Lakers in the off season

[The Game]

I hadn't heard it that way, but I don't dispute he hasn't ruled out a return to the Lakers' sideline.

Well, i have

Of course not. But I was just talking about the triangle in general. It's not an offense that's going to work with a bunch of stiffs surrounding Kobe. Obviously, if the Lakers are going to run the triangle - with or without Phil - they'd be best served to surround Kobe with suitable players. That's all I was saying.

With or without Phil, the lakers will surround kobe with suitable players.

Very interested? Trying to talk to Kobe?

Uh-huh

The way I read it, it was the other way around with Phil being very open to the possibility, not necessarily pursuing it as the Lakers are with him. But with the amount of information we get about these private discussions and negotiations (or rather how little we truly know), we're all going to see it differently.

Like Bill Cusby said, both parties are interested. Isiah Thomas seems to have given up hope that Phil will be coaching the knicks. What does that imply? That Phil isnt interested in coaching the lakers?

I dunno how to explain but it seems that there is a lot of emphasis saying that if Kobe and Jax rejoin eachother.... everything will be solved...

We are fans, we always hope for the best.

Oh and yeah MJ kicked Kobe's ass on the ASG... That same year AI introduced himself to MJ with style...

[J@3]

Dude can you stop winking it's driving me nuts.

[Zee]

Trading LO and some other crap (cuz Caron Butler played too well at the end of the year to be traded) to move up in the draft and get one of the three PGs isn't worth it, but if we could also get a semi-good big man in that deal, it could work...

[J@3]

Yep I agree... especially since the big 3 PG's are hovering around the same level, none of them really stands head and shoulders above the rest.

[The Game]

Dude can you stop winking it's driving me nuts.

No problem dude

[Andrew]

If that's how you see the situation, fine, you may well be right. I'm a believer in "it hasn't happened until it's happened", which is one reason I'm inclined to believe both parties aren't that close on an agreement. I guess we'll all see sooner or later.

With or without Phil, the lakers will surround kobe with suitable players.

Naturally, that's pretty much the whole point when assembling a professional sports team. But I was talking about the triangle and how effective it can be. It didn't bail the Lakers out this year, partly because it's a system foreign to a lot of the players and the team wasn't put together with the triangle in mind. I would expect that to change if they plan on running the triangle next year, with or without Phil Jackson.

[The Game]

I'm a believer in "it hasn't happened until it's happened", which is one reason I'm inclined to believe both parties aren't that close on an agreement.

I respect that but you cant really blame me to get all pumped up about Phil's return even though he is yet to sign on the dotted line.

It didn't bail the Lakers out this year, partly because it's a system foreign to a lot of the players and the team wasn't put together with the triangle in mind.

At that time if Kobe wasnt injured, lamar was.

btw jae, winking is my way of hitting at andrew

[Andrew]

I respect that but you cant really blame me to get all pumped up about Phil's return even though he is yet to sign on the dotted line.

Sure, I can understand and appreciate that.

At that time if Kobe wasnt injured, lamar was.

Again, true, but it's not as though this year's squad was as good as the championship teams, or as experienced running the triangle.

btw jae, winking is my way of hitting at andrew

Wow, you sure showed me.

[Jackal]

btw jae, winking is my way of hitting at andrew

Are you sure you're taking hits at him? Sounds more like you're trying to hit on him.

[The Game]

Again, true, but it's not as though this year's squad was as good as the championship teams, or as experienced running the triangle.

Yeah but imo good enough to make the playoffs...

Are you sure you're taking hits at him? Sounds more like you're trying to hit on him.

Thanks for correcting my crappy grammar

Yes jackal im hitting on you

[Andrew]

Probably, but looking the silver lining it's at least a learning experience and a lottery pick. Seven straight years of the lottery after the NBA Finals, now that's a tough time for a fan.

[Jackal]

Please don't hit on me, especially not when you just hit on Andrew, that's just wrong.

Besides, that emoticon/smiley is the most unattractive face to hit on someone with. To top it off, I don't fall for Philipino's.

To stay on topic, I'd like for Jackson to sign with LA again but not at the expense of a crappy season. If he wants to sign, I hope he does so with the intention of sticking around and not just leaving in the middle because of strained relations. (Not a diss on Rudy T.) Not that Jackson is the type to do something like that, but I'd like to know the team I root for has some stability regarding their coach.

