Lateral move.

[Ace]

How does Dwight fare vs stretch bigs...?

Dwight outside the paint is always a good thing. Dwight is pretty mobile tbh, but I've never really seen him chasing bigs around perimeter.

[Ace]

Even if they were better than Miami, Mike Brown is still the "coach".

And Spo just won a championship

[pass1st]

Cobbler the earlybird bandwagoner

[MattBonnerExperience]

Fun fact: this trade makes the lakers even older.

[TIMMYtoZO]

Laker fans and their false hope. This actually makes next season fun for Miami now. A big move finally happens and the haters will be out in full force. LA and OKC get to play for the right to congratulate Miami on their repeat as champs.

[Bynumite]

Laker fans and their false hope. This actually makes next season fun for Miami now. A big move finally happens and the haters will be out in full force. LA and OKC get to play for the right to congratulate Miami on their repeat as champs.

Post-Nash, pre-Howard take:

The Lakers didn't really improve. They got older and slower. They have spent over a month trying to get Howard, and nothing has or will happen.

Awww

[namlook]

It's definately an upgrade. Dwight plays hard every night and won't be doing stupid like jacking up threes or making idiotic comments to give teams bulletin board material. Bottom line is Bynum plays hard when he wants to. You need players going at 100% effort in the playoffs and Bynum is not that guy. Howard has a motor that never seems to stop. That will make a difference.

[Koolaid_Man]

Fun fact: this trade makes the lakers even older.

Miami is the 2nd oldest team in the league....and they just beat OKC....LA should have no issues

[Koolaid_Man]

Kobe says Superman Has Found A Home



Kobe Bryant released the following statement on his Facebook page in response to the Lakers' trade of Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard.


"Well, it looks like Superman has found a home," wrote Bryant. "I wish nothing but the best for Big Bynum. I hope he follows what was a great season last year with an even better one next year. I know LA is excited about the deal and rightfully so. The Lakers landed a piece that will hopefully carry the franchise long after I'm gone. I have spoken to Dwight Howard already and we are locked and loaded to bring back the le. Wow, what a summer Jimmy and Mitch have had so far. Unreal! I'm focused on our semifinal game vs Argentina but I had to pause for a few to send you my thoughts, in case you were curious.."

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap...#ixzz23AGlOy00

[midnightpulp]

You know me. I am a die hard homer Laker fan. I think they are going to the finals every year and I am right half the time. I think they are going to win those when they do and I am right half the time there too. Not a bad record over my lifetime if I so say so myself.

I think they have a great shot at winning it all. They are going to have a full camp for one. They brought Eddie Jordan to run the offense and are going Princeton. Regarless of what the butthurt Midget says, Nash and Howard were not lateral moves. Anyone stating so is a moron. I understand his motivation though. I find a lot of humor in it.

We improved the bench with Jamison. We resigned Hill who is a decent backup and only had a hanful of games with the team and did quite well. We could use one more backup shooter with range. I would actually welcome Barbosa as I see him as a good fit in a reserve roll. I don't think the Lakers are done.

Several points. Kobe is going to have to realize hes not going to get 25+ shots. I think he is finally at the point of his career that he will be willing to play a less ball dominant role. They have guys now that wont wilt under pressure and look to him to bail them out either. Well see. The Princeton offense is ideal for Pau's skills. He wilted last year with Bynum handling the ball more. I see a better year for him.

Howard was an ideal pickup with regards to the way the team is constructed as is. With Nash's well known less than stellar defence and Kobe getting slower Howards D is much better than Drews. Drew played decent help D and could clog the lanes. Teams figured it out and pulled him out on the switches and he got beat. Howard is a much better one on one defender and moves much quicker. On offense. Bynum has better post moves. Howard is a better pick and roll player and will get more hustle garbage points. What would you rather have with Nash and Kobe in the back court. It is not even close to a lateral move when considering the direction they are taking. Howard can run the floor a whole lot better than Drew too.

The Lakers have a sweet squad. Brown can concentrate on D. Eddie can take the offense. Kobe if he is smart will realize he will get more total points career wise by slowing down and playing less mins with this squad and extending his career maybe another year or two. Nash, Howard, and Jamison are all very hungry. We shall see. You always need luck and the injury gods to be on your side.

I really like our chances.

You don't say!

[ElNono]

You could argue last season's Sessions/Bynum >>>> this season's Howard/Nash... in that case not really a lateral move, tbh

[midnightpulp]

You could argue last season's Sessions/Bynum >>>> this season's Howard/Nash... in that case not really a lateral move, tbh

A downgrade.

Anyhow, Laker fans are somewhat "vindicated" since Bynum probably won't play a game this season, so in that regard, even acquiring a player like Festus Ezuli would be an "upgrade." But at the time, it was a definitely a lateral move/downgrade.

[SpursIndonesia]

Where were those swags the purpleanpiss fans been having & showing throughout last summer & fall ?

