MVN - Most Valuable Network

NBA Mock Lottery

We are two days away from the draft and I wanted to give an early forecast of what to expect in the lottery. The draft is not an exact science, so everything is opinion based, but follow my logic on some of these picks.

1. Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose PG Memphis

Not even John Paxson can screw this one up, especially after Pat Riley started calling him 15 times a day trying to swing a deal to move up one slot. Michael Beasley is certainly a talent, but the best player in the draft is Derrick Rose.

2. Miami Heat Michael Beasley SF Kansas State

He had a scintillating freshman year and showed that he could do everything on the court. His ability to shoot the three-ball is shocking for a young man with his athleticism. Miami may not like him personally, but that’s only because he hasn’t played yet. That attitude after a 30 point, 15 rebound performance is acceptable, and that he could deliver that from the SF position makes him that much more valuable.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves O.J. Mayo SG USC

Look for Minnesota to trade this pick in an effort to grab Kevin Love and additional pieces later. OJ has got some serious game, and is not the “bad guy” depicted by many writers and NCAA personnel.

4. Seattle Supersonics Jerryd Bayless PG Arizona

This seems like a slam dunk pick as every report has him going here. My only reservation is that I like the Watson/Ridnour platoon, and think they can win with it. Bayless may dominate the ball too much, but this appears to be the pick.

5. Memphis Grizzlies Kevin Love PF UCLA

I think Love will be traded to Minnesota for Mayo and other pieces.

6. New York Knicks Russell Westbrook PG UCLA

It’s never too early to take a player like Russell Westbrook, he’s that good. I laughed earlier in the year when people said he should stay in school, overall, he’s gonna rock.

7. Los Angeles Clippers Joe Alexander SF West Virginia

As soon as the Clippers realize that Al Thornton is really a SG, this pick will crystallize for them.

8. Milwaukee Bucks Danilo Gallinari SF Italy

In the new Milwaukee model this pick makes sense. They had really hoped that Alexander would fall, but take the next best SF available.

9. Charlotte Hornets Brook Lopez C Stanford

Larry Brown should do a good job developing this guy, and you know Larry has some serious input.

10. New Jersey Nets SF Anthony Randolph

The Nets have always been enamored with athleticism and take the best player available.

11. Indiana Pacers PG Eric Gordon Indiana

Indy stays at home and can now go Gordon, Dunleavy and Granger in the Double G and D offense.

12. Sacramento Kings PG DJ Augustine Texas

DJ is slight of build but can certainly distribute the ball. The Kings have some talent on offense and Augustine fits in well here.

13. Portland C DeAndre Jordan Texas A&M

The Blazers have never been afraid to take a risk, and this guy has tremendous upside.

The next two players available are Donte Green SF Syracuse and Chris Douglas-Roberts SG from Memphis. If you don’t believe me, let’s talk in two years…

Shaq has no life

Late Sunday night (instead of ordering Big Mac’s at a local McDonald’s), Shaquille O’neal was busy dissing his former teammate Kobe Bryant.

“You know how I be, last week Kobe couldn’t do without me.”

Shaq continued his rap stating expletives and pretty much slamming Kobe for Shaq’s divorce. I don’t know what this whole divorce situation is about but Shaq is out of his mind.

Shaq is certainly past his prime and his time for dominance is gone; he’s trying to strengthen his legacy in Los Angeles by stating that he is the sole reason that the Lakers won the three championships. Sole reason? No. Biggest reason? Yes. During those championship years, Shaq was the most dominant big man that the game had seen. He was ripping up double-teams and triple-teams with no fear and the Lakers marched their way through the playoffs with an undetermined vengeance. The Kobe-Shaq feud continued to grow and eventually the Lakers opted to keeping Kobe and kicking Shaq out. I don’t care what anyone says but a feud between two grown men cannot be forgotten. It can be forgiven but not forgotten. It’s just not that easy. Especially when your sitting at home, like Shaq, and watching your former counterpart winning a MVP and fighting for a title.

