Is Jermaine Good Enough?

Jermaine O'Neal wants to be a Laker. Jermaine "Injury Prone" O'Neal wants to be a Laker. I am literally at a loss for words. Is this a good thing? Will it be enough to keep Kobe? Would Jermaine coming make us a contender? Yes, maybe, and sadly no. Jermaine O'Neal wanting to be a Laker means the Lakers will improve and will move in a positive direction. I first thought this will not be enough to keep Kobe in L.A..I originally thought the only player that could keep Kobe Bryant in a Laker uniform was Kevin Garnett. Jermaine O'Neal is a poor man's Kevin Garnett, but is that enough? Jermaine O'Neal claims that he has been communicating with Kobe Bryant all summer about getting him in a Laker uniform. Jermaine and Kobe have had a tight relationship through the years and maybe that can convert into chemistry on the court. Jermaine O'Neal does not make the Lakers contenders no matter what the trade scenario. Jermaine O'Neal is not enough. Not to mention his injury problems over the last two years. Don't get me wrong, Jermaine O'Neal is a very good player, but to take this team to the next level he'll have to show me something I've never seen from him. I'm just confused about this. I'll have to see what happens.

It's Over

The Boston Celtics have acquired Kevin Garnett. The hope train has just been derailed. We all thought we had a chance to get KG. Once again we placed the fate of our organization in Mitch Kupchak's hands. The Celtics traded 7 players to acquire Kevin Garnett, an NBA record for one player. Boston sent the Minnesota Timberwolves forwards Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Gerald Green, guard Sebastian Telfair and center Theo Ratliff, two first-round draft picks and cash considerations. The Celtics acquired Ray Allen on draft night and now have acquired KG. I know what you're asking yourselves Laker fans: Where the HELL are we in all of this?! Right now Kobe Bryant is having a complete and total mental meltdown. While Kobe Bryant has been begging for the Lakers to acquire at least one complementary superstar, the hated Celtics have given Paul Pierce two of the best in the NBA. Oh how the tables have turned. Paul Pierce's career was taking a turn for the worst. He was on a losing team and was injury prone. Then just like that he is an instant favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference. The Lakers organization has just come crashing down to the ground. There is not many available moves out there to make the Lakers credible, relevant, and/or respectable. Mark my words: Kobe Bryant will not be in a Laker uniform next season. If somehow Kobe Bryant remains a Los Angeles Laker it will be the most grueling hard to watch season the Lakers have had in years. But the Lakers did make a free agent acquisition today. The Lakers signed Coby Karl. Coby Karl!!! What the HELL has happened to the Lakers management.

But enough complaining. Congratulations to Kevin Garnett. He deserves this. He has been in the league so long and has been losing almost his entire career. I wish him luck playing with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. As to Kobe: hang in there. To Mitch Kupchak is say: get off your lazy ass and do your damn job! You are not the GM of the Orlando Magic, you are the GM of the world renown Los Angeles Lakers and you need to start acting like it. These are some pretty dark times for us Laker fans, but it ain't over.

Say Goodbye to Smush!!!

Smush Parker has signed with the Miami Heat. Smush Parker's averages for the Lakers these past two years were 11.3 points, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 32 minutes. These numbers are very deceiving. Smush Parker should not start at point guard on any NBA team. Smush Paker is and always will be a bum. Smush is a bum. If it wasn't for Kwame Brown, Smush Parker would lead the Lakers in mental mistakes. So farewell Smush. I hope you and Shaq win about 20 games next year and stay home during the playoffs. You are nothing but a pouter, who has the IQ of a guinea pig. We are happy with Javaris Crittenton, Jordan Farmar, and of course Derek "D-Fish" Fisher. You aren't worthy of donning a Laker uniform. Punk.

USA Basketball: Kobe's Game Winner

Kobe clutch as always.

