Lakers Need: Back-up Centre

 They need at a quicker, faster PG, Fisher is too old to be starting, and Blake well lol he just terrible. Maybe Felton, not sure what PG are available.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AMRz5pyd0s

They having soaring need at PG more than at Center, specially now that Mile Brown is coaching and will require a traditional PG now that the triangle offense will not be utilize. The problem is it’s very difficult to find a starting PG at where they are picking. Their going to have to find their PG via trade.

I think the Lakers should try to get Josh Powell, resign Shannon Brown.

There really aren’t any good point guards that are a lot better than Fisher and Blake in free agency this year, so they’ll have to go with them two again.

 They have about 300 second round picks.  I’m sure they could package a couple of them for a proven backup center that would be a better option than Greg Smith, Keith Benson or any other big they could draft. 

Mario Chalmers is a restricted free agent.  The Lakers need to go after him and even overpay him if they need to as the Lakers big rivals next year will be Dallas (who Chalmers played against and did well) and the Heat if they get to the Finals.

If they need a backup center then they should go after Erick Dampier who is ok and who played on the Heat and before that the Mavs.

Memphis

I really don’t think Miami will let him go

 Because he doesn’t make many mistakes is a good 3 point shooter and doesn’t try to do too much.  He’s lost a step since he was starting in Portland, but is still a servicable backup point guards in the league ( as a starter he was a 11 pt 5 assist 40% 3point player), No, people don’t get excited when they hear Steve Blake, but to say he shouldn’t be in the NBA is just dumb.  

Tongue-Out,

Yeah, I don’t think the Heat will let him go either but I think the Lakers need to throw a lot of money at him, primarily because they need a guy like that, and second, it would hurt the Heat if he leaves and it would also hurt him if they have to pay him WAY too much money.

Chalmers had a great Game 6, hit some halfcourt shots and some big 3’s.  He has good size and he is fast.  His comparison is somewhere between a younger, better Derek Fisher and a poor man’s Chauncey Billups.

A fresher rotation at point guard (Chalmers and Shannon Brown) along with a refocused Kobe and the rest of their big front line (Bynum, Pau, Odom, and even Artest) will help the Lakers out a lot and give them one more shot at another ring.  DeAndre Liggins would be a good draft pick who could provide some defense and shooting at the 2 guard spot.  Another good one would be Keith Benson if he is there.  He could be a good center and could give them some decent minutes next year. 

"younger, better Derek Fisher and a poor man’s Chauncey Billups."

I like that comparison.  I really like Chalmers as the future PG for the Heat.  He’s going to be pretty damn good.  Especially because there is absolutely no pressure on him to succeed or to expand his skillset rather than become a better shooter and play defense.  Which he does both very well already.

i disagree joe wolf, steve blake is F’ing horrible…he average 4, 2, and 2 this year while shooting 36% from the field. hes a career 40% shooter from the field

I don’t believe the Lakers can possibly get a higher quality second round big man this year than they already have in Derrick Caracter, so I would rule that out. Maybe they take a big man, but not with the purpose of him contributing next year. If they are going to go with someone taken in the second round, it will almost certainly be Caracter. That does not mean I am eliminating the possibility of the Lakers buying back in to grab Vucevic. I would not be stunned if they package a couple second rounders with cash to come away with a pick between 17-30.

The Lakers have been rather consistent in going after long skilled big men. For that season, I think they would not go after Jason Collins, Kyrylo Fesenko, Dan Gadzuric, Tony Battie, or Francisco Elson. I think the Dream scenario is to see if Yao would want to agree to come off the bench in the backup role Alonzo Mourning and Bill Walton played after their bodies failed them at the end of their careers. It is unlikely, but that would be a dream. Once they wake up, I think the list shifts to Josh McRoberts (not a true traditional center, but he is 6’10" skilled and decent when he wants to try), Chris Wilcox, and Hamed Haddadi (should Memphis not tender him a QO). Kurt Thomas would be there if he opts out of his deal in Chicago, but I don’t think that will happen. One option that won’t excite people but I think might have some legs is Gustavo Ayon. Kupchak watched him light up Barca. The Lakers just signed a major tv deal that includes Spanish language broadcasts. Bringing in a Mexican national who can play capably for the 10-15 minutes the fourth big man on the Lakers will get could go a long way to further grow the Lakers in the Mexican community in Southern California. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the teams who have shown the most interest in Ayon are the Spurs, Suns, and Lakers. It doesn’t mean he can’t play (he played the meaningful minutes at center for Fuenlabrada over Draft Savior boy), but the expectation for him as a player would be of a big body who isn’t awful.

I will also throw out the name of Alexis Ajinca. A team that takes a project cannot be surprised when they perform like a project. Ajinca is the same unpolished physical marvel he was when the idiot convention declared him first round caliber. Taking a low cost flier on him now that he is an unrestricted free agent might not amount to anything positive, but wouldn’t be the worst gamble in the world as a third line signing. FWIW, I don’t think grabbing guys like Earl Clark and Alexis Ajinca for the minimum is a bad thing. They are still draft age, and while they never should have gotten first round money they still have enough potential to merit a low cost look.
 

They don’t need a big so i doubt they go after one. I see them going after a PG as a starter or back up( i think Blake plays better this year since he won’t be running the triangle offense anymore)