Mr. Predictable

Something Kupchak should atleast look at:

Los Angeles sends:
Caron Butler
Devean George
2005 1st rounder

Chicago sends:
Eddy Curry
Eric Piatkowski

Works cap wise.

The Bulls are hesitant on overpaying Curry right now, and they need some big guards to play the 2/3. The potential of Curry is enticing, but with Tyson Chandler they always have the luxury of moving him over to the 5 spot and trading Hinrich for Wilcox or something along those lines.

Los Angeles is primarily a jump shooting team right now, they won't ever rise to prominence until they have a legit low post threat. Although rebounding is something the Lakers need, they can risk sacrificing that for the spacing Curry will create for Kobe on the offensive end.

I realize this is a bit of a stretch, but just thought I'd see what Laker fans think of it.

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"He's the best center in the NBA on one end now," Mavericks swingman Jerry Stackhouse said. "The team has to focus on him more than any center in the NBA, even Shaq."

"He's 7-6, turning and fading. You want a guy to turn out, unfortunately he was hitting the shot," Brown said. "What could I do? I had a hand up. I was, '(Man), another one.' Now I know what it's like when guys play against Kobe (Bryant)."--- Kwame Brown on Yao's 16-25 shooting performance

5/29 Mock Draft 1.0

EHL

Lakers only have two players they can trade to fix their skill set holes. Those two players are Butler and Odom. Butler is too valuable to let go for a guy like Curry. He's the Lakers' most valuable trading piece. He's young (24), cheap ($2M per), locked in long term (2007), has some upside, and most importantly is already a good player to begin with. Only Odom can claim all those qualities, with the lone exception being his contract, and that exception is a big one. Odom’s contract severely limits the Lakers' flexibility to trade him for a legit PF/PG, the two positions the Lakers have skill set voids in. With Butler the Lakers are very flexible, they’d be able to package expiring contracts (Divac, Atkins, George, etc.) to a team looking for cap space who’d be willing to part with their budding PG or PF. Doing that with Odom would be extremely difficult, his contract is locked in until 2009 at nearly $10M more per year than Butler’s, whose contract is two years shorter.

Besides, the Lakers would look at Chandler before they'd ever look at Curry. Curry plays the same position as Mihm, and he's not really that much better than Mihm. On top of that, the Lakers would have to worry about paying Curry, while Mihm is locked in until 2007 at $3.5M per.

Chandler can play the 4 just fine and would improve the rebounding/shot blocking/defense tremendously, while also letting Odom slide back to his more natural position (SF). But I very much doubt the Bulls deal Chandler. Or Curry.

Mr. Predictable

Butler will be an expiring contract NEXT year, looking for a lucrative extension. A team won't be able to win with him as their 1st or 2nd option, so lets not overestimate Butler's value right now. He came into the league with everyone thinking he was the next Paul Pierce and hasn't improved since his rookie year.

Chandler would look nice on the Laker's roster, but I doubt Chicago is willing to deal him. Curry would be easier to trade for as he is useless when he isn't scoring. You have to look at how tough the West is going to be and make a gamble. The Lakers will never be able to get out of the 2nd round without a post presence. Phoenix has Amare. Houston has Yao. San Antonio has Duncan. Sacramento has Webber. Dallas has the depth to make up for whatever offensive firepower they lack in the paint.

Odom can shake and bake in the paint in the little bit but isn't a high % option in the post like you would want your big man to be.

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"He's the best center in the NBA on one end now," Mavericks swingman Jerry Stackhouse said. "The team has to focus on him more than any center in the NBA, even Shaq."

"He's 7-6, turning and fading. You want a guy to turn out, unfortunately he was hitting the shot," Brown said. "What could I do? I had a hand up. I was, '(Man), another one.' Now I know what it's like when guys play against Kobe (Bryant)."--- Kwame Brown on Yao's 16-25 shooting performance

5/29 Mock Draft 1.0

Lakerman33

IM not to fond of this trade. I think Curry is overrated

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KennethTo

And curry will be looking for the Max THIS SUMMER, besides showing no effort playing D. I'll take my chances w/ butler thank you

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jazzy1

Lets not be blind here , Butler isn't that valuable when you have Kobe and Odom. Curry would fill our need as a low post scorer. We'd have a line-up similar to that of the Cavs with Big Z. Curry is just about as good offensively.

