End of an era - Goodbye Lakers

[Buddy Holly]

i wish spur fans booed the spurs. it might have woken them up. instead, they just lumbered throughout the series and committed the dumbest turnovers.

Wake them up the way it clearly woke the Lakers up?

Just accept that the Grizzlies was an awful match up for us.

[daslicer]

The only team in LA cap space wise that has a chance at Dwight is the Clippers. Don't see the magic trading the best big in the league for an overatted center who is Elden Campbell part 2. Bynum is not a special player people get real hear the guy is solid to above average and nothing more. The kid is 23 now; when Shaq and Duncan were his age they were tearing up the league. Psychologically I don't see the Magic doing this trade considering LA raped them when they got Shaq and trading Dwight would make them LA's permanently.
Yall are traumatized by the Gasol trade. Believe it or not the Lakers don't always get who they want they missed out on Drob back in the summer of '89 and they couldn't get Olaujuwon in the fall of '92. Olaujuwon tried to force his way to the lakers but the rockets management didn't budge and I see Orlando doing the same thing with Dwight.

[Hoops Czar]

Bynum's health is always an "if" and he will likely have knee problems for the remainder of his career which a tricky thing to try and build your franchise around, especially in trying to replace a guy like Dwight. Otis has made some risky decisions in the past so I wouldn't put it passed him to take a leap of faith on Howard and try to reshape the roster as best he can on-the-fly to make them compe ive enough to keep them in the running. The east also looks to be opening up which in and of itslef is a selling point, just depends on what other name they can bring in, even if it's swapping bad contracts and gambling on someone no one else wants with upside or making moves with a team on the verge of a rebuild.

No way you can replace Dwight, but Andrew is a nice consolation prize. Even with balky knees, he's the second best center in the NBA. If their intentions are to hold onto Dwight, they will need to get serious quick. They can't lose any more ground on Miami and Chicago. Maybe that means going after a true point guard like CP3. Whatever it is, it has to happen this offseason. Orlando has to show Dwight that they will be serious contenders for the foreseeable future or Dwight probably walks.

[NewJerSpur]

No way can you replace Dwight, but Andrew is a nice consolation prize. Even with balky knees, he's the second best center in the NBA. If their intentions are to hold onto Dwight, they will need to get serious quick. They can't lose any more ground on Miami and Chicago. Maybe that means going after a true point guard like CP3. Whatever it is, it has to happen this offseason. Orlando has to show Dwight that they will be serious contenders for the foreseeable future or Dwight probably walks.

I don't agree with the Bynum part because of the injury side of things alone compared to what they'd be given up and given Dwight's injury history or lack there of. I'm right there with you on the roster shakeup because anything less than Game 7 of the ECF and Dwight is out the door, and this comes from a Magic supporter. Otis has made decisions that have caused that franchise to regress since their Finals appearance and he owes it to them and the city of Orlando to put a winner together to keep Orlando. I'd look into doing whatever possible to start with CP3, including everyone on the roster outside of Dwight.

[dallaskd]

Lakers need to move Bynum for a couple pieces while he still has trade value before he blows his knee for good

[Calispursfan11]

Lakers need to move Bynum for a couple pieces while he still has trade value before he blows his knee for good

Congrats on Sir Charles declaring the Lakers done!

[Sisk]

Yeah, they're totally cap ed for about next three years, too, and have no talent to speak of in the pipeline.

[Fireball]

We all know its easier for the Lakers to rebuild than for the Spurs, but I enjoy the beatdown they take from the Mavs right now.

[Obstructed_View]

Did something happen to the Lakers that's unexpected?

[baseline bum]

I just watched the Mavs dismantle the Lakers and I don't know whether to rejoice or cry. As much as I couldn't stand Kobe all these years, his decline is sad as is the Lakers' end since the Lakers greatness went hand in hand with the Spurs' greatness. The Lakers' core has become way too old, fat and happy to compete with the Mavs much less for a le.

