This could be the question that allows us to know whether this team will truly progress to win a championship or maintain playing veterans that have "retirement imminent" written all over them.

I know I'm harsh with words. But what do you think?

I wouldn't like to be the boss paying 5.6m Walton, 6.7m Peace and 3.4m Fisher.

Of course Fisher is still a starter, but he keeps on making mistakes during the game so much that Blake will eventually get 3/4 of playing time at the PG (unless we start playing Morris...).

Walton has been useful for a couple of games, but then again, Barnes has done a great job, and having him instead of Artest starting was something even Phil Jackson should have figured out but didn't.

Signing or trading for a PG seems unlikely (Arenas) after the "Paul-Gate". Fisher can always be a mentor and perhaps deserves the most his salary.

The Lakers can waive one and have him off the tax and clear the salary cap (so far that seems to be the reason we gave Lamar Odom, 6th man of the season to the defending champions)... And with the hope that at least a small trade would boost our team we can hope that this team will have the fire power necessary to sink the best of the league in the playoffs.

We'll dream of Dwight Howard and perhaps get him next season. Gasol is over-payed at 18m and that's what may have seemed clear to the front office in last year's playoffs (Trading him for Paul can't have helped him clear air of disappointment of last year - we were after a 3-peat after all - to which he had largely contributed).

So the slightest rumour of a trade will trigger massive speculation. And then, perhaps, one of these days we'll wake-up to another Paul-like mad trade that will completely decide the fate of our team this season.

Whatever happens, go Kobe!

I was delighted to find out the following: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/69027/20100908/hawks_add_van_exel_to_coaching_staff/el/#

So Nick van Exel is stepping into coaching.  I must wish him well.

He was an incredible part of the Lakers revival following the showtime period.  And following Magic's retirement he became my favourite players (only to discover Kobe shortly after). So I am very pleased to see him moving on with his career!

All the best Nick, and thank you!

A big fan.

Now that Mitch has given us an efficient and exciting bench, we should look further to see where the Lakers could lose something in the next couple of years if not earlier...

First name should be Phil Jackson. I am a big fan of the triangle offence. It works, and with the right roster it can go on forever. I do not doubt that Brian Shaw has some of the qualities required, but I don't see him taking the team for a long period or being has succesful (facing Doc Rivers, Miami & Orlando in the next few years, unless a big team rises from the hashes of the Western conference). Yes, we should be that confident. We have players signed for a huge period, and for as long as we win Buss is gonna pay. The organisation brings him a lot of profit, and should we stop being at the top again, it always take a while before you make it back.  I started following the Lakers and basketball in general when I started playing in 1994. Jordan was back and Del Harris re-built the Lakers (a lot of credit must go to him too for our past ten years of successes; although he never took us all the way...).

Phil turned the team and mentality around. Winning rings was the only goal. We were no longer re-building, it was an era in which only dominance would be accepted. And he did it, a 3peat is always fantastic, but with Shaq and Kobe it was special (we can call Shaq anything we want now, then we ALL loved him - he was the main contributor, not Kobe).  Phil turned Trevor Ariza, Shannon Brown, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum into winners (remember that Bynum is as old as a rookie).  People started signing and re-signing with the Lakers announced his return this summer. Not sure this would have happened for Shaw.

Really, I think Shaw can win a title(s); and if he wasn't able to we'd move on quickly. But Phil, health allowing, can win another 4.  I know the state of his health and all, but even if he coaches only Home games in four years, he'd still be smart enough to get these guys the right mentality. He does have help. Fisher and Bryant are the leaders off court of this team, and their are motivational. On the court, playing alongside Kobe will always be regarded as a priviledge, Kobe will be hard until he retires, in many many many years I hope. The talent of Bryant combined with Gasol makes this team a consistent dominant opponent. Only the Chicago Bulls of, guess who ZenMaster himself, were able to be better and completely unbeatable, even in the regular season.  With the nucleus of the team, we can really handle less involvement of Phil over the next few years. Say Phil doesn't get the title how many people would prefer him to retire? No one.  We know he'll try his best and we'll know it would have probably not been his fault (somehow against a better opponent, which I see as unlikely).  Unless it is his health that needs it, at that point we'll be able to fully appreciate the fact that this man is/was the GREATEST COACH IN NBA HISTORY!