[Cry Havoc]

Where were those swags the purpleanpiss fans been having & showing throughout last summer & fall ?

The Lakers have more bandwaggoners/frontrunners than any team in professional sports.

[rmt]

It's definately an upgrade. Dwight plays hard every night and won't be doing stupid like jacking up threes or making idiotic comments to give teams bulletin board material. Bottom line is Bynum plays hard when he wants to. You need players going at 100% effort in the playoffs and Bynum is not that guy. Howard has a motor that never seems to stop. That will make a difference.

LOL

[Killakobe81]

This will be true if Pau utilizes his true strength on offense which is the 10 - 17' jumper and crash the boards. I think he going to crumble even further into the abyss of self doubt though with all the trade talk, and now he's 4th wheel behind Nash, Howard and Kobe. He's got ample excuse to slack off.

Great call at least you know ball ...props

[Killakobe81]

This will be true if Pau utilizes his true strength on offense which is the 10 - 17' jumper and crash the boards. I think he going to crumble even further into the abyss of self doubt though with all the trade talk, and now he's 4th wheel behind Nash, Howard and Kobe. He's got ample excuse to slack off.

No post game. No passing game. Can't shoot freethrows. Just coming off back surgery. And it's not like he'll improve the Lakers interior defense exponentially from what it was this past season. The slight gain the Lakers receive in rebounding and interior defense isn't worth the loss of Bynum's skills in the post.

Lol dip Lakers fans actually think the most overrated player of the past decade is going to bring them another le.

You'll realize how overrated Howard is by mid-season.

Truth bombs

[midnightpulp]

Truth bombs

To be fair, I guess it was worth the loss of Bynum's skills in the post since Drew's been sitting on the bench all year and playing with his hair.

Considering that, Dwight was actually a steal

But yeah, my original point that he's massively overrated remains.

[Killakobe81]

To be fair, I guess it was worth the loss of Bynum's skills in the post since Drew's been sitting on the bench all year and playing with his hair.

Considering that, Dwight was actually a steal

But yeah, my original point that he's massively overrated remains.

Believe me I had concerns but figured the upgrade on defense and health was worth it. I think this core is shot both MWP and Pau haven't been the same since game 7 2010 vs Celts. , neither have KG or Pierce that series took a toll. it took Kobe two years and two trips to a German witch doctor to get close to that form. Pau still has skill but his will is broken he needs a trade for his own sake ...
Lakers need a stretch 4 and a perimeter defender to cover Nash guy ...

[midnightpulp]

Believe me I had concerns but figured the upgrade on defense and health was worth it. I think this core is shot both MWP and Pau haven't been the same since game 7 2010 vs Celts. , neither have KG or Pierce that series took a toll. it took Kobe two years and two trips to a German witch doctor to get close to that form. Pau still has skill but his will is broken he needs a trade for his own sake ...
Lakers need a stretch 4 and a perimeter defender to cover Nash guy ...

Yeah, Lakers need a young buck like Leonard at the 3, and a 25 year old version of Antwan Jamison at the 4.

[Killakobe81]

Yeah, Lakers need a young buck like Leonard at the 3, and a 25 year old version of Antwan Jamison at the 4.

As good as Mitch has been he made some mistakes and not acquiring or developing a young wing defender while acquiring Nash was a fatal flaw ...same with Dwight and no stretch pf

[TrainOfThought5]

No post game. No passing game. Can't shoot freethrows. Just coming off back surgery. And it's not like he'll improve the Lakers interior defense exponentially from what it was this past season. The slight gain the Lakers receive in rebounding and interior defense isn't worth the loss of Bynum's skills in the post.

Lol dip Lakers fans actually think the most overrated player of the past decade is going to bring them another le.

You'll realize how overrated Howard is by mid-season.

OP is a Shaq-like prophet, TBH

[StrengthAndHonor]

Good stuff but honestly the Lakers are better with Howard. Bynum has played zero games. Can you guys imagine a frontline of Gasol and Jamison? Their only relief is Jordan Hill and Sacre. Jeez.


Still a solid move IMO. I can already see Dwight's impact defensively. On 3 straight possessions, Blake was unable to score on Dwight. He was also pretty good protecting the paint altering CP3 and Bledsoe's shots when they were driving down the lane.

[Clipper Nation]

Whatever slight impact Dwight brings defensively is cancelled out by his lack of post moves or fundamentals on offense, tbh... it's like he doesn't realize he's getting the ball stripped from him a million times a game.... unlike Blake and DeAndre, who actually work on their game and want to get better, Dwight seems content to be a monkeyballer with limited skill, tbh....

Also, the Lakers were a FAR tougher matchup for us when they had Bynum.... he would on DJ relentlessly because he was actually skilled on the offensive end....

[Mel_13]

In 34 games last year the Suns were 14-20. In 34 games this year the Lakers are just 15-19. Nash probably didn't envision a lateral move.

https://twitter.com/DavidjBrickley