won't be many practical suitors. With the prospect of less than equal return, the Nets will hold steady. Even if they have a mediocre regular season, like last year they always have the chance to make noise in the playoffs.
Of the rumored suitors: the Cavaliers don't have cap-friendly contracts, the Mavericks aren't thought to have a compelling interest and the Lakers aren't trading Bynum.
Andrei Kirilenko: Over the summer Kirilenko had harsh words for the Utah Jazz and Coach Jerry Sloan. While there was some exploration, the Jazz never came close to finding a trade for their versatile forward. On paper, Shawn Marion made sense but he wasn't partial to playing in Utah.
Instead Coach Sloan was willing to compromise by finding ways to get Kirilenko more involved with the offense. So far this season it's worked. While his scoring has gone up by just two (currently at 10.3 ppg), Kirilenko is averaging more than twice as many assists (6.0 apg).
For now this crisis has been resolved. The Jazz have dropped more games than they would have desired (including three straight), but it will take some serious adversity for Kirilenko trade talks to start up again.
Shawn Marion: It's never been 100% clear why Marion was so unhappy this summer considering how good the Phoenix Suns are year after year. In addition, Marion is well-paid and gets plenty of shots per game.
Some of it was ego considering how much attention two-time MVP Steve Nash has gotten. Most of it was financial - since the Suns weren't willing to reward him with a lucrative contract extension.
Marion's deal is easier to move considering he doesn't have the same number of years left as Kirilenko, but the Suns are committed to giving this core one more shot to win it all before going in another direction.
If, however, they got an opportunity to improve by trading Marion - they'd do it.
Pau Gasol: Last season Gasol made it clear he didn't want to be a part of Memphis' rebuilding project. The team explored moving him but never found a deal to their liking.
Over the summer the organization began the overhaul in earnest, bringing in new General Manager Chris Wallace and Coach Marc Iavaroni. The Grizzlies brought in players to complement Gasol like close friend Juan Carlos Navarro and Darko Milicic.
Unfortunately, the team is not playing well and Gasol's numbers are down across the board.
While the 7'0" Spaniard is not currently on the block, expect his name to be bounced around the rumor mill as the trade deadline nears.
Jermaine O'Neal: The catch with O'Neal is the Indiana Pacers know they need an inside player (both offensively and defensively) to seriously compete in the playoffs. Conversely, the team has been playing better this season when O'Neal is in street clothes.
Indiana can afford to be patient. O'Neal's trade value is low because he's a shell of the player he used to be. Should his surgically repaired knee improve his value will go up both on the trade market and also to the Pacers.
Since teams won't overpay for an expensive question mark, the Pacers are going to wait it out with the hope O'Neal can be a serious contributor well before the postseason.
Ron Artest: While Artest has had a good year averaging 20.3 ppg without an off-the-court incident to speak of, the Kings may find it hard to get value for the volatile forward.
Plenty of teams would like to have Artest on their roster but few are willing to give up anything significant. Since Artest can opt out of his final year, he's not the guy teams will risk acquiring for half a season if the cost is too high.
Because he's in his final year, the Kings in turn aren't interested in expiring contracts - though they may be willing to listen to offers that include the dumping of Kenny Thomas and/or Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
Mike Bibby: The Kings still have designs on one of the bottom playoff seeds in the Western Conference. They have a lot of talented players on their roster but injuries have been devastating through the first twenty games: Mike Bibby has yet to play, Abdur-Rahim is expected to be out the entire season, and Kevin Martin is out a month.
The bright spots are the play of newcomer Beno Udrih along with John Salmons and Francisco Garcia. Where the Kings need help is in the frontcourt and if Bibby can make that happen . . . then so be it.
The Kings will get a lot of calls for Bibby before the February trade deadline.
Andre Miller: New boss Ed Stefanski may need another 20 games to evaluate his players before making a move, but veteran Andre Miller looks like the guy to go. A number of teams are desperate for point guards (Miami HEAT, Cleveland Cavaliers, etc) while the Sixers are knee-deep in the rebuilding process.
Be it young talent, expiring contracts and/or draft picks, Miller is the odds on favorite to end up in a new uniform by March . .
