Artest Trade Rumored Again
The Ron Artest trade rumors are swirling again and it’s been reported by the Sacramento Bee that the Lakers have offered Lamar Odom for the 28-year-old forward. The Kings are apparently insisting that the Lakers also take Kenny Thomas (and the $18 million remaining on his terrible contract) in the deal. This signals that the Lakers don’t think their current lineup is ready to take the next step, as in winning an NBA championship. The Odom for Artest swap gives the Lakers a different dimension and could improve the team in a number of facets.
Artest is an elite perimeter defender, he can knock down shots and he can create his own shot. He’s not an offensive juggernaut, but he did average 20 points per game last season. Odom is more effective when he plays the power forward position, which he did for much of last season. The return of Andrew Bynum, though, will shift Gasol to the four and Odom to the three, which he is capable of playing, but is a role in which he’s less effective. Artest, however, is a natural small forward and would fit right in to the Lakers’ starting lineup. He and Kobe would form the best defensive tandem on the perimeter and he’d provide toughness to a team that was exposed for being a bit soft in the NBA finals. He’d also allow Bryant to guard the second best perimeter scorer on the opposing team, leaving him more energy for the offensive end. It’s a risky move considering Artest’s tendency to do crazy things and Thomas’ contract, but it could lead them to a title.
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Bynum Ready to Work Out
Lakers center Andrew Bynum is scheduled to begin offseason workouts next week. Bynum has been recovering from an injury to his kneecap for the past six months and missed the second half of the Lakers season, which included a run to the NBA Finals. Bynum and the team were both performing much better than anticipated at the time of his injury and it was initially assumed that the Lakers’ season was lost when the seven-footer went down. But the team regained relevancy in the Western Conference by pulling off a miracle deal with the Memphis Grizzlies for forward/center Paul Gasol. Gasol stepped right in and picked up the triangle offense immediately, helping the Lake Show reach the finals.
It was during the finals where the physical play of the Celtics bigs appeared to overwhelm Gasol in all but one game. Bynum’s return will allow Pau to move to his more natural position at power forward and Andrew will provide the physical presence in the lane that the team lacked without him. The 20-year-old center should be the missing piece to the puzzle and, I believe, makes the Lakers the favorite in the west. Bynum has immense potential and looks to be a franchise center in the making.
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Lakers Waiting on Free Agents
The Lakers are playing the waiting game with their free agents. The team has made one-year qualifying offers to Sasha Vujacic ($2.6 million) and Ronny Turiaf ($1 million). Neither player has accepted the qualifying offer, as both are restricted free agents and are hoping to receive a sizeable offer sheet from another team. If either player does sign an offer sheet from another team, the Lakers will then have seven days to match the offer, or the player leaves as if he’s unrestricted. Vujacic is said to be hoping for an offer for the full mid-level exception, which is around six million dollars. The Lakers reportedly have not offered Vujacic more than five million per year to this point, and it appears he will wait it out to see what other teams do. Turiaf is expected to command less money but also appears to be hoping for a substantial offer.
The Lakers priority is to re-sign Vujacic, but I can understand how they’d be wary about giving him the full mid-level. Vujacic shined this season as a spark off the bench, providing instant offense upon entering the game, but he’s only had one good year in the NBA. Vujacic also performed well in the playoffs and we’ve seen teams offer the mid-level to worse players who stepped up their game in the postseason. Jerome James anyone? I wouldn’t rule out the Lakers matching an offer to Vujacic for the entire mid-level, but they won’t offer it to him unless they have to.
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Lakers Interested in Maggette?
It has been reported that the Lakers have some interest in free agent Corey Maggette. It’s still uncertain what will happen with free agents Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf, though the team has expressed their interest in retaining the services of both players. Maggette is drawing a lot of interest around the league and will likely be forced to accept an offer for the mid-level exception. Maggette averaged 22 points, a career-high, this past season with the Clippers, but teams with cap space are going after younger more coveted guys like Josh Smith and Josh Childress, leaving Maggette as the odd man out as far as cashing in goes.
I could see Maggette as a backup plan for the Lakers, but nothing more. I think they would much rather re-sign Vujacic and Turiaf because those guys are already familiar with the triangle offense, are younger and are better suited to be role players than Maggette. Maggette was the primary scoring option for his team last season, and he’d probably come off the bench for the Lakers. The team’s starting lineup is all but set going into next season, and Maggette would likely be asked to provide scoring off the bench in similar fashion to the role that Vujacic played this season. It’s difficult to see him being happy with that, but if he’s aching for a ring there may be no better option.
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Bynum Wants Max Extension
Andrew Bynum’s agent has told the Lakers that his client will be seeking a max extension when the two begin negotiations this off-season. Bynum is reportedly looking for a 5-year, $80 million deal. The Lakers may be hesitant to give Bynum an extension before training camp begins, due to the fact that the 20-year-old center missed the final 46 games of last season with a knee injury.
There is no reason to think that Bynum won’t come back from his injury just as strong as ever, but the Lakers probably want to play it safe and wait until they can see he’s 100 percent. Bynum took major strides last off-season and became a force in the paint in the games that he did play in this past year. He’s already a defensive beast and is developing an offensive game. He’s only 20 years old and already looks to be one of the best centers in the league. It’s certain that the Lakers want to lock this kid up to a long-term deal. Bynum has all the makings to be a franchise center and is truly the future of the franchise. If they let him walk, they’ll be on the opposite end of what happened when Shaq left the Magic for the Lakers, a pure head-scratcher.
