Lakers Set?

It's pretty commonplace these days to read about how desperate the Los Angeles Lakers are to trade Kwame Brown. While he is a valuable expiring contract ($9.075 million), a source close to the team says there's no pressure for the Lakers to move him at all.

Now that Andrew Bynum has arrived and Brown is finally healthy, the Lakers have a very potent big-man combination. Certainly Brown has significant limitations offensively but LA is thinking ahead to playoffs where the road to the NBA Finals goes through the San Antonio Spurs.

Brown is by far the team's best post defender. The Lakers won't give up his ability to bother Tim Duncan without getting someone significant in return. If Jason Kidd or possibly Jermaine O'Neal suddenly became available LA would search for a Brown replacement - but the odds of a blockbuster deal coming up are very slim.

As it is, O'Neal wasn't terribly impressive in either meeting between the Lakers and Pacers.

Lamar Odom is finally settling into a role on the team. Coach Phil Jackson attempted to move Odom to small forward but the talented Laker simply isn't aggressive enough to take advantage of mismatches consistently on the offensive end. On the other hand, Odom is a very solid on the boards at the four, helping to make Lakers one of the best rebounding teams in the league.

The acquisition of Trevor Ariza has loaded the team up at the three and frankly power forward is the squad's most specious position. Look for LA to decide Odom's fate with the squad after the postseason.

Since sources indicate that the team isn't about to part with any of their young pieces like Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf or Javaris Crittenton - the Lakers don't really have much they're willing to offer. If Brown is the guy to go, the Lakers would expect a similarly capable post defender in his stead.

Part of the reason the LA has such good chemistry this year is that nearly everyone on the team knows their role. The two rookies don't expect to play (though it's harder on Crittenton than Coby Karl). Chris Mihm is still trying to get back to his old self after the ankle surgeries. Only Vladimir Radmanovic has yet to find a comfort zone. Otherwise each Laker approaches the season with a sense of purpose.

Management will take phone calls and look at the possibilities but they may have already made their big trade of the season by landing Ariza.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?STORY_ID=6828

hopefully they trade for a Forward or Center Position so someone can backup Bynum.. I would say to trade Bynum but a good deal in return