Getting a disgruntled allstar?

Another LG insider who seems to have some credibility has posted this today:

-Boozer deal is dead

-confirms the Bender trade

-says LA likes Granger and May

-says another deal in the works for power 4

-disgruntled all star is not Francis, Magloire

http://forums.lakersground.net/view...ighlight=#42791

BleedPurple&Gold wrote:I'm sure you all have heard about the possibility of getting a allstar, so I'd like to renew the idea w/ some more info..... (sorry if this already has a thread but i couldn't find it)

The following was posted @ LG by Chrome Hearts

Unfortunately for some, and fortunately for me, my days as a so-called "insider" are done. I've never claimed to be one. My only contribution came when some info was relayed to me during a dinner I had with an old friend of mine. Although I would like to spew everything my friend and I share through our e-mail exchanges, I feel it's unnecessary to do so since I'm not seeking any "credit" or "props".

I saw the repercussions first hand when rumors are posted. I do not want to get caught up in it again. It's neither my profession nor duty to speculate what the Lakers might do. There are plenty of journalists and other insiders on this site that will provide valuable info.

With that said, I leave this subject with this parting summary of the latest e-mail exchange that I had with my friend. I feel some responsibility to tie the knot on this subject so here it is:

Mitch still wants that "disgruntled all-star" on the Lakers. Phil is a little hesitant about this player but is willing to roll with it if Mitch insists. Phil is not going to resign or throw a hissy fit if Kupchak does indeed to deal for this player. This player is very interested in coming to the Lakers. His agent has been in contact with Mitch. Whether or not a deal gets done depends on this player's current team and its willingness to deal.

Contrary to PJ's ravings about Butler's ability on the court; Butler is the Lakers main trading chip this summer. Getting this player might involve giving up Caron + draft pick (10) + expiring contracts but the Lakers want to try to keep the draft pick (10). The Lakers are hoping to give Caron + expiring contracts for this player while using the Number 10 + other expiring contracts to trade up the draft.

I know what you are thinking. There's no way the Lakers will move up the draft unless Caron is included in the deal. But what I'm relaying to you is "best case" scenario, meaning the scenario that the Lakers want.

Mitch is working VERY diligently this offseason. No stones will be left unturned. Just realize one thing if nothing monumental happens; IT WAS NOT DUE TO NEGLIGENCE. As I've always alluded to in earlier posts, it will take both parties to agree to a deal. Just because Mitch proposes a deal, doesn't mean another team has to accept it. It should be an exciting offseason for all Lakers fans and I earnestly hope that everything will go the Lakers way and dominance is restored in La La Land.

I have gone through the 2005 allstar teams to discover who this "disgruntled allstar who did not make the playoffs" might be and here is what I have found as the ONLY possibilities::::

Grant Hill, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett

now, its possible its referring to someone who was ONCE an allstar, but considering only this past year these are the only possibilites. (LBJ23 is more pipe than KG, I don't c why we would want hill... so its most likely either Z or KG... most likely Z b/c it said phil doesn't especially want him, but he would role w/ him. i don't c why anyone would NOT want KG. )


thoughts?

(P.S. many @ LG think its steve francis)

jsm0331 wrote:Anyone think it could be a certain PG that is never happy. One that likes LA. And the same one that has been wanting to play for the Lakers for a couple of years now.

jsm0331 wrote:Anyone think it could be a certain PG that is never happy. One that likes LA. And the same one that has been wanting to play for the Lakers for a couple of years now.

tuna629 wrote:hey. just a thought. can it be marbury? he's certainly not happy, former all star, and fills a need (?). that would suck though.

Here's a stab at summarizing/interpreting at least some of what Brock has posted.

1. Mitch has thrown some bait to Minn and Indi for KG and Artest, respectively, but no luck.

2. Lakers are targeting two other disgruntled All-Stars, but negotiations are preliminary. Steve Francis is not one of the targets. Otherwise, Brock left this nugget out there with few, if any, other hints. He said that discussions were at such an early stage that he couldn't divulge anything else, and that there really wasn't anything to get excited about yet.

3. Discussions have begun/heated up for a free agent signing/S&T/trade for a PF or C, and Brock is excited about this possibility and surprised that info regarding this possibility hasn't leaked. This may or may not involve one of the two disgruntled All-Stars mentioned above in 2. My guess is that the Lakers are pursuing Tyson Chandler. Although he'll probably never be an all-star, he would be perfect for the defense that the Lakers want to use next year (according to Brock, they want to have a team of long-armed, athletic defenders who can switch almost interchangeably and get lots of deflections), and would fit the Rodman rebounding/defense role exceptionally well. If Curry is healthy (he was supposed to be tested this month to figure out if he has the same possibly fatal heart condition that Reggie Lewis had, or if he instead has the type of treatable heart condition that Olajuwon played with), Chicago will not want to pay both of them the salaries they're requesting, and Curry clearly has more upside (although he's probably too lazy to ever reach his potential). Plus, Chandler is injury-prone and probably wants to move back to L.A.

4. Lakers are pursuing Eddie Griffin for all or part of the MLE. He may or may not be the PF or C discussed above in 3. Although Eddie isn't an All-Star and probably will never be one, he is very talented and could fit in well as part of the defensive plan for next year.

