Tuesday, July 8, 2003 Payton to 'follow dream' with Lakers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com Aaron Goodwin, the agent for Gary Payton, told ESPN's David Aldridge Tuesday afternoon that Payton has chosen to sign a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, despite L.A.'s financial limitations. The Lakers, well over the NBA's $40-plus million salary cap, were limited to offering Payton a starting salary of $4.9 million for next season. It is believed Payton will sign a multi-year deal with the dethroned champions on July 16, the first day teams are permitted to formally sign free agents. "He could have taken a lot more money to go somewhere else," said Goodwin, referring to efforts by the Portland Trail Blazers to acquired Payton in a sign-and-trade with Milwaukee. "But he's going to Los Angeles to follow his dream." Payton selected the Lakers over Portland, Miami -- both teams made Payton substantial contract offers, according to Aldridge. Aldridge also reported that Karl Malone is still mulling offers and won't make a decision for at least another day, although Payton's decision to play for the Lakers does move him in the direction of the Lakers as well.
Horrible news for every other team in the West. Now just imagine if the Lakers sign Malone and Pippen. A starting lineup of: pg-Payton sg-kobe sf-pippen pf-malone c-shaq would be the best lineup in league history. 5 future hall of famers.
Too many cooks in the kitchen. It will be interesting to see if they can all mesh. They have a hard enough time with 2 superstars.
and now yourrrrrrrrrrrr Lakers, sponsered by, Depends.. it might be the best starting lineup as individuals, not necessarly as teammates... Lakers also would sport the league's worst bench...so I wouldnt hand them anything even if they did sign Pippen and Malone.. Pippen would be an idiot to NOT sign with Lakers, he has been and is nothing without Jordan/Jackson...
I would actually pay to see that team. But you could expect about 100 DNP's between them. Opening night might be the only time they all start.
It should be fun watching Payton on the Lakers! This signing doesn't matter to me at all, as long as the Rockets take care of business and get to the playoffs I'm fine. The Rockets have the talent, they should be a #6 or #7 seed, the Lakers with that talent will probably be a #1 seed anyway. There shouldn't be anything for Malone think about, he has made ton of money, multi millions of dollars, he could get a ring and still contend for the all time scoring record since he would only have to score about 12 ppg this year to keep pace.
This team lost ........... several times.......to a lot of people not in the NBA......hype is hype.....teams are teams......give me SA with Kandi and Pike and I still take SA; Ray Allen (Milwaukee Bucks); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Antonio Davis (Toronto Raptors); Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks); Raef LaFrentz (Dallas Mavericks); Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns); Andre Miller (Los Angeles Clippers); Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers); Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers); Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics) and Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons). University of Kansas senior forward Nick Collison and Duke University All-American guard Jay Williams have been named alternates and will train with the U.S. squad. Shaq loves the good life and despite good intentions.....he will return fat, slow and earth bound.....just not quite as fat slow and earth bound as last year......and that being the case TD and SA are champs again..............if the idiots sign Kidd, all bets are off.
Just adding Payton makes them a title favorite. Add in Malone. You have a dream team. They will dominate. There is no question in my mind. The only thing that could stop that team is injuries.
It makes me angry to see Gary Payton join the Lakers. He was a pretty much a Laker killer during the regular seasons when he was playing for Seattle.
Amazing...I never thought Payton would sign with Lakers. I guess they have some pretty good sales men there. One thing to remember. Payton isn't as fast as he used to be. Meaning that Tony Parker schooled Payton a couple of years ago. However, that is a scary line up of: Shaq Malone (if he really ment it) Fox Kobe Payton
I think the bench gets better because now you have players who were starters coming off the bench. If Kareem Rush and Devean George keep progressing, this could become a doozy of a deal. It still doesn't guarantee they will beat the Spurs, but it gives them a better shot for sure.
I can see Payton meshing well with Kobe and Shaq, but I don't think Malone would be a good fit on that team.
I personally hate the Lakers, but I can't deny that the Payton signing makes them the favorites in the West. However, I wouldn't rule out SA, Dallas (if they get Mourning), or a healthy Sac. Those are some very talented teams. Questions about chemistry? Payton is a winner and a competitor. He knows what he's getting himself into. Now if they get Malone as well... oh my gawd, no argument, game over. Can you imagine Malone in the triangle? Next to CWebb and maybe TD, he is the best passing power forward in the game. That would be truly scary.
I think it'll be great to se GP and Kobe fight on the court and talk trash off it. Hopefully, it'll happen and the Lakers won't be tasting champaigne in June.
A motivated Shaq makes the Lakers the favorite in the west. Remember, San Antonio barely beat them with a complacent Shaq, an ineffective Horry, injured Kobe and no Rick Fox. Now you add the second best PG in the league and a thug that would take his moms head off for a title and you have a scary team. I think the 86 celtics may have been better but not by much.
