http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/09/01/sections/sports/pro/article_657821.php Lakers must plan for 2007 without Yao, Stoudemire By KEVIN DING The Orange County Register Many of the Lakers' plans lie in the hands of others - and those hands can sign contracts elsewhere. The Houston Rockets are expected to announce today that Yao Ming has signed a five-year extension, and the Phoenix Suns plan to lock up Amare Stoudemire before he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2007. Lakers vice president of player personnel Jim Buss said last week the Lakers' goal is "to be great in two years." Buss made clear that not having anyone besides Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom on a guaranteed contract in 2007 is to save salary-cap space for a big offer to a free agent. Even in referencing the future of Coach Phil Jackson, whose contract expires in 2008, Buss said: "If things are developing like we want and we get the free agent two years from now, I don't see why he would not want to coach longer, if he wants to." But if Yao and Stoudemire never reach the market in 2007, there are alternate courses for the Lakers. The first would be to pursue other free agents, and there should be other top players available: 2005 All-Stars Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis and Antawn Jamison can opt out of their contracts and become free agents in 2007. Jamaal Magloire and Peja Stojakovic are scheduled to become free, but Stojakovic likely will opt out of his contract next summer. Another option would be to push the timetable back a year and shoot for a bigger free-agent star than Yao or Stoudemire: LeBron James. James is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2008, with draft classmates Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. Potential veteran free agents via player options would be Baron Davis, Steve Francis, Ron Artest and Shawn Marion. "That's why we're moving in the direction of having cap room," Buss said. "Because if you keep mending your team every year after you make a trade like Shaq (O'Neal), then you're just going to be an average team, maybe make the first or second round. That's not the goal. The goal is to make a big step." END WOW, it seems like the only option they've left out is a REALITY CHECK--after appointing Kobe their GM, the Clips attract more FAs than LALA land...they're lucky if they can keep Jack Nicholson...
LMAO thats soo true.. after watching players take a salary cut to play with the Fakers in the past to not being able to sign any free agents this summer.. Makes me laugh! Players seem to prefer the Clips over the Lakers in the new Kobe Era! J
Seriously...LA seems like they are really smokin some heavy crap...they are clutching at straws...CLUTCHing...hahah
Yea - Cleveland is going to let Lebron go. LA might get some lower level star talent, but Superstar ?
It won't be in their hands. Your superstar has to be willing to sign with you...and the difference in endorsements that LBJ could make in LA or NY would more than make up for any contractual difference. LeBron has to want to stay in Cleveland. Thank God Yao wanted to stay here.
I know but what I meant is they better do everything humanly possible to keep the kid there. If I were Cleveland that would have started last year, making sure he is as happy as a clam
If Kobe were traded, LeBron might go to LA. Otherwise, he will not go there to be the #2 guy. If Kobe is traded next summer, don't laugh at the idea of LeBron in LA in 2008. There is no way these two guys will be paired on the same team.
if Shaq hadn't wanted to make such blockbusters as STEEL and KAZAAM, the Lake Show would be the West Coast version of the Celtics right now, and the Spurs and 76ers might have a couple of extra rings right now !
Even so, wouldn't it be in Lebron's best interest to force a sign and trade - i.e. he gets more money, Cleveland actually gets something in return. In which case, LA having all this salary cap room is kind of meaningless. Whereas NY would have a bunch of contracts they'd be willing to part with, some for decent players, and the team would provide the stage for Lebron to become the one and only face of the franchise.
Actually, if they can pull a midseason trade for a point, they could have something there. Phil would be a miracle worker, but it's possible he gets good years out of Kwame and Odom. If, if they both play ball, then the tandem can hold down the front court, and Kobe can fire or slash from triangle sets in the backcourt. They just need a big triangle "point" to dump it off to Kobe, set picks, hit jumpers and play D. Sucks for them we got Derrick Anderson
Random thought: what if his daughter marries some guy whose last name is Dong, and she decides to keep her maiden name, would she be known as Mrs Ding-Dong? I don't know why these thoughts come to me
because Kobe is just good enough to keep the Fakers out of the top 7 or 8 picks. I think they will finish close to .500 every year and just out of the play-offs. My Heart bleeds for the poor Lakers!
they will have to hpe for a S&T: kobe for lebron. then use all the cap space to find a partner for lebron. bosh?