5. Lakers are in serious discussions to trade up, probably with Charlotte for the 5th pick. There are also ongoing discussions to trade up with another team, which would involve the Lakers swallowing a big contract (i.e., at least two years left for lots o' money). This second possibility is either New Orleans for the 4th pick, or Portland for the 6th pick (after the swap with Utah of 3 and 6 goes through). My original guess was Portland (Ratliff), but Brock suggested that we're not getting the 6th pick. The Lakers had been in discussions with Utah to trade up, but those discussions died. Discussions also died with either NO or POR (but are ongoing with the other one).

6. Brock loves Chris Paul, but Utah will probably nab him with the 3 pick. If the Lakers get the 4, 5 or 6 picks, they would probably take Green if he's available. If he's not, the preference among PGs is Deron Williams, then Felton (the Lakers rate Jack 4th among PGs, but rate him quite a bit lower than Felton). For non-PGs, Phil likes Granger and Graham, while Mitch likes Sean May (hopefully May is not chosen by the Lakers at 10 or higher). The Lakers like Diogu, but only if he falls to 17.

7. If the Lakers don't land a starting quality power player, Odom will play PF next year, and Bender will be his back-up. If the Lakers do land a good big, Odom plays the point SF (aka, the Scottie Pippen position).

8. The Bender trade is a done deal. 50/50 chance we trade the 17 pick. Bender is healthy, according to Brock, and will be a good weak-side defender for the Lakers. Brock also compares Bender to Mihm -- he needs a different environment to develop.

9. There won't be any trades with Utah (for Boozer or a draft pick). Apparently, Boozer wants to be traded to the Lakers, but neither team is interested in a trade. Brock also hasn't heard of any serious trade discussions with Toronto.

10. Lakers aren't interested in Kwame.

11. Lakers aren't getting Jaric or Dalembert.

12. The rumored labor deal will make it more difficult to complete trades by July 1 because there won't be the same pressure to finalize rosters before a possible lockout.

13. The Lakers' assistants will be Hamblen, Rambis and Shaw. Phil seems to be publicly pushing for Pippen to also join the bench, but he may or may not actually be pushing the Lakers to hire Pippen.

Brock -- sorry for any misinterpretation. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for giving hope to/entertaining all of us Laker fanatics on this website. Also, what do you think of (1) Douthit and the possibility of him being on the roster next year and contributing, and (2) Sasha developing in a couple of years into a starter or 6th man?

Emplay/Lionel/Da Ocho/anyone else with inside info: Any additional inside scoop on any of the above that you can share?

tuna629 wrote:hey. just a thought. can it be marbury? he's certainly not happy, former all star, and fills a need (?). that would suck though.

getbignow wrote:i'm new here but if we get it, does chromey tell us?

no one has said LBJ
he didn't make the playoffs, he hasnt hesistated about being vocal in personnel changes and he looked pissed more often than not at the end of regular season

it also appears that he actually respects Kobe, and his public affection is more than just flirting with the industry, to be honest it seems more probable than Kevin McHale getting rid of KG

Plus how great would this be for the league, this could be one of those off the book compromises in the CBA
-you bring instant credibility to the image of Kobe Bryant-because of the dissolving of the soon to come rivalry between these two stars--because Kobe would be seen as the villian everytime, and in the long run that creates less hype

throwing it out there for someone to reel back in

abeer3 wrote:

getbignow wrote:i'm new here but if we get it, does chromey tell us?

no one has said LBJ
he didn't make the playoffs, he hasnt hesistated about being vocal in personnel changes and he looked pissed more often than not at the end of regular season

it also appears that he actually respects Kobe, and his public affection is more than just flirting with the industry, to be honest it seems more probable than Kevin McHale getting rid of KG

Plus how great would this be for the league, this could be one of those off the book compromises in the CBA
-you bring instant credibility to the image of Kobe Bryant-because of the dissolving of the soon to come rivalry between these two stars--because Kobe would be seen as the villian everytime, and in the long run that creates less hype

throwing it out there for someone to reel back in

i'll reel it in. lbj is going NOWHERE. not only would cleveland demand a young top five talent in return (like kobe), they'd probably want more than that. just think about the deathblow that the cavaliers would suffer if they gave up lebron for anything less than an mvp candidate. kg is much more likely, and still highly improbable.

if this whole "disgruntled all star" (i find it funny how the term has caught on around here) theory is to be believed, i think people need to stick with the lower end of the totem pole. i'm pretty sure that kobe and lamar are staying put, and if that's the case, any really big time player isn't coming to la.

kobe4ever wrote:First i will list all da all stars dat didnt make to da playoffs.

Marbury
Randolf
Garnett
Brand
Maggette
Richardson
Davis
Francis
Magloire
Illgauskas
James
Bosh
Rose

they already said it wasnt francis or magloire so i think da most realistic players they are getting are marbury, bosh, or brand

kobe4ever wrote:First i will list all da all stars dat didnt make to da playoffs.

Marbury-doubt it
Randolf-like i sayd maybe
Garnett- who knows maybe
Brand-very well could be
Maggette- we have enuff SF'S
Richardson-lol we would we need jrich
Davis-doubt it
Francis- not a power player
Magloire- dont know
Illgauskas- all star but a power player doubt it
James- not a power player
Bosh- not an all star
Rose-not an all star

they already said it wasnt francis or magloire so i think da most realistic players they are getting are marbury, bosh, or brand