After the Los Angeles Lakers were again ushered out of the playoffs, the talk of offseason moves began in earnest. It is not in the nature of Laker Nation to think about rebuilding over a period of years. Rather, fans want to reload and make another run while Kobe Bryant is still able to perform at a high level. Since the Lakers are generally lacking in draft picks, they may only be able to improve through a big trade. Pau Gasol has been a part of trade rumors before, and he is being discussed in rumors again. Unfortunately, trading Gasol may not actually be the answer.
What will you get?
When you look at some of these trade scenarios, you have to look at what you are actually getting. In some ways, Gasol is really taken for granted. He is an extremely versatile player, and while he may not be as productive as he once was, it is hard to find a big man with his talent. In addition, he has maintained excellent professionalism throughout all of these rumors. As a fan, it is sometimes a little hard to be objective about trades since they often look better from the standpoint of the receiving team. Some people want to get rid of Gasol, but will other teams give up more than one piece in order to get him?
Bynum
Before sending Gasol away, the Lakers have to think long and hard about the future of Andrew Bynum. The talent and productivity is obviously there, but more questions emerged this season about attitude and dedication. A focused Bynum may be the future of the franchise, but after this many seasons in the league Andrew may have reached his peak in terms of maturity. This isn't to say that Bynum should go, but there should be some sort of long-term plan beyond sending Pau away.
The post-Kobe era
The trade talk surrounding Pau Gasol is only part of a bigger question. What is the next couple of seasons going to look like with Kobe Bryant continuing to get older? As Kobe said, he doesn't expect to just fade away into the sunset. Things could get a bit awkward if the Lakers make moves that are geared toward preparing for the post-Kobe era. Most teams are forced to rebuild through the draft while struggling through some lesser seasons. Bryant is not going to like that. Therefore, any trade involving Pau Gasol will send an interesting message about the plan for the future.
The author grew up in Seattle and now lives in Los Angeles, where he enjoys the rivalry between the Lakers and the Clippers, and all the drama that goes with being in the Southland. You can follow him on Twitter@tpheifer.
When the NBA on TNT did its Player of the Decade survey, Kobe Bryant won with 54 percent of votes to Tim Duncan's eight percent. This is understandable, as Kobe's game is beautiful and cherished in a far bigger market. But "understandable" does not a good decision make.Â
Well, that 2000-2010 decade is over, but Duncan's lauded renaissance provides a decent reminder of what we were missing during that era. We were missing the best player on basketball's best franchise.
While it is apples to oranges to compare Bryant to Duncan, it's possible to declare a preference. In dry, statistical terms, Timmy is superior to Kobe in win shares, win scores, wins produced. Bryant leads in total titles, but judging by that reductive metric would make Robert Horry a better player than Charles Barkley.Â
The deciding factor for me, is defense. I don't care about Timmy's demeanor, his lack of petulance and willingness to stay in a small market. The on-court impact is all I care about.
A frontcourt player has more of a defensive impact than a guard, on account of covering more space. In his old age, Duncan can struggle in the high pick and roll, but he's still an incredible defender on the balance, and was an all-time defender in his prime. The same cannot be said of Kobe, despite all those gifted All-Defense team nominations.
So, with that in mind, Timmy is my choice in terms of career rankings. He's only augmenting my conviction in these playoffs.Â
Even at age 37, Ray Allen â€" if healthy â€" would look great as a Laker in 2012-13.
But he'd also look good with San Antonio, or Miami, or even with the Clippers if they can't retain Nick Young.
Ray Allen, if healthy, would look good in Lakers uniform in 2012-13. He would also be a good fit in San Antonio, Miami or with the Clippers, should they fail to retain Nick Young. Click on the photo for some Lakers franchise fixers, big and small.
PHOTO BY ELISE AMENDOLA, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS;, TEXT BY EARL BLOOM, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
ADVERTISEMENT
Allen, the NBA's all-time three-point shooter, is having a hard time in the playoffs because of bone spurs in his right ankle. He's too much of a gamer to come out of the lineup, although he's killing the price of his next contract, which won't come in Boston.
He'll command considerably less than the $10 million he earned this season, and the cap-strapped Lakers should take a look.
Yes, I realize Allen and Kobe Bryant have a history; so did Bryant and Ron Artest/Metta World Piece, but that hasn't been an issue since the latter joined the Lakers.
And Lakers fans, some of whom despise all things Boston, should recall how they embraced ex-Celtics Rick Fox and Brian Shaw when they helped their team win titles. And that Bill Sharman was elected to the basketball Hall of Fame, first as a Celtics (and USC) player, and the second time as a coach who guided the Lakers to their first L.A. title and NBA-record 33-game winning streak.
Removal of the bone spurs should have Allen back in form as a shooter next season. He would be a great fit as a 20-minute-per-night player, some of it giving Bryant a needed rest, some of it giving the Lakers a reliable option shooting from the corner.
Who would you rather have hoisting open three-pointers with Bryant or Andrew Bynum doubled, Allen or Matt Barnes or World Peace? Be honest.
Allen Iverson might be able to do the same thing, although he's more of a scorer than three-point shooter, but there seems to be too much baggage there or it would've happened already. The Lakers already have enough distractions just being the Lakers, and fair or not, AI likely won't be a Laker.
Count on GM Mitch Kupchak to make good basketball decisions for next season, but you'd better hope they are for the Lakers, and that Kupchak is not stolen away by a GM-hungry team such as Portland or Orlando.
Signing Ray Allen wouldn't disrupt the Lakers nucleus, which some are in a hurry to break up. Click on the photo of the Celtics star for a look at options, big and small, that could help the Lakers contend in the few remaining seasons of the Kobe Bryant Era.
The moves I suggest include retaining, and rethinking the use of, several of the Lakers' younger players â€" so don't assume this is just all about bringing in fading stars, although the fits of Steven Jackson and Boris Diaw in San Antonio prove that can be done when done well.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant finishes off a reverse dunk against the Thunder in the first half of Game 5 last week in Oklahoma City. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / May31, 2012)
By Mark Medina
May 31, 2012,4:33 p.m.
