Lakers are DONE for a while

[Retroram52]

That's the point Wild Turkey. The Lakers FO office have been literally obsessed with Howard's dog and pony show that they appeared to have neglected a guy who could really help them in the rebuild process. Clark was one of those young guys who was only going to get better. I guarantee you Dr. Buss would not have let Clark walk but would have figured a way to sign him.

But if they are going after Copeland as Jayviabay intimates, then maybe they had a plan all along or at least it appears that way. This running after other teams players has already bitten us by hamstring us with old and getting older players with big contracts. Keeping a guy like Clark is a hedge against that continuing.

Letting Earl Clark walk reminds me of the way they let Trevor Ariza walk after he won a title with us. Both these guys were/are just the kind of young players we need. Thankfully we picked up Kelly in the draft and still have Jordon Hill but I would have like the Lakers to try to keep Clark as well because they may sign Antwan Jamison again and that would not help much when they could have kept Clark.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

I was looking forward to a Clark and Hill energy tandem coming off the bench :/

 

[Retroram52]

Same here OutlawImmortal. I liked it last when they played together because the energy level would immediately rise and they played very well until Hill got injured. Stupid non-move for Short Buss-freakin' numbskull!!!

 

[jayviabay]

That's the point Wild Turkey. The Lakers FO office have been literally obsessed with Howard's dog and pony show that they appeared to have neglected a guy who could really help them in the rebuild process. Clark was one of those young guys who was only going to get better. I guarantee you Dr. Buss would not have let Clark walk but would have figured a way to sign him.

But if they are going after Copeland as Jayviabay intimates, then maybe they had a plan all along or at least it appears that way. This running after other teams players has already bitten us by hamstring us with old and getting older players with big contracts. Keeping a guy like Clark is a hedge against that continuing.

Letting Earl Clark walk reminds me of the way they let Trevor Ariza walk after he won a title with us. Both these guys were/are just the kind of young players we need. Thankfully we picked up Kelly in the draft and still have Jordon Hill but I would have like the Lakers to try to keep Clark as well because they may sign Antwan Jamison again and that would not help much when they could have kept Clark.

I was looking at Copeland's age and the guy is 29 already!

 

[geneh_33]

People would have been crucifying Kobe if he had gone to that meeting and kissed Dwight's ass, I commend him for telling it like it is.

You commend him for being a dumb ass? Maybe that needed to be said but Kobe sure picked the wrong time to say it. You don't say that to a potential superstar who has tenable offers from other clubs.

And it is the coach's job to teach a player how to win, not Kobe's. Kobe is too arrogant and needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut. I'm surprised that more Lakers haven't departed in light of Kobe's not so brilliant attitude.

 

[Retroram52]

I agree Geneh. Kobe has never been good at assimilating his high level of competitiveness correctly and it sometimes gets out of control and comes across as arrogant. He absolutely wants to win but he does need to learn deference. And I am not sure he ever will.

 

[wildturkey]

That's the point Wild Turkey. The Lakers FO office have been literally obsessed with Howard's dog and pony show that they appeared to have neglected a guy who could really help them in the rebuild process. Clark was one of those young guys who was only going to get better. I guarantee you Dr. Buss would not have let Clark walk but would have figured a way to sign him.

But if they are going after Copeland as Jayviabay intimates, then maybe they had a plan all along or at least it appears that way. This running after other teams players has already bitten us by hamstring us with old and getting older players with big contracts. Keeping a guy like Clark is a hedge against that continuing.

Letting Earl Clark walk reminds me of the way they let Trevor Ariza walk after he won a title with us. Both these guys were/are just the kind of young players we need. Thankfully we picked up Kelly in the draft and still have Jordon Hill but I would have like the Lakers to try to keep Clark as well because they may sign Antwan Jamison again and that would not help much when they could have kept Clark.

You realize LA still couldn't pay Clark even if they completely ignored Howard, right? Well, they could have given him a massive overpay via bird rights I suppose but with players like Clark, LA's working with the minimum and mid-level exceptions. If Howard walks, LA is still capped out and can only do so much financially until 2014. That's why its pretty much been a given that Clark would leave if any team gave him a decent contract.

Oh, and in hindsight, losing Ariza was a good thing. Dude hasn't been the same player since and he would have been overpaid. If LA kept him, all Lakers fans would be asking for him to be amnestied nowadays.

 

[trojanfan12]

You talking about that story that "leaked" yesterday? Yeah, I tend to agree. People are ripping on Kobe because he's Kobe. But if you read what he said, its exactly what everyone says about Dwight Howard. He needs to learn how to win. Just a situation where people dislike the messenger.

Here's a decent story with more details on LA's meeting with Howard:

Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash talked titles with Dwight Howard during Los Angeles Lakers' pitch -- sources - ESPN Los Angeles

Interesting article and definitely paints what Kobe supposedly said in a more diplomatic light than what was initially reported.

And Kobe is right. If Dwight really wants to win championships he needs to pick a place, sign and stay!!

Just announced on 570AM that Adrian Wojnarowski said that "the Lakers are still prominent in Dwight Howards mind"!!

 

[Ilovemesomeme]

You commend him for being a dumb ass? Maybe that needed to be said but Kobe sure picked the wrong time to say it. You don't say that to a potential superstar who has tenable offers from other clubs.

