who would want TMAC?

by kobethebasketballmessiah on Nov 24, 2009 6:06 AM PST

would the lakers need and want him? my friends and i were thinking, he could be Kobe's Pippen. I'm not sure. this is not an expert opinion, i just want to know what your thoughts are. with TMac's current situation with the rockets and his health, I'm not sure any team would gamble on getting him. if the lakers would take him, is he going to be more of a liability or an advantage for the team?

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I don't want T-Mac on our team

I don’t want T-Mac for several reasons:
1. He is coming off a knee injury and those really take a while to work the kinks out as we all know with Bynum. So, he will probably have no lift which is his claim to fame. We need someone to make an instant impact.
2. He is a one trick pony in which he is offensively minded. He is soft on defense and on a team with a lot of offensive weapons his point production will be very low. If his point production is going to be low whats the point of having him?
3. He requires the ball to make things happen. On a team that runs the triangle that is not going to happen. Especially on a team that has the Mamba. Whom I rather have the ball.
4. Who’s spot is he going to take? The only options is either to take Ron’s spot or come off the bench. And I don’t think Phil will start someone who is a defensive liability and coming off a knee injury. A double whammy in my opinion.
But if he’s willing to come off the bench I don’t see why not.

by Ray DLC on Nov 24, 2009 9:50 AM PST reply actions

yea. if he were to come to the lakers, he won't crack the starting lineup

we already have too many scorers in the starting line up and i doubt t-mac will want to come off the bench (he’s not that desperate for a ring, yet)

there are still plenty of teams who would want him though, esp for next season when his knee is in better condition. of course, he shouldn’t be expecting anything near that luxurious 23 mil.

by Nostance on Nov 24, 2009 10:25 AM PST up reply actions

Why would you want a "poor man's" Kobe...........

when you already have a “rich man’s” Kobe?

Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."

by pslakerfan on Nov 24, 2009 10:04 AM PST reply actions

It all has to do with money

For example, after Luke got hurt the Lakers wanted to sign Gaffney but they didn’t see why they would pay luxury tax for him. Financially speaking that wasn’t worth it. That being said, if the Lakers can get Tmac to play for a small amount of money (like Malone and GP) then that gamble is worth it. His talent is too great to not take that risk. Think of how expensive the Malone signing would have been if the Lakers gave him a fat contract since he got hurt in the playoffs. But the gamble was worth it. Same with Tmac.

He was asked before who he would love to play with and his answer was simply, “Jelly Bean” and he repeated it, “Kobe-Jelly Bean- Bryant”. If the price is not to high, I would say do it. If he is healthy in the Playoffs/Finals the Lakers would Kill everyone. Think of having him and Lamar coming off the bench. Besides, Tmac’s middle name is Lamar…i’m just saying. Vet’s minimum for Tmac is a gamble I would love to take.

I think smashing the Suns made me realize how far Kobe and the Lakers have come from five years ago, when the Suns had the world at their feet.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 24, 2009 11:23 AM PST reply actions

Agreed

I mean if he comes a discount why not.
the bench mob would be:
lamar
t-mac
farmar
probabaly bynum/gasol
powell, or even have brown with farmar

That woud be a pretty formidable bench, of course only if he was CHEAP

by true_lakerfan on Nov 24, 2009 11:28 AM PST up reply actions

wow!

Tmac is making 23.2mil this year. The Vet’s minimum is a huge jump but I think he would do it. He has the same love and respect for the Lakers and Kobe and he would be a great role player. dam! now I’m going to be playing closer attention to his situation. I hope he is bought out. But we all know that the Celtics/Ainge will sell their soul to get him. Especially after how bad/old they have looked lately. DO IT MITCH!

I think smashing the Suns made me realize how far Kobe and the Lakers have come from five years ago, when the Suns had the world at their feet.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 24, 2009 11:35 AM PST up reply actions

oops

I meant “the same love and respect as Artest…..”

I think smashing the Suns made me realize how far Kobe and the Lakers have come from five years ago, when the Suns had the world at their feet.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 24, 2009 11:36 AM PST up reply actions

Yea seriously...

