- Vlade Radmonovic and Brian Cook are the same exact player. Oversized SF’s who are slow and can hit outside shots.

- Lamar and Kobe are placed in the same role. They are told to be shot creators. When you have two guys playing the same role, it takes away from the prized triangle offense.

- We have two “project” centers. Two guys with potential, but no proven talent. We can’t have two guys at such an important position that are learning while playing. Especially in the playoffs. You have to have an older guy in there that can help teach the younger guy how to play. Choose one of these guys, and bring in someone with some experience.

- Leadership at the PG position. The biggest leader out there is a rookie (Farmar). Fisher had Brian Shaw and Ron Harper to help him learn and win games. Where is the veteran help for Farmar? Smush? It sure isn’t Mckie.

Lots of problems here. Plenty of solutions in the offseason. And I’m really concerned about Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak making these decisions.

Kobe Bryant finished a distant third behind Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki and Phoenix’ Steve Nash in MVP voting in a survery of NBA general managers posted on nba.com today.

Before you get all riled up, remember the real MVP award is voted on by the media, the results of which have not been announced yet. But according to the results of NBA.com’s survey, Nowitzki received 17 first-place votes and 8 second-place votes for a total of 109 points. Nash finished second with 82 points and Kobe Bryant finished third with 21 points. 25 of the leagues 30 general managers participated in the survey. Kobe only got one first place vote.

your in-game notes are solid and your heart is in the right place, for sure. but this is not a video game. keep it based on what we hear from laker mgmt right now.

Jermaine is my #1 priority now. And it seems Indy is interested in a deal involving him too. Looks to me like JO is gonna be a better fit with the system. Defensively, JO is a lot superior too. A second option with interior defense. If we get him, PG is the next move. I’m thinking LO + Vlade for JO. Or if Bynum is included, get Diogu from Indy.

Then perhaps we can tinker a little like Cook and Sasha for Mike James. Or Steve Blake. Out.

I think that is the most obvious lesson, Lamar is no Pippen, no second option.

Further thought. I can think of three role players that are in the playoffs for other teams that could be helping the Lakers. One is a point guard for the Utah Jazz–Derek Fisher. He left the Lakers as a free agent. Another is Devean George of the Dallas Mavericks. He left as a free agent. Another is Robert Horry of the San Antonio Spurs. In their “roles” we’ve got Shammond, Smush, and Sasha for Fisher (would you make the trade?). We;ve got Mo Evans for Devean George. Maybe pretty even. We’ve got VladRad or Cook (take your pick) for Horry.

I think that you are (correctly) asking for the type of players that the Lakers deliberately let go with no compensation.

It would appear that you are arguing that if we had a 2nd unit that was Fisher, Kobe, Devean, Horry, and Turiaf, they would have done better than Kobe, Smush (or Sasha/Shammond), Mo Evans, Cook, and Bynum vs. Phoenix.

Any one pick the current “youth movement” Lakers over the old timers?

I bet the dollars are about the same.

Although fanciful, it may illustrate the thinking that has gotten us where we are.

I’m not sure what the Warriors would be asking, but they have a logjam of Guards and Guard/Forwards. I would say go after Jason Richardson, but the cost would probably be too much, and he may be damaged goods, anyhow.

The Warriors are thin up front, and I think they still owe Jasikevicius a few years on his deal. I would swap Kwame or whoever possible (excluding Odom/Kobe/Bynum/Walton, but including a pick if necessary).

Steve Blake has been talked about, but I think Jasikevicius is better. He must be in Don Nelson’s doghouse, or Nellie must just not have a need for him right now. Baron Davis AND Stephen Jackson were ejected last night and Jasikevicius still only played 2 minutes!

I think if the Lakers were to get him, and start him for a season at the point, without making any more changes, they would win at least 8 more games next year. Not a quantum leap, but maybe enough to contend for the 6th-5th seed (higher with any improvement from Bynum).

Having said that, you are pointing to an obvious schism within the Laker organization : build for the future-vs. win with Kobe now. Phil did such a good job with the team last year, that they felt that they could have their cake and eat it too. This year, the contradictions have been exposed, and each decision to defer on a possible trade gets a little harder to justify.

To their credit, the Lakers have made few long term commitments. They have tradeable players. The question is, are they ready to go all out to win next year?

I’m certain that Phil and Kobe are.

I don’ think that the organization as a whole is as sure as you are what that means.