Out of nowhere, more and more of Los Angeles is suddenly paying attention to hockey. That's what happens when the Kings can boast a 1-0 lead over the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals. The bandwagoners join the niche fan base and then act as if they've been on board every step of the way.
But there's one prominent sports athlete who'd rather take a pass on the Stanley Cup Finals.
He's selling two of his tickets to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on June 6, with the proceeds benefiting the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation's Youth Homelessness Initiative. Fans can make donations with options ranging from $10, $25, $50, $75 and $100 and then be entered in a drawing to win the tickets. Fans are allowed to enter the drawing as many as 10 times before June 4 at noon PST.
Bryant has found other creative ways lately to raise money for his foundation. He plans to start an auction from June 4 to June 11 that will allow fans to bid on a chance to play him in the basketball-shooting game of H-O-R-S-E on July 2 in Santa Barbara. Bryant already raised $67,100 for his family foundation and homeless initiative by auctioning off his protective mask earlier this month.
Don't get it twisted about Bryant showing apparent apathy about the Kings' playoff run. He was featured on the "Kiss Cam" recently at a Kings playoff game. Bryant also filmed a brief spot in the video below that often appears on the Staples Center scoreboard. Bryant's just savvy enough to know that he can tap into Los Angeles' sudden affinity for hockey, something that was hardly present most of the year.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant finishes off a reverse dunk against the Thunder in the first half of Game 5 last week in Oklahoma City. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / May31, 2012)
By Mark Medina
May 31, 2012,4:33 p.m.
Out of nowhere, more and more of Los Angeles is suddenly paying attention to hockey. That's what happens when the Kings can boast a 1-0 lead over the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals. The bandwagoners join the niche fan base and then act as if they've been on board every step of the way.
But there's one prominent sports athlete who'd rather take a pass on the Stanley Cup Finals.
He's selling two of his tickets to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on June 6, with the proceeds benefiting the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation's Youth Homelessness Initiative. Fans can make donations with options ranging from $10, $25, $50, $75 and $100 and then be entered in a drawing to win the tickets. Fans are allowed to enter the drawing as many as 10 times before June 4 at noon PST.
Bryant has found other creative ways lately to raise money for his foundation. He plans to start an auction from June 4 to June 11 that will allow fans to bid on a chance to play him in the basketball-shooting game of H-O-R-S-E on July 2 in Santa Barbara. Bryant already raised $67,100 for his family foundation and homeless initiative by auctioning off his protective mask earlier this month.
Don't get it twisted about Bryant showing apparent apathy about the Kings' playoff run. He was featured on the "Kiss Cam" recently at a Kings playoff game. Bryant also filmed a brief spot in the video below that often appears on the Staples Center scoreboard. Bryant's just savvy enough to know that he can tap into Los Angeles' sudden affinity for hockey, something that was hardly present most of the year.
Time and again, the Lakers ran into a roadblock that nearly tripped them.
Mike Brown entered his first season as the Lakers' head coach without a full training camp to fully teach his concepts. His players entered the 2011-12 season without enough time to learn them. The rest the Lakers enjoyed during a prolonged lockout suddenly evaporated as they navigated a grinding 66-game schedule. The disconnect between players and coaching staff led to constant rotation shuffling and underutilized roles.
Yet, the Lakers still featured three elite players in Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. They could've fared better than losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the Western Conference semifinals had they held on to fourth-quarter leads in both Games 2 and 4.
"I'm not going to look at what could've been and make blame as to why we got beat in Game 5 of the second round," Kuphcak said last week in his exit interview. "That certainly is not a reason why we got beat."
Still, the league's irresponsible decision to nix the deal had long-term ramifications. It set an unsettling precedent for NBA Commissioner David Stern, acting on behalf of a franchise that didn't have an owner at the time, to intervene in basketball decisions. The Clippers eventually secured Paul, who carried them to the Western Conference semifinals. The Hornets secured little in return for an injured Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman (trade bait), Al-Faroug Aminu and a first-round pick from Minnesota that had similar value as the Knicks' pick in the original deal. In an interesting twist, the Hornets then won the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft lottery. And the Houston Rockets lacked the cornerstone player they hoped for in Gasol to give them a playoff push.
As for the Lakers? One team official told The Times' Bill Plaschke weeks ago that the blocked trade may have set the franchise back for five years. It's definitely plausible. Below are four different variables that affected the Lakers.
1. The Lakers would have had a playoff-tested point guard. The Lakers still managed to upgrade their backcourt by acquiring Ramon Sessions. But that didn't come in handy much in the postseason, where he averaged 6.8 points on 35.3% shooting against Oklahoma City. Should Sessions either exercise his player option or the Lakers sign him to a long-term deal, he will have a much better showing in future seasons. But the Lakers wouldn't have needed such a transition period with Paul.
Sure, some adjustments would've taken place. Bryant would have to generate offense more off the ball. Paul and his teammates would have to adapt to some degree on playing at the right pace. Bynum would've had to improve his conditioning to keep up with Paul and run more pick-and-roll sets. But these are all good problems to have and represent all areas the Lakers would've solved during the season.
Once the playoffs started, the Lakers wouldn't have had such issues. Paul would relentlessly attack the basket. He would ensure crisp ball movement. Paul would add another presence in matching Bryant's intensity and work ethic. And who knows? Maybe some of that would've rubbed off on Bynum too.
2. The Lakers would have cut payroll while also upgrading their team. The team's front office has a huge challenge this offseason in somehow finding a way to improve the Lakers while also trimming costs. Yet, the Lakers would've accomplished that same goal had the Paul deal passed. Consider the contracts between both Gasol (three years, $57 million) and Odom (two years, $17 million). Meanwhile, Paul’s contract this season was worth $16.4 million and a player option for $17.8 million next season. When you add up all the salary figures, The Times' Mike Bresnahan reports the Lakers would've shed $41 million in salary and luxury taxes over two seasons if the trade had been approved.
The Lakers still found ways to save money.
Trading Odom may have hurt the team's bench but saved the Lakers $34 million in combined salary and luxury taxes. The Lakers also reduced payroll by trading Derek Fisher to Houston as well as Luke Walton and Jason Kapono to Cleveland before the March 15 deadline. The Times' Bresnahan reported those trades allowed the Lakers to save $2.32 million in salary and luxury taxes this season and $6.95 million next season if Sessions decides to stay. That compares very little, however, to what the Lakers could've saved in the original Paul deal.
