CPIII to Lakers

[R13]

Lakers better hope and pray they land Howard, which doesn't make them better then Miami btw, because they have Kobe and Paul right now(until Bynum plays close to a full season, don't talk to me about him) and that's it. Gasol who brought them their rings is gone, Odom gone, Brown gone. How do they even get Howard anyway? That luxury tax was already a bitch with them and it got worse with the lockout deal and who do they have to give for Howard? I wouldn't think they would have took Gasol, Bynum and Odom together...let alone Bynum and whatever scraps they have let. Nets are looking a whole lot better then the Lakers right now to the Magic...Clippers too.

[Biggin]

there is no doubt Orlando would have taken Odom, Gasol and Bynum for Howard. no doubt

[Biggin]

I agree that Bryant+Paul+Howard would top the Miami trio, but I dont think LAL has enough left to trade for D-Howard.

[CoeburnCane]

The thing that everyone forgets is that it's not all about player X for player Y. There's a few guys who Orlando has paid some big bucks to in order to attempt to put some pieces around Howards and win...and now they're cash-poor and too contract heavy. For instance, Let's say the Lakers gave up Bynum, Devin Ebanks, and cash/picks...for Howard, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu. Now--the players don't look like they match up, but the contracts and cash would likely make sense for Orlando. That would clear the big contract of Howard, and the overpriced contracts of Richardson/Turkoglu (who are on the down slope of their careers). That frees up Orlando to draw another big free agent piece within the next two seasons, and who knows who would be available within that time span, either as a FA or a sign-and-trade. It all depends on if the Magic want to start rebuilding their roster now or later, and if they want to do it around Howard (assuming Howard wants to be in Orlando long-term).

The Lakers, luxury tax or no, have always been a cash-rich franchise. They've also tended to use draft picks to land the players they want that are already in the league as opposed to drafting and developing. If Kupchak can get the deal negotiated, and the Buss family can come up w/the money--there's no deal that's impossible. It just depends on how much they want to make it happen. Like it or not, that's the truth.

What I'm worried about with the Lakers isn't personnel or landing what players they want, it's adjusting to Mike Brown's schemes as opposed to Phil Jackson's. If they get all these guys and still don't win, then the question will be out there and looming: could Phil have won with this roster?

While I'm at it--good on the Heat for picking up Shane Battier. Instead of trying to land someone big to make a "Big 4", they needed a glue-guy like Battier that's good in the locker room, and will do all the little things necessary to help a team win.

[stainless]

Stern blocks 3 team trade that would put Chris Paul in LA.

[R13]

And Howard is asking to be traded to the nets, even if they appeal were to work, Howard is not going to be a Laker. Lakers fans probably don't think so, but this deal not going through is better for them IMO, the Hornets are the ones that should be pissed. Gasol is what won them those rings, along with players like Odom(big guys), they gave up two big players for Paul. Paul is great of course, but the Lakers had no problem in that area, a player like Fish was perfect for them just dishing the ball out and scoring when having the chance. The Hornets got Odom, Kevin Martin, Dragic, Scola and a first round pick...Lakers and Rockets got big names and great players, but all of those combined are definitely better then one of those single players. Unless the Lakers were going to get a big like Howard, I don't see it worth losing him.

Other news Tyson Chandler to the Knicks, Caron Butler to the Clippers and you'll probably see Berea gone as well which throws Dallas into this mix with big name players.

Brandon Roy is retiring.

And as mentioned before Battier to the Heat, really solid move by them.

[R13]

Big Baby to Orlando, Brandon Bass to Boston...I love Bass, Boston got a incredibly solid player.

[1inStripes]

Paul is great of course, but the Lakers had no problem in that area, a player like Fish was perfect for them just dishing the ball out and scoring when having the chance. The Hornets got Odom, Kevin Martin, Dragic, Scola and a first round pick...Lakers and Rockets got big names and great players, but all of those combined are definitely better then one of those single players. Unless the Lakers were going to get a big like Howard, I don't see it worth losing him.

I dont know that I agree about Fish now. Hes 37 and the offense is changing. Fish has lost a step and needs to be a backup now as much as I do like him as a player.