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Lakers Interested in Posey, Barry
The Lakers have expressed interest in veterans James Posey and Brent Barry. As of now, these two players are considered backup plans in the event the team is unable to re-sign free agents Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf. Both Posey and Barry have won NBA titles and both are dead-eye shooters from long range. Posey is said to be an off-season priority for the Boston Celtics, while Barry is drawing interest from a few teams.
I think both players are viable options for the Lakers to use at least a portion of their mid-level exception on. Posey is a tenacious defender and a good three point shooter. He’s also a fiery teammate and gives everything he’s got on the court. Barry is a playoff-tested guy who can really light it up from the outside. They both could provide the team with scoring off the bench and would be solid options if Vujacic is lured away from Los Angeles. The Lakers would rather keep Sasha; he knows the triangle offense, has spent his entire career with the team and is much younger than either Posey or Barry. As mentioned in earlier blog posts, Turiaf is much more expendable than Vujacic, which is why both Posey and Barry would fill more of the holes that a departing Vujacic would leave.
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Artest Available?
Ron Artest has decided not to opt out of his current contract with the Sacramento Kings, a decision that has fueled rumors that the 28-year-old forward could be moved by the club. Los Angeles is a possible destination for Artest and the Lakers would have to consider a deal. Artest visited the Lakers’ locker room during the NBA Finals and has spoken highly of Lakers players in recent weeks.
GM Mitch Kupchak has to consider this option. It would likely take trading Lamar Odom to get Artest in a Lakers uniform, but that may be worth it. Artest is one of the elite perimeter defenders in the NBA and would give the team a toughness they seemed to lack in the NBA Finals against the Celtics. Paired with Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would have two of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Consider the fact that Andrew Bynum should be a defensive force inside, and it’s apparent that the Lakers would have addressed what appeared to be their biggest deficiency this season. Artest has had his problems, but you cannot deny his ability to defend or his willingness to give 100 percent on the court. Artest would bring more than just defense to the team; he averaged more than 20 points per game this past season and can knock down outside shots. Bynum’s return would also shift Odom back to small forward, where he’s less effective, and just happens to be Artest’s natural position.
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Vujacic a Priority
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is expected to call Sasha Vujacic’s agent at midnight eastern time when this off-season’s free agency period officially begins. Both Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf are set to become restricted free agents, meaning the Lakers can match any offer sheet either player would receive from another team. It appears that the Lakers are focused on getting Vujacic to return but would also like to retain Turiaf.
Vujacic took major strides this season. He struggled to make the transition to the NBA during his first few seasons with the Lakers, but something finally clicked this year. Vujacic was a big part of the Lakers’ run to the NBA Finals and he performed well in the playoffs. Vujacic provides instant offense off the bench and is not at all bashful when it comes to hoisting shots. He’s a bolt of energy when he checks into the game, something that is very important for a championship-caliber team. Vujacic could receive an offer of up to $5 million per year. I believe the Lakers need Vujacic to return to the finals and should do anything within reason to keep the 24-year-old guard. Turiaf is much more expendable, but also provides energy off the bench and will likely remain a Laker.
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Lakers Grab Crawford
The Lakers used their only pick in the draft, 58th overall, to grab Kentucky guard Joe Crawford. Crawford played all four seasons of his collegiate career with the Wildcats and led the team in scoring last year with a shade under 18 points per game. He finished the season strong, netting two 35-point games in the last four contests.
I like the Crawford pick. I probably would have taken Davon Jefferson, as mentioned yesterday, but Crawford is a solid choice that late in the draft. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said he believed Crawford would be an early second-round pick and felt lucky to find him waiting for the Lakers at 58. Crawford won the team over with his pre-draft workout for them, according to Kupchak. Crawford is a bit undersized for the shooting guard position in the NBA and doesn’t have the incredible athleticism and length that could help make up for that deficiency. He’s a decent shooter and there is a possibility that he can handle some point guard duties. He played well at the Orlando pre-draft camp so that is a good sign. I’m not sure if he’ll make the Lakers’ roster, but he could be a decent guy to stick in the D-League for a while if he doesn’t decide to bolt to Europe for more money.
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Lakers’ Second Round Options
The Lakers do not have a first round pick in tonight’s NBA Draft due to the Pau Gasol trade, but the team does have its second round pick (58th overall). Now some people may think that second round picks aren’t important, but this is not the case. Gilbert Arenas, Carlos Boozer, Manu Ginobili, Michael Redd, Rashard Lewis and Mehmet Okur were all second round picks and have all made at least one All-Star team. The second round is also a good place to find solid role players such as Luke Walton, Kyle Korver and Brandon Bass, as well as an opportunity to take a chance on a young kid with a lot of upside, ala Monta Ellis or Louis Williams, without risking a first round pick.
I have seen a few different players being projected to go to the Lakers in mock drafts, including Davon Jefferson, J.R. Giddens and James Mays. I think Jefferson makes the most sense. He’s a versatile three with a load of talent. He played at USC so he’s a local product and he’s got a ton of upside. The Lakers aren’t going to get anyone that late in the draft that is going to come in and immediately crack their rotation, so they should take a guy with a lot of potential that can be groomed over a period of time. I think Jefferson fits the bill here.
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