3. The Lakers may have been in a better position to make another deal. Kupchak described the Sessions trade and the Fisher for Jordan Hill acquisition as essentially one deal. It's possible the Lakers could've taken the same approach after securing Paul. After all, the departure with Odom and Gasol would have left a void in the frontcourt. Perhaps the Lakers would've felt the same need to move Fisher because of a bloated backcourt. Or maybe the deal would've provided the momentum needed in flipping a deal involving Bynum as the centerpiece for Dwight Howard. We will never know.
4. The Lakers wouldn't have been as much on edge this season. The Lakers still would have experienced hiccups. There still would have been an adjustment period under Brown's system. The Lakers would have had to scramble in filling in the frontcourt depth lost from Gasol's and Odom's presence. And the bench, outside of any major upgrades, still would've been awful.
Still, the Lakers wouldn't have acted constantly on edge leading into the March 15 trade deadline anticipating major changes. Most of that hinged on Gasol's flimsy standing. Even as he remained professional through the whole process, Gasol never sensed he was wanted. As much as the Lakers put on a united front, the team's day-to-day body language and statements suggested the team continuously walked on eggshells. Say all you want about athletes needing to stop worrying about that speculation. But it's only human nature that this would be an issue, no matter how much the Lakers tried to keep it from affecting their play.
Kentucky center Anthony Davis, a 7-foot All-American, is the consensus No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / May31, 2012)
He continually chases his sixth ring and beyond. Bryant thrives on proving he'll still stay dominant at the tail end of his career. As much as he shows respect for emerging young talent, such as Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Bryant refuses to pass the torch to them. Bryant wants to squeeze every single ounce of talent out of himself to maximize his standing in the NBA history books.
But Bryant also takes some kind of pleasure in reading the negative things the media write about him, or the challenges other stars bestow upon him. That's why Anthony Davis, whom the New Orleans Hornets will likely select with their No. 1 draft pick, perhaps should have thought twice before uttering these words:
“[Kobe]’s a monster. So I just want to go out there and play my hardest," Davis said Thursday on the "Dan Patrick Show." There’s a lot of guys that can’t stop Kobe. So if I stop him I could be one of the guys that say, ‘I shut Kobe down’.â€
"Be careful what you ask for Anthony," Patrick told the former Kentucky standout. "He listens to the show and he has a great memory."
Harry How/Getty Images If only the rest of Pau Gasol's 2011-12 season was this easy.
It wasn't exactly the start to the 2011-12 season Pau Gasol had in mind.
The ink hadn't yet dried on the new collective bargaining agreement between players and owners when the Lakers sent Gasol to Houston as part of a three-team deal netting them Chris Paul. As you may have heard, a couple hours later the Commish put the brakes on the deal, sending everyone back to his team as if nothing had ever happened.
Except it had, and everyone saying all the right things didn't make it any less awkward.
Since Gasol had already been traded once, the natural supposition was it might happen again, leaving him smack dab in the middle of the NBA's juiciest trade rumors from that moment through March and the trade deadline. Not surprisingly, renting in Limboland wasn't all that appealing, prompting Kobe Bryant in late February to publicly demand the Lakers offer the Spaniard some clarity. It didn't come, but Bryant's comments once again highlighted the elephant in the room.
On the floor, Gasol faced another sort of limbo. A variety of factors -- the ascension of Andrew Bynum into a prime time role in the post combined with Kobe Bryant's still-dominant offensive role, a lack of facilitators on the wing outside Bryant, a lack of floor stretching shooters, a compressed training camp and practice schedule not allowing players to fully absorb Mike Brown's system, Brown failing to make the best of his talent, and so on -- made it difficult for Gasol to find comfort in Brown's system, offensively.
"I never had to search for offense or for looks in teams I've been on. They've always been, not given to me, but I always had them because of what I bring to table. So to have to go and search, I have struggled at points, at times with that. But obviously when you have certain players are also very good contributors on the offensive end, you have to make sure combine all those weapons, make them work at their best. And that takes a little bit of time, too ...
I always like to be aggressive and proactive, but I was still trying to adjust to the fact it was different. I wasn't getting the same things I was getting before. I'm not used to attacking from different positions on the court. Analyzing a little more made me think of it a little more. But I don't like excuses at all. It's just analyzing and seeing the fact and understanding why things happen a certain way."
For all the hand-wringing in some corners over Gasol's performance, the final numbers weren't all that different than his career norms, and in some ways they were superior. Thrust into a facilitator role, Gasol delivered, averaging more assists per game and a higher assist rate than any season in Los Angeles (with plays like this, it's easy to see how). He was a borderline All-Star and wasn't that far off from making the All-NBA team. This despite rarely being a featured player in the offense.
His shooting percentage was down, mostly because Gasol hoisted more shots from lower percentage areas on the floor (16 feet and beyond). It certainly wasn't because he lost his touch on the block. Via Synergy, no Laker averaged more points per possession in the post than Gasol's .968. More positives: Only Dwight Howard and Kevin Love had more double-doubles. Gasol tied for the team lead in offensive rating, and led in win shares. Via 82 Games, the Lakers were 4.1 points better offensively with Gasol on the floor, and 4.5 points better defensively -- the best margins among L.A.'s Big Three.
Bottom line, anyone believing Gasol wasn't productive or somehow hurt the Lakers over the course of the season is simply mistaken.
Turning Gasol into a facilitate-first player played to his lesser tendencies as well, codifying to some degree the passivity for which he is frequently criticized. No surprise aggressiveness was periodically a problem. Taking a player who periodically requires reminders to call his own number and asking him spend most of his time calling everyone else's isn't a winning formula.
Thanks to his shot locations and fewer trips to the line, Gasol's efficiency dropped. Then there were the playoffs.
