End of an era in Laker Land?

Is this the end of an era in Laker Land?  The Lakers just got swept, Phil Jackson is retiring, and Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol really hurt their trade value.  So they might need to trade BOTH guys to get another star like Dwight Howard.  Fisher is washed up and Ron-Ron doesn’t have much trade value.

Most importantly, Kobe Bryant’s knees are shot.  He’s nearly done as a super star, unless he satisfies himself with post ups and spot up jumpers.  He has to channel the 1996-1998 MJ for the Lakers to have another shot at an NBA title.  I am not sure though that they will have enough around him.  The defense wasn’t there and Pau may have peaked. 

Since 1980 with Magic’s rookie year the Lakers have dominated the league through different eras, winning 10 titles.  They’ve had Magic and Kobe.  Kareem and Shaq.  Worthy and Pau.  They’ve had an incredible amount of talent (plus great coaches: Riley and Phil), but they have always had a superstar (usually 2), and I am not sure they can get one this time.  I think the new salary structure will hinder any future super-team, and the league wants more parity.

If the Lakers can turn Bynum and Odom/Pau for Dwight Howard then I think it is a pretty fair trade for both teams.  But I am not sure if Kobe, Howard, Odom/Pau, and Ron-Ron is enough to extend the dynasty.  Ron-Ron, Luke, and Fisher have bad contracts and will make signing other guys tougher to do. 

Howard-Kobe-Pau looks like a solid Big Three right now, but Kobe is fading rapidly and I don’t think it is as good as the Heat’s Big Three.  Plus, defenders can just concentrate on Howard and Gasol and let Kobe try and beat them.  I think in the playoffs, Kobe can still get you 1 or 2 games by himself but not 4.  Even with those 3, I think they would be on the level of the Mavs, Thunder, and Grizzlies out West.

They might be better off understanding that their window of opportunity as a legit contender has closed, but they can still be a solid team/spoiler.  Bynum/Pau/Odom is still a solid front line and Kobe can be the new Brandon Roy (solid closer, can shoot and score, but not your main superstar first option).  Maybe they can move Ron-Ron and Fisher to a contender for picks and a solid player.  Maybe trade both those guys and cash to the Bulls for Ronnie Brewer, the 28th pick and the 30th pick.  The Bulls would get two vets who can provide depth off the bench and some extra cash, and the Lakers would get a solid defender/athlete on the wing and two late first round picks.

Use the Old Four Core with Shannon Brown and Devin Ebanks playing more minutes off the bench.  Ronnie Brewer would be solid off the bench or start him and the 3 and bring Odom off the bench.  Then they need to go out and find a decent point guard.  They would have an athletic (if small) team off the bench with Blake and Brown in the backcourt with Brewer and Ebanks at forward.  With the Bulls’ first round picks and the Lakers second round picks the Lakers might be able to find some solid players.  They would need to find a legit 4 or 5 to bring off the bench, a point guard with upside and then get the best guys available.

I think a new coach, a new offensive philosphy and a quicker, younger bench would help out the team.  Plus, Kobe, Pau, and Lamar need rest (they all three played last summer).

If they can move two relatively bad contracts (Artest and Fisher) for basically 2 first rounders then I think that would help.  They would get younger and it will allow them for flexibility.  I think the Bulls do it to get more experience and scoring off the bench.  Fisher is a solid shooter and Artest is an upgrade over Brewer. 

I like a starting lineup of Kobe plus a decent young point guard in the back court, along with Brewer, Pau, and Bynum up front.  The B team consists of Blake, Brown, Ebanks, Odom, and a rookie/cut rate big/D Leaguer at center.  Luke Walton is untradable so they have to play him some.  Offer Matt Barnes a buyout or find a contender who thinks they can use him.

In a parity-driven league next year, the retooled Lakers will be a semi-contender along with the Thunder, Mavs, Grizzlies, Heat, Celtics, and Bulls.  No true contender means that next year will also be a toss-up. 

Getting a new coach, bring in some new young talent (point guard, draft picks), and getting rid of a couple of veterans (Artest, Fisher) might be enough of a shakeup to wake up the Kobe-Pau-Odom-Bynum core.