Where do the Lakers go from here?

[OsirusCeltics]

Kobe's done
Why isn't anyone seeing this??

[celticinorlando]

straight to HELL

[GreenFaith1819]

Kobe's done
Why isn't anyone seeing this??

I was thinking this, too...and I think this series here with DAL was maybe a slap in the face to him, to wake up.

He just can't take over games anymore...it happened to Jordan, Pippen, Larry, Magic, Charles...all the great ones.

Except that I think he just couldn't admit it.

I watched him in this game...he started out hitting everything in that 1st quarter, but then just sputtered out.

He's not done, not by a stretch, but he'd better defer to Pau or Bynum more next year or else.

No matter what the torch has been passed, IMO, to OKC, MEM and DAL.

And LA had better hope that Greg Oden doesn't come back.

[OsirusCeltics]

Kobe's done
Why isn't anyone seeing this??

I was thinking this, too...and I think this series here with DAL was maybe a slap in the face to him, to wake up.

He just can't take over games anymore...it happened to Jordan, Pippen, Larry, Magic, Charles...all the great ones.

Except that I think he just couldn't admit it.

I watched him in this game...he started out hitting everything in that 1st quarter, but then just sputtered out.

He's not done, not by a stretch, but he'd better defer to Pau or Bynum more next year or else.

No matter what the torch has been passed, IMO, to OKC, MEM and DAL.

And LA had better hope that Greg Oden doesn't come back.

Yeah, all good points
You're so right, Kobe really has to defer to Pau and Bynum (if they are still here). He may still not be completely done, but he's no more the game changer

And yeah, OKC, Grizz, Mavs, and maybe even Portland are all going to be around for Lakers to not return to the Finals for many years

[D Dub]

Kobe's done
Why isn't anyone seeing this??

wondering that too, especially about the D-rotation-trust stuff.  It's Kobe that that scumbag Bynum was talking about. 

notice its NEVER Kobe who's closing out on a rotation.  bet Phil supports that too, save the legs (knee) of his scorer for the offensive end... 

might explain why the issue appears to have gone unaddressed, and why Phil Jax said he was happy to have the season end today in the post-game presser...

[LooseCannon]

Dwight Howard forces a trade to the Lakers, who give up a package centered around Bynum.  Miami, blaming its failures on Chris Bosh, trades him to the Lakers for Pau Gasol in an exchange of scapegoats.  The Lakers find a third Gasol brother, draft him, and send his rights plus Luke Walton to the Grizzlies for OJ Mayo.

[Thruthelookingglass]

It's pretty interesting that Gasol has regressed and Bynum has, in all honesty, been our best player of the playoffs. That makes it hard not to want to trade Gasol for Howard (which Orlando would do in an instant), as Bynum and Howard at 4 and 5 wouldn't work, as their effectiveness would be diminished by one guy having to get out of the paint to guard the stretch power forwards.

Even with Bynum's great play, I would trade him. Gasol is going to come back as his normal self, most likely. Bynum's value is very high right now, so It might work. Only problem is Orlando will probably want Hedo or Arenas to go along with Howard.

What do the contracts look like?  I think whoever the new coach is will tell us a lot, but I'm wondering if this time Kobe might be the odd man out as things shake out.  I don't like him, but he's a great competitor and talent.  If he's as abrasive as he seems though, perhaps it's time to get what you can for him.

[houseonfire09]

Lakers probably trade Bynum, Artest, and a bunch of spare parts to Orlando for Howard, and every real Celtics fan will cry for weeks.

Seriously though, if Phil Jackson comes back to coach the Heat or Lakers, that makes him the NBA's very own Brett Favre.

[RJ87]

I actually think D12 ends up with the Nets - allegedly, the Nets & Lakers are his top 2/only choices.

While Bynum has shown that while he is talented, he may have some character issues. I think a Nets package of Brook Lopez, a few firsts (do they have any following the Deron trade?) and the ability to take back one of Orlando's bad deals gets it done.

[PosImpos]

Don't worry, the Lakers will come back.  They always do.

They still have a very strong core in Kobe / Pau / Bynum / Odom.  If they trade on or two of those pieces for Dwight Howard, they'll be contenders for years.

I really hope DH12 goes to Brooklyn to play with Deron, though.

Unfortunately, chances are the Celtics will be headed to the basement before the Lakers, and will stay there longer.

[Assassin70]

straight to HELL

TP &

/co sign

2 signatures loan approved

[get_banners]

Lakers probably trade Bynum, Artest, and a bunch of spare parts to Orlando for Howard, and every real Celtics fan will cry for weeks.

Seriously though, if Phil Jackson comes back to coach the Heat or Lakers, that makes him the NBA's very own Brett Favre.

If Orlando trades Howard for a Bynum/Odom or Bynum/Artest/pieces combo, Otis Smith will be fired. I mean, honestly, if they move Howard at all, LA will have to include Pau as part of the package. Bynum, Odom, and Artest not that valuable...well, Bynum and Odom have value (Artest has none), but it's much less than people think. Bynum always gets injured and still hasn't become a dominant player despite playing with Kobe and Gasol. He's not bad, mind you, but we're talking about Dwight Howard. And Odom...can be very good...and can also disappear. So...if LA wants to trade for the most dominant center in the game, they're going to have to include Gasol in a package...like Gasol and Odom and picks. Just because they got Gasol for cheap doesn't mean that's how it normally works. If they trade for D12, they are going to have to give up a ton.

[celticslove]

LA's got a nice catch here.lol

[hpantazo]

Don't worry, the Lakers will come back.  They always do.

They still have a very strong core in Kobe / Pau / Bynum / Odom.  If they trade on or two of those pieces for Dwight Howard, they'll be contenders for years.

I really hope DH12 goes to Brooklyn to play with Deron, though.

Unfortunately, chances are the Celtics will be headed to the basement before the Lakers, and will stay there longer.

Kobe is old, some people just don't seem to want to face it. I don't understand why people talk about remaking the lakers around him. Bynum is injury prone and has not reached the potential some people seem to think he has. Odom is also getting up there in age and has never been a smart player, Fisher and Artest are cooked. Gasol is their only true valuable player going forward imo. and the lakers fans hate him. I would take Rondo, Green, and the clippers #1 over what the lakers have any day.

[barefacedmonk]

Phil was also fined 35K...what a way to go out.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been fined $35,000 for public comments about the officiating, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

nba.com