Gasol had big games for sure -- a near trip-dub in Game 1 vs. Denver and 23/17/6/4 in Game 7 were the best -- but too many clunkers as well. His Game 6 (three points, three rebounds, 1-of-10 shooting) in Denver might have been his worst performance as a professional. In the second round against Oklahoma City, the Lakers needed all three of their stars in top form to have a chance, and Gasol didn't hold up his end of the bargain (in that he had company, it should be noted). This isn't about re-litigating his critical fourth quarter turnover in Game 4, one in a string of bad plays for the Lakers, many belonging to Kobe, but his overall impact. In five games, Gasol averaged only 12.6 points, 2.6 free throw attempts, shot 44 percent, sported a poor A/TO ratio of nearly 1/1.
All told, numbers not up to the standard to which he should be held.
OUTLOOK FOR 2012-13
Murky.
With the Lakers in a bind competitively and financially, it's widely expected they'll once again shop Gasol this offseason. While there's no guarantee he'll move (flipping a soon-to-be-32-year-old owed about $38 million over the next two seasons isn't a slam dunk, and there are other forms of roster architecture the Lakers can employ), he'll certainly be available. It's why rumors like this one from Sam Smith of Bulls.com in which "Lakers insiders" --vague even by today's liberal titling standards -- say Gasol wants a trade to Chicago will come on a near daily basis once the NBA truly enters the offseason. (For the record, Gasol denied he wants to go.)
My guess is Gasol won't be in a Lakers uniform next season, and will be missed in ways many fans likely don't realize. Still, the dynamics of the team have shifted to the point a change could benefit both parties.
GRADE: B
Gasol basically did what he was asked to do this year, performing at a deceptively high level and holding his tongue despite real frustration regarding his role. He was, as Bryant and Mitch Kupchak (among others) noted throughout the season, a consummate professional in a disjointed year. With a better postseason, the grade would have been higher.
Most recent team:New Jersey Nets (moving to Brooklyn next season)
Type of free agent: Unrestricted
Positives: Well, we are talking about the most talented candidate in the free-agent pool. Even if the Lakers upgraded at point guard this season by acquiring Ramon Sessions, his shaky postseason play and Williams' superior talent still makes him a worthy candidate for the Lakers back court.
Most point guards are measured on their speed, both with how they execute pick-and-rolls and drives to the basket. But in Williams' case, he excels in those areas because of his size and power. In a weird way, this might actually suit the Lakers better since they often implored Sessions to slow the pace to ensure high productivity from Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant. Because Williams doesn't generate much offense in transition, he'd be much more suited at running the Lakers' preferred methodical tempo. Add in Williams' heftier playoff experience, and it's a no-brainer the Lakers would want the three-time All-Star.
Negatives: I'll break down the likelihood on the Lakers actually securing Williams, which remains a challenge. But should the Lakers somehow land him, there aren't a lot of negatives. According to NBA Stats Cube, Williams only made 30% of his mid-range jumpers, an area of concern considering that double-teams on Bryant and Bynum (if he's still there) would give him plenty of open looks. And because Williams remained the primary offensive option with Utah and New Jersey, there would also be an adjustment period on how he and Bryant would play off each other. Those issues are pretty minimal, though.
Verdict:Williams took to Twitter, disputing a report from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski that quoted unnamed league sources saying the Nets guard will only stay if the team acquires Magic center Dwight Howard in a trade. Meanwhile, Hoopsworld's Alex Raskin quotes other league sources as saying that Williams hasn't made such demands. Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick also talks to an unnamed source close to Williams who said Williams would seriously consider becoming Brooklyn's first star but that but he needs to see enough roster changes that would ensure a successful season.
As far as the Lakers go, fans out here shouldn't hold their breath, since the only way to secure Williams involves a sign-and-trade. Numerous reports indicate a Williams-for-Pau Gasol deal is unlikely, and New Jersey would have to be really stupid to pull such a move. Gasol remains a solid No. 2 option, but he wouldn't make a good candidate to carry the franchise. That's why I like the proposal by ESPN.com's Chris Broussard that the Lakers trade Bynum and Sessions for Williams and Brook Lopez. Even if Bynum is vastly superior to Lopez, the Lakers' center remained unpredictable with his effort. Meanwhile, Lopez proves serviceable enough that the Lakers aren't completely giving up their size to bolster the backcourt.
Regardless, I don't see Williams coming to the Lakers. He's more likely to stay in Brooklyn or go to Dallas, which has more cap space.
So Lakers power forward Pau Gasol stands a good chance of being dealt at some point this offseason if Los Angeles decides to make moves. The Lakers would be very interested in trying to give Kobe Bryant more versatility on the perimeter, and dealing Gasol might be the best possible move to get Los Angeles back on the championship-contending path.
But as far as dealing Gasol to Chicago? That sparks plenty of skepticism, considering it would probably require the Lakers to acquire Carlos Boozer, who plays inconsistent defense and has an unattractive contract worth $47 million. That's why Smith spent most of his article discussing how the Lakers and Bulls could make a deal involving Gasol and Bulls All-Star small forward Luol Deng (earning $12 million) as the deal's centerpiece.
"I don't know where that came from," Gasol said. "It's pointless to really worry about it. I'm totally cool with it, whatever they say. The stories will appear and then disappear on something that does or doesn't happen again. It sucks to be in that position, but it is what it is."
Kobe Bryant would never say that Tim Duncan is better than he is.
Just as surely, Phil Jackson would never say that Gregg Popovich is either.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kobe and Phil have won and done so much that they don't have to bow down to anyone, but the reality is that Timmy and Pop continue to win together in San Antonio in Year 15, having now twice outlasted Bryant and Jackson given the Lakers' breakups in 2004 and '11
In a basic sense, that's what the story seems to be in San Antonio: the same old one about guys staying put and being solid.
It's actually the exact opposite.
Duncan and Popovich keep winning because they've changed.
We're talking about more than the 15 pounds Duncan dropped before last season to deal with ongoing knee problems or the myriad of hairstyles Popovich has tried.
There is more than one way to win.
Popovich used to win with defense. Now he wins with offense.
He used to win with Duncan first. Now he wins with Tony Parker first.
He used to win with Mike Brown helping him. Now he wins by helping Mike Brown.
On that last point, yes, Popovich has stayed a mentor to Brown, a Spurs assistant in 2000-03, even though Brown took the head-coaching post with one of the very few teams that figured to be a fellow contender in the Western Conference.