I know we are potentially approaching an era of super-teams with 3-4 allstars and former glories battling it out in classic encounters, but let's look at the reality. The Celtics bought themselves another year, the Heat will have to learn from the Lakers before they can reach a ring and the Magic continues to be a tragic story of what could have been and what could be... It won't be easy, but we have all the tools to do it. And the most important tool in this team is Phil Jackson. He's the one doing the choreography on the court. Deciding when a player needs rest, or a player needs a chance to explode. What the Lakers have done with Ariza and Brown has been exciting, and this extra excitement brought the team to believe that these last two titles were theirs to take.  We didn't surrender to the Celtics with 3-2 down. We beat the **** out of them. They played the best Defence I've ever seen a team apply during the first half of the NBA Finals. Kobe missed a lot of shoots, but remember why that was. The rest of the team was unable to find itself in an open spot. And Kobe's job was to try and make impossible shots. His injuries probably didn't help, but the impact he had on the team throughout the season was beyond anything LeBron will ever be for his team. Kobe leads this team, this is his team, Shaw played alongside him and I am not sure Shaw would be able to tell Kobe in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to stop shooting. Phil would, he knows that's what it may take to win. Kobe is also smart enough to realise it, his rebounding was suddenly given us extra opportunities to hold the ball in defence. The rest of the team did the job. Phil realised the Celtics were 'cooked', their last six minutes resulted in a revival of a 3point warfare to the last minute, in which the Lakers continued to dominate in every sector.  This was Phil's impact. Shaw needs to learn more. So even if Phil no longer wishes to continue coaching, if he was ever to get involved in any other team, he would impact them very positively. If there are any chances of him getting another job with the Lakers, let's keep him on the payroll! (perhaps some ownership stakes would interest him? He is married dating Buss' daughter... He could run things one day...).

You can imagine a lot of things, anyway I don't see him being as important in any other role and I don't see anyone doing his job better than him.  This team is built around the triangle offence. This is no offensive Show Time (sorry Byron keep learning...).

So on the whole Jackson is too good and too entangled into the Lakers success that not having him at all in our organisation would truly be a major blow. Shaw needs to step into the heir's shoes and start leading this team more often, by giving Phil a needed rest when possible.  But before then at least four years of success can be harvested.

Of course Phil announced this was the last one. Of course he seemed to have favoured a retirement somewhere at the beginning of last month... But he's done it before, and he'll do it every year. This is Zen in all his aspects, taking care of his health. So I wish him the best health a man can get and a long a prosperous continuation of his Laker career until his total retirement from basketball.

Other related posts by Laker Poet The Legendary Exodus of Phil Jackson.

Or out of interest: Will Magic be in Pistons buyers' mix?

Apology, for some reason I lost half of my post in a copy-paste operation... I guess I am not as good as Mitch Kupchak's summer-copy-pasting skills.

In case some article on the internet you read makes you believe the Celtics and the Heat are somehow looking good, just let me remind about what we are looking at...

Miami Heat
Point Guard   Mario Chalmers Carlos Arroyo
Shooting Guard   Dwyane Wade Eddie House
Small Forward   LeBron James Mike Miller
Power Forward   Chris Bosh Udonis Haslem
Center   Joel Anthony Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Coach: LeBron unless Pat Riley comes back...

Extras: Juwan Howard, Arroyo, Magloire.

I will not fall into the trap-argument of this team won't glue ect... Don't forget one thing: Pat Riley. I know his name is like pronouncing satan.  You remember the old friend with great memories of the Show Time Lakers, at the same time you wish no one remembered the fact that he's probably the best basketball mind around with Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers...

The Heat will have a good nucleus around Wade, with Lebron$ and Z from the cavs and Bosh. So there isn't that much change other than for the fact that three former team leaders are finding themselves sharing one basketball.

I'll admit that is pretty difficult to foresee this as positive for their stats, but actually, they don't need to dominate at the same time (a bit like Ray Allen one night, Rajon Rondo another kinda thing - but neither had more than one big game...).

But they'll have no issues leading their division and passing the first round of the playoffs. So at that point will be their moment to show if this can really work. Wade and LeBron$ are likely to affect each others productivity, but in the end, they are great players and will not make it easy on anyone. So they can reach the final, depending also on the level of the 35 year old Celtics team and Dwight Howard's ability to consistently dominate offensivily in the paint.

