[Diophantos]

The problem with Lakers now, the way I see it, is they don't have the two things you need when you have a dominant wing player like Kobe: great rebounders and great spot-up shooters. Odom and Caron are both excellent players, but their strengths are creating off the dribble for shots or passes, something they rarely get to do with kobe dominating the rock. The Clippers might have been a better fit for Kobe, with better rebounders in Brand/Wilcox and maybe some better shooting from Jaric, Simmons, Maggette.

[JustinSane]

Kobe may have won more initially (maybe even another ring or two) by signing with the Clippers, but being an employee of Donald Sterling would eventually strip away the remaining tatters of his fragile sanity. Not a good trade off. He may never win much with this Lakers team, but at least it's a class organization.

[EHL]

Originally posted by Captain Obvious!


Remember, if Kobe had signed with the Clippers they would have Kobe, Maggette, and Brand all signed long-term. They'd also have some nice young talent with Livingston, Kaman, Wilcox, etc. As long as they kept decent role players around the big three, they'd be contenders for a long time.

You're ignoring the fact that Sterling has been a cheap owner his entire career, and it would be a good bet that he wouldn't pay to keep guys like Wilcox, Kamen, Livingston, etc.

[BallStateCards]

Originally posted by JustinSane!
Kobe may have won more initially (maybe even another ring or two) by signing with the Clippers, but being an employee of Donald Sterling would eventually strip away the remaining tatters of his fragile sanity. Not a good trade off. He may never win much with this Lakers team, but at least it's a class organization.

Yeah, it may drive him JustinSane!

*rimshot*

Athankyou

BOO!

[Captain Obvious]

Originally posted by EHL!


You're ignoring the fact that Sterling has been a cheap owner his entire career, and it would be a good bet that he wouldn't pay to keep guys like Wilcox, Kamen, Livingston, etc.

That doesn't matter. As long as Kobe, Maggette, and Brand are on the team surrounded by some non-NBDL players they'd be contenders.

[EHL]

Originally posted by Captain Obvious!


That doesn't matter. As long as Kobe, Maggette, and Brand are on the team surrounded by some non-NBDL players they'd be contenders.

Elton Brand and Mag are not that much better than Odom and Butler. They definitely would not be contenders with just those three players.

[Xericx]

Originally posted by EHL!


Elton Brand and Mag are not that much better than Odom and Butler. They definitely would not be contenders with just those three players.

Brand and Magette are WORLDS above Odom and Butler. Kobe and Magette were purportedly personal friends.

The only reason I see that he wanted to stay on the Lakers is because they basically handed him the keys to the franchise.

But the Lakers soul is gone. No more Jerry West. No more Chick Hearn. These are a different lakers organization.

[EHL]

Originally posted by Xericx!


Brand and Magette are WORLDS above Odom and Butler. Kobe and Magette were purportedly personal friends.

Nope, not even close really. A team of Butler, Odom and Wade with injuries last season went 42-40. A Clippers team with Brand and Mag and much more talent than last year's Heat were still one of the worst teams in the league, and worst in the West. There's very little difference between Mag-Brand and Odom-Butler. Neither are championship combos, but they are definitely very good starting role players on the right team.

But the Lakers soul is gone. No more Jerry West. No more Chick Hearn. These are a different lakers organization.

Lakers are very much the same with the Buss family, but yes, Chick's passing was absolutely devastating. No one, even non-Laker fans, can ever truly get over the loss of a commentator of his value.

That said, and not to be cold, Chick wasn't what kept the Lakers competitive. West and Buss were. West is gone, so we'll see if Buss and Kupchak can work some magic.

[Milk]

you cant compare the clips last year and the heat last year bc the heat had a great point guard to get everything going the clips lacked at that spot which is why they strugled. brand is miles ahead of odom and magette is 100000 miles ahead of caron whats his face you gota be kidding me to compare corey to caron

[Debt Collector]

of course he made the right desision. its the clippers for godsakes

[EHL]

Originally posted by Milk!
you cant compare the clips last year and the heat last year bc the heat had a great point guard to get everything going the clips lacked at that spot which is why they strugled. brand is miles ahead of odom and magette is 100000 miles ahead of caron whats his face you gota be kidding me to compare corey to caron

No, I'd say it's pretty much because Mag isn't great at setting up other players. To say they're miles ahead of Odom and Caron is just ridiculous, especially when look at how badly the Clippers have failed over the past few seasons with those two as their core. And having a rookie Wade (who has injured a good portion of last season anyway) might make up for all the additional talent the Clippers had over the Heat last year outside Mag and Brand. Plus, Jaric is hardly a bad PG.