General Chat / NBA

Okay, that's settled. Can SportsCenter shut the hell up about the Lakers already and start talking about, I don't know, baseball? You know, since baseball season is actually right now, and I'm a little sick of hearing 3 basketball "experts" say the exact same goddamn things about the Lakers every night for a halfhour.

I just hope Odom and Butler continue to improve from last season. If that happens, I'm cool.

Meanwhile, Payton, after taking the option, wants the Lakers to buy out his contract.

Actually, the Jazz don't look bad from what I see. Let's hope they get there "dynasty" type thing like in the 90's. 

^Dynasties win championships, not just go to NBA/Conf. Finals.

See the CELTICS of the 60's or the Bulls of the 90's for example.

...and oh, the new jerseys suck. They are too similar to the dark blue/light blue idea that Memphis switched to, just with a different font...nevermind that Dallas has a similar blue/lighter blue/grey thing for the last few years. 'course, the first mistake was the team never changed its name after it left the 'Big Easy'. Utah Jazz only sounds marginally acceptable since it's been 20 years or so and we are accustomed to it.

Shaq to Miami is interesting, not great, yet interesting...and tax free too!

Here's to moving to Florida and getting a piece of that. :scarface:

I just hope Odom and Butler continue to improve from last season.  If that happens, I'm cool.

Meanwhile, Payton, after taking the option, wants the Lakers to buy out his contract.

Payton wants out? When did this happen?

You didn't think he would stay without his buddy Shaq, did you? I see Kobe takeing the ultimate revenge on the LA and signing with the Clippers after the Shaq trade, and then go to jail with the Clipps money in hand. Take that LA!

Could the Mavs be a possibility for Payton or are they gonna stick with Harris as their starter? Just a thought, but probably not likely.

You didn't think he would stay without his buddy Shaq, did you?  I see Kobe takeing the ultimate revenge on the LA and signing with the Clippers after the Shaq trade, and then go to jail with the Clipps money in hand. Take that LA!

LOL. Well, as far as I know, his feud is with Shaq, not the city. So if he signs with the Clips, I will never forgive him, nor will a lot of real Laker fans. The bandwagoners, however, will become Clipper fans.

Anyway, you gotta be insane to play for the Clips especially when the Lakes are offering you $30 million more.

The worst trade in Laker history is now officially done.

The Heat instantly have to be considered contenders with Detroit and Indiana to get to the Finals, and they've gone from an unbelievably horrible team (middle of last season) to an incredibly awesome team (now), and now that Shaq is in Miami, they may be able to lure other high profile players too, since they definitely have a chance to wreck some havoc.

http://sports.espn.g...eter&id=1839680

http://sports.espn.g...ons/take/040714



So true.

oh well, just be glad he isn't in the Western Conf. Thursday we should find out how much Kobe will get from the Clippers.

If we could have gotten quality players, I'd rather he be in the West, frankly. This deal is much worse IMO.

So....Kobe stays put for 7 yrs, $136 Mil.

Best way for the downfall of the Lakers/L.A.:
-Shaq left
-Kobe stays, goes to jail with money
-Clips move to Anaheim and play at the Pond.

L.A. is in shambles - Gagne's streak isn't in double digits, no NFL, no Lakers, not even the Clips.

Oh to dreams...imagine if hockey locks out! You always have soccer!

Bueno.

Cork, Clips are offerin the same money really.
Lakers have the bigger number but Clips are offering one less year so he's making the same per year.
Money's really not an issue in this.

Cork, Clips are offerin the same money really.
Lakers have the bigger number but Clips are offering one less year so he's making the same per year.
Money's really not an issue in this.

I didn't say anything... yet.


Thank goodness Kobe's staying. We have a chance of making the playoffs now, but it won't be easy. I wouldn't have forgiven him if he had left. For now, I'll just cheer him as a player, but obviously not as a person. We still need a LOT more pieces if we're going to compete next year. My suggestion would be to revamp the team into a running team with nice perimeter shooters and a couple of slashers. At the same time, defense is important... we need a defense that gets turnovers and lets us run in the open court. So it'd be a lot like the Kings and the Mavs in a sense, which I wouldn't mind at this point. I don't really have too much hope we'll return to the Finals anytime soon, so I'll be satisfied with success into the playoffs, but not necessarily all the way through (not that I'd mind if we went the Finals!).

So lets list the three stupidest acts of the offseason so far:

1. Golden State signs Adonal Foyle for $46 million (career average: 4.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG).
2. Lakers trading Shaq for Grant, Odom, and Butler (stupid because of who they got back)
3. Carlos Boozer lies through his teeth and opts to go with Utah instead of staying with Cleveland as he'd promised, thereby ruining his reputation.

Bonus:
4. Jerry Buss running away to Italy.
5. The New Jersey Nets Owner (Also, the Nets trading away K-Mart for three draft picks, when that happens).

Looks like GP is staying too. Fisher going to the Warriors? I think the Lakers will have a tough time making the playoffs, but will make it as a lower seed. They need a big man though.

Aw crap, Denver just got crazy.

http://www.nba.com/n...yon_040715.html


So that gives them something like:
- Carmello
- Martin
- Nene
- Miller
- Leonard
as a starting 5, which is pretty damn good. That should make them a contender for #5 or #6 in the West, instead of barely cracking #8.

Take out Nene, insert Camby and you've got there 5.

Denver has a pretty good lineup, although I think Kenyon is overhyped. He will struggle in the West and miss Kidd. He will probably put up good numbers, but is a bit over paid.

I really don't understand why Fisher would go to the Warriors. They now have him, Van Exel, and Claxton. I think one of them has to go. He could of went to Seattle where he was promised a starting job or to a contending team like the Heat or Rockets.