[::WORLD CHAMPION LAKERS OFF-SEASON THREAD: 2 Weeks Away From Pre-Season::]

4:58 is great....lamar is well lamar. adam morrison is yelling at the end of the break. lol.
 
pimp.gif


MY DUDES, WE DID IT! [magic] BACK TO BACK, YEAH! YEAH! AND YOU KNOW IT! [/magic]



Extremely proud of how these guys fought, battled, scrapped, through adversity all season long. There were times that a lot of us had doubts creep in, but in the end, it all made this so much sweeter.






Regarding the offseason, first off, KEEP FISH!!! This should be a primary priority!!! We all saw how important this dude is (again). I dunno if you Fish bashers will finally realize how valuable he is to the team. We NEED him back next season. Period.

Bynum earned so much respect from me playing the whole playoffs with one knee. Props. To me, that shows how much this dude cares. I really hope he can get healthy. I am in no way in favor of a Bynum/Bosh swap because I love what Bynum brings to our team (real Center, size, offensive rebounds, blocks), but injury concerns have softened my stance. If we keep Drew, I hope we can get another legit veteran center who can fill up the void if/when he goes down again.

Got more thoughts, but that's it for now. I'm still smiling from yesterday
pimp.gif
 
I think this is the sweetest and most satisfying title in lakers history. Normally the lakers win with talent, but this title was won on heart and mental toughness. We gutted out the entire playoffs and fought through some key injuries and never made excuses. And in the end we simply out willed boston to the title.

So what's new for next year, hopefully a better point guard and a scorer off the bench? We really need to strengthen that bench, it's amazing we were able to prevail with such a weak bench.
 
After title time comes decision time for Lakers

The smell of champagne emanated from Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, his clothes stained, his smile bright and spirits high, the journey now complete with L.A.'s championship in place over the hated Boston Celtics.

During a quiet moment after Kupchak ducked down a Staples Center hallway with his family, he said Thursday night was his time to celebrate before it was back to work Friday morning.

Kupchak now has to put a team together and coax his coach, Phil Jackson, back for next season for an attempt to three-peat.

Jackson said after the Lakers won the title that he'll decide before Thursday's NBA draft whether he'll return.

Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton are locked up with multi-year deals. But the Lakers could have six free agents — Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown (he has an opt-out clause), Adam Morrison, DJ Mbenga and Josh Powell.

If Brown opts out of his contract, the Lakers would still have seven players under contract for next season for a payroll of $83.7 million, well over the projected NBA luxury-tax threshold of $69.9 from last season, meaning owner Jerry Buss will pay a dollar-for-dollar tax over that amount.

The Lakers had a payroll of $91.3 million this season.

Jackson, 64, who has had both hips replaced, will undergo his annual battery of postseason medical exams to make sure he is physically capable of coaching another season. He plans on having a kidney stone removed.

Jackson just completed a two-year, $23-million deal that paid him $12 million this season and $2 million more in bonuses that he said he would donate to charity.

If he takes a pay cut on a one-year deal, there is a scenario in which he receives an undisclosed amount of deferred money over the next couple of years.

Kobe Bryant said after Game 7 that Jackson "knows how bad I want him back."

"Personally, I don't know how you walk away from this," Kupchak said. "But he's always had a methodology as to when he makes a decision. And we'll respect his position and go through the process. Then, like I said, hopefully he returns."

Once Jackson's status is sorted out, the Lakers will turn to dealing with their free agents.

Teams can begin negotiating with free agents July 1, but the moratorium before a player can sign lasts until July 7. "We'll convene with ownership, [assistant general manager] Ronnie Lester and myself in the next couple of weeks and plot a course," Kupchak said.

Fisher, who'll be 36 in August, had another good showing in the playoffs, capped by a late-game three-pointer in Game 7. He probably will have to take a pay cut from the $5.04 million he earned this season and may be offered only a one-year deal.

"If it's up to me, I'll be back," Fisher said while still clinging to the championship trophy. "I want to be back here."

Farmar, 23, who earned $1.9 million last season, will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Lakers can match any offer he receives.

But the Lakers probably will let him walk, according to an NBA executive who was not authorized to speak publicly.

And it sounds as if Famar is ready to depart after winning two titles. "I want to take a step forward in my career," said Farmar, who wants to be a starting point guard. "We'll see how it works out."

Brown just finished the first season of a two-year, "bi-annual exception" worth $4.1 million. If he opts out, the Lakers could sign him for up to five years and as high as the mid-level exception; the current mid-level exception pays $5.8 million in the first year.

"It all depends on what my options are," Brown said. "But it won't be a tough decision at all. I want to be back here."

The Lakers probably won't bring back Mbenga, Morrison and Powell, the NBA executive said.

The Lakers will look at free-agent point guards Steve Blake, Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour, the executive added.

But whoever signs with the Lakers will have to take a pay cut because they don't plan on using the mid-level exception to sign a player. They will be looking to sign an experienced big man for the veteran's minimum, which will be as much as $1.325 million for a player with 10 years or more of experience.
http://www.latimes.com/sp...20100619,0,4088566.story

No more Mbenga.
ohwell.gif
Click to expand...
 
is raja bell a free agent??? this guy would be great for the lakers. good defender and a spot 3 shooter.
 