Popovich helping Brown through this challenging first season with the Lakers might seem odd or even foolish to some. But it's who Popovich is, despite the sometimes gruff exterior: loyal, caring and invested in people.
That is, Brown believes, the secret to Popovich's success: his people skills.
And if you stop and think about it, the people who have the most of those skills are usually pretty generous with everything they have.
Duncan is hardly a people-person, but as with Popovich, there's a fundamental generosity in his approach to team building â€" which is why Duncan has been able to share spotlights so well with David Robinson once upon a time and Parker and Manu Ginobili more recently.
The trick in that flexibility is that you are willing to sacrifice your ego â€" but not your results.
And if you're wondering whether Bryant can toe that precarious line in the coming years, you're not the only one.
Brown still has much to prove with the Lakers, and one epic uncertainty is whether he is capable of shifting some of Bryant's burden away, as Popovich has masterfully done for Duncan over the years. The just-eliminated Lakers were as much Kobe's team as ever.
Brown has so far shown a Rudy Tomjanovich-like inability even to rest Bryant for as many minutes as he tells himself he will in games. After hyping an offense that would run through Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol the way San Antonio's did with Duncan and Robinson, Brown wound up dumping the ball on Bryant and asking him to carry the offense while Brown used his limited teaching time to focus on defense.
It's an interesting Western Conference finals series for Lakers followers â€" Popovich, Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs with a 2-0 lead on the Oklahoma City team that rather easily ousted Brown, Bryant and the Lakers.
Popovich in a sense helped the Thunder get to this point also. Sam Presti, the heralded architect of the Thunder's roster, got his start as Popovich's video-coordinator intern in San Antonio.
And Presti was on the scene when Popovich was responsible for Brown's only NBA championship ring from serving as a Spurs assistant coach in 2003. Even this season, Popovich was responsible for the framed motto hanging in the Lakers' locker room â€" right next to Bryant's stall â€" because Brown stole Popovich's Spurs idea of commemorating Jacob Riis' stonecutter's credo about consistent work ethic for Brown's first season as Lakers head coach.
What is a little misleading about the tale of 100 blows on the same rock preceding a 101st that cracks it in two is that those 101 efforts aren't all supposed to be exactly the same.
What we learned in Brown and Bryant's first season together is that they will both pound that rock to the point that they earn each other's respect. What they haven't figured out is what they need to change in order to hit it more productively.
In Popovich's case, he has an array of buttons, and he is capable of pushing them and the people around him in various ways, depending on the moment.
"The reason he is so successful is the way he manages his players," said TNT commentator Steve Kerr, who spent the final moments of his NBA playing career helping Brown and Popovich win that 2003 NBA title. "He's really, really fun and funny and outgoing. But there is also a part of you that is a little bit afraid of him."
Brown being a little scarier might be good. Bryant being a little less scary might, too.
It's not at all about anyone reinventing themselves, though.
As Popovich and Duncan know, it's simply about welcoming changes for the better.
I am not a Boston Celtics fan. Hell, I am not even an NBA fan. I am, however, a basketball fan who cares more about the integrity and meritocracy of the game than rooting for any particular team.
Immediately following the aftermath of the infamous, disgraceful, fixed 2002 Western Conference Final between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers, I remember telling my friends the NBA would never be the same again. I thought David Stern lost all credibility. I was wrong. The league recovered. Life goes on.
Today, in a game in which Stern's pet project LeBron James attempted 24 free throws in an off shooting night, the Heat were on the favorable end of all borderline calls as usual. Rajon Rondo was hit in the face by Dwyane Wade just like Mike Bibby's nose was bloodied by Kobe Bryant in 2002. Again, no call.
The new breed of officials such as Tom Washington clearly are "company men" just like Dick Bavetta, Steve Javie, Tim Donaghy, etc. Will this game change anything? Will the NBA's brand ever be affected by continuously putting out a rigged product?
I hope today is the time for the fans to take a stand. I hope today is the day basketball fans, not Heat fans, Celtics fans, Lakers fans, say "no more" together.
I love this game with every part of my being, but this unethical, illegal activity must have consequences. We must let those in charge knows that we will not tolerated obviously fixed games and manufactured legacies.
On this same day, the draft lottery took place. Many of you probably don't know the draft lottery was created in 1985 (shortly after Stern took over as commissioner) to allocate Patrick Ewing to the big-market New York Knicks.
Is the NBA fixed?
Yes
No
Don't know
There is video proof that he cheated on that very draft lottery to allow the Knicks to select Ewing. Is the big-market Chicago being able to select hometown kid Derrick Rose with the #1 overall pick despite winning 33 games the season before a mere coincidence? What about Cleveland getting hometown kid LeBron James? (a feel-good story at the time)
The Hornets seem to be getting rewarded this year with the No. 1 pick by following Stern's instruction to trade Chris Paul to the Clippers rather than rework the trade with the Lakers after Stern overstepped to veto the deal. It seems like every time a surefire potential franchise player is the consensus No. 1 pick, some unexpected shenanigans happen during the lottery.
In a sport that overemphasizes rings and championships when measuring greatness, David Stern and the NBA political machine (including mouthpieces in the media, "company man" referees, insiders including ex-players that turned into executives such as Joe Dumars, and the entire good old boy network) has done everything in their power to legitimize his pet project LeBron James.
The ultimate goal is to get him rings, shed the "choker" and "fraud" label, and become this generation's Michael Jordan. Basically, they seek to "manufacture" his legacy.
The LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant debate ended with the media declared James the winner by taking away Bryant's supporting cast (Lamar Odom, vetoed Chris Paul trade) and even suggesting Bryant is washed up despite carrying the Lakers by himself and leading the league in scoring most of the season.
It is always somehow James' teammates' fault, no matter how high the team's payroll is or how many previously well-established co-stars or role players are acquired.
Never mind the fact that the Cavaliers, despite being in a mid-market, had the second highest payroll in the league during James' last years there. The Cavs went through makeovers after makeovers, big acquisitions come and go, yet they are never that good.
