LA Story: Getting the Point, By Eric Pincus and Chris Monjoy for HOOPSWORLD.com, Dec 24, 2004, 10:00
After the Los Angeles Lakers impressed with a strong win in Sacramento, the team took a rather large step backwards, losing in consecutive home games to Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies. The Clippers just seemed to stall out, finally feeling the sting of as usual. Eric Pincus and Chris Monjoy of Hoopsworld.com discuss LA basketball.
Chris Monjoy: Firstly, I think it’s tough to put a lot of blame on Kobe Bryant, right now. Against Washington, Kobe had a spectacular game, and his team let him down. With a chance to win the game, he kicked the ball out to a wide-open Caron Butler, who promptly missed the shot. How do you feel about Kobe’s role on the team, so far?
Eric Pincus: Kobe is still trying to figure it out, but with an incomplete roster. It's like putting a puzzle together with missing pieces.
CM: One of the biggest missing pieces seems to be point guard. Getting torched by Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes like that when they played Washington was embarrassing. Even in overtime, the Lakers still had life, and Chucky managed to lose Anthony Peeler and leave him with a wide-open three pointer, which destroyed any chance the Lakers had of winning that game. How much is it going to take before Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak starts exploring defensive options at the point?
EP: I'm not sure why the Lakers don't give Caron and Kobe at least a look in the back court. Kobe is the de facto point guard, why not make it official? I don't think it's the proper role for Kobe, but at least give them a chance to try it. Clearly the Chucky Atkins\Tierre Brown package is dying out there. One can only hope the Lakers are evaluating exactly how bad the situation is before making a move. Actually, losing is in some ways a better scenario. It should force the front office into action. The concern is getting the right player for the right bait.
CM: Eric Snow is a great defender, and he’s recently fallen out of favor with Paul Silas. What about contacting Cleveland and seeing if they can work out a trade?
EP: Here's the problem with Snow: He's older (31) - the Lakers keep talking about staying young. His contract goes on for years and years and years (2009), and the Lakers keep talking about cap space. He doesn't have an outside shot (but that's a minor flaw, I think his defensive ability would be a huge addition). Overall, his strengths on the court make up for his weaknesses but that contract makes it unlikely.
CM: That’s too bad. Speaking of important puzzle pieces, is it just me, or does it see, Lamar Odom is absolutely HATING life right
now. I know he's laid back and not very demonstrative, but he clearly looks like a guy who feels like he's in prison. To me, it seems the
problem is Lamar's and Kobe's games are totally incompatible. Like Kobe, Lamar needs to dominate the ball a lot and create opportunities for his teammates. But he's sort of relegated to being a spot-shooter,which he's not. It seems to me, if the Lakers were smart, Lamar and Kobe would take turns running the offense on different possessions so Lamar could feel more involved, but I only saw that happen against the Kings. Why they proceeded to go away from that in the next two games puzzles me.
EP: Odom gets in foul trouble and the Laker offense has just one path, through Kobe. Odom doesn't look for his shot, either. I don't think Kobe and Lamar are totally incompatible, though. I think the personnel around them are flawed, and the coaching hasn't given the pair the proper direction. I think it's a matter of time. Remember, it's just 20+ games in. Hopefully, they'll figure it out a bit more over time.
CM: They’d better if they want to make any noise this year. Sometimes I wonder if Caron Butler’s game is compatible with Kobe’s, too. Though, in all fairness, Butler at least looks willing to try.
EP: I think Caron has played well off of Kobe. When Kobe drives and kicks to Caron in the corner, Butler can either take the three, or fake his man, who is running at him, and drive. That should be bread and butter, but they've gone away from it.
CM: Another problem I see is I know Rudy is in love with Cook's shooting (with good reason), but despite some improvement, he really is a defensive liability. On all those forays into the paint by opposing guards, he provides no help, whatsoever. I don't think Mihm plays at all in the fourth quarter. I say maybe Mihm alters a few of those shots, don't you?
EP: I'm not sure why Rudy plays Cook over Mihm by default in the fourth. I guess it's important to have the shooting option, but I'd rather stop the other team from scoring as my primary goal and then find a way to score.
CM: Also, unless something drastic happens, it looks like signing Vlade was a complete waste of the midlevel exception. He's stealing money right now.
EP: Vlade hurt his back again. It sounds like it's not a big deal, but if I'm Mitch Kupchak . . . I put Vlade on the trade block today as a near last year ($2 mil buy-out next year). Hopefully, LA can get their next Kobe for Vlade . . . history does repeat.
CM: Somehow, I wonder if lightening will strike twice like that. Obviously, the Lakers need to do something. What are some possible trades that you see them doing?
EP: Unfortunately, my favorite choice of Marcus Banks is still not available. With Delonte West injured, the Celtics would need a point guard back. LA would probably have to send Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic at this point, but I just don't think Marcus will end up a Laker. The stakes went up, because Banks has had some good games and with Gary Payton not expected to stick around after the season; the Celtics don't want to end up without a point.
Mitch could try and get Baron Davis and PJ Brown for Caron, George, Atkins, Vlade, Slava and one other throw in. Seems unlikely LA dumps half the team, but I'd consider it. The Lakers probably won't and I don't blame them. If the Hornets viewed Butler as a franchise player, perhaps they'd take Brian Grant in a package for PJ. It would save the Hornets, although not as effectively as some other offers they may get. Even if LA threw in a draft pick, that Grant contract is a beast to move.
CM: How about trading with the Chicago Bulls?
EP: The Lakers could offer Lamar Odom and filler for Tyson Chandler and Ben Gordon. That’s unlikely but intriguing.
CM: Anything else?
EP: There's the thought of Lakers sending Odom and filler to the Sixers for Samuel Dalembert, Kenny Thomas and change, but there are a lot of teams looking at Dalembert and I'm not sure the Lakers are really prepared to give up Odom yet. There’s also a smaller deal sending Butler and George and others for Dalembert and Kenny Thomas (though, that's seemingly less likely). In theory, LA could offer Lamar for Jason Kidd, but that also seems unlikely. Who would rebound without Odom, he's leading the team?
CM: So it’s not like the Lakers don’t have options, right? I noticed you’ve reported that Clippers are serious about Baron Davis, too. Davis would be huge for the Clippers, because it would finally give them the crunch time player they need. What’s your take on that situation?
EP: If I'm the Clippers I send Chris Wilcox, Kerry Kittles and Marko Jaric for Baron. Throw in Zeljko Rebraca for David Wesley if the Hornets want out his salary as well. The Clippers may have to include a protected first round pick, but that's up to Elgin Baylor to negotiate. The Clippers practically never make in-season trades, but this would be an interesting one to make. From what I've heard, LA has discussed Jaric, Kittles and Rebraca for Davis, but the Hornets won't consider anything without Wilcox . . . and are asking for a draft pick as well. The Clippers have since backed off and are now looking at signing Felipe Lopez to help them limp by until Kittles is healthy. It could be a long negotiation that may take until the deadline, but it's certainly possible.