I never gave it much thought but now im hoping that somehow someway it gets done.

Wishful thinking i know, but that would be pretty cool.

by true_lakerfan on Nov 24, 2009 11:46 AM PST up reply actions

hell even a banged up TMAC is still an upgrade over sasha

if he gets desperate at the end of the year to play with a contender
we should make a move
his value probably has dropped alot since hes been injured…

Leave Chad Billingsley alone!!!

by shaqfor3 on Nov 24, 2009 12:23 PM PST up reply actions

but it really depends on how "low" T-mac is willing to go.

He has to:
1. Take a LOT less money (ie. vet min)
2. Come off the bench

by Nostance on Nov 24, 2009 3:00 PM PST up reply actions

if he were to take the vet min

I think that would be a sign that he really wants to win, and do you really think he would be cancerous with kobe and phil on the team?

Plus since hes not costing much if he does cause trouble we can say have fun on the bench or release him of his contract.

I think there would be more upside than downside if this were to ever happen. It wont, but it would be kinda sweet.

by true_lakerfan on Nov 24, 2009 5:09 PM PST up reply actions

honestly

I was more concerned with Artest being a problem than I would EVER be with Tmac. Considering how much of a hit his public image takes and after all the injuries he has had it is a surprise he doesn’t fly off the handle more often. I would defenitely be frustrated if it was me. besides, I have never heard anything about him being a locker room cancer. I’m not sure where people are getting that from.

I think smashing the Suns made me realize how far Kobe and the Lakers have come from five years ago, when the Suns had the world at their feet.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 24, 2009 7:23 PM PST up reply actions

yea

t mac is portrayed at the very most as a “wuss”, but he’s certainly doesn’t have an AI-like reputation

by Nostance on Nov 24, 2009 7:31 PM PST up reply actions

Yuck, no

He’s a cancer at this point: he’s routinely criticized throughout the league for his seeming lack of dedication, he’s a perennial loser, and is incredibly injury-prone. Is he a talent? Certainly, but that’s not worth a player that won’t conform to a specific role on this team, and especially one that will command a salary that the Lakers are simply unwilling to give.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

by Ben R on Nov 24, 2009 3:06 PM PST reply actions

Ben R hits the nail on the head

Has TMac played on a team that’s gotten out of the first round of the playoffs? Think about that and whether or not we REALLY need him…

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Nov 24, 2009 3:49 PM PST up reply actions

defenitely don't need him

but as an addition to the bench that would be great. Glenn Rice comes to mind. Against Indiana Kobe went out with an ankle injury during their three peat run and his offense in Kobe’s absence was huge. He played one year and the Lakers won the title. T-mac if cheap can be that one player in case Lamar or someone like Artest is not playing. Even if it is for one year and the Lakers win the title that gamble might be worth it.

I think smashing the Suns made me realize how far Kobe and the Lakers have come from five years ago, when the Suns had the world at their feet.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 24, 2009 4:42 PM PST up reply actions

The notion he's going to accept

The minimum to play here is laughable.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

by Ben R on Nov 24, 2009 5:09 PM PST up reply actions

the whole scenario is laughable

But you never know.

by true_lakerfan on Nov 24, 2009 5:11 PM PST up reply actions

That's what I said about GP and Malone before they signed.

Added to the fact that a player can put on the Purple and Gold and that the Lakers are contenders is a good enough reason to come to LA. Not every fan will agree, but there have been crazier things that have happened with the Lakers and free agents. Rick Fox and Glenn Rice were option number 1 in their previous teams and they came to LA and came off the bench. Mitch signing Gasol and Artest were huge surprises. I can’t put anything past the Lakers org.

