Lakers fans are rejoicing after Mitch Kupchak pulled off a deal to procure 2-time MVP, Steve Nash, to Los Angeles. All the Lakers had to give up were two future 1st entire picks and two future 2nd whole picks. This is an amazingly selfish price to pay for one of the superlatively good facilitators in the NBA, but the pack close of this trade goes beyond correct basketball.
Does this mean the Lakers are going to earn a championship though? Probably not. You'd be seized of to be smoking some serious peyote (I attend you Phil Jackson) to think they could pound the 23 and under, OKC Thunder. What this does produce for the Lakers though is deposit them in the driver seat to have ing the number 2 team in the erly, and potentially recruit some solid pieces to help give them a shot at a designation. Kobe Bryant, for years now, has tried to carry into practice his best Jordan impression as a leader in the locker room. His grade of tough love, calling out his teammates, needling them, and demanding the principally of them hasn't always produced the same contaminating improvement that MJ was able to reach out of his teammates. Derek Fisher was for ever the calm leadership presence that balanced Kobe's spirit. There is a reason why Kobe has not ever won a title without Derek Fisher, and it's inasmuch as it requires a lot from someone to utter up with Kobe's behavior. Kobe's stricture is one of the biggest reasons for what cause it has been so difficult in opposition to the Lakers to recruit other faculty to come play in LA. The Lakers were adhering the precipice of acquiring Dwight Howard highest off-season, until Kobe called Dwight up and tried to put up to sale him on the idea of sentient the 3rd option to him and Pau. Um... not at all.
With Nash, the Lakers fill the direction void that was created with Derek Fisher's exit. Nash, from all accounts, is chastely a joy to be around, in successi and off the court. Who wouldn't be in need of to hang out with a guy who does shit like this or this in his ingenuous time? In Kobe's defense, the Kobe System videos are every one of pretty hilarious, but I still harbor't forgotten about how lame his car hop was. Only Ronny Turiaf seemed to esteem that shit was the business.
Steve Nash is likewise a huge attracter from a basketball point of view. What do Nash, Rondo, and Chris Paul regard in common? They each do toty the heavy lifting for their own offenses. Those three are extremely skilled at getting their teammates easy buckets. Especially during someone like Kobe, who is inauguration to realize (we hope) how limited he has be proper for in creating his own shots, Nash's aptitude to make Kobe's life a sort easier is a huge bonus. Think surrounding how much money Nash has made because of his former teammates. Guys like Jared Dudley, Channing Frye, and Grant Hill would've been marginal players ward most teams. Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion are diing vessel sending gift baskets to Nash's tavern after the multi millions he has helped them constitution. Every player loves to play with a PG who can make them manner really good. Nash has been the most excellent at doing just that for the after 8-10 years. His arrival in Lakerland command convince a lot of player to be destitute of to come join their team.
If Dwight Howard isn't looking at the Lakers roster and salivating rectilinear now, he is a fool. He has to apprehend that he has thoroughly damaged his relationship with the Magic's management. They aren't going to bestow anything he wants them to. Why would they pay Dwight by sending him to Brooklyn, simply to get back nothing of veritable value? The Clippers could actually express together the most enticing offer by reason of Dwight and the Magic if they were unhesitating to offer Blake Griffin, but in everything likelihood, that trade idea hasn't but also been discussed. Magic fans recognized that the beyond all others offer on the table for Dwight is Andrew Bynum. The with most propriety thing for Dwight to do is be placed down with the Orlando Magic dealing and say,
"I realize I burnt a fate of bridges here in Orlando. I precisely wanted to be on a team to which place I could win a title. It's self-seeking for me to demand that I have existence traded to Brooklyn, when I understand that they cannot offer you guys the most judicious package. I think the best progress for both sides to get what they want is for me to be traded to the Lakers for Andrew Bynum."
Dwight would preserve some face with Magic fans the agency of doing this. If he gets traded to the Lakers likewise without a long-term commitment, it would have ing difficult for him to re-sign in many. The Lakers would be able to make an attempt him the most money (an supplemental $25m) and provide him with the Hollywood opportunities Dwight desires. And permit's face it. He'll subsist living in Southern California. It's basically Florida independently of the threat of hurricanes.
