By Howard Beck Staff Writer Mitch Kupchak's search for a top-tier power forward took him Wednesday to Orange County, where he met with Karl Malone and his agent for several hours on the second day of the NBA's free-agent negotiating period. No one involved would comment on the meeting, but a source confirmed it took place in the early afternoon. Malone is represented by Dwight Manley, who is based in Newport Beach. The Lakers have a gaping hole in the frontcourt after cutting loose Robert Horry on Monday. Their top three power forwards last season -- Horry, Samaki Walker and Mark Madsen -- are all free agents. Malone, a future Hall of Famer, is considering leaving the Utah Jazz, the only team he has known in 18 NBA seasons. He is among the top free agents on the market and one of the Lakers' prime targets. They also are making pitches to Gary Payton, Juwan Howard, P.J. Brown, Brad Miller and Derrick Coleman. But after two days of talks, it has become clear most of them are out of the Lakers' price range. Payton is demanding considerably more than the $4.7 million the Lakers can pay, and will only come to the Lakers in a more lucrative sign-and-trade deal. The Lakers do not have the assets to swing a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks and therefore have little chance of landing Payton. Miller, Brown and Coleman all figure to get better offers from their current teams. In preliminary talks, none has indicated a willingness to take a pay cut to play for the Lakers. Malone and Howard are the only two high-profile free agents who seem willing to sacrifice dollars for a shot at a championship. "I want to win," Howard told Sporting News Radio on Wednesday. "I am not trying to go out and go with the highest bidder. It's about being in the right situation where I have a chance to win." Malone and Manley are conducting conference calls with a number of interested teams, but Kupchak was the first to meet with them in person. Jazz officials have yet to schedule a meeting. Malone earned $19 million with the Jazz last season. But he turns 40 later this month, has only two or three years left in the league and wants badly to win a championship before he retires. "The priority is the winning ability, the championship caliber of the team," Manley said. "So when you make that the priority, it makes it a lot easier to weigh the different situations. You put money as the secondary issue." Manley would not say which teams are pursuing his client, although Malone previously has listed the Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings as possible destinations. Malone was in Hollywood on Wednesday night attending a movie premiere with his family and told a TV news crew "I'd be very interested (in playing for the Lakers). I have a lot of respect for Kobe (Bryant) and Shaq (O'Neal)." He also has not ruled out returning to the Jazz, which is what many NBA insiders believe he ultimately will do. Malone is beloved in Salt Lake City, and he has threatened to leave many times before eventually re-signing with the Jazz. If the Lakers strike out on the top free agents -- Kupchak admits it's a possibility -- they will try to split the midlevel exception between two lesser players.
It makes a lot of sense to me for Malone to sign with the Lakers. They need a good PF and have a shot at the championship; Malone is a good PF and wants a shot at the championship. Sounds perfect. Other options like Sac and Dallas are not as good because they already have franchise players at power forward. Plus, I won't have to start disliking any more teams than I already do.
Malone wont go to the Lakers because he wants the scoring title, he wont get it there so instead of being the third option in LA. he'll want to be the second option exSan Antonio) where he could win the championship and break the record.
I think it would be hard for Malone to have both (break scoring record and championship). He needs to pick one or the other. If he goes to SA they already have Duncan as the primary focus for offense. Malone will not be able to break the scoring record on just put backs and the occasional jump shot. The best bet for him would be to go to the Lakers. It will pretty much gaurantee him a ring. As undeserving as he is.
