Pippen to the Lakers?

[Lefty]

ESPN radio said yesterday that Pippen would like to join the Lakers for the minimum. That would be one awesome team, not that it isn't already.

 

[JS22]

That is freaking crazy.

Payton
Kobe
Pippen
Malone
O'neal

..Dream Team 2 meets the new generation. Barring any chemisty or injury problems the Lakers might as well be given the trophy now. 75 wins would not be impossible.

HOWEVER, I could deffinantly also see that team just falling apart. Too many ego's and not enough basketballs to go around.

 

[Chaplin]

You're assuming that Pippen actually is a good player. Sadly (or maybe not so sadly), he is not.

 

[JJ Slim]

Could the Lakers even sign him to the minimum? I thought they were over the salary cap which is why they had to sign Malone and Payton to the two exceptions. Or can teams sign as many minimum salary players as it takes to fill out there roster regardless of their cap status?

 

[KloD]

I'm sure the Lakers feel they should be handed the trophy too.
This is what will lead to their failure.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by KloD
I'm sure the Lakers feel they should be handed the trophy too.
This is what will lead to their failure.

That's what happened this last year.

Last season Shaq delayed his toe surgery and came back very slowly to his regular form, constantly saying he would be fine by June (an assumption that the team would be in the Finals). The team was eliminated in May. Many of the other players were vocally upset at Shaq for much of the season regarding his lazy attitude toward his surgery and the season in general.

Now they aren't taking it for granted, they're reloading and refocusing.

The Lakers are doing all they can to strengthen their team to have the opportunity to win a title. It's what every team in the league should be doing in the offseason.

San Antonio went on and on about clearing money to bring in two big free agents - what have they done?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa


San Antonio went on and on about clearing money to bring in two big free agents - what have they done?

Next year...Garnett

Mike

 

[fordronken]

Pippen is not the player he used to be, obviously. However, he is still a very intelligent player who comes in already understanding the triangle offense. At this stage in his career he simply makes his team better(Portland played much better last year when Pip was healthy).

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I know these guys are professionals and what has happened in the past shouldn't matter once they're on the same team, but who out there wouldn't be surprised if Shaq and Karl, or Kobe and Scottie didn't get along too well? Especially Kobe and Scottie. Scottie all but called Kobe a liar because Scottie felt that Kobe exaggerated a minor injury or illness all so he would be compared to MJ when his team eventually won. I'm not sure all of the bad feelings between these guys will be swept under a rug and forgotten.

I think it would be cool if Scottie got another ring. Then he too would have more than MJ, the alleged greatest player ever.

 

[schutd]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa

I think it would be cool if Scottie got another ring. Then he too would have more than MJ, the alleged greatest player ever.

Youre a troublemaker starting topics like that mid thread. TROUBLEMAKER!

Besides, we all know the greatest player ever is Larry Bird.

 

[fordronken]

Originally posted by schutd
Youre a troublemaker starting topics like that mid thread. TROUBLEMAKER!

Besides, we all know the greatest player ever is Larry Bird.

As long as we don't start the MJ vs. Wilt debate from last summer, I won't get too upset.

 

[BALLERMANIA2]

i dont particularly care for anyone of those players, but i would be a fool to think that team wouldnt dominate. the only thing that could possibly trick up the whole situation is kobe. all of those other players are team concept players. malone scored a lot in his career but it wasnt a gimme the ball and get outta the way offense. i feel that he could adjust because he knows he's at the end of the road. he just can stand outside and shoot wide open 17 footers all day because shaq draws doubles and triples. i honestly dont know if kobe can deal with two other people(pippen and payton) who can handle the ball effectively. i think his ego might tell him that they are getting to touch the ball too much. this wont be a problem with malone and gp because they want a ring badly. kobe probably takes his championships for granted because he didnt have to wait 10 years to get his first through third ones. if kobe can check himself and his ego, the team has made major upgrades at every position and they WILL win. they really dont even need pippen, he would be just icing on the cake. i was a little envious at first of the lakers additions, but i know that with the age of some of the players, they wont be dominate for numerous years. also, kobe will probably be a dummy and try to go to another team to show he can win a ring without shaq. so, the lakers can have their fun now , but we will be challenging very soon.

 

[jbeecham]

Well, I seem to remember Shaq complaining that he wasn't getting enough touches and Kobe was shooting too much. Now he's going to have GP & Malone & maybe Pippen all taking touches away from him. I think Shaq will get frustrated quickly because his ego is too big to see the big picture.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Not that I don't think the Lakers have the potential to dominate, but Pippen would add very little.

Signing Pippen would diminish the roles of younger players such a Walton and Cook. Any good team needs the skill and saavy of the veteran plus the energy and enthusiasm of youth.

The key to the Lakers season is not Payton, Malone, or Pippen. Its not even Kobe really. The key to their season is the big guy.

If he comes back motivated, healthy and in condition, the Lakers could win it all with last year's roster.

Sorry to say, early indications are that Shaq is putting in some work in this off season.

 

[BALLERMANIA2]

i agree with the fact that if shaq is healthy and motivated, it is going to set the tone for the league period.

 

[Goldfield]

First of all, I HATE the Laker...

But I do think I will watch alot of their game this year, they SHOULD be very fun to watch...



That being said, they "kinda" remind me of the trailblazers. The Blazers never had a team like "that" but they seemed to have too much talent and it allways backfired...



But how bad would it be IF the Lakers DIDNT win it all? With a team like that, they BETTER win it all or they will become the laughing stock of the NBA....

 

[Freddie]

I think the team the Blazers assembled had a lot of "good" players. The team the Lakers have is filled with "great" players.

 

[Goldfield]

Originally posted by Freddie
I think the team the Blazers assembled had a lot of "good" players. The team the Lakers have is filled with "great" players.

Funny, I think I sort of said that...

 

[se7en]

... Great players who don't have a history of injury problems, suspensions, ejections, flagrant fouls, the inability to elevate their games at crunch time or better yet problems with the law and drugs...

And even better, they'll be playing for a coach they most certainly respect...

And one more thing... They're not young players trying to jack up their stats for big future contracts... They just want a ring...