Enough with the sentimental

Last Summer, just about everyone in Lakerland wanted just about ANY kind of deal to push through. If it was Jason Kidd, just about everyone would have called it a season irregardless of outcome. Just the mere fact that Mitch Kupchak could make a trade will already appease half of the population. Then Fish wanted out, Luke was secured, Mihm decided to give us a discount and Andrew Bynum decided to become a man. Please do not fail to mention MBJF (my boy Jordan Farmar) here. He is a vital cog to this success we are riding on and of course, who can forget the Machine! But remember we are the Lakers. Team play is not our middle name and Superstars are our game. But of course there's one superstar that will most definitely encourage team play like no other. Spare me the blunt "we don't need him anymore" stuff - no team out there with a sane mind actually means that. Aside from the salaries to work, I cannot begin to imagine that a team would actually balk at a deal that gives them the NBA's best PG (yes I mean it) at age 34. He eats triple-doubles for lunch and ego is not his problem. Pair the most unselfish player in the NBA with a consummate but justified ballhog, you have yourself 2 happy guys on and off the court. Yes I am talking about Jason Kidd and he will be a Laker before the All-Star break. What happens then? The Lakers are not in a need-basis position anymore. In fact, we are in a no-need situation so the position to deal is strengthened. We can send spare parts and still we could make the deal sound not half as bad. Plus, we're the Lakers. Superstars are our tradition. From PG's to Centers, Magic....

Aside from the fact that we might struggle this year with all the injuries and the loss of some key big men, remember that Kidd's career can be extended with the comfort of playing WITH Kobe. I will do this deal to create an opportunity this year, give the young guys playoff burn and attract a big time free agent next year. Next year will be a bang. With little to spend from our cash flow, the MLE figures to be a chance to grab a big name for LA once more. Can anyone smell Power Forwards nominating themselves to this team?

What PF's are available though? Are rebounding goes down a notch or two with Odom being shipped out. Even withe Bynum back, that leaves us with only one legit rebounder. I love to see Odom and Bynum in at the same time because there aren't too many offense revbounds coming unless they're long. I do like Kidd on this team, but I also hate giving up a future piece, but I know it would have to be done. A happy Kidd would up not only his game, but the rest of the Lakers also. I'm with you about Kidd being the best PG, I've thought that for a long time, even with Nash's emergence in Phx.

It is a good idea, but I don't think the FO wants to let Odom go. Every time I hear a Laker official talk about Odom it is all about how great this guy is. I think the Lakers will let Mbenga go after the ten day contract and sign somebody else to fill in until we get some of our injured players back. You will not see the Lakers make much of a move this season. They don't want to break up the chemistry of a young team that has potential with a little patients to be a power house for many years to come. It was unfortunated that Andrew Bynum got hurt, but you could see the emergence of a team that was going to be one of the best in the nba. But it is not all lost yet. The Lakers hit a bump on the way up in Bynum and Ariza getting hurt, but they will be back. And if we don't win it all this season. For sure it will be within the next two years. Making too many changes breaks the moral on the team.

I am the opposite of the OP. I hope they don't go after Kidd. It will be another big mistake that the Lakers would make and would have to pay for quite a few years. Kidd is at the twilight of his career!

i prefer turiaf at the 4 over odom. in fact, i don't see how anyone wouldn't want turiaf at the 4 over odom.

people seem to sell turiaf short. he's a bundle of energy! he's a spark! ...is that it?

he's also a VERY consistent 15 foot shooter. he finishes at the basket. he fights for rebounds like no other. he may be undersized, but so are ben wallace and, dare i say it, dennis rodman. he'll be able to grab those loose rebounds. along with bynum, i say our rebounding is pretty much set there.

oh, and turiaf's still young. just another plus.

with vladrad as our backup 4, we open up the floor for 3s, and if ariza's still in the bench mob, he'll most definitely be able to pick up ronny's absence as far as grabbing rebounds. he's got that rebounding mindset that'll make up for radmanovic's.

i like the trade of odom, kwame and jcritt. nice post.

Excellent post Warren. I am all with you on us going after JKidd. I can already envision all the highlight plays that he would make happen for our guys. Lets do this deal!

mambamonk87: I hate that they call Turiaf an energy guy also, but with all of Lamar's incinsistencies on the offensive end, we all pretty much know he is a consistent rebounder, which I don't think Turiaf is along with him being prone to fouls.

If the Nets are really desperate to trade him away and they get deals that make them laugh, I have one.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=429~1719~981~3197~617&teams=13~13~17~17~17&te=&cash=

We get Nenad Kristic who averaged 14 and 6 in a full season, and of course we get a hall of famer who would love to play with kobe, vice-versa. Great deal for the both sides. Marcus Williams is the future of the Nets now as jKidd leaves and odom can play the 4 for them, while kwame plays the 5.

williams

Carter

Jefferson

Odom

Kwame

The only piece missing with this Laker team is a dominant forward. Odom is a bust and we need to trade him. I’ve wanted Kidd for a long time, but now that we have Fish back and Jordan is playing like he should, I think that a forward is required. Had the Garnett deal went through, it would have put this team over the top.

But, if we do get Kidd, it’s no doubt that he would improve this team, forward or not. Could young Jordan learn from him? You bet your britches he can. Let’s get rid of our dead weight and let’s bring the purple and gold another championship.