(edited for trade talk)

As for Elonu, he is probably beat out Mbenga or Powell and save LA another $1.0mm in salary & cap. Right or wrong, LA is reacting for cash. One must recall that it was the thinning of the bench that cost us a chance at a 4-peat. We traded for Murray and ran short of players.

So what’s the the answer to the problem. If we are not going to use our MLE on a point, then we have to consider not signing one of our top free agents. If we cant sign who we want because of salary cap issues, then somebody has to be sacrficed for the good of the team to free up cap space. It seemed I was the villian when I posted before about not signing a particular player. But you know what the individuals who were all bent out of shape, did not have a legitimate answer to the problem. My understanding it was a lets wait n see what happens. It might be to late for that when the season is halfway in the books. Let’s be proactive and not reactive to the situation. So I post the question, is our waiting around to see what happens with the point postion a dangerous game of russian roulette, with an obvious ending(SOMEBODY HAS DIE)?

92,
I wish you guys would read what I write. I said Fisher made two huge clutch shots. But like I said, he was the reason the Lakers blew a 10 point 4th quarter lead and let the Magic take a lead late in the game. If Fisher wasn’t on the floor the Lakers most likely win game 4 easily. He hit two huge shots and Im thankful he did… that doesn’t excuse the 10 shots he missed beforehand and the pathetic defense. As far as Nelson being victimized by Fisher… the injured Nelson made a huge mental mistake and didn’t take away the three point shot from Fisher and Fisher made a great shot. Kareem Rush made 6 huge shots in the close out game of a western conf finals for Los Angeles… he still is a bad player. And in OT Nelson doubled Fisher because Fisher lets face it… isn’t a good player, and Fisher made a wide open shot to his credit. Listen people… Fisher made two great shots, but lets realize they were only two shots in one game. At one point in his career he was an average PG who could spot up and shoot and draw offensive fouls. Currently he doesn’t bring anything to the floor and he is even slower than he used to be. His best qualities are he is very likable and a good guy to have in the locker room, both things he can bring you from sitting on the bench. Ask the people in Houston… as Jon Hollinger said, if Fisher didn’t get suspended in semi finals the Rockets could have played the Nuggets in the conf finals.

Hint: It wasn’t Nelson and it it wasn’t the Magic.

In fact, wasn’t it Nelson that was victimized by the worst PG in the league?

Doesn’t say much for Nelson or the Magic.

So drafting a rookie point guard is somehow a solution to our PG problem? I’m a big fan of Toney Douglas and Patrick Beverley and know that neither of them can come in immediately and contribute as well as Fisher can, largely because they’re going to be lost in our system, which is infamously difficult to learn for rookies. No one here is saying that Fisher is an ideal point, but if you think throwing low picks in a horrible draft into major minutes for a championship contender is going to help, then you’re sadly mistaken.

If you are a real student of the LA Lakers, you would know that the Lakers history of small guards predates Derek Fisher, perhaps starting with “Stumpy” Gail Goodrich–but including Nick van Exel and Coop.

When Derek left the Lakers as a free agent, the team ended up with a series of less than spectacular players including Chuckie Atkins and the Smusher–who you would probably be supporting right now if he were appearing for the first time: taller, more athletic, and a great shooter.

When Derek came back to LA from the Jazz, it was with a drop from a guaranteed salary to a team about to collapse. With a defensively oriented Jazz team, Fisher did fine, because he was part of a team that bought into a an aggressive switching system.

Derek Fisher means team to the Lakers. One reason that the PG position was so understaffed this year was the injury to Farmar, requiring Fisher to play far more minutes per game than he should have–and wear down. Next year, things will improve as Fisher plays far fewer minutes and Bynum controls the middle better.

You seem to be missing the obvious–the Lakers style of triangle basketball does not require a conventional PG. Fisher, properly supported, will almost certainly be the answer for next year. Shannon, with years of experience, is far better than the Lakers deserve at his salary–and arguably much better than any PG in the latest draft. His role will grow.

If you intend to remain a Laker fan, you better get a grip on Laker history, and Phil’s strategy. For instance, don’t you think it might matter that Derek and Kobe joined the Lakers long ago as rookies?

Hey! The Clippers just got the #1 player in the draft and drafted a great 1st round PG last year. Maybe it’s time for you to jump on the bandwagon of the Clippers–next year’s NBA champs?

I think that your analysis might fit in well with them.