If Heat win this year

[Bill_Brasky]

getting a good pg is not a huge/major overhaul because that's all they need. that front line is still the best in the league. again, writing off a team that is 11 months displaced from a championship is silly.

pau is a puss but will get his act straight
drew is a inmature boy who will mature this off season
Kobe is kobe, on the decline but more than just serviceable

Laker FO will make some good moves this off season. not to worry.

Nope. Lakers gonna suck again next year and if they somehow miraculously got to the finals, the heat would mash the out of em.

[TheManFromAcme]

Nope. Lakers gonna suck again next year and if they somehow miraculously got to the finals, the heat would mash the out of em.

...with a 30 year old wade? once his master is in decline, bron will be left all alone and we all know what that means.



Laker front office, light years ahead of Miami front office even with Riles in there. precise needs will be met.

you put way to much credence with your boys in south beach.

don't get me wrong, they are good but to put them out into the stratosphere is goofy

[Kyle Orton]

Wade's age is a little deceptive given how little mileage he has compared to other 29-30 year olds. Didn't start in the NBA till age 22 and has several injury shortened seasons. While athleticism is a very large part of his game, it's not completely dependent on athleticism the way Lebron's is, and playing on a team where he can take a night off here and there will only help him age less. He has at the very least 2-3 years left at the level he's playing at, and several years after that where he'll still be really good.

[Kyle Orton]

Laker front office, light years ahead of Miami front office even with Riles in there. precise needs will be met.

After an offseason of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Ratliff, resigning Shannon Brown and Derek Fish as meeting precise needs, are you that confident LA's front office is any good at making off season tweeks sans when an MLE bargain like Artest falls into their lap?

Yeah, they have tons of talent at the top (a lot of which he inherited), but Mitch doesn't have the best track record when it comes to using things like the MLE to add the right role players (Radmanovic, Vujacic, Blake, etc.).

[TheManFromAcme]

After an offseason of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Ratliff, resigning Shannon Brown and Derek Fish as meeting precise needs, are you that confident LA's front office is any good at making off season tweeks sans when an MLE bargain like Artest falls into their lap?

Yeah, they have tons of talent at the top (a lot of which he inherited), but Mitch doesn't have the best track record when it comes to using things like the MLE to add the right role players (Radmanovic, Vujacic, Blake, etc.).

Huh?

Mitch ultimately delievered LOB's in '09 and '10, that's all that needs to be said regarding that. Fisher was just as slow last year as in '09.

heavy underestimating going on here.

[Kyle Orton]

C'mon Acme I know you're smarter than that, you bolded a line out of context. I was specifically talking about the MLE which is basically what LA has to work with this off season regarding adjustments. Do you think Kupchak has done an overall good job in recent years utilizing the MLE?

[TheManFromAcme]

C'mon Acme I know you're smarter than that, you bolded a line out of context. I was specifically talking about the MLE which is basically what LA has to work with this off season regarding adjustments. Do you think Kupchak has done an overall good job in recent years utilizing the MLE?

I think he's done enough considering what's been available. He took the reigns over from logo in 2000 and has managed to produce 2 championships. That in itself is stellar when you also consider the debacle that occurred when the team was gutted right after 2004. Recent MLE transactions? Again, not bad considering.

Look, I don't get into the inner-workings of MLE's. All I know is that if any franchise is capable of improvising what and what not the league allows, it's the Lakers

[NewcastleKEG]

I think he's done enough considering what's been available. He took the reigns over from logo in 2000 and has managed to produce 2 championships. That in itself is stellar when you also consider the debacle that occurred when the team was gutted right after 2004. Recent MLE transactions? Again, not bad considering.

Look, I don't get into the inner-workings of MLE's. All I know is that if any franchise is capable of improvising what and what not the league allows, it's the Lakers

Let's be honest, without the ridiculous Gasol trade it's 0 les

Atleast a third of the teams in this league would have made the Finals if they added a Gasol

[TheManFromAcme]

Let's be honest, without the ridiculous Gasol trade it's 0 les

Atleast a third of the teams in this league would have made the Finals if they added a Gasol

why wont you factor:

- chemistry (not counting this year of course)
- other talent on the team
- coaching
- ownership

Getting Gasol didn't guarantee a championship. Nothing is ever guaranteed.
Look at the fully-loaded, super-re-tooled Laker team in '04. People complained about those transactions and look what happened.....Lakers fell flat on their face

Mitch has done a great job in my opinion and is still the best G.M. in the league if not top 3 (I have lots of respect for R.C. Buford there at Spurs central).

[DMC]

McDyess... maybe?