Roster Improvement: Free Agents Now and Later?

Nash/?
Kobe/Meeks
MWP/Pietrus
Pau/Jamison
Dwight/Hill

we have too many PG's to bring in delonte. our week spot is backup SF. i like ebanks and think if hes given minutes under this system he'll give us points. i dont think we need Pietrus but if we got him im not gunna be opposed to it. i just think dantoni needs to play ebanks these next few games and see what he brings us...if he doesnt shine then bring in Pietrus. if he does than we have a young athletic long player who can score and defend coming off our bench.

Screw Pietrus being a backup. Move Artest to the bench. He can be our "6th man" and lead the bench. I know He's been playing well, but our starting lineup's athleticism is abysmal. Our fast break opportunities never end up with easy baskets because we don't have dudes who can run the floor, beat the defense, and finish at the rim. Pietrus would be better suited playing with Nash as a "3 and D" specialist who excels in an up tempo offense. We already have enough speedsters in our second unit.

Any word on whether or not Delonte is available yet? Our guard play over the last few games has been embarrassing. Morris is doing an ok job as a shooter and defender, but we desperately need an extra ball handler.

If Pietrus is still uninterested in in taking the min, Mitch needs to make a deal for Ariza. The Wizards can have any of Blake/Duhon/Clark/Ebanks

Bringing in Pietrus & trading Pau & some other pieces that don't fit for some athletes that can shoot, especially a quick backup PG or combo guard that can really score.. Artest might have to go as well, as we'd need to get back another significant player. A shooter that can really knock down 3's & run at SF seems like the best fit. Batum would be a dream come true.. JJ, Paul George, Granger, & to a lesser extent Gallo & Novak.. With a Collison, George Hill, Calderon at backup PG. We can bring in another body at PF if needed, even if it's just adding K-Mart. But I trust Jamison/Hill to not be liabilities when they're on the floor. I could see both guys really stepping up with Pau gone.

Pietrus? Yes please. And we have 1.6M left on the Mini MLE. i hope we don't cut DJO though. He is gonna be one of those guys that will end up on another team 2 yrs from now and kill it.

but seriously...Pietrus. Yes Please.

I don't know about DJO. He is more of a Brown type of guy -- defense and energy. With MDA, I would rather have Glock back behind meeks. I know they are both small for the 2 spot -- but they are specialists (Meeks and Glock). Their roles would be the same -- space for Dwight, Jamison, Gasol, Nash, and Kobe when he is at the 3.

I would love for MDA to make Blake look real good for a few games then we trade him to the Bucks or Wiz for a back up 3.

Sacre is not an NBA player. I will keep saying it. Would rather have Okur for the minimum for the few games we will need our third center.

Okur retired.

Doc Brown wrote:Okur retired.

Yeah.... technically he retired about 3 weeks ago..... his game retired 3 years ago....

yeah. so. Rasheed retired too. Just need a big body for a few minutes a game. And a guy who is capable of hitting a 3 here and there.

Anyway -- that was a small point about Sacre. he is just wasted space.

Imagine Ariza back (he is miserable and will want out after a few more losses, so by Dec. 15 he may be available for Blake and Ebanks -- wishful thinking I know).

DJO to D-league, hmmmm.....

Blake is probably coming back. Hopefully to fill the roll of DJO and riding pine because he in no way has earned or deserves minutes over Morris/Duhon. Both our PG's have been progressively getting better, no need to disrupt that.

GoldenKnight wrote:DJO to D-league, hmmmm.....

Even if he got moved to the D-league he's still a part of our 15 man roster.

Sooner or later the Wizards are gonna have a firesale, I hope we can steal Ariza

^It's almost December and they're still winless, I do think a fire sale is on the horizon. I would love to grab Ariza. Unfortunately I tried messing around the it on ESPN's trade machine, and I don't think we have the assets to make it happen.