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=6432 |
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poppintags08
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Post subject: RE: Rumors: Big Name Rundown
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 04:58 PM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
Joined: Jun 23, 2007
Posts: 1409
votes: 14
Status: Offline
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Miller to Miami
Bibby to Cleveland
That's the 2 most obvious destinations for those players.
Gasol to Chicago is another good idea.
Our Lakers should be in the hunt for Kidd, JO, and Gasol, maybe even Artest but that's a long shot. |
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laker15
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 04:59 PM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
Joined: Oct 06, 2007
Posts: 1308
votes: 3
Status: Offline
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| dude shut the fuek up okay no one gives a shiet |
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Dave
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 05:48 PM PST
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Site Admin
Joined: Apr 18, 2005
Posts: 1106
votes: 20
Status: Offline
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laker15 wrote:
dude shut the fuek up okay no one gives a shiet
Wow- can't say I didn't give you warnings. Banned! |
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Gmoney818
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 07:54 PM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 1224
votes: 3
Status: Offline
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| lol i dont even see why he was talkin crap.. |
_________________
 all day
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KOBE=LANOTHINGELSE
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 08:00 PM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
Joined: Jul 21, 2007
Posts: 1136
votes: 10
Status: Offline
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| yeah i agree with you gmoney |
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KB24
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 08:16 PM PST
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Serious Laker Fan
Joined: Apr 27, 2007
Posts: 258
Location: L.A.
votes: 1
Status: Offline
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laker15 wrote:
dude shut the fuek up okay no one gives a shiet
Whyd he get all crazy jeez. Oh well that guy was not a very good poster imo anyway  |
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4lakers
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 08:23 PM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
Joined: Jul 05, 2007
Posts: 1194
Location: Los Angeles
votes: 14
Status: Offline
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I would love to see a strong defensive minded / rebound minded power forward around waiting to join this squad of young talented players. Wouldn't have to even be a superstar type. Someone like Chris Wilcox or even Danny Fortson. A big body in the middle with Kwame and Bynum that could really hold down the paint.
It's strange to look at the Spurs lineup. It seems, at least on paper, that teams like New York, Houston, Chicago and others should be better then they are as a team and the Spurs should not be as good as they are. But it is that team chemistry and incredible defense that makes the Spurs so good.
Besides Duncan, who is a very good player - but often not a devastating player - I never thought a team with a lineup of Brent Barry, Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker, Matt Bonner, Francisco Elson, Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto etc would be such a dominant and devastating team.
But sure enough. 17-3. I hope our Lakers take a page from the Spurs book and see what a group of players can accomplish with a dedication to defensive.
While the Suns and Golden State and Dallas put up incredible offensive numbers - the Spurs just play that nasty D game with a less (at least on paper) talented team and are on their way during the playoffs. While the high octane teams are sent on early vacations.
I know it is off topic - but that is why I am so high on Ariza and Kwame. Defense - these guys understand and play defense. This will get us to the next step in our growth as a team. Moreover, this is why I'm not so high on getting Gasol or some of the other big names. We have proved we can score on a consistent basis - but once we can become a defensive stopper team - then we will prove we can win it all again. |
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Lakers4Kobe
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 10:20 PM PST
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Laker GM
Joined: Aug 01, 2007 Age: 16
Posts: 3242
Location: Sydney, Australia
votes: 31
Status: Offline
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| 4lakers, you are correcct. If we don't defend then we will never get past the first round. |
_________________
Many teams try and fail to amount to what the Los Angeles Lakers have accomplished in their 60 years in the NBA. They truly are the greatest franchise in the history of professional sports.
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kjinglewood
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 10:56 PM PST
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Casual Laker Fan
Joined: Aug 06, 2007
Posts: 171
Status: Offline
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| If the lakers do go after Kidd, they will have to give up Odom, Kwame, one of the young guards (most likely Farmar), and maybe sasha. They won't take Radmans contract with 4 years left on it. If they did this, It would be logical to get some veteran FA's i.e. Webber, PJ Brown, or even Fortson to replace Brown and man the Post. Hell, they might be more consistant than brown come to think about it. Not sure of the offense, but that would definately be a great defensive team. Also, if that went down, you'd have Fisher, Critt, Radman, Mihm, Turiaf, Ariza off the bench. Pretty good, if you ask me. |
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