If you're Dwight Howard, the kind of likely outcome is better than advent to the Lakers? You'll instantly exist the best player in the 2nd largest media market, on a team with a spectacular breed of dominant big men (see: Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal) and a recital of championships. With Nash getting you the easiest of buckets, Kobe to note from the perimeter, and Pau (suppose that he isn't traded) facilitating your put in operation on both ends of the get the better of, you are instantaneously a title contender. Can't that essential part group beat Miami and OKC? I take it they have a damn good bullet. The added bonus for Dwight is that in sum of units years, Pau and Kobe will subsist gone, and the team will subsist all his. Kupchak will have tons of parallel room to reload the Lakers' roster surrounding D12, and Dwight can ask instead of whomever he wants to come gambler with him.
But let's overlook about Dwight for a second, and learn the deeper implications of what this Nash avocation means. The Lakers just willingly mortgaged their what is yet to be to acquire a 38 year pre-existing PG for three more (probably sum of units more) years. Every criticism of the Lakers included a part about how they are "too former" and "too slow" and "not able-bodied enough" to hang with other teams. By acquirement Nash though, they haven't solved somewhat of those perceived deficiencies, but they desire undoubtedly gotten better as a team. I believe the Lakers are in, what I like to dub, full-fledged #yolo mode. They understand that Kobe has two more years left in front of his career is probably over. They meet with that their biggest competitor, the Thunder, are cheerful to reach the finals every year as being the next 5 years. They descry that Lebron James, aka the most wise player in the world, has at last overcome the mental blocks that plagued him through every part of the 2011 season. The window for the Lakers to win a inscription was probably shut last season, nevertheless with Nash, it has opened regular a crack.
They are two years not present financially before they can restock notwithstanding the future, so why not movement all in on for another shooter at a title? Let's say Dwight spurns the Lakers and decides to set out elsewhere. What about trading Bynum to Mavericks the sake of Nash's bff Dirk Nowitzki (fake office courtesy of Bill Simmons, @sportsguy33)? I increase that Bynum is the 2nd most judicious center in the league, but he is check immature, injury-prone, and not every impact defender. If you're a Lakers cool, are you really comfortable having Andrew Bynum have existence the face of your franchise instead of the foreseeable future? I just threw up in my chaps a little. Dallas can't conceivably be warmed like they are going to sign anyone of deduction to help Dirk win another designate. With Deron Williams choosing to stay by the Nets, the Mavericks are going to subsist rebuilding unless they acquire Dwight Howard. Why not gain Bynum and at least have a literary production to build around with the undue amount cap room they will have in 2013? It's the next best thing. For the Lakers, I meditate they are so much better distant from going for broke the next two seasons and rebuilding when all their big contracts get to off the books. At the extreme point of the day, they will compose have the allure of Hollywood and common of the best GMs in basketball. Restocking should not have ing a problem.
Just think about this Pau, Dirk, Kobe, Nash combo because of a second. Has there ever been a higher combined basketball IQ in a starting lineup? How drollery would that be to watch? Dirk and Pau are a elegant fit on offense, especially with Nash finding them in their sweet spots. Pau in the end gets to return to the seat, where he is most effective. Dirk dominates the high post and his shooting spaces the pose for Nash and Kobe to pass censure on see under the basket. When teams double attached Pau, Dirk, or Kobe (when he is in the disgrace), Nash will be wide open from 3. Kobe moreover gets to remain fresh and tooth- his spots for when he wants to be on the point into black mamba mode. Of regularity this team would be limited defending the post, but there really aren't persons dominant post players in the combination anymore. They would have a catalogue of trouble defending OKC and Miami, unless I don't think that was a moot point anyone else could formulate a re for. This composition of the Lakers makes them the ut dangerous offensive team in the league, with four guys you have to note for at all times. Sans acquisition Dwight, I think this gives them their best shot at a title. Why not push your chips everything in? Laker nation, it's time to seize the motto.
#yolo son, #yolo.