Ricky Davis was shipped out because James couldn't co-exist with him. James hated playing with Eric Snow. He drove out Drew Gooden, so his buddy Anderson Varejao can land a huge contract. Flip Murray proved to be a good scorer with the Cavs, yet they chose to resign the one-dimensional Daniel Gibson due to his ties with James.Â
He dominated the ball and clogged up the lane, so Larry Hughes couldn't slash. I find it hard to believe Hughes was signed to be a spot up shooter. Wally Szczerbiak, Donyell Marshall, David Wesley, Jeff McInnis, and Eric Snow all saw their careers going down the drain after joining the Cavs.
They were all productive players before joining. It is funny how Ben Wallace, Shannon Brown, Carlos Boozer and Sasha Pavlovic all had career renaissances to different degree once they left LeBron James.
It is never James' fault. When the Heat were in crisis mode against the Pacers, the media blamed his supporting cast for being somehow still not good enough despite one superstar in his own right (Dwyane Wade) and one perennial all-star (Chris Bosh) on his team, a luxury few had.
James and Wade never commit to sacrificing their stats and playing team ball like the Celtics Big 3 did when they came together. Yet Tracy McGrady is perceived as a failure despite one of the worst supporting casts ever assembled for an elite player.
Allen Iverson is perceived as a cancer despite low payrolls and a revolving door of pathetic supporting cast in Philly. When did they ever had the opportunity to "manufacture" their legacies with high payrolls, team up with other superstars and chase after rings?
To me, the NBA is a joke. Right now, it is more about the off-the-court soap opera than the actual game. The game fixing, the dress code, the no-tolerance rule that bans showing emotions on the court, the blackballing of beloved authentic superstars and insiders who crossed David Stern take the fun out of the game.
It is truly a sad that one of the bright young faces of the league, Kevin Durant, feels the need to hide all of his tattoos under his jersey in the year 2012.
Larry Brown wanted to bring in Allen Iverson after A.I. was deliberately screwed over in his contract year in Detroit mere months after averaging 27 points, 7 assists, 45 percent shooting and leading Denver to a then-franchise record in wins.
It is unprecedented that one of the best players in the game should forever be an eighth-man bench player in a span of a few months, as the media made many casual fans believe in the lies, but David Stern's yes-man Jordan vetoed it as part of the operation that's ultimately objective is to kick A.I. out of the league.
Iverson sacrificed his stats in Denver (shot only 18 times a game) and was meshing with Rip in Detroit (won 7 in a row, beat Lakers, Magic, Cavs head to head) until they forced that scrub Stuckey into the starting lineup and put the blame on him.
If you recall, Larry Brown was vocal and probably the only insider who empathized with Iverson and came to Iverson's defense several times as a head coach of the Bobcats including when Stern's media cronies called the fans "stupid" after a grassroots campaign voting A.I. into the All-Star game in 2010 was successful.
The point of the campaign was most fans just wanted to shove it to Stern and the media for destroying one of the icons of our generation.
The well-connected Brown clearly didn't abide by the company line when discussing the Iverson situation. That's why he was fired and subsequently blackballed a mere 30 games after leading the Bobcats to their first playoff berth.
Brown ultimately was blackballed from the NBA himself and was even begging for an assistant coaching job with the Celtics to no avail.Â
If the Bobcats were really operating under a tight budget, why did they trade for the overpaid scrub Stephen Jackson instead of letting Larry Brown bring in Allen Iverson?
If Brown really lost the team, why does Scott Skiles still have a job? Jordan, like Joe Dumars, is just another one of Stern's henchmen who abides by the company line.
These incidents in the NBA in the past decade alone are even shadier than the Black Sox Scandal. As a basketball fan who only wish to watch high-quality basketball and the best players play, the NBA has been a bitter disappointment.
It is time that they stop playing us for fools. To whose who are in charge, are you listening?
For two straight years, Kobe Bryant and company have been bounced from the playoffs in the second round. The holes on the roster that plagued the Lakers during their sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 became huge craters in last week’s 4-1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It got so frustrating for the Lakers that, at one point, Bryant took exception to a reporter’s question regarding whether the Lakers could guard Oklahoma City’s quicker players. The star guard ended his interview abruptly after the question.
Whether or not Bryant wants to admit it, the Lakers are slow and old, especially on the perimeter. The Lakers couldn’t stick with the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook or James Harden and had issues dealing with Dallas’ Jason Terry and J.J. Barea last year. At least one Lakers executive admitted the team won’t be the same next season. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told ESPNLosAngeles.com, “There will be some change.â€
Lakers fans can believe what the man says, because nearly half of the roster can become free agents. Pau Gasol is owed $38 million over the next two seasons, but he’s still an all-star talent good enough to command value in any trade. Andrew Bynum, who could command a king’s ransom in a deal, has a team option worth $16 million for next year that the Lakers will certainly pick up, while Metta World Peace is on the books for $15 million over the next two seasons.
There is also the $8.9 million trade exception the Lakers got from Dallas in the Lamar Odom deal, which means the team can add a player up to that amount without having to move anyone off the roster. The Lakers also have the amnesty clause to use if they so desire.
In plain English, the Lakers have too many resources and too much moveable quality talent on their roster not to be able to make big moves in the offseason. We could see a new and improved Lakers team as soon as next season.
The Nets’ Deron Williams, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, Atlanta’s Josh Smith and several other notable players have been rumored to be on the Lakers’ radar. If Kupchak makes the right moves, we’ll be back to the same old Lakers soon enough.
