Los Angeles Lakers 2007-08 Season Preview
ADDITIONS: Derek Fisher (G) - Free Agent; Coby Karl (G) - Free Agent.
SUBTRACTIONS: Smush Parker (G) - Signed with Miami.
RE-SIGNINGS: Chris Mihm (C); Luke Walton (F).
2007 DRAFT PICKS: 1. (19) Javaris Crittenton (G, Georgia Tech); 2. (40) Sun Yue (G, China) - Traded to Detroit; 2. (48) Marc Gasol (F, Spain).
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: PG Derek Fisher, SG Kobe Bryant, SF Luke Walton PF Lamar Odom, C Kwame Brown
COACH: Phil Jackson
(Sports Network) - An offseason without a major addition to their roster was not what the Los Angeles Lakers needed. Superstar Kobe Bryant is unhappy, and this is a franchise that needs to start winning now.
A new supporting cast for Kobe Bryant, who has expressed his concern and displeasure with the current status of the team, is what the Los Angeles Lakers need. They finished 42-40 in the 2006-07 regular season, and were eliminated in five games, 4-1, by the Phoenix Suns in the opening round of the playoffs.
Since sending Shaquille O'Neal packing on July 14, 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers are below .500 (121-125) in three seasons without the All-Star center. Los Angeles has qualified for the playoffs in two of the three seasons, but has been eliminated twice in the first round.
Kobe Bryant, who led the NBA in scoring (31.6 ppg) and dished out a team-best 5.4 assists in 2006-07, wants to win now, and he knows his current supporting cast is not good enough to compete with Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix. The Los Angeles Lakers aren't even in the same class as Denver, Houston or Utah.
Forward Lamar Odom, who was acquired from the Miami Heat in the Shaq deal, Kwame Brown, Luke Walton and Andrew Bynum are all decent players with value. But the fact remains, none of them seem to have what it takes to help Kobe lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the promised land.
The seven-foot Andrew Bynum, who turns 20 on October 27th, has shown that he should eventually develop into a productive NBA center. He played all 82 regular- season games in 2006-07, and averaged 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds. Odom registered 15.9 points, a team-high 9.8 boards and 4.8 assists, while Walton, who re-signed with the club in the offseason, had a solid campaign.
Head coach Phil Jackson returns to the bench for what could be his final ride with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jackson has won nine championship rings as a coach. He led the Los Angeles Lakers to three titles in his first four years in LA, and guided the Chicago Bulls to six championships.
Veteran guard Derek Fisher returned to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6-1 guard, who won three championships with the club, signed with the team as a free agent. Fisher spent two seasons with Golden State and last season as a member of the Utah Jazz. He averaged 10.1 points and 3.3 assists for Utah in 2006-07.
Big man Chris Mihm re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, while free agent guard Smush Parker decided to join Shaq in Miami as he inked a deal with the Heat. The team also added point guard Javaris Crittenton, Sun Yue of China and Spaniard Marc Gasol through the draft.
Rumors about a possible trade with the Indiana Pacers for All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal were swirling during the summer. However, nothing happened. But, it would not be surprising if something came to fruition sometime before or even during the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers need to figure out how to get the right combination of players that fit with Kobe Bryant. They know their superstar is not thrilled with the current state of the team, and the only way to make him happy is to get him some teammates who can help him compete for a championship.
The offseason was boring, but the regular season should be anything but that. Expect plenty of fireworks from Kobe if the Los Angeles Lakers don't win early and often.
BACKCOURT
Kobe Bryant will play alongside Fisher, Jordan Farmar and Javaris Crittenton. A nine-time All-Star, Kobe Bryant does it all on both ends of the court. He is as dangerous a player on the offensive end as there is in the league, and defensively he can compete with any shooting guard in the NBA.
The 29-year-old Kobe Bryant can't win by himself. Fisher adds stability and will definitely help, while Jordan Farmar and Javaris Crittenton are question marks. Jordan Farmar will be entering his second year in the league, and did show some positive signs during his rookie campaign.
However, Javaris Crittenton and/or Jordan Farmar could be expendable in a package to bring in some instant help for Kobe Bryant. The future of the Los Angeles Lakers' backcourt is still up in the air. Some kind of change may be on the horizon.
FRONTCOURT
Odom represents the best that the Los Angeles Lakers have up front. Walton, who averaged 11.4 points, 5.0 boards and 4.3 assists last season, made big strides in 2006-07 and showed that he should continue to have a productive career. Walton knows he has a role on the Los Angeles Lakers and does a good job filling it.
Kwame Brown, Andrew Bynum, Mihm and Ronny Turiaf are the bangers down low, while Vladimir Radmanovic and Maurice Evans are expected to add scoring off the bench.
Jackson will go with what is working in the frontcourt. Odom has shown that he is a productive player, while Walton has to prove that last year was not a fluke. Andrew Bynum has potential, but may be years away from fulfilling it.
Andrew Bynum will most certainly be part of any package to acquire an All-Star caliber player. Management has to make a decision on him, and that will have an impact on how Kobe Bryant looks at his future with the Los Angeles Lakers.
OUTLOOK
Could play out like a soap opera this season for the Los Angeles Lakers. The big trade didn't happen during the offseason, but it could be coming during the new campaign.
The Los Angeles Lakers know they need Kobe. He is in the prime of his career and wants to be surrounded by players who can help him win now. If the Los Angeles Lakers stick with what they have, it would not be a shock if they miss the playoffs for the second time in four years.
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