Bye bye Laker dynasty. You were a thorn in our side, but a familiar one, and sometimes unpleasant familiarity is better than the unknown.

The Lakers' core is way too old?

Bryant is 32
Gasol is 30
Odom is 31
Bynum is 23

Bull . The Lakers are just getting their teeth kicked in by a hungry team with good size and the best player in the series.

[Bruno]

I won't make the mistake to burn Lakers too quickly (cough.. 2004.. cough) but, if Lakers lose, Spurs team should have huge regrets on how they have wasted this season.

[baseline bum]

I won't make the mistake to burn Lakers too quickly (cough.. 2004.. cough) but, if Lakers lose, Spurs team should have huge regrets on how they have wasted this season.

The Spurs wouldn't have beaten OKC nor Dallas, so it really doesn't matter anyways. And then Miami would be an even worse matchup.

[rascal]

Yeah, they're totally cap ed for about next three years, too, and have no talent to speak of in the pipeline.

Lakers always seem to be able to bounce back with player acquisistions.
They are not down for very long.

[ChuckD]

It wasn't meant to scare you. He certainly put fear into TD though. They will dump the salary to make it happen. And it wouldn't stop Orlando from making the trade, they could care less about LA's financial restraints. They would rather get something for their star player rather than watching him walk away for nothing in the offseason.

There has to be a credible threat of Howard signing there for that to happen. LA's payroll was $90M this year. That means they need to CUT about $50M to get enough under the cap to offer Howard a full boat deal. Not happening.

If Orlando decides they want to trade Howard, I'm sure they'll get better offers than bad kneed players who can play 60 games a year, ty picks, and old players. , we could probably offer them better, and I don't see that happening, either.

[ChuckD]

Lakers always seem to be able to bounce back with player acquisistions.
They are not down for very long.

See: 1992-1999. No LoBs, not even a Finals trip.

[daslicer]

Lakers always seem to be able to bounce back with player acquisistions.
They are not down for very long.

Are you a lakerfan I'm just wondering considering you tend to usually have their in your mouth whenever you post?

[lefty]

I won't make the mistake to burn Lakers too quickly (cough.. 2004.. cough) but, if Lakers lose, Spurs team should have huge regrets on how they have wasted this season.

Well in 2004, they lost their first 2 on the road

[LongtimeSpursFan]

The Spurs wouldn't have beaten OKC nor Dallas, so it really doesn't matter anyways. And then Miami would be an even worse matchup.

Not sure why many people still believe this. Spurs match much better against the Mavs and even better against the Thunder. The West is wide open as ever. That why I'm not too quick to write off the Spurs as contenders yet.

[peacemaker885]

Don't count out the Lakers just yet. Dallas still has to win 2 and with the Lakers, you really can't say.

[bus driver]

It's not over yet. When the scoreboard says 4-0, I'll celebrate. Anything can happen eg. Dirk could sprain his ankle.

same thing i was think...after all this is the dallas mavs that are up 2-0
but it will be good to see the kobe cry again.

[ATXSPUR]

See: 1992-1999. No LoBs, not even a Finals trip.

The league had MJ and Chicago to serve as their big market powerhouse in the 90s, so they didn't exactly need LA then.

Trust me though, Stern will make it happen for LA this time around. It has to scare the out of them that the team that looks like it has the brightest future is in ing Oklahoma.

[ATXSPUR]

Also, we have to remember that this is still Dallas. If anybody can this up...

[greyforest]

Nah, 'em.

[Slomo]

Also, we have to remember that this is still Dallas. If anybody can this up...

I was just typing the same thing!

[Obstructed_View]

Trust me though, Stern will make it happen for LA this time around. It has to scare the out of them that the team that looks like it has the brightest future is in ing Oklahoma.

Doesn't bother them in the least. There's already a power struggle with the Thunder. Westbrook will want to go out on his own, and LA needs a point guard, and will need an heir apparent. Then Durant can go wherever four years later when his contract is up, probably Boston or New York.