One good thing, the only good thing about this, is that Payton is 35 instead of like 5 years younger. And even though, on paper, they are clearly the team to beat, they still have to mesh and do it on the court. And I have my doubts about that.
I see what you guys are saying about meshing and 2 of the three past there prime. BUT Shaq, Kobe, Payton at this point is better then Barkley, Drexler, and Hakeem. This will be a very exciting upcoming season. Not that i have ever really liked or disliked Duncan, but if the Lakers go all the way and get Karl Malone. I WILL BECOME A HUGE DUNCAN FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The newest rumor I heard is that Payon's addition might make Karl Malone take the veteran's minimum to play in LA. I used to take solace in the fact that LA couldn't afford to surround Shaq and Kobe with decent talent, but now, my faith in the world somehow being a right place is shaken
man, this sucks. I though Payton was all about challenges. He could go play with Garnett for that money. Payton and Garnett are made for each other. Kobe is just going to piss off Payton. Payton/Garnett is a much classier move, imo, and Minn/McHale/Garnett deserve that shot in the arm considering the handicap they've been building with with Marbury flaking and then the Smith debacle.
Man, the Bucks got screwed on the Ray Allen Payton/Mason trade. George Karl must be packing his things right now as we speak.
If everything goes according to plans (which it never does), pencil the Lakers in for 5 straight championships. Payton can play til he's 40 and not miss a beat, especially if he reduces his minutes by about 10 per game. Our only hope is for Kobe to totally flake out.
He'll help, but the lakers run a slowdown offense that degenerates into Kobe Shaq Iso's, despite teh triangle base. So is he just going to stand around at the 3 point line in the half court like Derek Fisher or what? It seems to me it may end up being like injecting Pippen in with Charles and Hakeem, but it could work.
If the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, or Knicks are kicking ass, it's good for the league. Im being cynical but hell, this sucks big time.
This really sucks. And it's about to become a nightmare with Malone basically a lock as well. I will hate this Laker team so much it isn't even funny. Probably even more than the Yankees in MLB. I can't believe this is what these superstars will resort to get their rings. Where is the pride, the dignity, the feeling of accomplishment? This is payton and malone trying to buy a cheap ring. And that's pathetic if you ask me.
This will easily be the second most hated team by me. Shaq Malone Pippen Kobe Payton Its basically all of our old nemesis. Payton from the Seattle days, Malone messed up our meating with Jordan, that backstabbing Quitten and the Big Racist - Shaq. I am not fond of Jordan Jr. either.
No doubt GP with the Lakers makes them the favorite for next year. A player of the caliber like Payton should sign with one of the top teams and help them win it all. The ring would mean so much more. But I think it would be great if Phil Jackson, the coaching genious, cannot get this team to the championship. I don't really like this trend of big time players still playing at a high level signing with the best teams in order to get a ring. It has been going on for a while in the NHL, most recently with the Avalanche picking up Selanne and Kariya. But as a fan, I am going to be sure to watch any and all Lakers games that I can. Seeing Payton and Kobe harassing opposing guards should be as sweet as watching ball hawks Jordan and Pippen destroy other teams guards. Even if the Lakers sign K Malone, they will still need someone who can defend the post, other than FA Madsen.
Great! I can't wait to see the Rockets kick the the Lakers' As* next season.... that will be very exciting
Hmm reminds me of Manny's thread in the hangout about the Legion of Doom. It wouldn't surprise me if they hired Stockton as an assistant coach just to piss us off.
Don't worry. They are just trying to rideout Shaq as long as they can. Payton just wants a ring now. He doesn't care about "leading" anymore Malone either.
Isn't that what Barkley tried to do when he agreed to sign for the league minimum with the Rockets? Interesting trend from non-ring stars who faced against the Bulls in the Finals... http://www.latimes.com/sports/baske...,1,4702806.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba Agent Aaron Goodwin estimated Payton gave up about $35 million — offered, Goodwin said, by the Portland Trail Blazers in a sign-and-trade scenario — to join the Lakers, in part because he was so impressed by Malone's willingness to accept less money to enable the Lakers to pursue Payton. The two perennial All-Stars spoke Sunday, and clearly Payton expects Malone to sign with the Lakers. "The basis of the conversations we had," Goodwin said, "was that Gary had a chance to make money or a chance to make history. "He didn't want to let Karl down, either. He looked at this as an opportunity for both of them. I know that Karl being there was one of the reasons he made his decision."
I remember the Rockets had clout like this. As much as people hate to see this, i love it when a guy like Malone and Payton take less to get a ring. Everyone is making a big deal about them sharin the ball, but i think all of these guys want to win so bad especially Payton and Malone. Shaq will never see a double team again or shouldn't. Thats why all these rocket fans talk about waiting for the team to mature, tell that to the kings who's window just slammed shut.
LOL Phil Jackson = Lex Luthor Shaq = Solomon Grundy Karl Malone = Bizarro Quitten = Scarecrow Kobe = Cheetah since he is such a biyotch Payton = Riddler Now if Ewing would be an assistant to Phil instead of us he could easily play the role of Grodd, the Gorilla. Unfortunately, that will have to go to Sean Rooks if he is still around.
this is not necessarily a good thing. remember the struggle they had before phil jackson and they only had 2 super stars and some midiocre (sp ?) ones. now with 5 super stars on roster? i don't know.
