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Who Should The Lakers Sign?





The Celtics game proved the Lakers should probably fill that last roster spot.  But who's out there?

Star-divide

      People seem to think the Celtic game proved a lot of things, but by now we Laker fans should know that beating or losing to the Celtics in the regular season doesn't carry over to the next round.  However, I think it did show one thing very clearly.  The Lakers need one more guard on the roster.
       My username alone should tell you that I'm not one of those fans who think the Lakers desperately need to upgrade at PG like so many fans do.  No, it has to be someone's job in this offense to be a leader and take an occasional shot without having their ego destroyed by being the player who touches the ball the least amount of time.  Derek Fisher fills that role perfectly.  Steve Blake seems to be cut from the same cloth, and although he's in a bit of a slump lately, the bench seems to contribute more consistently with him on the floor than under Jordan Farmar.
      That's not to say the Lakers don't miss Farmar. The one thing that Farmar provided was a change of pace.  He was a guy who could make the opposing PG back-peddle and work hard and generally tire out the opposing defense who has no choice but to react to his penetration.  Of course Farmar usually dribbled the ball off his foot or clanged it off the backboard, but he added a level of unpredictability to the offense.  Sasha was the same deal.  Near the end he didn't do much of anything on offense, so it's no wonder he got buried on the bench, but when he was at his best, he was a player who would make the opposing defense scratch their head, which is an underestimated role that good teams should have a person or two fill.  Plus both these guys  just matched up so much better with Nate Robinson than either Blake or Fisher does.
      They're gone though, and they're not coming back any time soon.  That doesn't mean the Lakers can't find some guys on the cheap who can fill that role for a few minutes a game, which is realistically all the Lakers need (remember, I'm not saying the Lakers should be trying to acquire a great or even good PG, because let's face it, they're all tied up at the moment).  My top choice, if the Wizards don't sign him for the season, would be Mustafa Shakur.  He's one of the best defensive PGs in basketball (although it says a lot about how unimportant defense is at the PG position when one of the best defensive PGs is barely hanging on in the league), he's quick and good in transition, and around the rim.  He's turnover prone but so are all the guys the Lakers could realistically sign right now.  Jason Williams might be an OK signing.  He's not really all that good anymore, but he still has his moments, which is all the Lakers really need.  Hell, the Lakers might even consider taking a stab at bringing in old also-rans who already know the system like Pargo or Morrison (who apparently most of the Laker players really miss and would at least spice up the FIFA 11 tournaments again).
      Yes, none of these players I've mentioned are going to add a whole lot to the Lakers team. But they all would add the ability for the Lakers to change the pace in the backcourt for a few minutes at a time.  And that might make just enough of a difference in a really close playoff series.

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Manny Harris!

20 points against the Magic on Sunday! Looked great!

I love, support, and root for any team that can beat the Miami Heat and lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

by WaveOcean on Jan 31, 2011 8:15 AM PST reply actions  

rofl

"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."

"I'm a perfectionist who's not perfect." - Ron Artest

8 + 24 > 23 + 6

by LakerAce on Jan 31, 2011 9:31 AM PST up reply actions  

i've always kinda liked that movie

"It ain't Chinese algebra. If you get stops and you execute on offense, normally that team wins." - Tony Allen
"One thing LeBron James has won that Kobe Bryant never has, and never will: A bronze medal."- Josh Tucker

by steffun4tw on Jan 31, 2011 10:00 AM PST up reply actions  

LOL

"I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot."- Kobe Bryant

by nyyrocks29 on Jan 31, 2011 4:24 PM PST up reply actions  

Hold tight til the deadline...

That’s when you always see some veterans waived and available to be picked up before March 1st. Realistically though, what player can you bring in that will actually crack the rotation?? Lakers come playoff time will probably run a 7 or 8 man rotation so no new players will get meaningful minutes anyways.

by sexyscottish on Jan 31, 2011 9:27 AM PST reply actions  

The idea is to have more reliable bench players who can take minutes from the starters in the regular season.

