Goldmember

If they add GP and Malone, big deal. There's still only one basketball and Kobe and Shaq are the ones going to touch it the most. GP and Karl are old. Those guys are going to be turned into role players by default and it's not like they're going to be dropping 20/10 every night anymore. How many game winning threes is Karl going to hit? As for Gary, look for him to take the role as spot up three point shooter kinda like Fish used to be. That's not exactly Gary's forte. I can also see a little strife building as Shaq wants Gary to get him the ball more, Gary complies and Kobe gets jealous. There's a definate chemistry problem waiting to happen.

I like Gary and all, but my respect level for him dropped. If he wants to gravy train fine, but there's no guarantee it's going to work out. I remember the Yankees brought in MVP Jason Giambi and they didn't win anything.

MAS RipCity

I totally agree with the whole post. I have lost tremendous amounts of respect for GP. Also, great connection between the GP to LA and Giambi to NY(he hasn't lived up to the hype imo). Also, I doubt GP and Malone will be happy in LA. They won't see the light of day. Since Kobe and Shaq started their referee dynasty the highest scoring average during the season as the 3rd option was Rice at 16 ppg, but that was mainly due to him being a spot up wide open 3 point shooter. Malone and GP are neither. I think LA is in for some serious ego clashing,but htey are still my pick to win the title.

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PDX Fan Since '90

cimalee

No worries here , Egos will clash , gp should have signed with teh blazers for mle , he would have had for control over the team , now he will become what samaki walker use to be , kobes punching bag

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But it's not about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward

RetroDreams

Had GP signed with Portland, you guys would be saying how great the acquisition is. Pretty biased, but I understand.

antibody

Maybe so RetroDreams. Yet, there wouldn't a big EGO problem in Portland like there will be in LA now. It's almost to Portland's demise that players don't seem to have much of an ego.

Dan

It would have been nice to sign him, but his coming here wouldn't have improved our title chances very much.

__________________
A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

Blazer Ringbearer

I think it's safe to say that most of us would be jumping for joy...

It would have added a lot of focus to an often confused team, and a guy to really help Bonzi and Sheed shoulder the load.

With the Lakers they have two guys who demand the ball A LOT and aren't really in need of extra leadership. It may not have been in their best interests to add two guys who have been go-to guys their entire career - well Gary at least since Kemp fell off wagon...

It could also work out very well, who knows...

RetroDreams

By signing players like Malone and Payton, it becomes almost impossible to double team Shaq and Kobe. That is the single most important fact for thier signing.

You gonna double Shaq and leave Malone open for his 15 foot J that's money?

You gonna double Kobe and let GP slice your line apart?

MAS RipCity

True, but it would have helped in the sense that LA would not have had him.

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PDX Fan Since '90

Dan

Actually, Karl Malone isn't "money" anymore. He's shooting below his career average (by a big margin too)..and he can't dominate a game anymore. He's a good addition, but not the "final piece".

Btw, isn't it sick that he's averaged over 20 points a game for every season but his rookie year?

__________________
A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

RetroDreams

He did have a poor playoff series, but he shot 46% on the year. I'll take that ANYDAY provided he managed to rack up the following as well:

Ranks #11 in the NBA in Steals Per Game(1.68)
Ranks #7 in the NBA in Free Throws(474.0)
Ranks #7 in the NBA in Free Throw Attempts(621.0)
Ranks #11 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds(515.0)
Ranks #10 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per Game(6.4) Ranks #11 in the NBA in Steals(136.0)
Ranks #17 in the NBA in Points(1667.0)
Ranks #10 in the NBA in Free Throws Per 48 Minutes(7.75)
Ranks #4 in the NBA in Free Throw Attempts Per 48 Minutes(10.15)
Ranks #13 in the NBA in Points Per 48 Minutes(27.3)
Ranks #11 in the NBA in Total Efficiency Points(1790.0)
Ranks #14 in the NBA in Efficiency Ranking(22.1)
Ranks #12 in the NBA in Efficiency Ranking Per 48 Minutes(29.26)

That's money to me. And if he signs for the vet minimum, that's even more money, baby!

Dan

yah, but that is all as the main cog of a team without hardly any other talent.

Don't fall for the same thing we Blazer fans are known for falling for..expecting the same numbers on one team to apply on our team.

Especially when someone is 40

__________________
A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

Schilly

I can see a major bout of Karma coming.

#1 Robert Horry is leaving
#2 Kobe is unable to beat felony charges and get's jail time
#3 Shaq blasts a knee in trainging camp, out for Season

Result
Lakers are left with GP, Malone and Rick Fox...

Speed

You can still double Shaq and Kobe with those new geezers on the floor.

Please.

The Lakers still have no bench. They signed a 40 year old PF they expect to START who can't rebound anymore. And neither Payton or Malone can hit the three which is ALL THEY NEED TO WIN. WHen Horry and Fish hit their threes and played D, they won. Now those guys are old, so the Lakers decided to replace them with OLDER guys who can't hit the outside shot and take the pressure off Shaq.

And Kobe? well... I hear there's physical evidence. He can't help the Lakers from a jail cell.

Go Blazers

Speed