Shaq has grown jealous of Kobe and on Sunday night, maybe with some alcohol, Shaq just let his subconscious mind tell the truth. Shaq refuted the comments and stated later Monday that the rap was just for fun, “Everyone that knows Shaq knows two things about me: One, that I’m a rapper, and two, that I’m a comedian. When I played with Kobe, me, him, Brain Shaw, J.R. Rider, we had freestyle sessions all the time…all in fun and we said crazier stuff than that. If I hurt anyone’s feelings, I apologize.” Sure Shaq, go ahead and cover yourself up. You know that your time is over and Kobe, with the help of some better teammates, will be holding the O’Brien trophy soon. What gives Shaq the room to talk anyway? Shaq can’t even win with a loaded roster in Phoenix.

Laker vacation plans

As the Lakers plan for the off season, Mitch Kupchak has already come out and said that he wants everyone back by virtue of this comment, “If we did nothing,” Kupchak said, “and brought back the players that are our existing free agents, just by virtue of this team aging one more year and getting Trevor (Ariza) and Andrew back, I think we’re right back in the hunt.”

Although that might be true, many Laker fans are looking for Mitch to make a big splash and bring in a Ron Artest or maybe Tayshaun Prince to add the grit many think the Lakers need.  The soft tag has been a put on this team unfairly, and although I doubt the Lakers do anything, it is some thing where everyone has a suggestion.  If the Lakers are so soft how did they eliminate the gritty Utah Jazz?  What about the Spurs; how did they fall to the soft Lakers?  Bottom line is this, had the referees called game two correctly, the series probably would have gone seven games, and the Lakers would not have laid an egg two games in a row.

One of the goals of Mitch Kupchak is to re-sign both Sasha Vujacic and Rony Turiaf.  Both are free agents and its unknown what type of dollars they would command on the open market.  Kobe and Sasha have worked out in the off-season the last two years together and have grown close.  Kobe added this when asked about Sasha, `With Shi-shi (Sasha). He should do what’s obviously best for himself and his family. Obviously as a big brother, that’s the best advice I could give him,” Bryant said. “I would love to keep him around for selfish reasons, because of his defense, his passion, and his shooting was obviously something that was invaluable to us this year, so for my own selfish reasons, I would love to keep him here, but as a big brother, he has to do what’s best for him and his family.”

I think the Lakers are prepared to pay reasonable dollars to retain both players, but there are no guarantees.  Should they lose the services of Sasha it would be imperative that they add a similar type guard.  In order to do that, they would either have to trade another player in the rotation, draft somebody or sign a player with their MLE.  It makes the most sense to offer Sasha a reasonable contract the first day of free agency, and get him off the market as quickly as possible.  Five years and 35 million would be fair for both parties.  It is a substantial amount of money or the common man, but about the average in the NBA.  This amount should eliminate the better teams from acquiring him as they are all over the cap.  The few teams with cap space will be targeting higher profile players initially, and if turned down, could make a guy like Sasha a much bigger offer.  That’s what Mitch needs to prevent.

In regards to Rony Turiaf, I think he wants to stay in LA so bad we may be able to get him at a discount.  It would probably work out to be fair market value for Rony, as he doesn’t have a strong reputation nationally, but is beloved locally.  I really respect his game, and think he is a player that must be re-signed.  I would go three years for 12 million for him.  By keeping the years shorter you lower the risk for the Lakers, but could have to pay a lot more in the end if Rony becomes a starter.  It’s a reasonable deal for both parties.

Two other Laker players that are free agents include DJ Mbenga and Coby Karl, and they should be resigned as well.  I thought DJ had a difficult time initially with the triangle, but got better as time went on.  I also thought that the coaching staff did a great job of utilizing his strengths and hiding his weaknesses, as they realized what he could and couldn’t do.  I’d like to see him get a one year deal with a team option for year two, money wise, a million for the first year, and one and a half for year two, if the Lakers exercise the option.

Coby Karl is a shooter who will inevitably take a few years to develop.  Guys like this are usually signed to the NBA minimum, and unless another team offers him more, I would stick with that.  He’s probably not going to get enough minutes to improve on that number, and I’m pretty sure he wants to be here.  If he gets into the rotation and produces; he’ll be paid accordingly.