So that they’ll be better rested in the playoffs. I thought we already took care of this problem when we signed Blake (PG), Barnes (SF), and Ratliff/Smith ©, but I guess the more the merrier.

"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."

"I'm a perfectionist who's not perfect." - Ron Artest

8 + 24 > 23 + 6

by LakerAce on Jan 31, 2011 9:34 AM PST up reply actions  

D-Howard!!!!

oh you mean now??? shit, just sign someone like Bonzi Wells

Faith.... a fan's biggest downfall

by desecrator09 on Jan 31, 2011 10:06 AM PST reply actions  

jesus

How old is Bonzi Wells? haha

by shadowchicken on Jan 31, 2011 12:19 PM PST up reply actions  

112

"2010 was a kick ass year." - Kobe Bryant
I truly believe that Kobe Bryant could go a month without food, water, or an iPad if it meant another championship. Kevin Garnett would give up trash talking for an hour if it meant two more rings. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! - Rod Benson

Tweetness: @SoCalGal64

by SoCalGal on Jan 31, 2011 12:35 PM PST up reply actions  

Jason Williams? no

and straying from the “WE WANT TEH AMMO BACK” mindset, I would not him back

mmmmm.... delicious

by Cup Noodles on Jan 31, 2011 11:09 AM PST reply actions  

It would be tight if the Lakers signed Shakur

Shannon Brown was supposed to be the hustling, athletic guard that added that ‘spice’, but we all know how that’s turning out!

"Work before Glory"

by wickedskillz on Jan 31, 2011 1:52 PM PST reply actions  

why did the lakers sign joe smith? to make the bench look more “respectable” in photo shoots? god forbid, there’s an empty chair in the photo! but another pg does sound about right. d-fish just cant defend the like’s of parker, kidd, nash, or, least of all, westbrook. maybe the lakers will find that “spark”, after the all-star break. those last 25 gm’s are going to be crucial.

by Mark Jaramillo on Jan 31, 2011 2:49 PM PST reply actions  

Oh, hai thur!

"Phil Jackson seems to enjoy his status as 'NBA grand philosopher' and uses that platform to lob verbal hand grenades into other franchises or the league offices for fun." - Kurt Helin
Stalk, err, Follow me on Twitter: @bluefalcon916

by bluexfalcon on Jan 31, 2011 3:09 PM PST up reply actions  

Yo blue.

That wammygiveaway guy is back, check his last fanpost LOL

LA Lakers diehard. Pau Gasol hater.

by Saurav A. Das on Jan 31, 2011 3:47 PM PST up reply actions  

We didn't sign Joe Smith.

He was one of the pieces used in the trade to get rid of Vujacic’s contract.

"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."

"I'm a perfectionist who's not perfect." - Ron Artest

8 + 24 > 23 + 6

by LakerAce on Jan 31, 2011 5:53 PM PST up reply actions  

I've heard little whispers about Rasheed Wallace returning after the trade deadline.

Im sure he would like to return to the Celtics, but with them already having Gar, Big Baby, J Oneal, Shaq & Perkins…. dont u think he would want to go to anyother contender…..

maybe the Lakers. Im not a huge fan of his, but I would welcome him with open arms as our back up center.

"What we want to remember—what we will remember—is the indelible vision of Kobe, his arms outstretched, delirious with joy and disbelief, running after and grabbing hold of Lamar Odom’s floating downcourt pass, while all the purple and gold streamers in the world are raining down on the hardwood." - Brian Tung

by LakersFoEva on Jan 31, 2011 3:45 PM PST reply actions  

I don't think they need anyone

I wouldn’t be against a possible signing of someone else just to bring something new to the table. But I’m fine with the PG alignment right now. I trust Fisher- I know that can’t be said for everybody on here, but he always gets doubted, and he always steps up in the big game and big moment. The playoffs the last two years have been no different and I’d expect it to be the same this year. As for Blake, he’s in a slump. But he’s a 40% three point shooter who seems like for the most part is adjusting well to the triangle. I think those two will suffice.

