I'm 99% sure if any city could change his mind about NYC, it would be LA. Especially the Lakers. He'd be crazy not to extend with them. Gasol, Melo, Kobe. Kobe is aging rapidly enough that I don't think it would be an alpha dog issue as much as a passing the torch. Only major red flag I see is Anthony meshing with Phil and the changes he'd (CA) have to make to fit into the triangle. Also, Denver wants significant cap relief...LAL would have to involve a third party to make that work. I highly doubt Odom is safe in these talks. Only untouchables should be Kobe and Gasol.
I'd throw in Artest and Bynum and maybe some draft picks to snag Nene. Yeah im saying something pro-lakers only b/c the rockets this season have been lethargic
Sigh. Im done with the NBA if they land another star. At this point, I think it's inevitable that Melo, Howard, Paul, or D Will ends up there. I hope I'm wrong.
Denver's management is starting to look a little smarter after their Jersey debacle. Force New York to take them seriously. Or send Anthony to a team where he might actually re-sign. Given that, who would the Lakers give up? Obviously Bynum and Artest would lead the discussions. But you can't help but think that if this rumor had any legs at all, a third team would have to step in.
A deal sending Bynum and Odom out and taking in Melo and Kenyon Martin along with taking on Andersen's contract for their TPE from the Sasha trade, keeps LA plenty big and they single handedly get Denver out of the luxury tax. Now, throw in Shannon Brown as another asset and the Laker's draft pick and that's not a bad deal for Denver. They can of course, move Odom and Bynum along for someone else if they choose to. They may be able to get the Nets interested in Odom for a draft pick and Murphy and they get rid of Balkman in that deal.
P.R. move for the Lakers. They do not have the pieces to get this done. Makes them look active. Keeps L.A. in the spotlight for other players.
Think about this: How would you like to have to go up against: Chauncey Afflalo Odom Bynum Nene in a playoff series? Lawson and J.R. off the bench????? Denver picks up another big at the deadline that has been bought out, somebody like Dally to play backup in the paint and they would be rolling big time............provided Bynum got healthy. A trade like this would keep Denver in the mix with LA and SA for a Finals bid. And.....get them under the luxury tax at the same time.
I would say you are probably right. I think this is all designed by Denver to get NY back to the table and to get NY to up the ante. The Knicks have to feel threatened by LA becuase if Melo goes out there to Hollywood and wins a title with Kobe and Gasol, he is going to be very tempted to sign an extension, especially when one of those movie producers sticks his wife in some movie.
