Acceptance? Forgivness? Maturity? What are these things of which you speak? Seriously, I don't think it's ridiculous at all. Irrational likes/disklies for certain teams is one of the pure joys of sports. Is it ridiculous for Red Sox fans to hate the Yankees? For Cowboys fans to root against the Giants? Of course it's no one's fault that they were better than our team. It's not like I really, in my heart of hearts, want Payton to go to jail or anything. (Okay, so maybe I do. Just kidding. But not really). But regardless if they're at fault or not, they beat my team for what feels like 9 years in a row--yes, I know it was much less than that--and it's my right as a sports fan to hold a grudge. If we forgive and forget every year, what's the fun in that?
Not sure who said it...but someone wanted Fox in Houston. That person needs to be shot. There is not another player I hate more or I think is more worthless than Rick Fox!
as long as you see it as an irrational dislike purely for fun and enjoyment, then fine - i can understand. i hated the lakers for a while after that robert horry shot in game5 of the western conference finals some years ago, but i know peja didn't show up that game and you've got to give the lakers their due. i'm not going to use that game as an excuse against a player ten years down the line though. if you can get your enemie's best weapon on your side, then why not.
NO !!! The guy is a loser, a malcontent, and is a shell of his former self. I don't want Malone or Payton on this team, build around GOOD character people..... Not idiots like Payton... DD
Rumors are that he'll ask for a buyout. If he comes for the minimum, I'd take him. JVG wouldn't be afraid to bench him, and Lue can play 30 minutes if needed. There's also Gaines and Wilks. I think, when motivated, he can still be serviceable. Not great, btu serviceable. I think he'd be more motivated here than on the Lakers. With Yao and T-Mac as the constants, wins and losses would depend on him and JJ, and when he sees wins as a direct result of his work, he may be motivated to work extra hard and give it a final championship push.
I love GP, but he showed a lot of bad characteristics last year: (1) He didn't play well with a true post player--he never had to in Seattle, really, and GP would rather post himself. (2) He acted like a baby and prima donna and will not submit to being the third option on offense. (3) He obviously was not trustworthy enough to finish games. (4) He's lost several steps on defense, and it can't just be because Shaq is lazy. Everyone was blowing past him. He's now become the Mitten. I think GP might do more harm than good, even for just one year. In the end, we have to do our best to get Fisher and hope that the price is reasonable. In today's NBA, I don't think it's possible to hope you can get a young PG and have him "grow" with T-Mac and Yao for the next five years. Instead, you have your two studs (if you're lucky) and fill in what you can.
Who's the better option than Payton and his 1 year contract right now??? If there is one I would love to go that route, but the better options left us when Barry and Arroyo signed elsewhere. Do we really want to give average to below average pgs like Fisher or Jones 5 year deals at the full MLE or more?? I don't. Although GP might only be a shell of his former self he is still servicable, and more importantly his contract ends in 1 year.....when hopefully the FA madness of this year will have made the market a little more buyer friendly. Imo GP might be our best option left.
I think you guys are being ridiculous. I would love to have GP here for 1 season to tutor and train our young PG of the future Gaines. I think our team needs a vocal leader and no one is more vocal than GP. I think he would be more effective in Houston because we dont run the triangle. J
I think that would be a horrible trade favoring the Lakers because Fox is one dimensional and his J has become very unreliable and Payton is too old. Giving the Lakers Mo T would be a HUGE mistake and I'm against Taylor being moved at all even with the surplus of 4's. He's simply got too many mid range offensive moves and last season he was pure money. I'd also wait out EG's rehab having invested way too much to get him, I'd patiently wait for a return on those 3 first rounders. Fox and Payton are way past their prime
It's very funny seeing all the Rick Fox hate and Derek Fisher love. They are very similar in what they did for the Lakers, how wide open they were when they got the ball, and how successful they were. Just say NO to paying Derek Fisher more than he's worth (~$2mm). Payton for one season? Better than anything else being proposed (short of Troy Hudson signing CHEAP).
GP actaually got his a** handed to him in the playoffs this year by every point guard imaginable (includin the former Rocket now Magic Stevie Francheese) but what the hell are we losin for 1 year............ If you guys haven't noticed...the pool of free agents are dryin up like the texas sun so we need to do something The guys a hall of famer.....one year can't hurt
Actually he can. Had the Lakers had any other starting -playoff team- PG they wouldn't of looked so horrible against the Pistons, and they wouldn't of had a hard time beating the Spurs.
I feel you...believe me I do...but please name me someone out there better at this point in Free agency or a trade??? Snow????? Ward??????? Dooling???????? None of these guys interest me
The reason I suggested this deal is: 1) We need a starting PG, and that is going well so far. 2) GP only has 1-yr left on the contract for $5M. It is not a risk in any sense. GP and Lue will do for this year. 3) We are not signing him for $5M. We are using $5M in TE. It is hard to use the TE, and you have to discount it. With TE, you either take on contracts that others don't want (overpriced) or ask a team to s&t and give them future picks for compensation. It is not a great solution, but it is better than doing nothing and letting the TE expire.
its true, gary stunk up the playoffs for the lakers, but during the season, even though the triangle offense limited gary's offensive production, he still managed to have these stats on a team with Kobe Bryant, Shaq, and Karl Malone. PPG 14.6 RPG 4.20 APG 5.5 EFF + 16.34 Ranks #16 in the NBA in Assists Per Game(5.5) Ranks #14 in the NBA in Assists(449.0) Ranks #8 in the NBA in Assists Per Turnover(2.97) I would love to have Gary Payton on our team.
Troy Hudson, Antonio Daniels, Jeff McInnis, Mike James, Eric Snow... All those guys would be better short term and long term options, to me at least.