[The Game]

I read that Phil seems to be pretty high on the Kobe/Lamar duo...

Filipinos

[maes]

From what i read, the only remaining issue w/ PJ rejoining is whether or not he has a say at the operations level.

Even as one of the most accomplished coach's in history, he was still ONLY a coach in both CHI and LAL. Both times, management handcuffed him and when he didn't play nice they fired him.

One of the reasons everyone is saying PJ won't go back to LA is because he'd have to have an IQ of 20 not to see a pattern here...which is why he's being such a stickler for having a voice in operations...to prevent the past from re-occurring.

He's probably more likely to get that level of control in LA because of his relationship with Jeanie. I don't see him getting anything like that in NYC (Isaiah) and it's doubtful he was ever that interested in CLE.

Kobe's stock has fallen so low with his trial and with the Lakers missing the playoffs he's fallen back to the realm of just another player. He wasn't even a consideration for MVP. So i doubt Kobe is much of an issue anymore...he has as much say as any other player. When Dr J Buss was interviewed he said outright "Kobe has no say in who is named coach." Basically, Kobe was fired as GM =/

[Fresh8]

Kobe is still a phenominal player... u cant take it away from him! He's not just part of the realm of just another player... just an all-star! thats what he is.. he used to look like a superstar but hes downgraded...

[Boyk]

^^ or maybe he was never in that GM situation and Shaq is a big mouth bullshitter LOL


I dont think Kobe is just "another player"
thats just ridiculous
That makes Lebron James just "another player" coz of the way they went from one of the best teams in the East to one of the worst after the all-star break.
and i guess Kevin Garnett is now just another player right??
I mean the T-Wolves didnt make the playoffs and he didnt get a whole lot of consideration for the MVP.

wow! we now have arguably 3 of the best 5 players in the NBA just as other players now.

Im pretty confident Kobe will change this off-season and hoping to see the Lakers back in the playoffs.

[beau_boy04]

If indeed Phil Jackson returns to the Lakers, would they still be looking to trade Lamar Odom?

[The Game]

Lamar Odom would be almost untouchable if Phil Jackson returns

[Fenix]

Oh, that makes Butler their only trade bait.

Make the deal with Indiana and get Diogu (his draft stocks are rising - 10#), hoos. Bryant-Butler-Odom-Diogu-Mihm, with Atkins, Grant, Jones, Bender and Indiana's 17# pick (Warrick? Villaneua?) coming of the bench - that would work in the triangle. There would be a problem with Bryant's stamine if he would've to chase guys like Telfair all night, but I'm sure you could trade Butler for a long defensive PG (well, can anyone think of some? ) and a few role players.

BTW, in the long rumoured Indiana trade - Lakers trade someone for the 17#
and Bender - who goes to Indiana?

[J@3]

Another undersized PF (Diogu), just what the team needs!

[Fenix]

Another undersized PF (Diogu), just what the team needs!

Size is not everything, mate.

(Wait, that sounds a bit strange.)

[J@3]

It's not, but there's already Brian Grant and Brian Cook standing around doing very little. It's a bit hypocritical of me to say though considering in the draft thread I said I wouldn't mind Sean May. I'm still hoping for Paul/Williams/Felton/Jack though

[air gordon]

diogu would be nice. brian grant is just cashing his checks and brian cook would stay in the perimeter all game if he had drouthers

[Zee]

I don't think that the Lakers can return to the playoffs with Mihm as starting C (no offense to him - he had a great season, but he can't even catch the ball at times) and Odom as starting PF (either he goes back to playing SF or he's traded). So I'd rather have the Lakers pick a big man in the draft if they can't get one through a trade/free agency over a PG, since the best PGs will probably be gone by #10.
Btw, who's Martynas Andr-something...I saw him going to the Lakers at #10 on InsideHoops.com's mock draft...

[maes]

wow! we now have arguably 3 of the best 5 players in the NBA just as other players now

Best for what? Making And1 mixtapes?

I thought the Best Players are defined, ipso facto, by beating every other player in a tournament called the NBA Playoffs.

Oddly, out of all the hundreds of fancy dribbling, thee point hoisting, 360 dunking players in the NBA, the only ones left standing are completely old-school teams based on very fundamental basketball. You're not going to see a fancy dunk out of either team.

I guess best is relative, for me "best" means winning.