If there are no trades and all of the above is accomplished the Lakers will have 14 players on their roster.  I don’t believe that Ira Newble will be back, as I see another team giving him a chance to play.  The Lakers next move should be to add someone via the draft that can be developed by Dan Panaggio, and their NBDL affiliate LA Defenders.  That player should be Joey Dorsey.  The Lakers could package their second rounder (58th), with the Memphis second rounder acquired in the Gasol deal, plus a million in cash to move up to draft him.  Most draftniks have Dorsey going anywhere from 35-45, so it’s reasonable that deal like this could happen.

Dorsey is a proven defensive stopper at the college level, and could provide the blood, sweat and tears the Lakers will need in their future NBA wars.  Plus as the 15th guy, he’ll have time to develop his trade as the Lakers won’t need him contribute right away.  I prefer the promoting from within approach the Lakers have used to build their team and hope it continues.

Looking into next season

 

The Lakers played like champions until they got into the NBA finals. The Celtics were just a better team. They beat the Lakers in every facet of the game. From the bench to three-point shooting, it was like the Lakers we were used to seeing were gone forever. Doc Rivers did an excellent coaching job in these Finals. In the playoff games with Atlanta, Cleveland and Detroit, Rivers had a hard time adjusting substitutions. But in the Finals, Rivers found the right mix and the team found its chemistry at the right time. Even Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown came up big. This team has the capability to repeat and will be the clear favorites to win it again. I have to disagree with Kobe Bryant’s postgame comments in which he stated that the Celtics weren’t the toughest defense he ever faced. I’ve never seen a team shut down Bryant the way they did in this series. It wasn’t like Kobe Bryant lit them up for 45 one night and was quiet the following night. The Celtics played consistently tough on Bryant and made it tough for him on every basket. He was quiet throughout the whole second-half of Game 6 and didn’t even look like himself in the fourth quarter. Credit has to be given where credit is due: Boston, you deserved this one.

 

What’s happened has happened and the Lakers must learn to look past it but learn their mistakes. I hate to make excuses here but this series would be different if Andrew Bynum was in the mix. Bynum’s shot-blocking abilities and rebounding were two major issues that the Lakers were struggling with. He would have contested Garnett more physically and kept Kendrick Perkins quiet. But I still don’t think it would have been enough. You could tell from the Boston Celtics that this was just their year. In a few weeks, the parade and joy will be over and talk of the next season will come around. If the Lakers can add a few more pieces they will return to the Finals to win this time.

 

Slasher and Defender: The Lakers were continuously beat on defense and looked soft during key times in the series. The Game 4 collapse was indicative of the whole series: the Lakers couldn’t clamp down on the Celtics when it really mattered. If they can go into the offseason and acquire a defender who can face-up with the likes of a Paul Pierce consistently then this team has found an answer to one of its biggest problems. I would think that Trevor Ariza could fit this mold, but I still question why he wasn’t played that much in the Finals. I think his injury was still an issue and this prevented him from getting any playing time. If I were the Lakers I would look into bringing a player like Josh Howard into the mix. Yes, I know he has off the court issues but it’s something that a winning attitude and veterans can fix. Howard is a good slasher, meaning he can find his way to the basket and maneuver without the ball, and can defend the best guards in the league. At least having him and Ariza in the lineup could pay great dividends. Maybe even better option than Howard is Shawn Marion, that is if he decides to go into the free agency market. 

 

Outside shooter: The Lakers have good shooters but they were certainly quiet in the Finals. Sure, Vujacic and Radamonovic had their games but they were major defensive liabilities and couldn’t be counted on late in games. The Lakers should stay away from one-dimensional players and look into getting a consistent shooter who can at least play a little defense. This player can be found through the draft or free agency and should be chosen carefully. 

 

Adding another key veteran: How big were P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell in the Finals? Maybe they didn’t light up the box-score but their timely shots and off the court leaderships were undoubtedly key components for the Celtics going all the way this year. Most importantly they weren’t some old fogies who just took up space on the bench, these guys could actually come in and play. The Lakers should look to add a Michael Finley type player who could provide some veteran leadership and be depended on late in games. This could have paid great dividends when the Lakers were trying to keep the Celtics down during the Game 4 collapse.

 

Summary: I hope the Lakers can resign Vujacic and Turaif and then head into free-agency and draft with an idea of the players they want to sign. This team has the core pieces in place and now it just needs to add the screws to keep it from falling. 

 

To all my fellow Lakers fans: our time will come, keep faith that management will provide the right pieces this summer