Where Do The Lakers Go From Here?

[TMagic]

So what are your thoughts about the Lakers at the moment...

Jason, Raw, Brothers, Boltman, Born [RIP], TMagic, Kash, Matrix, Dre, other OS Laker fans, it's been a nice run through the decade, but I think it might be over now.

I wanted to think it would be OK assuming there wouldn't be a lockout next year, but with the bridges being burned with Pau... I just don't foresee him ever gaining that bond and trust back with Kobe. I don't even know if he'll get that hunger back to win, he seems like a sensitive gentle giant type... who's already won two rings. He might be satisfied with what he's accomplished thus far.

Just wanted to say it's been a fun one with you guys and that I can say for the most part none of you ever really showed too much homerism. That's pretty impressive considering LA pretty much has the worse fanbase in sports.

Thanks man. Same to you and the rest of the fellas.

I don't think it's over right now. The Lakers are fresh off winning back to back championships and have made three straight trips to the NBA finals. I still think they have just a good a chance as anyone to make it next year as anyone. Just got to make a few tweaks. Hell, I'd venture to say that they could keep this same EXACT team intact and still have a pretty damn good chance to make it next year.

They could use a few tweaks though. PG position needs to be addressed big time. I wouldn't mind seeing Chalmers (who reminds me of a young Fisher) or Brooks in a Laker uni. The SF position as has been mentioned before also needs to be addressed. I'd personally love it if they went after Battier or Prince who I think are free agents this year. Then adding my man T-Mac to bolster the bench who I believe would be willing to sign for nothing would make my hoop dreams come true with my favorite player on my favorite team. lol

The Lakers would still have Kobe. Sure he is on the decline, but a declining Kobe is still better than any SG not named Wade. He is still an elite player in the league. The only question mark is coaching and what's going to happen with the Laker bigs. Are the big fellas kept together, or are they traded? If they are traded, they should receive relatively good value back from the trade regardless. And if they are kept together, the Lakers will still be rolling out every night with the best frontcourt in the league. For all we know, Pau and Kobe can reconcile their differences over the summer. Who knows?

I feel like the West is up for grabs, no matter who finishes at the top this year. There's no team that I feel like people will "pencil them in" as the undisputed West's best like people have had the Lakers for the last few years. So I think the Lakers will be right back in the thick of things when it's all said and done.

The Lakers are in the same boat as Boston and San Antonio have been. LA is in good shape and isn't returning to the Kwame Brown era anytime soon.

[wwharton]

Re: Where Do The Lakers Go From Here?

Sorry man, even for the Lakers there's no reason this can't go in the team thread.