Lakers And Wizards Agree To Kwame Trade now Official

[Kemp]

Amare is the franchise player for the Suns. Coming to LA, na, don't think so.

[Fenix]

It's a scenario which has been debated numerous times and it could very well happen if Amare doesn't sign his extension this summer.

BTW, this team has a great potenital to become a good triangle team. If Turiaf gets the starting job by the end of the season, Laker's roster will look like this:
Brown/Mihm/Bynum
Turiaf/Grant(-? Allan Houston rule?)
Odom/George/Walton(-?)
Bryant/Wafer (he looks extremly decent player if the reports from the summer league don't lie)
Daniels/Parker

or

Mihm/Bynum
Brown/Turiaf
Odom/George
Bryant/Wafer
Daniels/Parker.

[cklitsie]

Not so funny, really. Everybody wants to play in either LA or NY, provided the money is right...

90s, yes. 21th century, no.

[YoG!]

I think it's a bad trade because caron Butler had allready found his touch in LA but Brown who did'nt do shit in Washington is new here and will probably get in center of attention by the Media. and all of that makes it even tougher to play well.

[kinokong]

didn't we say the same crap about boozer last year but utah was much closer to a championship last year than cleveland and also they offered much more money. i understand that the lakers can't pay as much as phoenix to amare but if by 2007 they are closer to a championship than the suns(chances are half and half considering nash is already 31)he might take less dollars, a brighter spotlight instead of phoenix

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Amare is the franchise player for the Suns. Coming to LA, na, don't think so.

Because the Suns have greater 'franchise' pull than the Lakers, right?


Anyway, this is a good gamble for the Lakers. Their frontline was utter crap with Mihm and 'whoever was unlucky enough to play PF, even Lamar', now there's hope. Plus Odom can move to SF and Walton (who was resigned) can have more minutes off teh bench as a sixth man, covering at SF and PF, albeit undersized.

They need a PG though, preferrably a big one, like Phil Likes them.

[beau_boy04]

Amare in LA is a possiblity. Everything is possible in the NBA but some things are very unlikely but still possible. I never expected Shaq to leave LA that's one thing, never expected Kwane Brown being the player he is as of now, so on and so forth.

By the way who are the top free agents for next season? anybody knows?

[Nel]

Kwame would test the Zen's patience.

[Andrew]

It's not unlike the circumstances under which Kwame was taken first overall. It's a matter of choosing potential over proven production. He's shown flashes of brilliance and the possibility remains that he could explode given the right situation. But potential has two sides, and he could very well keep on being the same Kwame.

I wouldn't have pulled the trigger on this one if I were Kupchak, but I'll admit there's potential in the deal.

[Fenix]

You would rather take a gamble on overpaying Butler next summer than taking Kwame for 2-3 years? Kwame reaching 3/4 of his potential is still way better than Butler reaching his full potential.

[Fresh8]

In terms of the NBA current state, Kwame putting up some points, rebounds and hustle is good for any team. Butler can score, the Lakers don't need that. Kwame is someone who's shown he can play inside and play well enough to hold his own, and that's what every NBA team needs becuase there is a lack of good big men these days.

[Andrew]

You would rather take a gamble on overpaying Butler next summer than taking Kwame for 2-3 years? Kwame reaching 3/4 of his potential is still way better than Butler reaching his full potential.

Butler's already solid and played well alongside Kobe, which wasn't always the case with the rest of the Lakers this past season. Butler's already developing into a good role player, possibly even an effective sidekick or third player (a la the Robert Parish/James Worthy/Horace Grant/Dennis Rodman) role on a winning team. Whether or not Kwame becomes a player who consistently contributes and has his head on straight remains a big IF.

So yes, if I've already gambled and sent my team to the lottery with a trade some may consider one of the worst in league history, not to mention gamble a lottery pick on a 17 year old, I try to make a few solid moves rather than wheeling and dealing and taking too many risks. Just in case betting the farm on raw potential turns out to be a bad idea.

In terms of the NBA current state, Kwame putting up some points, rebounds and hustle is good for any team. Butler can score, the Lakers don't need that. Kwame is someone who's shown he can play inside and play well enough to hold his own, and that's what every NBA team needs becuase there is a lack of good big men these days.

They also need consistent scoring alongside Kobe (easier to achieve when that player doesn't need to start the play with the ball in his hands to be effective) and good defense. Caron Butler can provide that. When has Kwame proven he can do the things you mentioned on a consistent basis?

[Matthew]

Lakers are getting a steal here. They fucked up with Bynum, but Brown has alot of potential, 4 years in the league, but only 23. He can score inside, an ok jumpshot, fgrep will tell you about all about his post defense. He has made strides of being effective without the basketball playing with Jordan, Stack, Arena's, Hughs.. Kobe will help him get shots and some of the pressure will be on Bryant.

Great move by the Lakers.

[J@3]

Add to the fact that everyone's already decided he's a bust, so the pressure isn't anywhere near as huge as it has been in recent years.

[Jugs]

with a trade some may consider one of the worst in league history

What was that trade that was considered one of the worst in NBA history? is it the Shaq one? lol

I think now the Lakers are giving up too much but possibly in the future, it'll turn out good, or bad..

[Andrew]

I was talking about the Shaq trade, yes.

[Bang]

1. Brown's had too many injuries.
2. His ego has already been crushed way too much thanks to Jordan. This might even get worse with Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant.
3. Kwame faked being sick to complain about his playing time...in the playoffs? What the hell? Why would you ever want a player like that?

In a few years, we'll say that this was a horrible trade for the Lakers. Miatch and Kobe will be remembered as the culprits for ruining what was once one of the greatest teams in basketball...

[Full Surface]

The LA media will tear Kwame apart.

Soft little punk can't even handle DC, how is he going to take LA?

[J@3]

Because unlike Washington, no one in LA thinks he has to be the new KG.

[Full Surface]

So why trade for him if he isn't anything special?

[Jona]

What a stupid move from LA...
Is Kwame going to start at center??

[Rip32]

If MJ made Kwame cry imagine what Kobe will do to him..

[Fenix]

So why trade for him if he isn't anything special?

That was one dumb question. He doesn't need to be special to be able to contribute. Lakers just decided that he is a better fit for them than another SF. So you think the only trades happening out there are blockbusters? Every team needs complementary players too, you know.

[Kobe101]

Lakers getting bad end of stick.

[Drex]

Because unlike Washington, no one in LA thinks he has to be the new KG.

Haha, are you serious?? I think most of the Laker "fans" are hoping that Kwame turns into a 24/12/3 player

Good trade. Kwame still has potential and can become a solid player. Butler is a nice player now that Hughes is in Cleveland