We could slide Mihm to the 4 Odom to 3 and still keep it rolling. It would save Mihm some foul trouble as well.

Butler is a luxury we can't afford to keep because his presemce keeps Odom at 4 and that won't ever be effective.

Butler's contract isn't all that valuable . For his affect as a player it would be hard to find a player of like talents to fit our need positions.

Butler must go its simple as that. He has value, some skills and could be intriguing for teams needing a slashing 3 man.

Curry wouldn't be my 1st choice Magloire would with Chandler being 2nd but I'd take Curry he's better than Mihm is as a center in this league and still really young.

Bartholomew Hunt

I think the deal is fair, but I really do not want Curry. We need guys with attitude. Plus, our defensive is already the worst in the league. Can you just imagine a front line of Curry and Mihm? We would get demolished nightly.

SoCalfan21

i dont like bringing in a guy that will replace mihm yet keep mihm if i were to fix this trade take out pike and put in like a point gaurd on the bulls

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Dre™

I think the deal is definetly worth looking at if you're Kupchak. Butler for Curry is essentially it, but I don't think the Bulls deal Curry. I think he's a bigger asset to them in the East then Butler would be, and I would not trade Hinrich, especially not for Wilcox. It's going to be hard to find a big man you could trade for Hinrich that is at least on an equal plain.

Everybody mentions Wilcox, but the Clippers seem to have no thoughts about trading him right now, and they don't need Hinrich with Livingston coming along, unless you're going to try to put them in the backcourt together. It just doesn't work for the Bulls, they do need a bigger SG/SF, but I don't think they should do it at the expense of Curry. He's more valuable in the east than Caron Butler would be.

Come to think of it, the Lakers might not even want anything to do with Curry, given his coming contract and Mihm's development. Butler will probably be looking for an extention, but I don't see him getting anything other than an escalator starting at 4-5 and ending at 6-7. That's exponentially less than what Curry's going to fetch. And you never know if Kupchak is having any pipedreams of luring Yao or Amare to LA in 07, getting Curry could put a monkey wrench in that.

I agree the Lakers do need a post presence if they expect to go anywhere, but he doesn't necessarily have to be for Butler, who looks like a big part of their future. There are some free agent options this summer and the following they could try the MLE for.

Bottomline, I don't think Curry would benefit LA as much as Butler, especially with a surprising/improving Chris Mihm on the roster. That leaves the Lakers with a bigger hole at the 3 then they had at the Center position. And the Bulls I think are more likely to keep on to Curry, and build upon the talented starting 5 they have. I don't think they want to deal any of their young perimeter players, and that's what they'd have to do if they wanted a respectable player in the post along with Chandler.

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EHL

No he won't, he'll take a qualifying offer because he won't be getting offers much higher than his qualifying year will pay. Playing another year will increase his value, similar to what Stromile Swift is doing this year.

Who said he needed to be a 1st or 2nd option?

Curry isn't the answer as low post scorer. The Lakers need a real PF, not Curry and his 2 cent heart and brain.

The Lakers are looking at acquiring a PF who can score inside, defend, and rebound. Not Curry.

daniel80111

How bout we get a 7 foot 1 power forward, thats probably one of the best rebounders in the league, and can block shots and play very aggressive defense. I think his name is Tyson Chandler, do what you have to do to get him, butler, odom, I don't care, that guy brings nastiness that every team needs in the paint night in and night out. Just find a way to get him. 7 foot 1...biggest pf in the league and incredibly athletic!!!

Locke

I don't like Curry's game nor his demeanor on the court at all. He has no "presence" in the middle like a big should, but since there's such a shortage of centers who can walk and chew gum at the same time he thinks he deserves to be maxed out and will wind up signing with the first team desperate enough to offer it to him; and make no mistake about, someone out there will pay him what he wants. Forget him. I mean I'm not mad at him since he wants to be paid, but he hasn't shown squat to prove he is or ever will be worth all that money.

Spriggan

Why would the Bulls even consider adding another swingman (much less two) when they've already got a plethora of them?

Pinball

I wish we would have moved quicker when Dalembert was on the block. He'd fix alot of the problems we're having right now.