Eric Pincus: Draft Analysis: Los Angeles Lakers
- From: "$Bill" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:54:21 -0700
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22533.shtml
Draft Analysis: Los Angeles Lakers
By Eric Pincus for HOOPSWORLD.com Jun 29, 2007, 21:52
For a moment the 2007 NBA Draft seemed immaterial when General Manager Mitch
Kupchak said to ESPN's Jim Gray on the broadcast, "Nobody is untouchable."
Considering Kobe Bryant's recent campaign demanding a trade, it seemed like
déjà vu.
It was back in 2004 when Kupchak's similar comment led to Shaquille O'Neal's
exit, saying nobody but Bryant was untouchable.
After the television interview, Kupchak clarified with the local media that
Bryant remains the one piece LA won't move ... but for a second it looked like
the Lakers might have been reconsidering.
With all the drama surrounding Bryant and the pursuit of Kevin Garnett, the
drafting of the 19-year old, 6'5" Javaris Crittenton was just a small blip on
the radar. Picking at 19, the Lakers got perhaps the third best point guard in
the draft (behind Mike Conley Jr. and Acie Law IV).
Though he's only had one year of college, Crittenton's high school team
happened to run the triangle offense ... which should give him a head start as
a rookie with the Lakers.
Many fans were scratching their heads wondering why LA had picked another young
point guard after selecting Jordan Farmar in 2006. While the fans want a trade
now and don't understand the duplication, Farmar is one of the many pieces LA
may have to sacrifice to improve.
Crittenton is insurance, making sure the team retains a young point.
Considering Coach Phil Jackson's predilection to big guards, Crittenton may be
a better long term fit than Farmar ... though Derek Fisher may not agree with
that.
LA also picked up two international players in the second round: Sun Yue (40th)
and Marc Gasol (48th). Once again the Laker fans were confused.
Yue is 6'9" point forward; a natural triangle fit. Gasol is a solid 7'1"
closer to Ronny Turiaf in style than his brother, Pau Gasol on the Memphis
Grizzlies. Neither is a household name.
Gasol is an interesting acquisition as was last year's signing of Shammond
Williams (Kevin Garnett's cousin).
It seems the Lakers are always going after Michael Jackson but ending up with
Tito ... but the summer isn't over. If Gasol does intensify his own desires to
be moved from the Grizzlies, perhaps playing with his brother will give him
extra incentive to try and direct a trade to the Lakers.
It's not clear if Yue or Gasol will play this year for the team. LA is hoping
to carry 14 players this season, with the 15th spot open for NBDL call-ups from
the Los Angeles D-Fenders. The Lakers own the team and are anxious to finally
reap the benefit of having their own farm system (of sorts).
If a monster trade does open up roster spots, either second-round pick could
end up on the team. Otherwise they'll probably play overseas, with the Lakers
retaining their rights.
Trade discussions will likely bleed over until July when the salaries roll over
to the 2007/8 numbers. No deals can be announced until the 11th once the
moratorium hits. While there still is one more day left in June, the trade
winds league-wide have quieted.
Expect negotiations to pick back up in the coming weeks.
As free agents land with their new teams, the options shrink one by one ...
leaving teams like the Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers wsith
fewer options.
The Lakers can fall back to the Pacers offer for Jermaine O'Neal that includes
Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. Considering O'Neal's contract and injury history,
LA doesn't want to duplicate a trade the Portland Trail Blazers made a few
years ago sending O'Neal out for Dale Davis. Bynum may not be the ideal fit
with Bryant but they don't want to give him up for the wrong player.
If they did sacricice Bynum for O'Neal, they certainly wouldn't want to include
Odom in the deal. For Garnett they'd make that plunge, but not O'Neal.
The Lakers "missed out" on draft day deals for Zach Randolph, Jason Richardson
and Ray Allen but none would have been ideal (though Randolph is close).
In trading Richardson, the Golden State Warriors gave away the main contract
they needed to match Garnett's salary. They did yield a ~$10 million trade
exception, but that can only be used for Garnett in a round-about way.
First they would have to trade for player(s) making up to $10 million ... wait
60 days to be able to package them with existing players and then hope Garnett
is still available and that the Wolves are interested.
The other option is finding a third team to take Al Harrington, but the
Warriors would still have to gut the roster to come up with the outgoing
salary. Unless they find a suitor for Adonal Foyle ... good luck with that.
Still, the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and even Dallas
Mavericks might make competitive offers. The Celtics, if they can convince the
Big Ticket to come, may have the best chance since they play in the Eastern
Conference. Would they give up Al Jefferson to field a three headed monster
(Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Garnett) ?
The Suns insist they won't trade Amare Stoudemire or Shawn Marion. One will
have to go to make a Garnett deal.
Dallas might have a competitive offer with Josh Howard and Jason Terry as the
primary pieces, assuming that's something the Wolves would be interested in.
All signs point to Minnesota desiring young, cheap, high potential pieces
instead of expensive established veterans.
In the meantime the Lakers will look to free agency. Their top choice appears
to remain Theodoros Papaloukas, the Greek point guard.
Of course with the overall roster uncertainty it's hard to predict the Lakers'
future. Garnett would probably end the Bryant stare down, but it's more likely
than not Kevin McHale and Glen Taylor keep him on the Wolves rather than trade
him to the Lakers.
It'll be difficult for LA to offer more than Odom, Bynum, Farmar, Kwame Brown
and picks ... it may be overpaying but it seems the move of desperation the
team is willing to make.
It's an offer the Wolves may end up considering seriously, but the odds remain
slim that the Lakers will be given such an "easy" solution to the Kobe Bryant
situation.
Eric Pincus covers both Los Angeles teams, the Lakers and Clippers for
Basketball News. He's a featured writer for both SWISH Magazine and
HOOPSWORLD.com.
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