Anyone else think Stern did the Lakers a favor?

[Greenbean]

I think Paul on the Lakers is a terrible fit.

- When has Kobe ever played with a ball dominant point guard?
I guess the offense may be different under Mike Brown but I doubt it.
 
- How are the Lakers better with a front court of Bynum and...Luke Walton? Bynum inevitably will be injured and then who are you looking at...Derrick Caracter? Sheesh.

- Two of the Lakers biggest strengths, an All Star in the 6th man role, and immense size down low, turn into glaring weaknesses. They are less deep, undermanned, and undersized with the trade.

Basically I think that the advantage that made the Lakers special since the Gasol trade is having btoh him and Bynum on the same team.

No one in the league has the size to match up with those two.

Plenty of teams in the league can match up with their roster if that trade went thhrough.

Now if they can get Dwight Howard...I guess it is a different story.

I actually thought they should have been focusing on a similar deal for DH12 instead of Paul. Pairing Gasol with Dwight would have been devastating to the NBA for at least 2-3 years.

[jdz101]

Couldn't agree more. Despite what people say, gasol is still an excellent player and perhaps the lakers most important. They would have missed him dearly..

[Who]

In the immediate sense, absolutely.

Possibly in the long term too depending on the true state of CP3's knees.

Plus, keeping Lamar and Pau Gasol better enables them to make a competitive offer for Dwight Howard should Chicago put both Carlos Boozer + Joakim Noah on the table ... and Dwight is a much bigger fish than CP3.

[SHAQATTACK]

Now that LA has lost the faith of Gasol, who now probally wants out of LA.....wonder if he would want to play for the Celtics?

[Eja117]

No. I think LA was looking squarely at getting D Howard if that trade went down. And if not him, then someone else very good.

It's pooooossssiibbblleee (although I sorta doubt it) that Stern mighta been thinking "I can't just let this team keep having its way with the league. First it stole Shaq from Orlando for less money. Then it got Pau G in a joke of a trade. Now they get CP3 just cause he wants to go there? Then what? They get D Howard again?  A Yankees scenario is not good for my league. Long term we have to be like the NFL. And this whole superstars-who-just-go-where-they-want-when-they-want thing has got to stop. That's how teams like New Orleans will fold and that can't happen. It can't"

[wdleehi]

No.


They got the best player.


They got the most financial flexibility.


They still had the tools to go get Howard.

[footey]

And the Lakers are already in the works to land a top power forward. 

[SHAQATTACK]

No. I think LA was looking squarely at getting D Howard if that trade went down. And if not him, then someone else very good.

It's pooooossssiibbblleee (although I sorta doubt it) that Stern mighta been thinking "I can't just let this team keep having its way with the league. First it stole Shaq from Orlando for less money. Then it got Pau G in a joke of a trade. Now they get CP3 just cause he wants to go there? Then what? They get D Howard again?  A Yankees scenario is not good for my league. Long term we have to be like the NFL. And this whole superstars-who-just-go-where-they-want-when-they-want thing has got to stop. That's how teams like New Orleans will fold and that can't happen. It can't"

What he said +100

[Adelaide Celt]

No. I think LA was looking squarely at getting D Howard if that trade went down. And if not him, then someone else very good.

It's pooooossssiibbblleee (although I sorta doubt it) that Stern mighta been thinking "I can't just let this team keep having its way with the league. First it stole Shaq from Orlando for less money. Then it got Pau G in a joke of a trade. Now they get CP3 just cause he wants to go there? Then what? They get D Howard again?  A Yankees scenario is not good for my league. Long term we have to be like the NFL. And this whole superstars-who-just-go-where-they-want-when-they-want thing has got to stop. That's how teams like New Orleans will fold and that can't happen. It can't"

What he said +100

I concur gentlemen. One quick glance at people's reactions when it looked like the trade was on is all I need.

[Greenbean]

No.


They got the best player.


They got the most financial flexibility.


They still had the tools to go get Howard.

What tools?

Bynum and Metta World Peace? (Its really fun to type that)

Thats not enough for Dwight even with picks.

They wouldnt have enough cap flexibility to offer Dwight a max deal after the season would they?

[Greenbean]

And the Lakers are already in the works to land a top power forward. 

With what money?

[wdleehi]

No.


They got the best player.


They got the most financial flexibility.


They still had the tools to go get Howard.

What tools?

Bynum and Metta World Peace? (Its really fun to type that)

Thats not enough for Dwight even with picks.

They wouldnt have enough cap flexibility to offer Dwight a max deal after the season would they?

Is Bynum and draft picks much different the Lopez and draft picks?  


Plus with that large trade exception, they could make a separate trade with Orlando and take back more then just one large, bad salary.

[wdleehi]

And the Lakers are already in the works to land a top power forward. 

With what money?

A very large trade exception if they didn't need to use it to get Howard.


Or the MLE to add a player.

[Greenbean]

No.


They got the best player.


They got the most financial flexibility.


They still had the tools to go get Howard.

What tools?

Bynum and Metta World Peace? (Its really fun to type that)

Thats not enough for Dwight even with picks.

They wouldnt have enough cap flexibility to offer Dwight a max deal after the season would they?

Is Bynum and draft picks much different the Lopez and draft picks?  


Plus with that large trade exception, they could make a separate trade with Orlando and take back more then just one large, bad salary.

I dont think Lopez plus draft picks will be enouhg either but that deal is still better than the Lakers.

Injury history of Bynum, NJ's picks being higher, adn the fact that Dwight can just tell his managememtn he's signing with the Nets, who would have the cap space next year, anyway like Melo did with the Knicks situation last year.

[scaryjerry]

Lakers? no
Kobe? yes

How is playing with a PG who needs the ball in his bands the entire shotclock going to make him happy?