Lakers 2009/2010: 45-15 Comeback Against Nuggets

[trainwreck]

With Anderson's bad back and injured passed can he keep up with the smaller quicker guards when it comes to defense? Watson can play defense which is another reason why I would want him. Watson eventually may have to lower his asking price and the Grizzlies certainly have enough PGs now that they do not need him.

[m2k989]

Originally Posted by JShow34

I'd rather have Derek Anderson than any of those other plays mentioned. Anderson is probably still regretting not accepting that offer from the Spurs a few years ago or perhaps his career thus far would have shown what a talented and versitale guy he is.

If the Lakers land Anderson I guarantee they will make the playoffs.

I wouldn't feel so confident. Backcourt depth is going to be a big problem, with Vujacic needing to essentially back both whatever PG we get and Kobe. He'll need to play a productive 25 minutes a game, but I have no idea whether he's ready for it. Phil Jackson will face a huge test with this team; it falls to him to develop Brown, Vujacic, and Bynum. That said, I like the Bynum pick. The Lakers made a concious decision that this team will need to run through a great big man, and Bynum has the most upside they could've gotten. All the downplaying of Bynum by the team is a ploy to lessen the backlash if the Lakers miss the playoffs again. However, I do see a way that things can fall into place for a playoff run this season. Essentially, its all about Kwame Brown and how he and Kobe blend. Brown's potential is a mile wide, but he's going to have to learn to be the focal point of a complicated offense. If Kobe is willing to throw the ball in to Brown because he knows it'll make things happen, this could be a deadly team.

[_illapeeno]

Source: http://www2.dailynews.com/sports/ci_2927723

Lakers cut ties with Grant

The Lakers have decided to waive forward Brian Grant, taking advantage of a one-time provision to the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement allowing them to save nearly $30 million in luxury tax penalties.
"We understand from a business standpoint there's a huge economic incentive with the luxury tax savings," Grant's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Tuesday. "We know it has nothing to do with Brian's abilities as a player and has everything to do with dollars."

Grant was the Lakers' second-highest paid player after Kobe Bryant and still is owed $29.8 million on his contract. He averaged a career-low 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds last season while battling chronic tendinitis in his knees.

The Lakers will have to pay nearly all of Grant's remaining contract, even if the 33-year-old forward signs with another team as a free agent, and will gain no additional salary cap flexibility until after the 2006-07 season, when Grant's contract expires.

Where the Lakers will benefit is in removing Grant's salary from the NBA's luxury tax calculations, present and future. The league assesses a dollar-for-dollar penalty for the amount teams spend over the luxury tax threshold, which will be $61.7 million for next season.

The Lakers' payroll for the upcoming season is projected to be in excess of $75 million. They have until Aug. 15 to take advantage of the amnesty provision, but are expected to release Grant as early as today.

Grant will join Portland guard Derek Anderson and Orlando guard Doug Christie (Pepperdine) as the league's first three amnesty casualties. Anderson worked out for the Lakers on Monday and will visit Minnesota and Detroit before making a decision early next week about where to sign.

"We like that situation," Anderson's agent, Tony Dutt, said about the Lakers, "but there are others we like as well. We're still exploring the market."

The Lakers are in need of a ball-handling guard as well as a shooter, and Anderson fits the bill for both. They have $5 million to spend but appear adamant about splitting their midlevel exception on two players while Anderson would like the full amount.

Dutt said the Lakers also want to wait and see which players become available as the amnesty deadline approaches. Anderson, meanwhile, underwent a physical for the Lakers, which Dutt said resolved any questions about his health.

Anderson missed a combined 66 games the last two seasons and has battled back problems.

After arriving from Miami last year as part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade, Grant struggled with a neck injury in training camp. He missed only six games during his last two years with the Heat but was forced to go on the injured list for a month in late November due to the tendinitis.

Last season Grant was reduced to a bench role and averaged only 16.5 minutes per game, with his price tag outweighing his productivity.

