Official Lakers thread: 2011-12

[JMarkJohns]

Figured I'd start. Horrible start what with not getting Paul and Howard gets worse as Kobe is expected to miss some time with a torn ligament in his wrist. Some are saying upwards of 4-6 weeks to be missed. I doubt that, but it could mean Kobe starts the season late and comes back injured.

[BallinestCat27]

Originally Posted by JMarkJohns

Figured I'd start. Horrible start what with not getting Paul and Howard gets worse as Kobe is expected to miss some time with a torn ligament in his wrist. Some are saying upwards of 4-6 weeks to be missed. I doubt that, but it could mean Kobe starts the season late and comes back injured.

It's going to be a long shortened season.

[JMarkJohns]

I'm reading he's likely to miss the first week, get re-evaluated, likely miss a second, get re-evaluated, likely come back and play injured the rest of the year. To heal, the injury needs 3/4 weeks of immobility and 2/3 weeks of progressively more intense rehab.

I know Kobe is tough, but it's his shooting wrist. Not sure it's a good idea to screw with it.

[Merkin]

Even though Kobe is a workout machine, his body must be that of a 40 year old. The NBA season is just too long and grueling for anyone.

Don't think we will see too much of Luke this year. Pretty much the only reason I watch the Lakers when they are TV.

[PatrickJ]

I'm ecstatic that the NBA is back as a basketball fan but as a gigantic Laker fan, all I can say so far is "sigh"...

[Class of 1990]

Short season so pack it in.

Howard will come if he wants to.
Magic would be forced to do sign and trade after the season I suppose.
Bynum for Howard with picks making the salary difference.

This season feels WWE like to me with the Stern shenanigans.

If you are a Clips fan you wish your owner could stomach the payroll tax go after Howard and you would have a dynasty for the teens.

Shenanigans

[PatrickJ]

So the Brook Lopez injury pretty much gives the Lakers more leverage for Dwight Howard, no? I really don't want them giving up both Bynum and Pau but knowing Jim Buss recently, he will cave.

[In Re UofA]

The Nets were already offering Lopez + 5 first rounders. I can't see how they improve it without Lopez unless they give up first rounders until 2020.

[JMarkJohns]

I actually think with the news of Kobe's injury, and the fact that he's almost always seemingly battling through injuries, what with his NBA longevity in question, that Dallas is starting to gain the upper hand. This, of course, requires that Dwight hit the open market next offseason. Should Dwight be traded, yes, I think it's Lakers. However, Kobe has like two more highly productive years left. There's a ton of mileage on them tires. Factor in all the playoff runs and he's played 18 seasons.

Would Howard roll the dice and sign long-term with LA on the gamble he can win both quickly with Kobe in the last three years of his deal and long-term assuming the Lakers can get another superstar? Why when he can team up in Dallas with the younger Dirk and a young, stud PG in Williams for the next 5+ seasons?

[PatrickJ]

Meh, I don't see Dallas as an elite destination for players, last year was their only year to break out. I mean Tyson Chandler wouldn't even re sign with them. Dirk is one year younger than Kobe and just about as many miles on the odometer. Even if they get the vastly overrated Williams (and yes I still hate him for the gdamn comeback with a passion) i still dont see it. Then again, it sounds like Jim Buss is the new Donald Sterling. Why did he get the rains over his siblings I'll never know.

[JMarkJohns]

Dirk doesn't have nearly the amount of games played as Kobe. Granted, I'm unaware of how many games Dirk played in Europe from 1996-drafting, but my guess is no more than 100. With extra regular season games and the playoffs, Kobe easily has two more full years of wear/tear, and maybe closer to 300, as he's played over 200 more regular season games and almost 80 more playoff games than Dirk.

As for Dallas, I think players now see the passion of Cuban as an advantage and no longer a detriment. In an era where most owners are screaming frugality, Cuban is willing to pay up for wins. Factor in Williams being from Dallas and Howard listing Dallas as one of his four trade/FA ideals, and I'm not sure it's crazy.

I don't think it's likely, but it's definitely more likely if Lopez's injury scares the Magic into eliminating the Nets, and why would Howard sign long-term with Brooklyn if they trade a decade-worth of 1st-rounders? Lakers are the likely trade destination. I think it's most likely because Buss will likely cave to demands to ensure he doesn't hit FA where the Lakers can't out-right sign him like the Mavs may be able, and New Jersey will be able.

But if Howard hits FA and Marion is amnestied, that leaves a Haywood/Beaubois for CAP space deal away from giving the Mavericks 30 million in CAP to sign both Deron Williams and Dwight Howard.

[MrBug708]

Tough to lose like that

[PatrickJ]

Lakers got screwed. 2 bad missed calls in the last minute or so. Yes, they should have made the free throws, but it shouldn't have even come to that. It seems like luck isn't on their side anymore. They could be 0-3 after this week. Luck just isn't onthe Lakers side anymore.

[MrBug708]

Lots of smoke about a Love to the Lakers trade

[JMarkJohns]

It be great to trade Gasol and firsts for Love/Williams. I might have to bandwagon if that happens. Not sure it's fair, but if Kahn is that stupid, I'm not going to protest.