And it is the coach's job to teach a player how to win, not Kobe's. Kobe is too arrogant and needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut. I'm surprised that more Lakers haven't departed in light of Kobe's not so brilliant attitude.

Kobe did the right thing. If Dwight can't handle the truth the Lakers are better off writing off 2013 and coming back with an empty payroll (aside from Nash) next offseason.

 

[Retroram52]

Yea Wildturkey. I understand the level of financial mess we are in right now. I did not completely explain the situation during my pontification. What I meant with Dr. Buss running the show, is he never let himself get into a financial conundrum like we have now and he always had wiggle room that could handle the likes of the Earl Clark situation. He would have then resigned a guy like Clark.

So, yea, we are in a mess and it won't be remedied until 2014 as you have succinctly stated.

 

[april]

What did the Lakers give up to get Howard for one year

It appears the Houston Rockets are clearing space for Dwight Howard. There is no way in hell DH12 resigns in LA if Mikey D is the head coach. His style of play doesn't fit DH12's game. So with that, at midnight tonight, the Lakers are in re-building mode just like the Celtics are. It's sad due to the fact we had every opportunity to get better, but our front office let us down. Gonna be a few years for us being on the outside lookin' in, so get used to it fellas.

 

[Jikkle]

You commend him for being a dumb ass? Maybe that needed to be said but Kobe sure picked the wrong time to say it. You don't say that to a potential superstar who has tenable offers from other clubs.

And it is the coach's job to teach a player how to win, not Kobe's. Kobe is too arrogant and needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut. I'm surprised that more Lakers haven't departed in light of Kobe's not so brilliant attitude.

Players in all sports can learn how to win from other players especially ones that have been there before.

America's Game was on the NFL Network today with 81 and 84 teams and in both shows the guys there credited Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds as being very important in showing guys what it took to be an NFL player and how to prepare to be great.

Yes it's the coaches job to teach the game, game plan, and manage the team but other players learn from watching successful experienced players in how they approach the game to prepare themselves to be great.

I do think Kobe's motivation to win can go overboard at times at the expense of hurting the team but I don't think he was off base here. He's been to the mountaintop several times so Kobe can impart knowledge in what it takes to get there in terms of perpetration and approach.

 

[Retroram52]

Yea Jikkle. You site Jack Reynolds as imparting knowledge. He was a stud. He started out with the Rams and the dumbasses let him walk and he got his ring with the niners. Damn good player from the getgo!!

 

[RegentDenali]

They just sounded the "Everyone off the bandwagon!!!" emergency warning siren in LA.

 

[Black Adam]

They just sounded the "Everyone off the bandwagon!!!" emergency warning siren in LA.

hell, let the bandwagoners jump off. hope they break their fool necks doing it...

 

[jake_rat]

NBA historians out there - Has there EVER been a bigger bandwagon fan base than the Heat?

What a pathetic display when Heat 'fans' couldn't wait to jump off the bandwagon before game 6 was over. Looks like remedial "Fan Up" instructions are needed if they make it to the finals next year.

 

[april]

Are you kidding? Howard will leave LA.like he did in Orlando. He is a real problem.

 

[DimesD]

The Lakers need to be done for a while. That cap space next year isn't all that if we can't get players to come in. it's obvious that Jim and Mitch are not a good combo in making pitches. Jim's ego will get in the way. Had we had a Riley or a West, there woulda been 0.000 chance Dwight leaves.

The prize catch in 2014 is obviously Lebron. Considering that he's probably won't opt out if he has a good thing going and the Jim Buss Factor, the chances of Lebron coming is significantly less than Dwight Howard staying. The only shot we have is to turn Pau into a future lottery pick. That and banking on D'antoni to tank the season. Have multiple chances in the lottery to get Wiggins and getting will make go along way in maximizing the cap.

Spending money wisely will also be key. If Lebron comes out in 2015 you can also target Love and Rondo for Kobe's last year. Adding any long term contracts before that would be shooting for mediocrity.

Wiggins/Lebron/Love/Rondo/Kobe will be greater than what Miami has now. That's what you shoot for. (Kobe's last year should be a players option- he can opt out and sign for significantly less if he wants to go out as winner and not a lotto team.) To even have a shot, Phil and Jeanie need to take charge otherwise it won't get done.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

hell, let the bandwagoners jump off. hope they break their fool necks doing it...

That was the good part about Shaq leaving, no more fake ass fans with 20 Laker banners on their trick.

 

[Rolln300]

I think it's time to send short Buss to rehab which would consist of watching film of the Lakers past history since it appears he never watched a Laker game before Dr. Buss passed away. He is clueless what it means to be a Laker and has no idea what Laker pride is. If things continue at this pace, the family will sooner or later revolt against the moron and he will lose control of anything that has to do with the team. When it comes to money, even your own family will cut your throat. Someone needs to wake him up and teach him how things are done. He is going to be the Al Davis of the N.B.A. if someone doesn't step in. I think if the Lakers continue on the path he is putting them on, you will see ex Laker players put their money together and buy this team right out from under him. Wake up and smell the ball Short Buss. Oh and keep your helmet on when your trying to lick the windows and maybe you will stop hitting your head and be able to think clearly.