Please, I hope Brian Shaw is the next Lakers head coach. He’s proven he has the smarts and communication ability to work with this group, he played with Kobe, and he’s shown loyalty to this franchise. Please Jerry B. hire B-Shaw next Lakers coach. Thanks!

The main reason I say that is what Riley called the disease of more. That’s one thing that would have definitely entered Ariza’s head, and we saw glimpses of it in the postseason when he was clearly frustrated and annoyed when he was open and did not get the ball.

Also, with Bynum healthy, we’re not a team that can develop two starters while also worrying about our PG spot. Who would you rather develop during the regular season, Bynum or Ariza? There’s only one ball, and we all know that players not named Kobe will have to claw and scratch for their share of it. Developing both Bynum and Ariza with what’s left of the ball will be a tall task, and will obviously cause friction.

It’s much easier, on the other hand, to just surround Bynum with players who don’t need developing and can bail him out a bit by playing better individual defense (preventing some fouls). Artest can do this, and Artest also has the burden to prove that he is a team player, not needing the ball as badly.

In the end, I think the move is mostly about making the most of Kobe’s window, but it’s also a move that will hopefully jumpstart and protect Bynum’s career. By lessening his burden on defense by surrounding him with better individual defenders, and allowing him more opportunity to get involved in offense, we’ll have a much better chance of developing Bynum, and in the end, any upside Ariza might have is trumped by Bynum’s growth potential and Artest’s skills.

As for Jassikevicious, he’s a tremendous scorer and leader, but he’s not a triangle PG, neither an NBA PG, he needs the ball to create and he needs teammates who move without the ball. Either in the lakers triangle or nba iso-hevy sistems, something’s missing for him.

Passing and cutting is the bread and butter for euro players, but not because of that they have the skills set. Centers like Sabonis, Divac or Pau don’t grow in trees.

I encourage you to watch any FIBA ball other than international competition, specially spanish’s ACB or Euroleague basketball. Try to be openminded and forget the names and the stars, just watch basketball.

(tried to e-mail link to Kurt but mailbox full :-/… sorry)

Anyway, I like your thoughts but thought I’d add a few of my own as well!! Opinions?

The thought of the team consisting of 4 all-star level players (Odom when he plays hard) and with the potential in Drew as a future prospect gets me excited about the coming season. The 2nd unit has a lot of potential and room for improvement and I’m sure they’ll come out even more determined to prove it.

I’m excited about seeing Shanwow and Farmar trying to out do each other for the starting position. Ammo trying to prove to the world he’s a worthy nba player (before he gets traded). The machine rebooted and retooled. Powell completing dunks. Mbenga mbanging. Fish hitting a few more clutch 3′s before retirement. I’m still sad over Ariza, but I think the Lakers will be ok without him as long as CPR keeps a cool head and plays within the system. Now if only the season will start!

LO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I’m getting ahead of myself and I am looking forward to seeing how this team finds it’s pace, what happens at the 1 spot, what happens with Machine, how much resting this off season is going to help Kobe etc… But, the only match-up that I want to see in June is us against the Lepers.

A) I am not happy with the LBJ hype and the Shaq v. Kobe angle is bound to be beaten to death.

B) Not that interested in a rematch with the Magic.

C) However much hype a Lepers v Lakers matchup will bring, it will be within some understandable level relative to the significance.

D) Revenge is still a dish best served cold.

E) I want the size and power of our team to just strangle the life out of the Lepers and Ron-Ron to whisper messages into KG’s ear for him to carry to G-d as he slips into NBA irrelevance.

F) I love watching Rondo play.