USA Basketball: Kobe Does It Again

With his team down one Kobe Bryant came up with the biggest play of the game. After a couple of pump fakes Kobe Bryant freed himself from Tayshun Prince for a 19-foot fadeaway with 6.6 seconds left on the clock to put his team up one. Coming out of the timeout, Kobe guarded LeBron James on the final play forcing him to miss wide right on a jumper that would have won it.

One of the lighter moments of the game came with 21.3 seconds left on the clock, Kobe Bryant attempted to call timeout-- which is not allowed in international rules, only the coach may call timeout. The referee blew his whistle then played it off by calling a foul on fellow NBA All-Star Jason Kidd. Kobe Bryant joked that he made a "T" sign with his hands in an attempt to call Kidd for a technical for continuing to elbow him in the stomach "like it was a game from the '80s." Kobe Bryant was easily the crowd favorite even receiving chants of "Ko-be, Ko-be". The play that got the crowd the most animated was LeBron James rejecting Kobe Bryant on a up-and-under dunk attempt. The block sent Kobe soaring into a row of photographers. "His big, grown-up body knocked me off-balance, so I have to get used to playing at a lighter weight," said Bryant, who checked into camp at 200 pounds for the first time since his rookie season. Kobe Bryant ended the game with 26 points on 10-for-22 shooting, including 4-for-9 from 3-point range. Fellow teammate Carmelo Anthony led all scores with 28 points. One of the most surprising performances came from rookie Kevin Durant who dropped in 22 points on 9-14 shooting for the blue squad. Dwight Howard went 9-9 from the field and scored 21 points, wile LeBron James notched 18 points. The roster must be widdled down to a 12-man roster; J.J. Reddick, Nick Collison, and Shane Battier are the most likely to be dropped from the roster.

USA Basketball

Kobe Bryant is one of 17 players expected to attend the U.S. national team minicamp this weekend in Las Vegas. USA Basketball will attempt to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Surprisingly this will be the first time that Kobe Bryant will participate in the USA Basketball program. The 17 players expected to attend will be trimmed to a 12-man roster for qualifying. There are 32 players in the USA Basketball program and 15 players are unavailable to attend minicamp. Dwayne Wade, Elton Brand, Shawn Marion, and Greg Oden are notables that are out due to injury. The 17 players expected to attend are Kobe Bryant• LeBron James• Carmelo Anthony• Dwight Howard• Chris Bosh• Shane Battier• Kirk Hinrich• Chauncey Billups• Amare Stoudemire• Michael Redd• Kevin Durant• Jason Kidd• Mike Miller• Tyson Chandler• Tayshaun Prince• J.J. Redick• and Deron Williams. I believe this team can dominate easily and win gold in Beijing with Wade and others coming back. Go USA!

Chris...Mihm?

After injuring his right ankle in the last minute of a game against Seattle on March 12, 2006, Chris Mihm missed the entire 2006-2007 season. Now the Lakers have signed Chris as an unrestricted free agent. The terms have not yet been announced, but it is believed to be a three year deal. Chris Mihm, who just turned 28, is a 7-foot 265 pound center. I'm not overly excited with this move but it will give the Lakers more depth in the interior. Maybe the Lakers can use Chris as trade bait, but I'd rather them not. I'd much rather see Kwame Brown go. Either way this doesn't solve a thing. I like Chris Mihm but he's no KG.

Welcome Back

Guess who's back? D-Fish BABY!!! Derek Fisher asked the Utah Jazz to release him so he can move to a city with hospitals that treat a rare eye cancer that his 1-year old daughter has. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and I'd like to welcome him back. What does this mean? Sasha Vujacic won't get any playing time this year. Smush Parker will not be in a Laker uniform next year. Sadly Javaris Crittenton will not have a productive rookie season due to lack of playing time. But at the same time I'm sure the Lakers can figure this point-guard situation in a trade for KG. Wishful thinking? Who cares. D-Fish is a solid point-guard that Kobe enjoys to play with, Phil Jackson enjoys to coach, and knows the triangle offense. Imagine a starting lineup of Fisher,Kobe,Walton,Garnett, and Kwame Brown. Not bad. Welcome back D-Fish. I hope your daughter gets well.