I think smashing the Suns made me realize how far Kobe and the Lakers have come from five years ago, when the Suns had the world at their feet.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 24, 2009 7:27 PM PST up reply actions

I don't think this situation is at all close to GP and Malone

Malone and GP had proven themselves time and time again, but had never managed to actually win that ring. Tmac on the other hand, has a lot to prove still and wants to play basketball. I don’t think he’s ready to just become a minor roleplayer and a benchwarmer for a chance at a ring.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Nov 24, 2009 10:12 PM PST up reply actions

I hope that he is willing to take a minor role

for a chance to win the title. No one really knows if he would but it sure would be nice if he joined the Lakers.

I think smashing the Suns made me realize how far Kobe and the Lakers have come from five years ago, when the Suns had the world at their feet.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 25, 2009 7:38 AM PST up reply actions

Payton and Malone were in the twilight of their careers

And willing to accept a marginalized role as part of a championship team. Furthermore, as Justin pointed out, Payton and Malone had already distinguished themselves as HoF players and came here just so they could complete their careers with a championship. McGrady still has to get the perennial loser monkey off his back and take a team past the first round. He’s not going to lower himself, as he still thinks he can be the number one option on a team, and I don’t see him ever accepting a smaller role.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

by Ben R on Nov 25, 2009 12:41 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah, and what would Tmac coming to the Lakers and winning a title even do for his legacy?

He’d still be viewed as a loser because he likely wouldn’t contribute much to the run, if anything. It would likely almost be how technically Tracy McGrady made it out of the first round of the playoffs last year…but not really…

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Nov 25, 2009 5:36 PM PST up reply actions

I kind of liken TMac’s career to Grant Hill’s. So, in my mind, when McGrady is 35 years old with nothing to show for what started to be a really promising career, if he wants to sign with the Lakers for the vet’s minimum, I’ll be all for it.

That said, he’s what, 30 now? I’m guessing he still thinks he can lead a team. Let’s revisit this in 5 years…

by brianfbb on Nov 25, 2009 3:40 AM PST up reply actions

I respectfully disagree

with the notion that Tmac wants to be the number one option. He has played with Yao ming for some time now and I have never heard of him comment or complain about Yao obviously being the focal point of the team. As someone said earlier, when thinking of Tmac he is seen as a wuss and fragile player but defenitely not one to complain about not being the focal part of a team. At least, not as a Rocket. Maybe when he played with V. Carter in Orlando he was like that but like I said earlier, basketball players evolve and their priorities change. His injuries just might have humbled him enough to take a lesser role.

I think smashing the Suns made me realize how far Kobe and the Lakers have come from five years ago, when the Suns had the world at their feet.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 25, 2009 7:44 AM PST up reply actions

Heres to hoping he takes a lesser role.....

I think it is different when you take a lesser role on a mediocre team compared to a championship team with established vets and players.
The mindset has to be different because your not exactly being demoted in an embarrassing way when you go to a contender. But it can be seen as a bad demotion when you bench it for a worse team.

i hope i can get my point across with the different mindsets

by true_lakerfan on Nov 25, 2009 10:52 AM PST up reply actions

It's difficult to conceive of any scenario in which the highest paid player in the NBA comes to the highest payroll team in the NBA...

Even if Mitch Kupchak wanted him, which he doubtlessly does not (plays the same position as Kobe), there’s no imaginable universe where it would be economically possible…

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Nov 25, 2009 3:46 PM PST up reply actions

Whoops, that wasn't meant to be a reply to anything but the original post.

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Nov 25, 2009 3:46 PM PST up reply actions

What I meant was

that TMac doesn’t see himself as a vets minimum kind of player yet. Maybe not even a midlevel player. I did not say he wanted to be the number one option, but I think at this point, he knows he’s being paid over 20 million, and he wants to start playing like it. It’s probably why he wants to come back so badly this year, to show people he can still ball and be a leader to a team that needs one.

by brianfbb on Nov 26, 2009 2:55 PM PST up reply actions

I used Grant Hill as an example because

he essentially went from earning 17 million one year to signing a 2 million dollar per year deal in Phoenix, something that I thought kobethebasketballmessiah was hoping for. But he was 35 at the time…

by brianfbb on Nov 26, 2009 3:00 PM PST up reply actions