Which Laker will be traded?

[Banzai]

Walton..lol dude is awful. On the level of Kwame Parker Cook.

[Baseline]

Don't be fooled by the fact that LA has nobody attractive to trade. They didn't have anybody to trade when they got Gasol.

If memory serves, they traded Kwame, Crittenden, Aaron McKie, and the rights to Marc Gasol, and maybe another pick (or maybe not). However, all season long rumors were coming out of Chicago that the Bulls were going to get Gasol, and names like Deng, Noah, Hinrich and others were being tossed around. In other words, Memphis could have gotten a ton more from Chicago, so it made no sense whatsoever that they did the deal with LA. The trade was straight up dirty, and everybody knows it. Popovich even said something publically...when does that ever happen? Not only that, but Gasol was the one guy in the league who filled the Lakers' greatest need at that moment. And they gave up nothing to get him. In my mind, it's absolutely criminal.

I'm just saying, don't be surprised if the same thing happens again. Don't be surprised if LA gets somebody like Chris Paul or Melo or Nash or Nene....and gives up a couple of scrubs, i.e. Nothing. It would be 1000% wrong and 1000% dirty, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

[HarlemHeat37]

Don't be fooled by the fact that LA has nobody attractive to trade. They didn't have anybody to trade when they got Gasol.

If memory serves, they traded Kwame, Crittenden, Aaron McKie, and the rights to Marc Gasol, and maybe another pick (or maybe not). However, all season long rumors were coming out of Chicago that the Bulls were going to get Gasol, and names like Deng, Noah, Hinrich and others were being tossed around. In other words, Memphis could have gotten a ton more from Chicago, so it made no sense whatsoever that they did the deal with LA. The trade was straight up dirty, and everybody knows it. Popovich even said something publically...when does that ever happen? Not only that, but Gasol was the one guy in the league who filled the Lakers' greatest need at that moment. And they gave up nothing to get him. In my mind, it's absolutely criminal.

I'm just saying, don't be surprised if the same thing happens again. Don't be surprised if LA gets somebody like Chris Paul or Melo or Nash or Nene....and gives up a couple of scrubs, i.e. Nothing. It would be 1000% wrong and 1000% dirty, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

..

[cobbler]

I wouldn't make a trade if I'm LA..Bynum is the only piece that can realistically bring back an impact player(if you ignore the possibility of collusion), but I wouldn't give up on a young big man of his caliber, even with his injury problems..

Lakers just need to shake things up a little..sit Gasol for a while, start Barnes when he returns, switch Ebanks for Walton..

We actually agree on something. *looking in the sky for the pigs*

Gasol has been uninspiring since he "claimed" he tweaked his hammy. I certainly do not buy the overworked concept 20 games in. He has proven he can play year round. It's no news around Lakerland that Pau is lazy and goes through the motions. I'll have to give him the benefit of the doubt, he's earned it.

Lakers are not giving up on Bynum. Yes he has had the injuries, but thats a risk you take. We have all seen the capabilities and promise. He is still very very young. Drew would benefit from a quality upgrade at PG like no other in the league. One of the Lakers glaring defeciencies is their post entry passing. Bynum often has position on his opponent never to see it. He has length and the over the top pass is there a lot. The Fisher pump post entry fake has to go.

Barnes being out has hurt. We all saw what happend the second Luke hit the floor Sunday. He's fine in the 2nd unit to play high post because of all the Lakers, he actually can pass, but to fulfill the defensive stopper roll? Come on. I'd definetly give Ebanks Lukes minutes in a heartbeat.

The Lakers are fine and no team is going to want to play them in a 7 game series. We all know that, all the posturing aside.

[Hoops Czar]

No major trade here. He's trying to fire up the underachievers and light a fire under the Lakers collective asses.

[cobbler]

Don't be fooled by the fact that LA has nobody attractive to trade. They didn't have anybody to trade when they got Gasol.

