And it’s pointless to speculate on what the Celtics might do before the lottery, same with Memphis and other teams with a good shot at a top two pick. Everything for them hinges on that.

we’re getting back 14ppg & 7.8apg, but only a 20% 3pt shooter…. and that’s among the most critical pieces in our offense…
not to mention, he’s not THAT good a perimiter defender, he jumps passing lanes w/ lanky arms… but I’ve never seen him prevent quick guards from doing what they want
and he’s short (6-2), and getting old (31)

PAUL PIERCE – possibly to Dallas
SHAWN MARION – possibly to Boston
DIRK NOWITZKI – possibly to Boston
MIKE BIBBY – possibly to Cleveland
RON ARTEST – anywhere but Sacramento
ANDRE MILLER – possibly to LA Lakers
VINCE CARTER – possibly to Orlando

I like the idea of Boston making a move for Marion. Give up Theo Ratliff’s contract plus Al Jefferson and Telfair for Marion and Piatkowski. It will surely make Pierce happy.

I think Vince Carter will opt out and sign with Orlando.

Bibby for Snow and Gooden, then Cleveland re-signs Varejao.

Assuming the odds are followed, here are some assumptions I’ve made:
1. Oden to Memphis, Gasol stays.
2. Durant to Boston, Pierce could be dealt.
3. Horford to Milwaukee, Mo Williams re-signed.
4. Joakim Noah to Phoenix and Marion is considered to be traded.
5. Yi Jianlan to Seattle and Rashard re-signs.
6. Corey Brewer to Portland, Zach Randolph stays. Magloire released.
7. Brandan Wright to Minny, KG still hostaged.
8. Julian Wright to Cats, GWallace signs new contract.
9. Spencer Hawes to Bulls, packaged for something.
10. Roy Hibbert to Sactown, Bibby and Artest shopped.
11. Mike Conley to Atlanta. Nothing happening there.
12. Acie Law to Philly, Andre Miller dealt to Lakers
13. Jeff Green to New Orleans, Mason not re-signed.
14. Jason Smith to the Clips, they remain mediocre.
15. Al Thornton to Detroit, Billups re-signed.
16. Thaddeus Young to Wiz, Haywood traded. (Knicks?)
17. Tiago Splitter to New Jersey, Carter opts out.
18. NIck Young to GSW, Nellie for Mayor.
19. Javaris Crittenton to Lakers, dealt for Andre Miller.
20. Brandon Rush to Miami, Posey out, Jwill shopped.

Ok I’ll stop here. Obvoisly no moves are made until after the Draft is official. It will tell teams where they are heading.

My eyes are on Farmar and Mihm. Those two players, when coming off the bench playing 20-25 mins, we are quite solid on those positions. I suggest that we move Mo Evans to the starting lineup and Walton to be the 6th man. I personally like Luke’s game but I see him more as a trade bait this summer. If no improvements are made, we can still keep him.

Again I don’t see how no one seems to like the Andre Miller idea. The possibility of a deal done with is quite distant yet, but defensively and offensively, Andre’s the guy for us. Then Camby can be swapped for Kwame. I dont think anyone would argue on this. I’d only assume Bynum is required then Reggie Evans or Najera is added. I’d still like it.

I made a run at the lottery machine today and saw the possibility that Philly could land Acie Law on the 14th. That should make them consider that dealing Andre might be an option to clear off the payroll. Get Luke and Cook and another draft pick, possibly Tiago Splitter or Javaris Crittenton.

Honestly, thinking about Kobe playing alongside a defender like Artest or Kirilenko has me kind of giddy. How about.. Kwame+picks for Artest, and AK/Fisher for Lamar/Luke? It’d kill me to lose those two, maybe we can trick em into taking Vlad instead of Luke. Regardless, just imagine the five of: Jordan/Kobe/Artest/AK/Bynum. That team would be damn near impossible to score on. And with Fisher/Evans/Ronny/Mihm and whoever we can get for the MLE (Bonzi?) we’d have a solid bench. There’d still be some defensive weaknesses at the point and at C, but I guess I’m banking on Farmer and Bynum stepping up big in that area next year.

The MLE should be spent on the best avaiable talent. We are like a football team that needs to pick up the best player avaiable. We have so many holes thta no matter what talent we add, it will be filling a need.

MLE targets

James Posey
Andres Nocioni
Charlie Bell
Steve Blake

These guys can all do what we will need the supporting players around kobe to do: defend the perimeter and hit the 3. The other need, offensive and defensive presence will have to be added through a trade and the draft pick should be used to supplement our attempts at obtaining said big-man, if not find a player that can spell Kobe or play with him (Nick Young, Crittenton, Brandon Rush).

Veteran’s Minimum should be aimed at

Mikki Moore
Janerro Pargo

Let’s pick one thing (I want a defensive point guard) and go after that and give the rest of the trade talk a rest.

One other request: Phil… please give both Shammond and Farmar a complete chance next year.

Lamar was already redemptioned in college, getting his best chance at the University of Rhode Island with a redemption seeking coach exiled from UCLA. He was redemptioned to Miami from the Clippers after concerns surfaced about his character. He was redemptioned to the Lakers from Miami with an opportunity to prove himself as a true all star. The saga continues.

Kwame didn’t make it as far as college. He was redemptioned after many frustrating years to the Lakers one step away from oblivion. He’s done better here–found out that he belonged at center. But many Laker fans seem even quicker to judge him than the Wizards–who may not ever have noticed his defensive potential.

Chris Mihm was redemptioned here from Boston. If he had been healthy, he might well have been the starting center this year. If he is healthy and the Lakers don’t sign him, he will be redemptioned somewhere else. If the Lakers do sign him, he may reward our investment handsomely.

VladRad already redeemed himself from Seattle as a Clipper last year. After this year, he may need to repeat that performance. Being healthy can make quite a difference–especially when one is a 3 point shooter with an injured shooting hand.

All of these guys were injured and will be in various states of recovery for many months. Opportunities for redemption next year may be the only practical business choice the Lakers have.

Shammond, with a strong heritage, but cast aside by the NBA, got a near miraculous opportunity to get back, but little chance for redemption until the end of the season. He convinced me. I’d like to see him back.

The Smusher clearly had the longest lasting redemption opportunity of any Laker in recent history. He needs another one.

Numerous redemption opportunities out there might be the only way for the Lakers to get the missing pieces. The only question might be redemption of the guys we already have–or redemption opportunities for Jermaine or Ron or Bonzi or Dirk or ???