O’Neal Wants to be a Laker

It is very quiet in ‘Laker Land’. There has not been a recent media blitz from Kobe Bryant, about wanting to be traded. On the other hand, there has been no major additions to the Laker lineup. Derek Fisher is back; and there are two new additions: Javaris Crittenton and Coby Karl. Perhaps Sun Yue will sign a Lakers contract. This will not elevate the Lakers to contenders, even in their own division. Basically, it is the same crew that Kobe has demeaned and from which Kobe wants to distance himself.

The dream of Kevin Garnett in a Laker uniform has gone. There remains the hope that Jermaine O’Neal could be a Laker:

“LOS ANGELES — If Jermaine O’Neal gets his wish, he will not be playing for the Indiana Pacers next season. If he gets his dream, he will be suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Kobe Bryant.”

link: California dreamin’

link: O’Neal: ‘Lakers are the team I want Indiana to trade me to’

The price would be sending Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum to the Indiana Pacers. Would this be a trade that you would make as general manager of the Lakers?

I would make the trade. Lamar Odom is a wonderful athlete; and perhaps, he is too nice. He defers to Kobe and, at time, becomes a non factor because Kobe is so dominant. Theoretically, Lamar and Kobe should dominate play. However, in fact, Kobe may be hampering Lamar from being more assertive on the court. It was a good experiment but it has not paid off in the way that the Lakers expected.

With sending Andrew Bynum to the Pacers, the Lakers may be sending away a future superstar. Andrew Bynum has shown promise - but he also has shown inconsistency. Perhaps it is his inexperience and youthfulness. However, what they would receive in return is a proven all-star player who could make an immediate impact in the number of wins. It is trading a ‘maybe’ for a proven all star player.

There is another factor to consider. The trade would make Kobe Bryant happy. It would end any demands, in the immediate future, from Kobe about wanting to be traded out of Los Angeles. The trade would energize the Laker fan base - and that translates into sales and profit.

Yes, if it were my decision, the trade would be done - immediately.

Catherine