If memory serves, they traded Kwame, Crittenden, Aaron McKie, and the rights to Marc Gasol, and maybe another pick (or maybe not). However, all season long rumors were coming out of Chicago that the Bulls were going to get Gasol, and names like Deng, Noah, Hinrich and others were being tossed around. In other words, Memphis could have gotten a ton more from Chicago, so it made no sense whatsoever that they did the deal with LA. The trade was straight up dirty, and everybody knows it. Popovich even said something publically...when does that ever happen? Not only that, but Gasol was the one guy in the league who filled the Lakers' greatest need at that moment. And they gave up nothing to get him. In my mind, it's absolutely criminal.

I'm just saying, don't be surprised if the same thing happens again. Don't be surprised if LA gets somebody like Chris Paul or Melo or Nash or Nene....and gives up a couple of scrubs, i.e. Nothing. It would be 1000% wrong and 1000% dirty, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

ding ding ding!!!! We have a winner!!!!

The official one billionth "gasol collusion" post. Congrats!!!!

[baseline bum]

Don't be fooled by the fact that LA has nobody attractive to trade. They didn't have anybody to trade when they got Gasol.

If memory serves, they traded Kwame, Crittenden, Aaron McKie, and the rights to Marc Gasol, and maybe another pick (or maybe not). However, all season long rumors were coming out of Chicago that the Bulls were going to get Gasol, and names like Deng, Noah, Hinrich and others were being tossed around. In other words, Memphis could have gotten a ton more from Chicago, so it made no sense whatsoever that they did the deal with LA. The trade was straight up dirty, and everybody knows it. Popovich even said something publically...when does that ever happen? Not only that, but Gasol was the one guy in the league who filled the Lakers' greatest need at that moment. And they gave up nothing to get him. In my mind, it's absolutely criminal.

I'm just saying, don't be surprised if the same thing happens again. Don't be surprised if LA gets somebody like Chris Paul or Melo or Nash or Nene....and gives up a couple of scrubs, i.e. Nothing. It would be 1000% wrong and 1000% dirty, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

LA has no big expirings left. Brown was about a $9 million expiring and McKie was something like $3 million. The only expirings/team options they have are Smith, Caracter, and Ratliff, and none is even $1.5 million. They would have had the flexibility to possibly get something decent had they not already salary-dumped Vujacic's $5.5 million expiring to the Nets.

[LakerHater]

Andrew Bynum, Derrick Character and Steve Blake... in a package!

[HarlemHeat37]

We actually agree on something. *looking in the sky for the pigs*

Gasol has been uninspiring since he "claimed" he tweaked his hammy. I certainly do not buy the overworked concept 20 games in. He has proven he can play year round. It's no news around Lakerland that Pau is lazy and goes through the motions. I'll have to give him the benefot of the doubt, he's earned it.

I don't know, I don't really see why Gasol would be playing lazy though..I'm sure he isn't going a 100% every night, but he's too good of a player to be this underwhelming for such a long period of time..Gasol has been very consistent since joining the Lakers..this slump of his is easily the worst I've ever seen him play as a Laker, not even close, and it has been ongoing for a while now..

I don't think it's just a matter of wear and tear from the 40 MPG he was playing earlier..I do think he must be having hammy problems..also, he's 30 now, and he's coming off 3 straight seasons of deep NBA Finals runs..it takes a toll, and Gasol might not have a body that can handle that type of workload..

I would sit him, to give him a rest, and to send him a message..

Barnes being out has hurt. We all saw what happend the second Luke hit the floor Sunday. He's fine in the 2nd unit to play high post because of all the Lakers, he actually can pass, but to fulfill the defensive stopper roll? Come on. I'd definetly give Ebanks Lukes minutes in a heartbeat.

Lakers are way too slow in the starting lineup..the first option should be to bench Fisher instead, but I don't think Jackson will ever do it..a combination of Artest/Fisher is extremely slow, and they're both very mediocre offensive players..

With Barnes, you get an above average defender, but more importantly, an athletic player that gives you a little versatility, at least compared to Artest..Barnes brings a lot of energy, chases loose balls, he's a great off-ball slasher on a team with solid passers(Gasol, Kobe, Odom)..Artest is so slow and methodical on offense, his only use has become spot-up shooting, something he isn't even good at..his post-ups are poor and he can't play off-ball basketball..