1. PF Anthony Davis, Kentucky A high school point guard still growing into his frame, Davis has the coordination to be more than a defensive demigod and paint-patrolling shot blocker he's projected to become quickly. He can't survive at his current playing weight, but he's two years from being an offensively skilled version of gifted leaper and defender Tyson Chandler. 2. SF Michael-Kidd Gilchrist, Kentucky Strong, sturdy and a better shooter than he's often given credit for by draftniks, MKG needs polish but the foundation is there for an All-Star future. He can defend the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and isn't a cardboard cutout on the offensive end because of his energy and hops. 3. PF Thomas Robinson, Kansas KU's Drew Gooden was the fourth overall pick in 2002. Robinson's similar body type makes the comparison natural, but Robinson might separate himself with a more consistent jumper and away-from-the-ball skills. Gooden's mid-range shot became a weapon, but Robinson can do more with a similar package of natural gifts. 4. C Andre Drummond, Connecticut The draft's most polarizing lottery prospect, Drummond is a superstar on paper -- but he wasn't productive consistently in one season at UConn and some teams in the lottery view him as a long-term project who might not contribute in his first two seasons. He played at nearly 280 and must convince teams he won't be on the Eddy Curry diet and dedicated plan. 5. PF Perry Jones III, Baylor Packed with potential, PJIII is a springy defender with an undeveloped offensive game. Not ready to body up NBA 4s, he's agile and anticipates well. Had he left Baylor after the 2010-11 season, he was a lottery lock. After a medicore encore, he could fall into the middle of the first. 6. SF Harrison Barnes, North Carolina The biggest question emerged in point guard Kendall Marshall's postseason absence: Can Barnes consistently create his own? Carolina's recent run of 2s and 3s have underwhelmed in the NBA. Barnes has good range and a pure jump shot. Teams convinced he's a pure scorer at any level will jump for Barnes here. 7. SG Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut Combo guard with length, lateral agility to defend small forwards. He's rail-thin, but soft touch at the rim and will eventually be able to consistently stretch defenses with jumper. 8. PG Austin Rivers, Duke Rivers is a shoot-first point guard, and recalibrating his NBA value demands shedding most of his memorable moments at Duke. That said, he's a lightning-quick ballhandler with arguably the top crossover move in the 2012 draft and range well beyond NBA depth. In the right situation, there are observers who believe he'll be a top-tier point guard if his defense catches up with his offensive ability. 9. SG Brandley Beal, Florida Beal is a poor perimeter shooter and thus isn't considered an elite 2-guard prospect. He's a lottery target for teams who value the jack-of-all-trades elements to his game -- on-ball defense, rebounding and ability to create his own shot. If teams aren't hung up on his height, he'll get top-five consideration. 10. PG Kendall Marshall, North Carolina The wiry lefty sees the floor as well as any pure point guard in the past five drafts. Questions include ability to defend NBA guards and whether he can develop enough range to keep defenses honest and balance the floor. At present, he's an elbow-and-in set shooter and average defensive player on an NBA scale. 11. PF Jared Sullinger, Ohio State Two years ago, Sullinger seemed destined to be a top pick whenever he chose to climb to the NBA. But he's been exposed as a below-the-rim big man in the Carlos Boozer mold and whether he has the tenacity to make vital improvements and become a force in the paint at this level has been openly questioned. 12. PF Tyler Zeller, North Carolina A 7-footer with versatility, Zeller is a high-percentage shooter and polished rebounder. Can play the 5 for an up-tempo team in a smaller lineup and hit the 15-footer from the baseline to bring opposing bigs out of the paint. 13. SG Dion Waiters, Syracuse Instant offense and the kind of player NBA teams expect to thrive as a sixth man or fourth-quarter finisher. Has a scorer's mentality and college coach Jim Boeheim wasn't always pleased with his focus or potential. Waiters has superstar potential if the light comes on to stay. 14. PG Tony Wroten, Washington Just 19, Wroten is one of the more gifted boom-or-bust prospects in the 2012 draft. Looks the part, but his shot isn't yet an asset and he's not a pure point guard. 15. PG Damian Lillard, Weber State You probably thought the same thing when the Pistons drafted Rodney Stuckey out of Eastern Washington -- 15th overall in 2007. Who? Stuckey acquitted himself nicely and Lillard is of the same ilk -- shorter but sturdy enough to play either guard position and proven scoring senses -- second nationally in points last season. He's a scoring point guard but limited turnovers imply he can handle the ball regularly at the next level. 16. PF John Henson, North Carolina Henson's 7-foot-7 wingspan is his key to NBA survival until he carves out out a more significant niche in the NBA. His body type can be compared to well-traveled eighth overall pick (2007) Brandan Wright, who is just 24 but not close to being more than a rotational player. 17. PF-C Meyers Leonard, Illinois Whether Leonard brings the mental and emotional maturity and toughness and how he'll respond to initial failure are legitimate questions being asked by pro evaluators. Judging him only on natural ability and upside, he's a top-12 pick with a developing jumper and the vision and hands to star in a pick-and-pop offense. 18. SG Terrence Ross, Washington Can contribute in half-court offense and defense at the NBA level, which is enough to get Ross drafted a few spots higher than his ranking if he can fill an immediate need. Good range, lateral quickness to defend and enough handle to help run an offense off the bench. 19. SF Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt Teams targeting perimeter defenders outside the lottery will zero in on Taylor, a 6-7 small forward or shooting guard who can stay on the floor because he's a deadly set shooter. 20. SF Moe Harkless, St. John's One of the top athletes likely to be on the board in the bottom half of the round, Harkless needs a year or two for his game to evolve. At 6-8 with very good hops, he adds instant versatility and knows how to break down a defense. 21. PF Royce White, Iowa State He doesn't have a natural position, but White's many skills for his size make it easier for a team to bring him in and let him figure it out on the fly. He's 270 with soft hands and was a de facto point guard for the Cyclones at times. His average range, foul shooting and off-court concerns add risk to drafting White with surer things on the board. 22. PF Terrence Jones, Kentucky A combo forward with a chiseled frame and range to become a threat beyond 17 feet, Jones should make his living as a poor man's Shawn Marion with ability to rebound, slash and become a reliable secondary scorer. 23. SG Jeremy Lamb, Kentucky A greatly improved perimeter threat with a natural knack for scoring off the bounce. At 6-4, the conundrum with Lamb is he'll be physically overmatched defending 2-guards and isn't a natural point guard. 24. PF Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State A transfer from UTEP, Moultrie continues to remake his body and has plenty of potential because of his rebounding, shot-blocking acumen and shooting touch. 25. SG Evan Fournier, France A 19-year-old with two years pro experience in France, Fournier plays with a maturity and calm under pressure that indicates he's ready to play a role on an NBA team immediately. His slight frame, restrained defensive effort and average rebounding for his size might give teams pause. 26. PF Kevin Jones, West Virginia A 20-10 player out of the Big East -- 19.9 points, 10.9 rebounds last season -- Jones can be a skilled reserve in the NBA in a system that gives him some flexibility to float to the perimeter and attack in isolation from the wing. 27. SF Quincy Miller, Baylor Miller's long arms and explosive scoring prowess might be enough to push him into the top 20. A torn ACL as a high school senior limited him at times in his only season at Baylor, and scouts want to see more consistency in all areas of his game. He has pipe-cleaner arms and legs and early in his pro career might be cast only in a bit part. 28. PF Fab Melo, Syracuse The Brazilian big man won't warrant regular touches in a half-court offense until he develops around the basket. Like many 7-footers before him, draft Melo for defense and wait for the rest of his game to evolve. 29. SG John Jenkins, Vanderbilt The Brazilian big man won't warrant regular touches in a half-court offense until he develops around the basket. Like many 7-footers before him, draft Melo for defense and wait for the rest of his game to evolve. 30. SF Jae Crowder, Marquette Stronger than an ox, Crowder can defend the 4 and also has the combination of range and strength to finish to be a matchup nightmare on the offensive end.