Just Got Paid

Congratulations to Chauncey Billups for signing a 5-year $60 million dollar contract. Good luck Chauncey.

Looks happy doesn't he?

KG We Need You!!!

We've come along way haven't we Laker fans. We have come from expecting championships every year to hoping to lure a superstar from the Phoenix Suns. Face it Laker fans...we need Kevin Garnett.

Our organization traded Caron Butler,an All-Star this past year, for Kwame Brown and then gave him an extension. What I'm about to say might be a little disheartening but: Kwame Brown is set to make about 8.3 million dollars this year. I repeat: 8.3 Million. We are spending 8.3 Million dollars for 7 points and 6 rebounds this year! It's alright to weep Laker fans, I'm right there with you.

Kobe Bryant is pissed off an has a right to be. The Lakers have promised to put a winning product on the court but have produced....Kwame Brown. Kobe Bryant has put on some of the greatest performances in NBA history and put up mind boggling numbers and what has been the result? 34,45,and 42. Yeah, you thought right. Those are the winning totals since Kobe has re-signed with the Lakers. Oh it hurts so bad.

The Lakers organization was fooled. When the Lakers took the Phoenix Suns to 7 games in the 2006 NBA playoffs, Jerry Buss and Mitch Dumbass must have thought they had a good enough team to go deep in the playoffs since they were up 3-1 in the series. I know I know, their dumb. But don't deny it Laker fans. When we started 26-13 all of us were buying into that dumb thought. We weren't listening to the experts tell us that all of the games early in the season are at home an we shouldn't look into our great record. We all knew deep in the back of our minds that we weren't that good. Then it happened. We finished the season 16-27.

We're optimists. Right now all of you are hoping that Javaris Crittenton and Colby Karl turn out to be the next Chauncey Billups and Rashard Lewis. We are buying into the hype. It ain't gonna happen. The Lakers have never been the best drafters. But...

If this trade for Kevin Garnett to happen who knows how good we could be. Our starting lineup could be:

PG - JARIC

SG- KOBE

SF- WALTON

PF- GARNETT

C- KWAME BROWN (I know it hurts)

Not to shabby. On paper we're only the 5th best team in the west at best but with Kobe and KG anythng can happen in a 7-game series. Our bench would include Radmonovic, Vujacic, Evans, Cook, Turiaf, Farmar & Crittenton (We better not re-sign Smush Parker so help me GAWD!!!).
Hey it's better than what we have now. Maybe this Laker team can make it to the NBA Finals by being on the side of the bracket that only has to face one of the three perennial power-houses in the Western Conference. Maybe we can pull an upset and... you know what? Forget it. I can feel that deadly optimism coming over me. KG we need you, forget whatever the hell Steve Nash is telling you.

Get Rid Of Mitch!!!

Mitch Kupchak has destroyed the Lakers.
You wanna talk about trading Caron Butler for Kwame Brown and giving Kwame an extension. How has that panned out Mitch!

Carlos Boozer, Baron Davis, Jermaine O'neal, all willing to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, but Mitch Kupkake doesn't have the balls to pull the trigger.

Jerry Buss tells Kobe that they will not be rebuilding and they want to be an immediate contender but Mitch Kupchak is content with being "The Guy that Traded Shaq".

I can't help but find myself wondering, would any of this happen if Jerry West was here? Jerry West a.k.a. the Genius. He trades Vlade Divac for Kobe on Draft day an signs Shaq to lay down the foundation for a dynasty.

WHAT IN THE BLUE HELL HAS MITCH DONE! He has contributed absolutely nothing to the organization. Kobe doesn't like to lose and if it means leaving his all time favorite organization.....so be it.

Now all the pressure is on Mitch. How do you get yourself out of this one Mitch? Kobe wants out and it is almost entirely your fault. Winning is a tradition in the Laker organization. Mitch is just a deer caught in head lights.

Hopefully Mitch can find his way out of this mess. If not.........

GET RID OF MITCH!!!