Boston Celtics
Point Guard      Rajon Rondo      Nate Robinson
Shooting Guard     Ray Allen     Marquis Daniels
Small Forward     Paul Pierce     Tony Gaffney
Power Forward     Kevin Garnett     Glen Davis
Center     Jermaine O'Neal     Shaquille O'Neal

Coach: Doc Rivers, the second best in the league... The best being the best

Extras: Glen Davis, Perkins, Wafer.

Retirement homes seem to recruit a lot during the summer... Joke on the newly born O'Celtics.

Anyway, I'm not pleased. If these guys make it to the final, it's gonna be dirty. Real dirty. I mean Bynum will make Shaq lose 5 kilo per minute played. Ray Allen won't start anymore, Garnett will be one year older, and Rondo will hope Bryant has only 9 fingers available for the night. Oh yes, not to forget, Doc Rivers, he's good. In fact, I consider him the second best coach in the NBA at the moment. So in spite of the fact we all despise them and only wish to confront them to rip every little bit of self-esteem they still have, they will be a tough adversary... But then again, the summer acquisitions don't convince me. Whilst if the Celtics want to get dirty, Barnes and Blake will probably let them know not to mess with the 50cms of Oxygen around Kobe. Anyone who messes with this team with Artest and all is looking for a next life. Some people said we should take Delonte West (!), well, it would be funny, he'll be our traitor.  They can keep Shaq for as many dollars as they want. I forgot to mention Ratliff being a force when Perkins causes problems in the paint... But then again, I really believe Bynum will have an enourmous season. He knows it is time, and Gasol will only benefit from that. If the Lakers are to trade an important player in the next two seasons (no offence Sasha Vujacic) it would either be Odom or Bynum so this is a crucial year for both.

Interesting, but how about this?
Los Angeles Lakers
Point Guard      Derek Fisher      Steve Blake
Shooting Guard     Kobe Bryant     Shannon Brown Sasha Vujacic
Small Forward     Ron Artest     Matt Barnes Luke Walton
Power Forward     Pau Gasol     Lamar Odom
Center     Andrew Bynum     Theo Ratliff

"Optional" Toppings: Caracter & Ebanks

Every weakness has been dealt with. One big guy who can play 10m at least a night and contribute. Two promising rookies, and then two guys who will make this team a tough team for opponents for the full 48 minutes, Barnes and Blake. Don't udnerestimate either, off the bench, they are luxury; not sure we'll be able to keep Barnes, but you never know as salaries may be re-adjusted next year and a 31 year old small forward may no longer be a great market value...

Is anyone still worried?

Maybe the Magic?
Point Guard      Jameer Nelson      Chris Duhon
Shooting Guard     Vince Carter     J.J. Redick
Small Forward     Mickael Pietrus     Quentin Richardson
Power Forward     Rashard Lewis     Ryan Anderson
Center     Dwight Howard     Marcin Gortat

Not even...

Richardson is not going to bring as much as Orlando needs. They need to dominate games, have a leader that can step-up to another level: Howard.

So if we look West who could make it hard on us?

Okhlahoma City Thunder
Point Guard      Russell Westbrook      Eric Maynor
Shooting Guard     James Harden     Thabo Sefolosha
Small Forward     Kevin Durant     Morris Peterson
Power Forward     Jeff Green     D.J. White
Center     Nenad Krstic     Cole Aldrich

If like me you spent the first game of the series trying to remember the names of the whole starting five, then you know by now that these kids could improve in the next couple of years. Young teams often have one great year, after which they often need some copy-paste before challenging for a ring, so it isn't a huge threat. So Durant and Westbrook will be better, but then now we have Blake and Barnes as well to give them no rest... Although I would say that would be more the case for Durant... Westbrook could cause more trouble as a smaller guard like Farmar was until now the second best defensive solution on small guards... Artest will have the chance to shine, I think he'll really be here for a while like Rodman was for the Bulls (Rodman did retire very late, or did he? hehe...).

Well, all we need is all of Kobe's fingers alive, and it's a 3peat!

So we kept our starters and Odom (who is technically a starter 1/3 of Bynum+1/3 of Gasol's time); and we change the whole thing. Kobe lobbyies, Mitch scouts, Buss trusts them, and then bang, the double NBA Champions show up with a whole new bench, just when the bench had looked below par in most of last season (except for Odom & Brown).  Without increasing our salaries by too much (courteousy of Adam Morrison's insane contract, and probably also the two excellent draft picks)!

