After a great 2008 season cumulating in a bitter end, there will be a lot of speculation about the future of the team and the fate of certain players.

The question remains, in order to take the final step, is change necessary on a team that came within two games of the ultimate prize? With the way Boston dominated us, will even the return of Drew guarantee a win over them next year?

Although the bitter and one-sided loss to Boston can create a reactionary rush to cure the flaws we displayed against them, is it wise to make major or even minor adjustments to a team that completely dominated its opponents in the West? The fact is that right now, as presently constituted, the Lakers are no worse than the third best team in basketball (we don’t know how they would have fared against Detroit). If in the end we were to make changes, where could we best benefit?

Since in not a general manager and don’t presume to know which teams are willing to trade their own players and for whom, I won’t make idle fantasy trades in this post, but simply evaluate the team and its players from my perspective.

If the Lakers were a stock to be kept or traded on the market, they would be rising with a bullet, second only to the Celtics and listed as a much better long term investment than Boston. I will use this motif in looking over the players we have, some almost universally loved by Lakers fans, others not so well received.

THE STARTERS

This unit was good enough to carve out the best record in the West breeze through the playoffs and make the NBA finals. They all looked good until we hit Boston when the Celtics terrific team and individual defense, physical play and rebounding acumen exposed some crucial weaknesses. Boston is old and really is not a long term threat for Laker hegemony but baring a very rapid aging next year, that is the team that should join us for a Finals rematch. Since we know how badly they dominated us in several areas the urge to try make changes its there if we realistically want to change the outcome of this years series. Since the disappointing play of Pau and Lamar was a large reason for the loss trading one of them would be the logic route in an effort to get more a more physical defensive presence. I would agree with this scenario except for the fact that this team, without making a single move will be getting an all star caliber center back. Drew will cover for a lot of defensive lapses next year, at least as for as it pertains to players waltzing past perimeter defenders and scoring in the paint. This will also provide the benefit of moving Pau back to natural position of forward. By doing this his ridiculously soft interior defense and erratic rebounding will be mitigated to a large degree. I feel trading Lamar would also be a mistake. He is a tenacious, effective rebounder and if he is traded that would only leave Drew as the only legitimate board man on the team. I know if we have a rematch with Boston, the thought of only Drew trying to match Boston under the boards is not an appealing prospect. Likewise if Drew got hurt next year and we did not have Lamar our lack of rebounding would be devastating. Unless Lamar can be moved for a player of equal or greater facility at collecting rebounds, I would be very cautious about shipping him.
As good as the Lakers were this year; the one lineup we didn’t get to see is Pau, Drew and Lamar. The potential of what these three may do is simply too tempting for me to want to not see it in action for at least next year.

Kobe Bryant: Despite his horrific showing in the Finals, still the best player in basketball. Unless you are getting the much younger Lebron James, theres no use even speculating on him. He’s Kobe. He’s the bluest of the blue chip players. Keep till retirement.

Andrew Bynum: The improvement this young dreadnought center made this year in spite of the paucity of playing time and experience he had in playing organized basketball(hardly any high school, no college, not a lot of professional experience)must have have been absolutely frightening for the rest of the league to watch. At the time of his injury he was putting up all star numbers and getting better in every facet of his game seemingly on a nightly basis. By the time he went out, he was already the second best player on this team. The moment he comes back, he will be so again. People say whe will have to adjust next year to playing with Pau and Lamar. This is not true. He is the superior player. They will have to adjust to playing with him. The Franchise’s future. Blue chip all the way. Keep till retirement.

Lamar Odom: A tenacious rebounder and jack of all trades, master of none. He can get the tough rebound take the ball up the court, pass it off for an easy two or go to the hole. He can get you 18 boards or 28 points with equal facility on any given night. Not a very good defender or shotblocker. He can break your heart and your team by disappearing for long stretches at a time just when you need him the most. Seems to shun the athletic limelight. The quintessential team player, perhaps to a fault. Semi blue chip. Keep for the short term for evaluation as to how he plays with Drew.

Pau Gasol: The trade for him got the LA Lakers through the West and into the finals but he wasn’t good enough, physical enough, intense enough or a as good a defender as the Lakers needed to clear the final hurdle. His value and performance should increase with a return to his natural position at forward. A good enough center for us to beat all the teams except for Boston who really preyed on his deficiencies. Keep for the short term for evaluation as to how he plays with Drew.

Derek Fisher: A true warrior in the sunset of a great career. Had a better season than anyone had a right to expect. Showed his age as the playoffs went on and had large stretches against Boston where he disappeared. Not the defender he was but still better than most of Lakers on the current roster. Moving to the bench may actually be beficical to both his career at this point and the Lakers if Jordan Farmar continues to improve. An old blue chipper. Keep for one more year.

THE BENCH MOB

This unit is a major cause of concern. Unlike the starters, their play began to dip against Utah and steadily declined until against Boston they were pretty much non existent. In the regular season where game planning is next to impossible, the intensity level is not that high and defense is many times half hearted, the Bench Mob looked good. All of them contributed to some degree and had their moments. Sasha was the standout. In the playoffs it was a different story. With intense game planning by the opposition, a severe ratcheting up in intensity and defenses they had to go against, the Bench Mob failed utterly. An argument can be made that they cost the Lakers the Championship series against Boston.

Sasha: A great heart with a gym rat mentality and great work ethic. He was a star in the regular season and playoffs-until he hit Boston. Except for his sparkling 20 point effort he was taken out of his game offensively and defensively. He is too much of a one dimensional player relying on his jumper and little else. Not a very good ball handler either. In order to take the next step up he needs to work on dribbling and driving to the basket as well as his post up moves. Work on his defensive footwork would also help him and the team. Every day he practices his jumper this summer is time wasted. Possible blue chipper. Keep.

Vlad: A former starter he will now return to the Bench Mob with Drew’s return. A great asset when he’s raining in threes and a huge liability when he’s not. A horrible defender and rebounder. His shot is a thing of beauty when it’s on, but he’s just not consistent enough to make up for the problems he causes the team when he gets a lot of minutes. Fades against tough defense and physical play. This is one player the Lakers can and should move if they find the right opportunity. Sell.

Luke Walton: The liability. Judged not athletic enough by scouts when drafted, this assessment has been proven true. Whether you want to call it reflexes, fast twitch muscles or instincts-whatever it is, he doesn’t have them. His physical liabilities are magnified greatly in the playoffs and against tough teams. He ends up looking lost and harried, missing easy jumper and lay-ups with regularity. Not a good defender or rebounder. Not a good post up player. Not a good outside shot. For all his purported intelligence loses the ball a lot and makes bad passes. Frequently fouls in frustration. He is 27 years old and should be in his prime. What you see now is what you get. What compounds the problem is his salary. He’s tying up money the Lakers could better use on keeping other players or getting free agents. If the Lakers can find someone dumb enough to take they should in a heartbeat. Sell.

Ronny Turiaf: He is the myth of energy. He parlayed some towering eye catching blocks with a screaming, chest bumping, high fiving act that got him the misnomer of “Mr. Energy” by TV announcers. This is not even remotely true. He is “Mr. Enthusiasm” not “Mr. Energy.” Energy implies production which Ronny does not give. Unfortunately, despite all the enthusiasm he shows, it does not translate into energy or production. His on court performance is as bad as Luke’s. At 6 foot 9 or ten and close to 260lbs he is an abysmal rebounder. His offensive game is nonexistent and can only hit a short jumper if he is unguarded and even then with inconsistency. No post up game. Not a special defender. Even his trademark block shots dwindled away as the year progressed. He gets worse as the competition gets better. Despite his reputation, who does he play harder than; Sasha, Kobe, Lamar, Luke, Jordan? Anyone? A perfect example of a media creation that was bought lock stock and barrel by the fans. While he is only in his second year, he does not evince the basketball instincts that Sasha and Drew gave off even when they were playing bad. With those players, they were always around the ball, always moving, always looking alert and energetic. When one watches Ronny, he never seems to be around the ball, never invades the action. He can’t seem to anticipate rebounds, get position or block out. Even on the rare occasions he does, so often another player seems to step in and grab the ball over him. He’s always seems out of position or a second late. It’s possible he will improve, but I have a feeling that Ronny is going to be pretty much what he is now. Another player on the bench the Los Angeles Lakers would be wise to move if they can. They already have a nice group of cheerleaders at every game. Sell.

Jordan Farmar: A very good regular season. He had problems against the big guard of Utah but came back again against the Spurs and had nice moments against the Celtics. Confidence improved once Utah was in the rear view mirror. Lots of heart and desire. A good athlete who needs to work on his passing and defense. If he makes the same incremental leap next year that he did this year he could possibly be our starting point guard in 2009. A possible blue chipper. Keep.

Trevor Ariza: Only 22 years old. A baby still. Nice athleticism and a very good defender. Needs to work hard on his offense. He seems to have very good basketball instincts and is always around the ball for rebound or a steal. Showed flashes of greatness in his eye opening stint against Boston. If he works hard could become a special player. Once can envision him ending up a Bruce Bowen type. Possible blue chipper. Keep.

In looking at what cost us against Boston and our obvious weakness, two free agents in the market stand out: Ron Artest and James Posey. Posey would bring the three point range that Vlad gives us but with the physical toughness and defensive mindset that Vlad does not possess. Posey would be a great acquisition for us and his defection would also hurt Boston, killing two birds with one stone. This player would fit perfectly on our team.

Artest while a great physical addition comes with the obvious baggage. He is an ultimate head case and has had trouble in every locker room he’s been in, even winning ones. Can Phil, who somehow gutted it out with Rodman and Kobe keep this wild card under some semblance of control? If they can’t it could become a nightmare. If they could he would help this team immensely in winning a title next year. Is he worth the risk?