The reason I’m saying this is because during the playoffs, the rotation changes. Starters get more minutes, and there’s only 7-8 guys really making a big difference in a game, barring injury or extreme foul trouble by multiple players. For the Lakers I envision Fisher, Bryant, Artest, Gasol, Bynum, Odom, Blake, Brown and Barnes being the guys who are going to get big playoff minutes. No new players are going to get important minutes once the playoffs get under way.

"I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot."- Kobe Bryant

by nyyrocks29 on Jan 31, 2011 4:33 PM PST reply actions  

I trust too,

And Blake. But I don’t think either of them is really the Nate Robinson/Jordan Farmar high usage guard that is nice to have when things get a little predictable.

by Derek Fisher Fan on Jan 31, 2011 7:12 PM PST up reply actions  

This is relevant.

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/scott_howard_cooper/01/31/lakers.kupchak/index.html

LA Lakers diehard. Pau Gasol hater.

"I think it see what is happening here...
Somehow, a 10 year-old Henry Abbott was able time travel into the future and write this post." - Joshua S, in response to http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2011/1/31/1965316/the-ultimate-rant-the-spell-has-worked

by Saurav A. Das on Jan 31, 2011 4:56 PM PST reply actions  

Most likely he's just pulling a Zen motivational tactic, but still.

LA Lakers diehard. Pau Gasol hater.

"I think it see what is happening here...
Somehow, a 10 year-old Henry Abbott was able time travel into the future and write this post." - Joshua S, in response to http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2011/1/31/1965316/the-ultimate-rant-the-spell-has-worked

by Saurav A. Das on Jan 31, 2011 4:56 PM PST up reply actions  

Ugh, the title of that article

Lakers “struggles” The team is 11-5 this month, the Celtics are 12-4. I guess they’re struggling too? I’m so tired of the national media, and the Laker fans that only watch ABC games insisting that a team that’s played pretty well this month (certainly better than last January) is struggling.

I’m all for good moves though, if there are any out there.

by Derek Fisher Fan on Jan 31, 2011 7:24 PM PST up reply actions  

Exactly.

You don’t know REAL struggling in the NBA unless you’ve been a fan of a lower-tier franchise. I’m talking the Nets, Bobcats, Clippers, Wizards, Raptors, Bucks, etc. Going 11-5 instead of, say, 13-3 in a month is not struggling.

Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Gators // Boise State
"The Lakers do win games. But things can change." - Blake Griffin

by 82-0 on Jan 31, 2011 7:38 PM PST up reply actions  

Can't say I agree with you on the Lakers at PG.

People talk a lot about his “intangibles” but I really think the Lakers would be better off going with a younger guy who can produce more.

Granted, I don’t really follow college basketball too closely so I don’t know of any good point guards you can realistically get in the late first round, but I do think it’s time for the Lake Show to draft a PG.

Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Gators // Boise State
"The Lakers do win games. But things can change." - Blake Griffin

by 82-0 on Jan 31, 2011 5:09 PM PST reply actions   1 recs

*Fisher's "intangibles"

Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Gators // Boise State
"The Lakers do win games. But things can change." - Blake Griffin

by 82-0 on Jan 31, 2011 5:09 PM PST up reply actions  

They have

they traded his rights to save salary. He plays with the Knicks and his name is Toney Douglas. lol.

These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson

TRADE KOBY FOR LUTHER HEAD!!!! (it's a movement)

by Marty Mart on Jan 31, 2011 5:46 PM PST up reply actions  

No, I was saying

the Lakers had dropped Toney Douglas and he was picked up by the Knicks. I didn’t mean they were actually trading him

These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson

TRADE KOBY FOR LUTHER HEAD!!!! (it's a movement)

by Marty Mart on Jan 31, 2011 5:55 PM PST up reply actions  

You read it wrong.

The Lakers drafted Toney Douglas and gave him up to the Knicks.

"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."

"I'm a perfectionist who's not perfect." - Ron Artest

8 + 24 > 23 + 6

by LakerAce on Jan 31, 2011 5:55 PM PST up reply actions  

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