So our starting five will be improved as injuries will be healed and the bench will take over more minutes.  Do you guys remember how many times we lost huge leads because of our bench last year? Kobe had to play 40 minutes in games we should have walked over, just because the bench wouldn't score or defend (or either).

So Ratliff will get a few minutes at C, which is an upgrade from Mbenga-Powell, he is more consistent. Only problem we are making the team older, this could affect us in injuries (I don't remember Ratliff ever playing a full season), so perhaps 15 players wouldn't be bad (we may have lost Walton).

At PF we acquired Caracter, who was rated in 3rd in the summer league for his big numbers and presence in the paint. He has a lot to work on, and with the thickness of this bench he won't get too many minutes.  But he's an interesting prospect (another ex-character issue). Odom, although he asked for more SF minutes, will probably do more PF tasks as Barnes will get those minutes (last year Walton, Brown, Vujacic and Kobe were taking time at the 3).  Odom has anyway been a monster at the boards, and the addition of Ratliff will allow him to play less massive players. Not sure if his wife conviced him to play more at SF, because she wants him as a starter (to show off), but really, he should stick to PF, he's almost 7-feet and he can rebound, we need him there when Gasol or Bynum is out.

So it can be predicted that players will stick to their positions more. Meaning Barnse will get minutes whenever Artest is not performing (more pressure for both).  Artest showed why he was recruited in the playoffs, but we need a best-record team for home court advantage so neither him - or Fisher - should feel that the bench won't call if they don't perform (seeing Orlando-Celtics-Heat level). If Walton comes back he's expected to compete with Artest-Barnes and hopefully even Ebanks for minutes... He'll cost 15m in contract and with the luxury tax, twice the amount over the next three years.. He's the only negative on this 'new' bench. I truly hope he recovers to at least make a good 15th man! Luuuuuuke!). So a potential weak SF position seems to have turned into a strength, all credits to Kobe's phone, Mitches astuteness and Buss's signatures... (Jerry is a great boss to have, he's a winner, he's still in the 80's, but he's a winner!)

The last big question is who will be Kobe's backup? Brown should be re-signed but Knicks and Cavs are working on him with interesting proposals for his career. Vujacic and his 5.5m dollar, with the luxury tax around, he needs to be at least someone's backup, an 11th man on the bench only there to provide a few 3pt costing 11m dollars seems like a bad idea.  Hughes and McGrady asked to join... Mmm. Unlikely, unless no one signs them - unlikely too. Delonte West (having a 'big argument over him' - I see him more as a PG) is a possibility. Whether he gets waived or traded.  As cheap 5th G he could do, but hey how many shrinks are gonna be on the sideline next year?  Will Jack Nicholson use his 'anger management' on a few of our players?

And the position which I think is most likely to see a starter change: PG. Blake joined in, he's not amazing, but definetely a great match and if he does a good job, he'll certainly do better than Fisher's last regular season! People were actually calling for Farmar to start (and I was starting to listen...) - that's how bad it got! So when they talk of Delonte West, I say great, this maybe FIsher's team and he can sink in crucial shots, but he doesn't need to be on the court to provide that (we kept people like Turiaf and Shaw in the past for similar reasons...). 

Finally we got Phil back. None of the above would have happened without him back. Don't forget Shaw, he should be the guy taking over if MasterZen is not coming back, so this is a huge year of learning for him; he was a G in his days, and he'll rely heavily on Fisher as well as Kobe to provide a smooth transition - if Phil goes (I say he stays for as long as we win and let's Shaw do the away games when rest is required to test him).

So yes, the bench changes have made quite an impact, in the hope of seeing the confirmation of Ebanks and Caracter this is our potential depth chart:

BYNUM RATLIFF

GASOL ODOM CARACTER*

ARTEST BARNES EBANKS* WALTON

BRYANT BROWN* VUJACIC

FISHER BLAKE

We have depth, perhaps the biggest question will be to see if Brown and/or Vujacic come back...  If Bryant doesn't require rest for his finger, those minutes will be little, we'll need a scorer and a guy who can step up in the playoffs. I think Brown can be that guy (if he isn't used as PG, it confuses him). Delonte would just be another smart cost-cutting measure. An evil one, that would take me a bit of time to get used to, but another smart move for Mitch. If it helps to get to catch the Celtics 17 titles and make Phil the unrivaled greatest coach in NBA history, then be it.

LAKERS OFFSEASON GRADE: A (couldn't do better).