Kobe Bryant considers his options while being defended by Tim Duncan during a 2008 Lakers-Spurs game. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / May30, 2012)
By Mark Medina
May 30, 2012,1:54 p.m.
Time and time again, Kobe Bryant exerts his scoring dominance and demeans his opponents afterward. He does it in games. He does it in practice. That's what makes Bryant who he is.
So with Bryant currently offering the chance for fans to play him in a game of H-O-R-S-E, there's little doubt the Lakers' star will bring the same fiery demeanor.
But the stakes will be different this time. Bryant is starting up an auction from June 4 to June 11 that will allow fans to bid on playing him July 2 in Santa Barbara, with proceeds benefiting the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation's Youth Homelessness Initiative. Fans don't have to worry about guarding Bryant since they're just playing H-O-R-S-E. Bryant will also surely act gracefully to the fan as he signs autographs and poses for pictures.
But once the game starts, Bryant probably won't soften his competitiviness. One, the event will be videotaped. Most importantly, Bryant won't allow a fan to win just to be nice. That's not his nature. This time, though, Bryant's channeling that competitiveness into a good cause.
It's the same thing he did after wearing a plastic mask to protect his tender injured nose for 11 games this season. Bryant raised $67,100 for his family foundation and homeless initiative by auctioning off his mask earlier this month. This happened mere weeks after Bryant jokingly wondered if "anybody's dumb enough to buy that sweaty mask."
It's also safe to predict that plenty are dumb enough to want to challenge Bryant to a game of H-O-R-S-E, even if it leads to the Lakers' star humiliating them.
Lamar Odom wants to be a Laker again, and the interest is mutual.
That’s according to Stephen A. Smith, who reported on ESPN Radio (via Lakers Nation and HoopsHype) that Odom “desperately wants to come back and wants to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Mike Brown desperately wants him back. He’s going to talk to Buss and Lakers hierarchy to see what they can do about getting Lamar Odom back.â€
Brown and Lakers star Kobe Bryant are apparently of similar minds on this matter. Back in March, it was reported that Bryant will do whatever he can to bring Odomâ€"and point guard Derek Fisherâ€"back to L.A.
After being traded from L.A. to the Mavericks before the season, thing went south for Odom in a hurry. He was never comfortable in Dallas and was put on the inactive list by the team in April. The Mavs are expected to buy out Odom next month, Lakers Nation notes.
Have you ever wanted to test your game against Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant? Now you have a chance. Well, assuming you don’t mind spending a decent amount of cash in the process. Bryant is auctioning off a chance to play a game of H-O-R-S-E with him on July 2nd at UC Santa Barbara. The winner of the auction is allowed to bring one guest, and one item that they would like to have Kobe sign. They will also get to keep the ball used for the game of H-O-R-S-E as a souvenir.
Kobe Bryant looks to pass while being defended by Tim Duncan during a 2008 Lakers-Spurs game. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / May30, 2012)
By Houston Mitchell
May 30, 2012,9:48 a.m.
On the surface, it seems pretty simple. Kobe Bryant has been a greater player than Tim Duncan. But is he really better? It's not so simple when you look at the numbers:
Kobe has won five NBA titles with the Lakers. Tim Duncan has won four titles with the San Antonio Spurs and could win his fifth this season.
Kobe has won two NBA Finals MVP awards. Duncan has won three NBA Finals MVP awards.
Kobe is a 14-time All-Star. Duncan is a 13-time All-Star.
Kobe has won one regular-season MVP award. Duncan has won two.
Kobe has been named to the all-defensive first team nine times. Duncan has been named to the all-defensive first team eight times.
Kobe is 10th in NBA history with a 25.4 points per game average. Duncan is 48th with 20.3 points per game.
Kobe is 207th in NBA history with 5.29 rebounds per game. Duncan is 21st with 11.28 rebounds per game.
Those are the numbers. There are plenty of intangibles to consider too, such as teammates' ability, etc.
Play Podcast ESPN NBA analyst Hubie Brown covers Thunder-Spurs, San Antonio's offense, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, James Harden and more.
Play Podcast ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler talks about Thunder-Spurs, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Gregg Popovich, Scott Brooks, Kobe Bryant, Celtics-Heat and more.
Play Podcast ESPN NBA analyst Jon Barry weighs in on Thunder-Spurs, Tony Parker, why San Antonio's offense is so efficient, Celtics-Heat, Paul Pierce, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and more.
Play Podcast Spurs analyst Sean Elliott says this is the deepest team that he has seen during his time in San Antonio. Elliott also discusses Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant and more.
Play Podcast NBA TV's Stacey King shares his thoughts on Thunder-Spurs, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, whether Russell Westbrook's style of play detracts from Kevin Durant's game and more.
Play Podcast ESPN MLB Insider Jayson Stark dishes on Jim Leyland's controversial remarks after the Tigers' loss to the Red Sox and the injuries to Roy Halladay, Jered Weaver and Ted Lilly.
Play Podcast NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith dishes on the decision to file a collusion lawsuit against the NFL, the punishment of the Saints for illegal bounties and more.
