By Warren Blatt Aug 7, 2007, 15:10 GMT
- This is the wrong offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers to be watching from the sidelines. They need to make a move not only to excite their fans, but also to rejuvenate disgruntled superstar Kobe Bryant.
Boston and Minnesota created plenty of excitement when they completed a blockbuster trade involving All-Star forward Kevin Garnett. The Celtics dealt Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, cash considerations and two first-round draft picks to the Timberwolves for Garnett. In exchange, Minnesota received Boston's 2009 first-round selection and will also get back the first-round draft pick the team dealt to the Celtics in a 2006 trade.
The Lakers, who for the second straight year eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs, need to generate the same type of excitement. The spotlight shone brighter on the team after Bryant, who averaged an NBA- best 31.6 points per game in 77 contests this past season, publicly expressed his displeasure with the club.
Luke Walton and Chris Mihm re-signed with the team during the offseason, while Derek Fisher, who won three titles with the Lakers earlier in his career, re- joined the squad through free agency. Meanwhile, guard Smush Parker left L.A., inking a deal with the Miami Heat this summer.
If the franchise wants to win with Kobe, the front office needs to get him help. Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal is available, and the All-Star forward has said he would welcome a trade to the Lakers.
The Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997 this past season, and may be thinking of completely rebuilding their squad. Trading O'Neal, who led Indiana in scoring (19.4 ppg) and rebounding (9.6 rpg) during the 2006-07 campaign, would be the first step in the process.
Reportedly the Pacers want both Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom included in a deal for O'Neal. The Lakers wish to hold onto the seven-foot Bynum, who will turn 20 on October 20th, but he would most likely have to be included in a package for O'Neal.
What about Bynum, Kwame Brown, Jordan Farmar, Vladimir Radmanovic and a future first-round pick to Indiana for O'Neal? The Pacers would get a pair of young players in Bynum and Farmar, while Brown (who is in the last year of his contract) and Radmanovic would best enable the deal to work under the salary cap rules. L.A. would then possess a dangerous threesome with Bryant, O'Neal and Odom, helping to satisfy everyone including Kobe and the Laker fan base.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak needs to make a move, and Indiana is the right trading partner. Acquiring O'Neal would have Los Angeles eagerly talking about the Lakers and the upcoming season.
In other offseason news:
BIG LOSS
The Los Angeles Clippers season looks like it may be over before it started. Star forward Elton Brand ruptured his left Achilles tendon during one of his regular daily workouts. The Duke product may be lost for the entire 2007-08 campaign because of the injury.
A two-time All-Star, Brand averaged team-highs in points (20.5 ppg), rebounds (9.3 rpg) and blocks (2.2 bpg) in 80 games last season. Without Brand, center Chris Kaman and forward Tim Thomas are going to have to step up and become more productive offensively.
With Brand, the Clippers would have been a contender for a playoff berth in the Western Conference. Without him, well, it will definitely be a long season for the Clippers without their best overall player. Back to the lottery.
FREE AGENTS
Eddie Jones and Matt Barnes are off the market. The 35-year-old Jones inked a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, while Barnes opted to stay with the Golden State Warriors. Barnes averaged career-highs in points (9.8 ppg) and rebounds (4.6 rpg) in 76 games for Golden State last season.
Who is still available?
Veterans Brevin Knight and Chris Webber are still looking for new homes. Webber, who finished the season with Detroit, is reportedly looking at returning to the Pistons or possibly joining the Mavericks or the Orlando Magic. Knight, who was waived by Charlotte during the offseason, is a pure point guard who looks to pass first. The 5-10 Knight would fit in well in Boston.
After Knight and Webber, the rest of the available players are roster fillers. There is room on someone's bench for Malik Allen, Marc Jackson and Corliss Williamson.
Not much left!
REBUILDING
By trading Garnett, vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale has started to rebuild the Timberwolves. The team now has Jefferson to go along with Randy Foye, who played in all 82 games and registered 10.1 points per game during his rookie campaign for Minnesota, as well as Gomes and Green to make up a decent nucleus of young players. Jefferson is the cornerstone, but is he a franchise player?
McHale will now try to build through the draft. Eventually, he is going to have to lure a veteran free agent to Minnesota to help put it all together. Then again, what is the appeal in playing for the Timberwolves?
The hope in Minnesota is that Jefferson develops into a dominant big man, and Foye, Green and Gomes all progress to the point where they are productive NBA players. Add some solid draft picks to the mix, and maybe the Timberwolves are headed back to being a playoff contender. One thing is for sure, it will take some time.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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