After the defection of Baron Davis to the Clippers, and the retention of Agent Zero and Antawn Jamison by the Wizards...FA speculation has turned to...
Elton Brand: Does he stay with the Clips, or is he lured away by the Warriors?
Josh Smith: Does he choose Philly or Golden State over Atlanta?
Corey Maggette: Does he sign with the Spurs, the Celtics, or the Magic?
Andre Iguodala: Does he get an offer that the Sixers don't match?
Monta Ellis: Does he leave Chris Mullin reflecting on a summer of disaster?
James Posey: Does Boston lose him to someone else's full MLE?
But, if you are one whose interest is Laker FA prospects, you can forget about any of these FAs...with one possible exception: James Posey.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Reports that the Lakers are willing to provide their full five-year MLE to Posey are well-founded. He could step in as the starting small forward. Trevor Ariza would provide further perimeter defensive depth. Lamar Odom can then come off the bench for 30-plus minutes and provide a most dynamic rotation up front.
Posey would create a logjam at the 3, unless Vladimir Radmanovic or Luke Walton could be moved. Their contracts are considered by many to be albatrosses, but the two do have current value to certain teams. Walton would be the most expendable, based on his atrocious showing in the NBA finals.
Nevertheless, consider Posey to be a Laker longshot. Sure, they could use his defensive toughness and ability to hit timely threes. But, chances are he re-signs with the Celtics (or he re-joins the Rockets).
After the FA dust settles, the best addition the Lakers may make is the unheralded Quentin Ross. How desperately do the Lakers need SOMEONE to handle quick point guards on the perimeter? There isn't one FA in the whole bunch who fits that bill...except Ross.
Even if they have to let Sasha Vujacic walk, effectively adding Andrew Bynum, a healthy Trevor Ariza, and Quentin Ross would upgrade the Laker D substantially.
comments (13) write a comment »
write a new comment
6 months ago
Other than Brand, Josh Smith is the best free agent out there. He is young and a very good and athletic post player.
Posey to the Lakers would be a good idea because it would take some defensive pressure off of Kobe. He wouldn't have to guard the best player on the opposing team. Posey is a very good role player.
from 6 months ago
Posey according to the LA Times and Hoopsworld has spoken very well of coming to play in LA and he is looking for the MLE which the Lakers are willing to provide and wants to play with the team that has the best shot of winning it all in 08-09.
The Celts offered him 3 years/12 million and that's not what he wants.
James come to LA and help us play some D. After this the Lakers need to pursue Ron Artest. Especially with all the recent drama and the fact that GM Petrie is going to begin to listen to offers for him and the lakers could offer the expiring contract of LO and also make sure you resign Ronny for 1.5 million and say farewell to Sasha and by the way, where are all the offers for him from other teams?? Haven't even heard of one apart from the Lakers. Sasha it was nice knowing ya.
6 months ago
Michael ... Good point on Posey taking pressure off of Kobe, as he could guard the best perimeter player (a la Bruce Bowen). He would be the best addition (apart from Ron Artest, who would have to be traded). I still think Posey re-signs with Boston, but each day that passes makes it seem less likely.
Guillermo ... Yes, it has been very quiet on the Sasha front. No doubt teams have talked to him and his agent. But, as a secondary FA, teams are waiting on how things play out with their primary targets. Sasha's exit interview comments were a bit telling. He wants "to play for the team that wants him the most". He also said his goal is to be the best shooting guard in the NBA. He's not going to have a chance to fulfill that in L.A. (at least not with the Lakers). But, he also wants to win a championship. I hope he comes back. I believe he is important. He is just not worth a full MLE. Unfortunately, Chris Duhon just signed for MLE level money (for 2 years). On the other hand, Corey Maggette is probably not going to get more than someone's MLE (4-5 years), so it's a tough sell either way (by agent or team).
6 months ago
Leonard I agree with you on the whole Sasha being a good player that could help but not worth the 5.8 million. If he wants to come back for less, that would be awesome, I still think we need some veterans coming off the bench, and Posey and let's say a Brent Berry that could help in that role by guiding the young guys like Harper and Shaw did during the 3peat era.
It will be interesting especially if the Spurs or Celts land Corey because things would get interesting.
How do you see LO at the 3? I think if they could make a move for Artest and offer LO's expiring contract, that would be good enough and then they could give Bynum his extension that won't kick in til the 09-10 season and offer Artest about 10 mill/yr. He is only 28.
We have a great team, but Jackson has never stressed defense while he's been in LA during this run and during the last run it was the bench and the veterans like Fox and Horry that led the way. We don't have that now.
Isn't it amazing how a team like Golden State is now in a crisis after the Baron Davis departure.
Corey needs to go to the east whether it be Boston or the Magic. He could make Orlando an even bigger threat to the Celts.
