New Lakers Trade Buzz Deconstructed

Chad Ford of ESPN has a very intense read about the potential for a four-team blockbuster deal between the Lakers, Pacers, Timberwolves and Celtics. This stuff can get pretty complicated, and is oftentimes best left for the professionals. I thought I was in the middle of The Good Shepherd at one point, just struggling to figure out what each character was trying to get at. Near the end, Ford suggested that the Pacers should be cut out of the deal, and that the Lakers should try to ship the Celtics Odom and Bynum, netting them Kevin Garnet by way of the Celtics giving them a group of players and a draft pick. The end result would be that the Lakers give up on Bynum (something they have been hesitant to do [see last season’s draft deadline]), but they get a guy who might be able to bring them to the second round of the playoffs.

Or, if it all falls through and the T-Wolves can’t give up on Garnet (which is very, very likely), the Lakers can try to get Zach Randolph. Randolph is good, to be sure, but will he be enough to keep Kobe Bryant happy? Is he enough to make Bryant believe that the Lakers organization is ready to win immediately? An who would be traded for Randolph, anyways?

The draft is soon enough, so there will be plenty to talk about after that, unless the Lakers try to deal to get a higher pick… Until then you can get some Los Angeles Lakers tickets at StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on June 26, 2007 - Post a comment