Where do the Lakers go from here?

[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.

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.

If the Lakers got DH12, Kobe could be a secondary guy.  Kobe + Gasol + Dwight would be a top contender.

I wouldn't worry about the Lakers.  They always find a way to stay relevant.

[SHAQATTACK]

Koby willnever be a second anything in his mind...his DNA and ego won't allow it.

Times have changed this isn't 1990 , its not a sure thing D12 goes to LA.   

LA has good bigs, they need quickness and I can see CP3 being their target .  Fisher is washed up , has been , too old and will be let go. La needs a young , superstar point guard.

LA will be back with Odem, Koby, Gasol, Bynum , they are under contract for 2 more years.  The rest of those losers are history .  They will go for a YOUNG point guard. and a new bench, no more older players.

[barefacedmonk]

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.

If the Lakers got DH12, Kobe could be a secondary guy.  Kobe + Gasol + Dwight would be a top contender.

I wouldn't worry about the Lakers.  They always find a way to stay relevant.

You should spread that optimism on SS&R. They don't share your optimism and confidence.

[ACF]

Down, down, down and I'm loving every second of it.

[j804]

Down, down, down and I'm loving every second of it.

+1

TP

[JHTruth]

Lakers are in a very tough spot. Sure, they're the Lakers, they will find a way to stay relevant somehow, but their luck will rn out eventually. They'll never clear enough room to sign D12 or CP3, and honestly their trade assets aren't that great. Bynum for D12? Does anyone really think Orlando would do that? Or Gasol? The new CBA will favor owners even more and D12 will have to take a huge paycut to leave.

I see the Lakers going and grabbing a Bosh or a Boozer to try to extend the Kobe window until he retires and then be just OK for awhile. The Lakers have sucked before and they will again. The 90's were not much kinder to them than us. And after Shaq left they were horrible. I think they will kind of tread water for awhile unless they get lucky in the draft..

[LooseCannon]

They'll never clear enough room to sign D12 or CP3, and honestly their trade assets aren't that great. Bynum for D12? Does anyone really think Orlando would do that? Or Gasol? The new CBA will favor owners even more and D12 will have to take a huge paycut to leave.

I think the assumption is that Dwight Howard might indicate a strong preference to be traded to the Lakers and create a situation not unlike what happened with Carmelo Anthony.

[Eja117]

Kloe Kardashian's mansion
Italy
Spain
New York
Montana
Maryland
and God knows where.

[Bahku]

I'd like to tell them where to go, but site rules and better judgement prevent me from doing so. In it's stead, I could give a couple suggestions: Greenland, Antarctica, Siberia, the Nefu Desert, Mount Everest, the Bering Sea, the Giant Crystal Caves of Naica Mountain in Mexico ... that should be enough options.

But in all seriousness, much like us, it will be rebuilding time for them ... perhaps even sooner than for us. I wouldn't be surprised to see Brian Shaw as Head Coach, (at least temporarily), and some major moves on the roster, obviously. Sad to see Phil go under such a cloud of disgraceful behavior by his team.

[Thruthelookingglass]

If the Lakers got DH12, Kobe could be a secondary guy.  Kobe + Gasol + Dwight would be a top contender.

I wouldn't worry about the Lakers.  They always find a way to stay relevant.

You should spread that optimism on SS&R. They don't share your optimism and confidence.
[/quote]


No optimism, no problem.  Calling Chris Wallace now . . .

[Bankshot]

straight to HELL

[thirstyboots18]

Some place far away, where there are no Celtics fans.    Oh, wait..........ha ha ha ha ha ha

[JBcat]

straight to HELL

I hope so too but part of me thinks they aren't done by any stretch.   They really aren't that old compared to us (Artest 31, Kobe 32, Gasol 30, Odom 31, and Bynum 23).   Maybe 3 straight years going to the finals caught up with them this year and with a long a offseason they will be better off next year.   I was hoping we would face them in the finals and have payback for next year but I'd settle for beating any team.   

[nickagneta]

It seems strange that no one has addressed the rumor that is circulating that there was MAJOR locker room drama going on and one of the reason some commentators(Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith) have mentioned a need to blow this team up is because of what has supposedly happened behind the scenes in LA.

http://benmaller.com/2011/05/women-to-blame-for-lakers-locker-room-drama/

Apparently Gasol's girlfriend dumped him and its because of the wife of a team mate who supposedly talked her into dumping Pau. The two team mates had heated words over this and insulted each others ladies. Team mates have expressed opinions and taken sides and the locker room is split in half.

People HAVE to go is what is being discussed behind the scenes. I am sure more will be leaking out in the days ahead.

[Bahku]

It seems strange that no one has addressed the rumor that is circulating that there was MAJOR locker room drama going on and one of the reason some commentators(Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith) have mentioned a need to blow this team up is because of what has supposedly happened behind the scenes in LA.

http://benmaller.com/2011/05/women-to-blame-for-lakers-locker-room-drama/

Apparently Gasol's girlfriend dumped him and its because of the wife of a team mate who supposedly talked her into dumping Pau. The two team mates had heated words over this and insulted each others ladies. Team mates have expressed opinions and taken sides and the locker room is split in half.

People HAVE to go is what is being discussed behind the scenes. I am sure more will be leaking out in the days ahead.

They talked about this on Mike and Mike this morning ... the team-mate's wife was supposedly Kobe's, and he and Pau stopped talking to each other in the locker-room and outside the Arena, (while they obviously still communicated to a point during games). As they said, however, this isn't verified or official, by any means.