Originally Posted by LamarOwnsem


Although it sounds very appealing, I say no to Bynum/Bosh. A CLEAR advantage we had in game 7 was our length, especially in the beginning with all of those offensive rebounds. Bynum has the longest wingspan I think I've ever seen and bringing in Bosh, who is smaller than Bynum, would eliminate our biggest advantage that NO OTHER TEAM in the league has. We don't need another 20-point scorer on this team because scoring is not a weakness of ours. Other than scoring, anything Bosh would provide is already provided by Bynum.

Yes, Bynum has been injured the past three seasons, but we've won TWO titles in a row with him hobbling on one leg. We don't need to fix our big men.

What does need to be tweaked some is our bench. If we can sign Mike Miller for the MLE like someone said earlier then I'm all for that, because that's probably the best we will be able to do free agent-wise.

Other than that, I think this team is more than capable of three-peating next year.
Click to expand...
I actually agree with everything you have said. I know that Bynum is having trouble staying healthy, i know you cant make emotional decisions in a business...but i just cant wish a trade on him with everything he gave us in the playoffs. The kid played with heart, and true he has a lot of things to still work on but he is TWENTY TWO YEARS OLD. I mean cmon, the dude still has TONS of time to touch up on everything...the sky is the limit for him if he stays healthy, and i dont wanna live to see him hit his prime on another team, itll suck. If we can sign mike miller and drew stays healthy, i dont see anything stopping us from a 3 peat.
pimp.gif
 
Steve Blake or Earl Watson would be a significant upgrade over Fisher. I would prefer Blake because he's a 40% shooter from 3-pt range and can defend 1's and 2's.

 
 
What does it mean to have a qualifying offer? Does it mean the team could choose not to extend it and let you walk? Because I was looking at the salaries on hoopshype.com and I see that Farmar and Morrison have one.
 
what about bynum and odom for lebron???
laugh.gif
hey i can dream. thats the best deal cleveland would get for lebron though. all we really need is a guard who can hit spot 3's and can decently defend and a reserve big who can defend and grab boards.

re sign fisher to come off the bench and were set
 
If Sasha plays the way he did the way he dd towards the end of the regular season, WCF's and finals, then the Lakers don't necessarily have to go shopping for a 3 point specialist because he is it.  he can also defend his position, is a good passer and runs the offense well.

I know lots of people don't like him but when he is more than capable of a productive player and I think he'll show it again.
 
Originally Posted by solefob

If Sasha plays the way he did the way he dd towards the end of the regular season, WCF's and finals, then the Lakers don't necessarily have to go shopping for a 3 point specialist because he is it.  he can also defend his position, is a good passer and runs the offense well.

I know lots of people don't like him but when he is more than capable of a productive player and I think he'll show it again.
Click to expand...


Word?

I was sad when he left. Kid was good
 
Originally Posted by dyyhard

just heard a javaris crittenton to replace farmar. interesting.
Click to expand...


oh hell naw. dude @*!%@%* sucks! a poor mans shannon brown only worse. that !!%$@ dribbles too much
tired.gif
 
Who here is going to the parade? Whats the best spot to stand to wait for the float? since there's no stage or rally....
smh.gif
smh.gif
smh.gif
smh.gif
smh.gif
 
Originally Posted by NobleKane

Originally Posted by dyyhard

just heard a javaris crittenton to replace farmar. interesting.
Click to expand...


oh hell naw. dude @*!%@%* sucks! a poor mans shannon brown only worse. that !!%$@ dribbles too much
tired.gif
Click to expand...
so 1/2 season with the lakers doesn't count? I thought people still wanted him once he was gone.



anyway my bro made this - hes not on NT...

9glg91.jpg
 
in my opinion, the lakers chances of winning a title next year is even better... the disarray of nba stars being moved around next season will ruin team chemistry... (unless you get lucky like boston and have 3 stars)

but i say keep everyone but get rid of powell... i thought he was so useless... turiaf>powell...

and also, some1 mentioned raja bell... hate to say it but thats a pretty good idea... the guy can defend and shoot ... i guess i'll throw in matt barnes as well... another annoying hard nosed player...

i wouldnt mind having those guys come off the bench to play crazy D alongside ron ron... they would probably shoot better from downtown than ron too.

Funny cus kobe has history with all 3 of them hehehe.
 
I like Steve Blake but he seems more of a backup PG to me. It would be ideal to get a decent guard and a decent big to bolster the bench. This would provide rest for fisher and the current bigs.

Lakers should use the whole mid level if they can. Being cheap by not signing both Ariza and Artest almost cost the championship.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

The ultimate sneaker enthusiast community.

NikeTalk was created as a way of giving back to both the sneaker enthusiast community and to the greater global community of which we are all a part.

NikeTalk is NOT affiliated with Nike Inc. in any way, shape, or form. All opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Nike, Inc.

© 1999-2024 NikeTalk.com

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom