Couple? Try at least 5 (assuming Shaq stays healthy and Kobe doesn't leave). Gary Payton is one of the top players in the league. If he reduces his minutes to about 30 minutes per game, he could easily be super effective for a long time. And with Kobe not even reaching his prime, this Laker team is set until 2010.
MrSpur when you are not making takes about the Spurs you can be pretty right on. The Lakers window with the current team is 3 years max IMO--Shaq, Malone and Payton will all substantially deteriorate each year. However Malone is critical for that team--every bit as critical as Payton. Although I do agree with this take. If they could somehow land Kidd and Miller, Kandi or Rasha that would put them in awefully good position. PJ would not be a good move. Can't really play center, is old w/o probably Malone's longevity. The Spurs need to think about players who will contribute 3-4-5 years down the line--I don't see PJ doing that. Personally, I think with the Lakers making these moves, my hunch is Kidd will be less inclined to go out west.
I think the Spurs need to add a replacement for Robinson such as O'Neal or Olowakandi. Then the Spurs just need to develop their team chemistry even more. A little help with injuries on the Laker's aging Big 4 roster won't hurt either. Remember the days of the Rocket's Big 3 with Hakeem, Clyde, and Charles? We lost to the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals even though we had the more talented team. The great chemistry between Malone and Stockon did us in.
You think so? Look at John Stockton. John Stockton started to tail off at age 35 but was still a very very good player. He just played a little less and his stats fell proportionally. Payton hasn't shown any inclination of slowing down. 1. With Shaq and Kobe, Payton can afford to rest more thus prolonging his career. If Payton could play 3 years at 40 minutes, he can definitely play 5 or 6 at 28-30 minutes and maintain his effectiveness. 2. Shaq will deterioate but a 70% Shaq is still better than any center in the league. He also can reduce his minutes and still be effective. 3. Kobe Bryant is 24. he hasn't even reached his prime and will probably be as good if not better in the next 5 or 6 years (assuming he stays in LA).
It wouldn't suprise me if Kobe goes to another team next year when he opts out of his contract. He is a guy that wants to put up numbers, and he cannot with all the chiefs on the lakers roster.
The spurs really can't do much. San Antonio is not half as attractive to FAs as LA is. If they are smart, they should continue their "rebuilding" phase by not signing Jason Kidd. Keep what they have from last year and add a decent center (along the line of Brad Miller or KandiMan) they should still be very competitive. I also heard that they are going to bring over the center on Argentina national team in last year's WC (his last name is Oberto or something). That guy was pretty good in the WC. Chances are the lakers are going to be champs again. If Malone and Payton learns to play their roles (and they probably will under Phil Jackson whose only real strength is to make guys play together), it's going to take a miracle to beat them.
Couple of differences: 1) the Laker team will not have a Matt Maloney caliber of starter, their worst starter will be Fox--who is a good role player--no knock on Maloney but he was indiciative that the Rockets did not have playoff caliber role players after the big 3. 2) The Hakeem, Chuck and Clyde & Hakeem, Chuck & Pippen teams had all their stars majorly declining. They needed their aging stars to carry them, not be role players. Malone and Payton will be for the Lakers like McAdoo and a 40ish Kareem were--one time greats who know fill roles. Further, the Rockets Big 3 teams did not have a 24 year old Kobe nor an offensive force like Shaq can be next year. IMO say 4 years for now, Malone will be retired, Payton at most marginally effective (Payton relies on his physical advantages more than Stockton) and Shaq will be way on his decline. I agree Kobe will still be great--but not enough to carry a team to a championship. That is why I say this Laker team has a 3 years span--but if they find another PF (Malone will be gone) and another PG (GP will probably be better suited for the bench) in 3 years they could still be contenders--but that will be a different team with different future moves. There is less than 10% chance Kobe leaves. He can get payed more with the Lakers, he gets more endorsements with the Lakers, the Lakers attract other good players like no other teams, and Kobe will be the center of the team in about 2 years. Wishful thinking at best that Kobe leaves.
