Rudy T believes Karl Malone will stay

ESPN

HOUSTON -- Rudy Tomjanovich, who leaves Houston to begin his new coaching job with the Los Angeles Lakers this weekend, said he's confident that Karl Malone will stay with the Lakers.

Tomjanovich said he met with Malone recently and believes the power forward, who went down with a knee injury in December, won't leave.

"He wants to do it the right way. He is a man of principle," Tomjanovich, former coach of the Houston Rockets, told Houston television station KRIV on Wednesday. "He doesn't want to go out and not be 100 percent."

Malone, 40, has indicated if he doesn't recover fully from knee surgery he will retire. The league's second-leading scorer took a huge pay cut to join the Lakers as a free agent last year in search of his first NBA championship.

This still isnt official or anything, but its definitely going to the right direction. According to some sources, Shaq called Malone a couple of times to try to get him in Miami, but I doubt he will end up there. According to Mitch Kupchak, Karl said that IF he would return, that it would be for the Los Angeles Lakers, this was about 1 or 2 months ago so things could change a little, but its great news that Rudy expects him in gold this upcoming season, he really can make a difference for the Lakers. This will be a key pickup for the Lakers. (Lets hope Mitch Kupchak wont pull a Gary Payton on him).

If they are able to get him, that also means that they will have Brian Grant coming off the bench, which gives the Lakers a great second team with Grant, Butler and Rush.

well danny ainge says payton will come and play with boston, not gone happen, but malone and LA, this is somethin'.

With young runners like Kobe, Odom and Butler, how is Malone going to fit in? I doubt the Lakers will play a lot of half court.

Malone still is 1 of the best forwards in the league by far to run the court.

Yeah I love how he runs the court better than Kenyon Martin, Kevin Garnett, Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Richard Jefferson, Vince Carter, ehm need I go on? Malone can run, but his strength definately is his jumper, he's in great shape but he can't run all night long anymore.

I meant Power Forwards actually, I know Garnett etc run better then him, but I said 1 of the best...not THE best, he might not run the court the whole game, but I dont think they expect that from him. I like him more as a passer to the cutting players.

That's what I'm saying, his game is more suited for a game plan the Lakers aren't likely to use, so why have him hurt the development of your young players and slow you down. I just don't think he's a great fit, he'd fit better with Miami, who'll play a lot more set plays.

The Lakeshow might as well screw up again and convince Malone to come back only to trade him away.

THey gonna need him too.Hopefully he don't get injured again.

I'm still predicting the Mailman would opt for retirement. It would seem strange if he returned to LA given that he seems to be keen on completing his NBA resume with a championship, something that doesn't seem so certain for the Lakers this season.

I'm still predicting the Mailman would opt for retirement. It would seem strange if he returned to LA given that he seems to be keen on completing his NBA resume with a championship, something that doesn't seem so certain for the Lakers this season.

Id have to agree, i dont see Malone back with the lakers that ship has sailed malone wants a ring more that anything the lakers aint gonna get it this year he knows that so whats he gonna do? my guess is that he will sign with the spurs that or retire.

Malone will stay in Los Angeles! I bet all of y'all...

I have nothing to prove this with however...except for the above article and a 'gut' feeling!

I rest my case!

listen, just cause the lakers look like a run and gun team now does not mean they wont ever find themselves in the halfcourt offence. this is why haveing malone would help alot. once you are forced into the half court you got 1 hell of a scorer there to help put some numbers on the board. btw with malones and divacs passing skills the lakers could find themselves getting alot of easy back door dunks.

hmmm.. it would be good to keep Malone. Vlade and Karl are great team players...

Backdoor action... oh yeah! (Joking! lol)

i dont wanna see malone comming from the bench...o, i forgot about someone named michael jordan...

i would still start malone on that lakers team. i dont see anyone on thier squad better than him at the 4. run a lineup of divac,malone,odom,kobe,whoever. sounds like a pretty good starting 5 to me.

lakers would probably trade his ass if he resigns

The only reason Malone wants to return to LA is because he can ride his Harley on the Pacific Highway all year around.

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Last edited by hmm on Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

MAn...sorry Homer! I'll change it!

Happy now?

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Last edited by hmm on Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

No problems

he should go to the heats or spurs because he will have an easy chance to win the nba championship

he should sign with the bobcats so he has a chance to shoot 50 times a game and try to break the all time scoreing record.

I think that he'll pay another season in LA. I mean think about it:..

What a team LA have got. So what if they don't got Shaq or Payton. They still got Grant, Divac, and point guards who can step up. Mix them in with Kobe, Butler, Mailman, Rush etc- that's a great looking team. They're still championship contenders.
I think Malone will stay on, to find out what will happen. But then, if they don't make the playoffs, he should retire, call it quits; it would be like a sign. Like Pippen, he should be retiring now because he missed the playoffs. His knee is fucked, he's got nothing else to give. Same story for Malone if he gets injured and his body can't take it after one more season.

Malone in LA for 2004-05.

Macca

P.S:: Will Malone surpass the scoring title if he plays on?? Or is it out of his reach..?