Real Deal

You like Wesley Johnson?

Right. Again, that's just one source. I highly doubt the Lakers would be dumb enough to ask that much for a 30+ year old disgruntled bench all-star (not starting all-star, that's what I mean). RealGM gets all of their stories from affiliated blogs and other sources, so not everything they write is legitimate. I could probably go on Twitter and post a rumor, get it carried out to many people, and I wouldn't be surprised if a well-known blog or website ran with it, calling me a source. Hell, if this was even remotely true, it's because the Lakers told the Warriors what the Hornets wanted from them. We're finding out that it was the Hornets (well, Stern) that tried to get K-Mart, Scola, Lowry, and either Hill or Patterson from Houston.

Contending, and winning championships, are two different things. If we can keep our current roster, and replace Odom with someone like Paul Millsap, we'll have a great chance in the West. Otherwise, if it's just Kobe and Howard (and scrubs, basically), we'll get tossed in the playoffs by the Thunder, Mavericks, Clippers (if they get CP3), maybe even the Spurs and Blazers. Unfortunately, the Lakers have put themselves in a hole. We have veteran players that are nearly worthless to other teams (Fisher, Ron, Blake) and second-round picks that are big question marks (Morris, Goudelock, Ebanks, Caracter). Barnes has been on every team in the NBA, it seems. After that...Kobe is still Kobe, but over 30 years old. Howard would be the only person around, eventually... Kobe would be making $20+ million probably the rest of the way. Howard will be at $20+ million. Probably $50 million or more at one point, for two players, which means we'll have no max contract to offer. Once Kobe goes, it will be just Howard and MLE's...and that's the Orlando Magic. At that time, the Clippers may be the destination for big-name players, and Howard will be a bit older. He's 26 years old right now. For most teams, getting to the conference finals is a big deal, and those front offices play to get that far. If we have Kobe Bryant, and we don't win championships, it's considered a failure...and that's how it always has been. In fact, many consider it that, even non-fans. The 2005-06 season (and the one after that) were considered failures, and people talked shit on Kobe, even though we made the playoffs AND took the Suns to seven games. However, when a team like the Magic get eliminated in the first round, people don't say anything about Howard...just his teammates...and that's the difference between the Magic and the Lakers, and the superstar factor in each city.

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldp3jukzHo1qb9a2wo1_500.png

You have to be reluctant, because we'd be starting Ron Artest as PF, with Derrick Caracter as our backup center, and Matt Barnes as our backup PF. C - Howard | Caracter PF - Artest | Barnes SF - Ebanks | Walton SG - Kobe | Goudelock PG - Fisher | Blake | Morris No way.

If the CP3 trade goes down, the Lakers more than likely take back Jermaine O'Neal (Boston would've been the fourth team), and David West would go to the Celtics in a sign-and-trade. Kind of funny how that works (well, how that doesn't work).

Whoa. http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/385028_10150418909188995_159957123994_8604337_1609314901_n.jpg

I'm done paying attention to this stuff for now, going to go to my parents' house and watch football with my dad, and forget the NBA exists. I've had 6-7 tabs open for three days, staying up until 3-4 in the morning and not working on projects I should be finishing. Hope something happens.

Yancy Gates with the cheap shot...not surprised.

Drew has a team option after this season.

Apparently, Kobe is fuming...says he's pretty upset we lost Odom the way we did, not too happy right now. http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/387625_10100666216049551_6018131_57929927_1260860034_n.jpg http://p.twimg.com/AgZl8X-CQAAj0Sn.jpg This is depressing.

Bynum, the $8.9 million TPE, Ebanks, Caracter, and two first-rounders should be enough. I don't understand why people are so obsessed with Brook Lopez. He's not as efficient, he rebounds like Amare, and he's not a legit defensive anchor. Take away the injury history of Drew, and this discussion isn't even applicable here. Thing is, all of those major injuries happened with guys falling on Drew, or putting their foot under him, and Bynum is now reportedly at 270 pounds (which is much less than the 285 or 290 he was reported to be at one point), and both Vitti and our assistants have spend numerous hours showing Drew how to protect his knees while in the paint (bending them at all times, for example). People just don't want to see him in LA, simple as that. I'm sure I wouldn't either, if I was a fan of another team. It wasn't too long ago that we were discussing teams that should take a chance on Drew...but now, it's almost like nobody should.

Wow, that piece of trash shot down the second deal. I can't believe this.

What is Hollinger talking about? Does he not understand how we're using the exception?

Oh damn, that's HUGE news. This definitely makes me believe the Lakers are getting Howard. Why trade Odom to the rival team (and trade him to begin with) for a trade exception? LA knows exactly what the Magic are asking for Dwight, and they have it with two big trade exceptions and Andrew Bynum.

I jumped so high, I nearly hit my head on the ceiling. That was GREAT.

Stern is annoying.

Yeah dude, haha...Bibby really made it worth your while. Chalmers can start on other teams. He plays defense, and he knows his spots on the floor. The fact is, Miami doesn't know how to utilize players like him when he's basically being asked to watch Wade and LeBron play.

I'm sure he didn't re-sign with them to get sent to the bench.

WojYahooNBA Adrian Wojnarowski Rockets will have changes to their part of proposed 3-way deal, league sources tell Y! Sports. They'd be sending more players to Hornets.

Have you heard ANYTHING about the Raptors trying to trade Bargnani? I haven't. I just don't get it.

The Heat SUCK if they bring in Billups and start him over Chalmers. That will piss me off. Mario should've walked.

Gasol still thinks he's staying in LA. He's an idiot.

Didn't Miami just re-sign Chalmers? That would suck for Mario.