I have been hoping for the same thing. Ariza would be perfect -

Young
Althletic
Can run the floor and finish
Can hit the 3
Can play the 2 and 3
Is trusted by Kobe
Is another ball hawk
Has a ring
Can give Ron rest
Perfect role player to have in series against the Clips, OKC, Spurs, and Heat


Please please please - hope Blake and Ebanks look really good for a few games...

Frank Dux wrote:^It's almost December and they're still winless, I do think a fire sale is on the horizon. I would love to grab Ariza. Unfortunately I tried messing around the it on ESPN's trade machine, and I don't think we have the assets to make it happen.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ckq773z

lakerfan2 wrote:

Frank Dux wrote:^It's almost December and they're still winless, I do think a fire sale is on the horizon. I would love to grab Ariza. Unfortunately I tried messing around the it on ESPN's trade machine, and I don't think we have the assets to make it happen.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ckq773z

Are you serious?

That's a horrible trade for the Lakers. HORRIBLE.

Jazzygirl205 wrote:If we're considering signing Raja Bell then we'll just become Pheonix Suns 2.0 for sure. All of these quality wing shooters who'll be able to knock down the 3ball but no real defensive stoppers. It's something to think about as far as the team's offensive future goes but defensively the Suns haven't been a real pleasure to watch, I mean if you enjoy run and gun and a whole lot of point total.

Lakers were Bulls 2.0 when they had Phil, Horace and Harp. And almost made trades for Scottie and Toni Kukoc. Why not be Bell? Probably won't be the same shooter as he once was but I think he's still got something left defensively.

^Because Bell is on the wrong side of 30 and he absolutely sucks now.

Frank Dux wrote:^Because Bell is on the wrong side of 30 and he absolutely sucks now.

So was Horace and Harp. And as was Scottie and Kukoc if they were acquired.

Kobe8Fan wrote:

Frank Dux wrote:^Because Bell is on the wrong side of 30 and he absolutely sucks now.

So was Horace and Harp. And as was Scottie and Kukoc if they were acquired.

I don't know about Kukoc but Horace, Harper, and Pippen were not as bad as Bell.

Bell can still shoot, however defensively he's definitely not the same player he was before and he's getting up there in age so who knows if he can still run and then have the energy to gun as well.

Texas Lakers Fan wrote:

lakerfan2 wrote:

Frank Dux wrote:^It's almost December and they're still winless, I do think a fire sale is on the horizon. I would love to grab Ariza. Unfortunately I tried messing around the it on ESPN's trade machine, and I don't think we have the assets to make it happen.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ckq773z

Are you serious?

That's a horrible trade for the Lakers. HORRIBLE.

Hollinger says otherwise

I was looking at the contracts of our current players and this team could very well end up very deep if management signs the right players. We'll have six spots open next season, and while not all will go to new free agents I assume we'll have at least three to work with. Also, Duhon and Blake will be expiring contracts so perhaps Mitch can work something out then and receive either picks or players who can contribute right away. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, and with a new coach who's actually open to playing new players we'll likely attract numerous players willing to play for cheap too.

kenzo wrote:

Texas Lakers Fan wrote:

lakerfan2 wrote:

Frank Dux wrote:^It's almost December and they're still winless, I do think a fire sale is on the horizon. I would love to grab Ariza. Unfortunately I tried messing around the it on ESPN's trade machine, and I don't think we have the assets to make it happen.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ckq773z

Are you serious?

That's a horrible trade for the Lakers. HORRIBLE.

Hollinger says otherwise

Hollinger saying something is better can actually be a red flag.

Alcindor wrote:

kenzo wrote:

Texas Lakers Fan wrote:

lakerfan2 wrote:

Frank Dux wrote:^It's almost December and they're still winless, I do think a fire sale is on the horizon. I would love to grab Ariza. Unfortunately I tried messing around the it on ESPN's trade machine, and I don't think we have the assets to make it happen.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ckq773z

Are you serious?

That's a horrible trade for the Lakers. HORRIBLE.

Hollinger says otherwise

Hollinger saying something is better can actually be a red flag.

It most def is. I "traded" Pau for Love and Rubio... and Wolves "won" that trade