[crew]

Originally Posted by _illapeeno

Van Exel is leaning more towards signing with a texas team Houston or Dallas. Barry can play spot up minutes at point, but he's more of a sg. Watson is still available but he's asking for more then the MLE and the price range is out of the Laker's reach.

Anderson is also more a SG then a PG. He can play PG as much as Barry can. Anyway it isn't a big thing.

Watson wants more then the MLE, but there aren't too many teams that can afford that. I guess if the Hawks continue to mess up the Joe Johnson deal, they could be players for Watson, but other then them I don't see a team far enough under the cap going for Watson.

[m2k989]

The Lakers don't need a ball handling PG if Jackson's going to run the triangle, they need a shooter. Anderson will be a good fit because even if he isn't the ideal guy to bring the ball up, he can knock down the open shots. Kobe and Odom can handle plenty of the point duties, but all the Laker perimeter players need to be able to knock down the looks that they'll get when defenses collapse on the big man in the triangle.

[_illapeeno]

Source: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...ocus_to_mckie/

Lakers Turn Attention to McKie



L.A. Times - After taking a week to study their options, the Lakers on Wednesday opened negotiations to bring in a new starting point guard — not with Derek Anderson, but with Aaron McKie.

Until General Manager Mitch Kupchak contacted McKie's agent, Leon Rose, the Lakers had been focused on Anderson. The switch is thought to have been prompted by Coach Phil Jackson, who decided he preferred the 6-foot-5, 210-pound McKie, who is bigger and more solid if not as talented as Anderson.


He may be older then D.A. but he's just as talented and can vill the starting void at pg. Plus he'll come cheaper then the other pg's left out there. The nets have also shown interest in Mckie.
[/b]

[m2k989]

McKie could be a real find here. His defense is definetly what the Lakers need at the point, and the last year that he started a significant amount of games he was among the league leaders in 3 point FG percentage, something you couldn't say for Chucky Atkins. The question is if he'll come cheap enough for the Lakers to make another signing with him.

[_illapeeno]

After signing Aaron Mckie there hasn't been any new Laker signings or rumors until now.

Report: Looks As If Sprewell Will Join Lakers
11th September, 2005 - 1:03 pm



St. Paul Pioneer Press - Now it looks as if the Los Angeles Lakers will be the new home of Timberwolves free agent Latrell Sprewell, writes Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Walters doesn't divulge any terms or an indication that a league source informed him of an agreement, but popular deduction leads most to believe that Sprewell's last option has indeed been the Lakers.

[m2k989]

Oh great. He sure as hell won't be happy providing a spark off the bench, which is really what he'll have to do because he isn't starting.

[_illapeeno]

Divac To Hang 'Em Up
16th September, 2005 - 11:53 pm
ESPN - Los Angeles Lakers center Vlade Divac plans to retire as a player but will remain with the team as an assistant coach and scout, a Serbian newspaper reported Friday.

"It is enough," Divac told the Blic daily. "No, I won't play the next season. I'll work for the Lakers as an assistant coach and an international scout."

The 37-year-old Divac, who returned to the Lakers last season, underwent back surgery in January and played in only 15 games, averaging 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds. He averaged 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 15 previous NBA seasons -- six with the Lakers, two with Charlotte and seven with Sacramento.

"The injury has only helped my decision to retire," Divac said. "I always gave 100 percent to the sport, and after so many years of playing, I can no longer do that. I'm ending my professional career as a player, but I will remain in basketball."

The Lakers and Divac had previously agreed to postpone a decision on his contract status

At least we'll have an assistant coach who can mentor Brown and Bynum. It's good to see Divac end his career with the team that orginally drafted him.

[trainwreck]

Originally Posted by _illapeeno

At least we'll have an assistant coach who can mentor Brown and Bynum. It's good to see Divac end his career with the team that orginally drafted him.

Do not forget that we also hired Kareem to be a special assistant to help the young big men out. As for Spreewell I do not know what to think. I am not really sure he fits the triangle well since he is more of a slasher with a mid range game. Hopefully he just does not cause trouble and can be productive for us.

[charles202]

Has anyone seen any confirmation of Spreewell signing?

[crew]

Originally Posted by charles202

Has anyone seen any confirmation of Spreewell signing?

Supposedly they are still just talking. Though it seems that Sprewell's options are very limited, so the Lakers could have him fairly easily.

[_illapeeno]

Bump, haven't posted here since the offseason and it looks like Spree didn't sign with the Lakers after all :roll: . The season is a quarter of the way done and the Lakers are 14-11, and are currently 3rd in the pacific and 8th in the west. Lamar Odom has been playing pretty well this season playing as the "point-forward" in Jackson's triangle, though his points are down his rebounds and assists are up.

[_illapeeno]

Turiaf Cleared To Return
20th December, 2005 - 12:09 pm
LA Times - Forward Ronny Turiaf, who underwent open-heart surgery five months ago, passed his physical and was cleared to play by team doctors Monday.

Turiaf, a second-round draft pick from Gonzaga, is still at least two weeks away from joining the team, a Laker spokesman said, and would have to improve his conditioning and learn the triangle offense before officially coming on board.

Money wouldn't be a problem — Turiaf would gladly accept the minimum NBA salary of $399,000, which would then be prorated for time played — but Coach Phil Jackson has the ultimate say on when and if Turiaf returns.

"Conditioning and skill level are to be determined now," Laker spokesman John Black said Monday. "Then it becomes a decision for Phil to make whether or not he'd be a benefit to the team on the roster."

The Lakers would have to reduce their roster via trade or by waiving a player, either Devin Green or Von Wafer. Turiaf, who turns 23 next month, can't practice with the team unless he is under contract

We can always use a big body to grab rebounds, since Brown has been a dissapointment so far this season. Still thought we should've kept Butler instead of trading him for Brown since he's already a proven scorer and slasher.

[_illapeeno]

With a comeback win over the pistons the Lakers are currently 31-29 and sit 8th for the last playoff spot out West.

Another Jackson Joining The Lakers?
5th March, 2006 - 12:54 pm

L.A. Times - Jim Jackson, who was waived last week by Phoenix, has begun talks with the Los Angeles Lakers .

The Lakers have $2.5 million remaining from their midlevel exception and could offer Jackson a prorated portion of it, about $500,000 for the rest of the season.

Jackson, 6 feet 6 and 220 pounds, played in 27 games this season for the Suns and averaged 3.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 15.6 minutes. He has not played since Jan. 4.

The Lakers could always use a veteran shooter with Aaron Mckie still sidelined.

[m2k989]

That would presumably bump Devin Green off the team, which would be okay. I'd like the Lakers to play it fairly safe and try to build on the things that went right during the win over Detroit last night. That was an excellent game on all cylinders, and I don't think that it was because anyone in particular stepped up. Kobe and Odom led the team as they should, but the difference was that nobody on the floor (i.e. Kwame) was a liability. That's been a problem all season. Hopefully the Lakers can remedy it during this playoff push.

[_illapeeno]

Lakers Release Medvedenko, Sign Jimmy Jackson
6th March, 2006 - 7:12 am
L.A. Times - The Los Angeles Lakers have waived bigman Slava Medvedenko, a two-time champion with the club, making way for discarded Sun Jimmy Jackson, the L.A. Times is reporting.

Medvedenko has only played two games this season before undergoing season-ending surgery in January for a herniated disk in his back. He was re-signed to a two-year, $6-million deal before the 2004-05 season but played only 23 games after that because of injuries and ineffectiveness.

Jackson, who is joining his 12th team in 14 seasons, will be asked to add a veteran presence and outside touch to a team that has shot inconsistently throughout the season but is fighting for a playoff spot, according to the L.A. Times.

His contract is contingent on passing a physical today in Los Angeles. It is not expected to be a problem.

About time they got rid of Slava. He was a jump shot taking pf who should've been helping downlow.

[m2k989]

Is Jimmy gonna play tonight vs. San Antonio? Anyone know? I'd like to see him get about 10 minutes, just to get his feet wet.

[_illapeeno]

Now only if Mckie would heal up and provide Smush a few minutes of rest. I still don't trust Sasha to run the offense.