6 months ago
Guillermo -- I really think the best addition (without making a trade) would be Posey. He is an ex-Laker, after all! I'm not a big Brent Barry fan, but at the right price, he would be a valuable addition coming off the bench. I really do like Quentin Ross -- he can guard 3 positions (both guards and certain small forwards). I would actually prefer him to Barry, but your point on veteran presence off the bench is well taken. That absence did catch up to the Lakers in the end.
I just don't see them trading Odom for Artest (plus some other contract). I think they hoped Artest would opt out and be willing to sign the MLE (like Maggette may end up doing somewhere). I think they want to see how it all works with Odom, Bynum, and Gasol together. They hold L.O.'s expiring $14.5 million dollar contract, and that will only grow in value to other teams, as the trade deadline approaches. If only Sacramento would want Walton and Radmanovic for Artest!
I believe Odom will technically be the 3 next season and more of a primary ball handler. He has to work on his jump shot and his quickness. However, I think he comes off the bench or rotates a lot -- playing a lot of 4 too (in different front line combinations). They may even have him at the point at times (as Phil Jackson mentioned). So, I believe he, and Bynum, and Gasol all play 30-35 minutes, and the other 3s (whoever they end up being) will be dividing another 48 minutes themselves (based on 144 minutes available along the front line).
I too hope Corey heads east. I don't want to see him in a Spurs uniform. If the Celtics add him and lose Posey, I don't know that they are better for it next year. Their defense would suffer. It would be a good longer term move for them, though. I would prefer that he goes to Orlando. He may end up at Golden State too (for more than the MLE). That all depends on what Brand does. A dark horse could be Utah.
6 months ago
Good Read, Leonard. I like the points made and can agree with them. I think James Posey would and excellent pick up. I really like the idea of Quentin Ross as well. I'll call that a sleeper pick or one that hasn't received much press but would be huge. I have problem with Sasha coming back but he hasn't earned the MLE right now. I touched on some of these topics in an article titled "Los Angeles Lakers: the Aftermath" this was before the Free Agency period kicked off.
6 months ago
Thanks Jeff. Your "Aftermath" article was excellent. Great points there, including on Sun Yue. He could (should?) be on the roster next season. He would be another highly skilled player, so the need for a couple of tough defenders would remain. Whether Sasha goes or not, I think they should (and can) come up with two, one realistic possibility being Q. Ross. I still expect Posey to return to the Celtics. We'll see what happens. I guess once Elton Brand makes up his mind, the rest of the free agent pieces will start falling into place quickly.
from 6 months ago
Thanks for the compliments and comments Leonard. I agree with your points.
6 months ago
What really is needed to to dump the contracts of Luke and Rad. They need to keep Sasha for his ability to stretch the court freeing up the post players. Dumping those two players sometime in the next year will free up money for the future. This is a weak FA class. Posey isn't the answer.
6 months ago
Gary -- I couldn't agree more on Luke and Rad. But, it's going to be tough to trade both, let alone just one of them. And, you are right that it's a weak FA class. Otherwise, James Posey wouldn't be getting so much attention. However, Posey would surely help them, whether he is added to the present roster, essentially (or if he were to replace either Luke or Rad). I prefer that they keep Sasha too. I just hope that someone else doesn't offer him a full MLE and the Lakers feel they need to let him walk, rather than match that.
6 months ago
Interesting article (& good responses too). I only hope that Mitch Kupchak saying 'Our main priority is to re-sign Sasha & Ronny' he REALLY is saying 'Our main priority is to re-sign Sasha & Ronny if we can't sign Maggette or James Posey for the MLE.' I also noticed Sasha saying he wants to sign with the team that really wants him, that was a little distressing. Well if really wanting someone means 'pays more' then it looks like other teams are not really wanting him.
As for the Odom trade rumors the Lakers should really try out that tall front court everyone has been waiting to see since the Gasol steal errr 'trade' and see if it will work as well as everyone envisioned it could. With Gasol taking over power forward and Odom at small forward (or even point forward?) the possibilities are great, trading Odom before a Bynum-Gasol-Odom frontcourt has a chance to play together would be a shame and possibly a big mistake. If Odom was happy to move to 'third-option' he would probably be delighted to drop to fourth. Gasol has game ideal to run at PF as he can operate very well outside the lane and can hit shots / pass well. Bynum also will have so much help his game should improve as well.
6 months ago
LakerMike ... I completely agree with you on Odom. The Lakers are in a good spot with him. His contract is expiring for one thing, which is a valuable playing card. In the meantime, they can see how the big front line works together, and utilize his versatility and ball-handling ability creatively.
Maggette was never a possibility for the Lakers. Posey is, but a longshot. I believe the Lakers consider him to be quite valuable over the next few years. He's a 6-7 combo guard who can play defense, and is getting better. I think they will re-sign him. Hopefully, no one offers a full MLE. That seems doubtful, though.
6 months ago
Look we need posey and he deserves the mid-level exception but we shouldn't sign anyone for the mid-level before we trade one of the following: luke or radmanovich.
write a new comment