If a player starts getting hot, the Lakers have a defensive stopper that can come in and cool him down..it would also allow Artest to play his own offensive game off the bench, and maybe spark something in him..

[Thompson]

They blew it when they moved the expiring of Vujacic for luxury tax savings. All their dead wood is on long-term deals now.

Yeah, now they'll have to give up Walton and a top 59 protected 2011 draft pick for Chris Paul.

[cobbler]

I don't think it's just a matter of wear and tear from the 40 MPG he was playing earlier..I do think he must be having hammy problems..also, he's 30 now, and he's coming off 3 straight seasons of deep NBA Finals runs..it takes a toll, and Gasol might not have a body that can handle that type of workload..

Except that he took this offseason off. I have to believe its the hammy. He was RUNNING and gettting a lot of lift early on. You see that only on rare uncontested attemts now.

I would sit him, to give him a rest, and to send him a message..

Agree

Lakers are way too slow in the starting lineup..the first option should be to bench Fisher instead, but I don't think Jackson will ever do it..a combination of Artest/Fisher is extremely slow, and they're both very mediocre offensive players..

I would consider starting brown at the 2 and Kobe the 3 if PJ is so set on Fish. Until Barnes returns that is...

[jjktkk]

Leave the team alone, who gives a how they
are playing in January. We all know when it matters most they will be top dogs

#41, Ive only seen you bob Laker nob. Do you ever even give prop to your Mavs?

[DesignatedT]

I'd look to deal Bynum if it could get me another good piece.

[Capt Bringdown]

Don't be fooled by the fact that LA has nobody attractive to trade. They didn't have anybody to trade when they got Gasol.

I'm just saying, don't be surprised if the same thing happens again. Don't be surprised if LA gets somebody like Chris Paul or Melo or Nash or Nene....and gives up a couple of scrubs, i.e. Nothing. It would be 1000% wrong and 1000% dirty, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Exactly. In fact, I'd be surprised if some kind of miracle BS trade doesn't happen. Last time, they got precisely the player they needed without giving up anything thereby leapfrogging the rest of the league.

Their biggest deficits are Fisher and Artest, so I reckon they'll get a player to address these shortcomings, rather than another big. Probably Nash or Melo.

[cobbler]

Yeah... leapfrogged from number 2 or 3 in the league to #1 and then even lost at that.

[Capt Bringdown]

Yeah... leapfrogged from number 2 or 3 in the league to #1 and then even lost at that.

Lakers were straight trash, going nowhere before Gasol was appointed and you know it. Put Gasol on any number of contenders and the Lakers got nothing.

[Giuseppe]

Though Gasol couldn't win a single playoff game till Kobe took him in.

[cheguevara]

Luke + Brown for CP3 and West.

[Giuseppe]

Maybe Kupchak will get a holt of the same mug books that Pop got Neal outta.

tee, hee.

[Cry Havoc]

For those interested.

[Giuseppe]

^It paid off in '09 & '10.

tee, hee.

[Cry Havoc]

Matt Barnes should have some pretty decent trade value as well. He's a solid player and has a small contract which could be an incentive to pair him with someone like Artest. But Ron-Ron's contract is an albatross though, I'm not sure how many teams would want to have that on the books given his play this year.

[Cry Havoc]

^It paid off in '09 & '10.

tee, hee.

LOL Steve Blake, 4 years - $16,000,000. LOL.

[Giuseppe]

LOL Steve Blake, 4 years - $16,000,000. LOL.

He's looked like up to this point, but, he ain't failed in the playoffs for us yet.

[Giuseppe]

Matt Barnes should have some pretty decent trade value as well. He's a solid player and has a small contract which could be an incentive to pair him with someone like Artest. But Ron-Ron's contract is an albatross though, I'm not sure how many teams would want to have that on the books given his play this year.

Like the one guy above said:::it's a ploy by Kupchak to rile them up. They'll be permitted carte blanche to fail all along the line before trades will be executed. Artest has yet to fail us in a Lakers uniform. Gasol has never failed to play in the Finals in a Lakers uniform.

You dance with who brung ya.