IDEA: Which FA bigman should the Lakers sign? (list inside)

therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

we need to sign a couple people and thats all we really need to do
if we want to trade lamar we will have plenty of oppurtunities later but for the summer we only need to sign a couple people

personally i hate Kwame but he might be the best signing at the PF/ C position
or there is also Fazekas ( Clippers ), PJ Brown ( Celtics), Theo Ratliff ( Pistons ), Mutumbo ( Rockets), Barron (heat), Mourning (Heat), Doleac (Timberwolves ), Morris (knicks), Elson ( OKC, but hes most likely going to Denver), Foyle (Magic), Garrity (Magic), Skinner (Suns)

Before i get my head torn off these are just free agents that i saw that fit the spot sort of. theyre just suggestions and feel free to shoot them down im just throwing names out there

Amongst:Kings · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 303

My first choice would be to sign CARL LANDRY...the dude put up better numbers the Ronny in less mins. He plays with heart and is an extremely tough player. I'd then like to sign Kwame Brown. Ive said this since the day he was traded. Big body that brings physical toughness and size. he is also a strong man defender. For a small contract, he is well worth it.

Trade Vlad for Reggie Evans
Evans is a monster rebounder which is what we need. That IMO is where boston really beat us, hustle on the boards which led to second chance opportunities.

Resign Mbenga- big body who is willing to take on any mins he gets and does not shy away from contact.

Bynum/Kwame/Mbenga
Gasol/Landry/Evans

strong PF/C rotation especially considering that Odom will also slid to PF for around 8-10 mins per game.

Helljumper · Joined: 14 May 2004 Posts: 9263 Location: Riverside, CA

Pig Miller · Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 1062

we only need 1 backup PF/C

odom will play some 4, gasol will play some 5, and drew will get the majority of the minutes at the 5

that doesn't leave a whole lot of minutes left, and if there is an injury, maybe we turn to mbenga for a few minutes (if he's on the roster)

Indianballer · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 97

Yeah we either need Landry or Kwame not both. In my oinion we have no depth at PF and 0 toughness of the bench. I say get Landry he'll replace Ronny and then some. Mitch likes Mihm so he's not looking for a backup center. He probably will mbenga for insurance but we all Mbenga will probably not play. Lets just offer Landry like littl emore then half the MLE.

Sign Sasha call it an offseason. If need be we can make trades at the deadline but I say see how this battle tested team performs before making any major trades.

therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

yeah i forgot to include Landry in that post my bad.
i have been liking that idea for awhile now. i understand your desire to bring back Kwame, but im pretty sure he was at Hawks training camp this week. which may mean something but may not i dont know

I think Landry is a good bet though. in fact i havent heard much rumors surrounding anyone else going after him, so ill be surprised if we dont at least make an offer. is there any reason that we wouldnt want him? (injuries, etc.)

DC_King · Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 232

Guys remember we still have Chris Mihim. I would like to trade , but does not look like its going to happen.
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therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

yeah but no one else wants Mihm either so we're kind of stuck with him.

i just read Landry is considering a move to Europe, so if we make a move for him it has to be now

therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

i read the article written about landry through his agent and it seems that the Rockets are fully prepared to re sign him for the MLE so we would have to give a little more than that and a good incentive to play here.

r there any other people we can consider for signing?

Armani · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 963

get landry!
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lkrfn85 · Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 34

SignPippenNow · Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 2263

Guys half the mid level won't bring Landry to LA. He is a restricted free agent so Houston can match him and they probably would for full Mle and certainly for half that.
I wanted Landry in the draft instead of Crittenton and still hate that decision by Mitch. Landry is a big time player or at least he will be.

GinoDB · Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 2549

The Greatest · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 402

some notes on landry though is that first of all houston loves him and his holding on to their full mle just in case somebody comes in with a big offer, but whats stopping contract negotiations btwn landry and the rockets is his knee and an mri that he has taken and is not willing to show or that he refuses to take something along those lines so if there is nothing wrong with his knee why would he not want to prove that he is a healthy player?

therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

i didnt know about the injury being a problem, that does cause a bit of concern...
i still say we offer him the little bit over MLE anyway... i think we need to take a chance on this one...
tough call though...

is there anyone else though that entices any of you?
if im going to be honest id kinda like to see Mutombo ( dont worry i understand we dont want him or need him ) but i like Mutombo and itd be fun to see him in Purple and Gold... mhihi

Helljumper · Joined: 14 May 2004 Posts: 9263 Location: Riverside, CA

I kind of liked what I saw from Skinner when we played against him so if he'd be willing to take the minimum, I'd look into that. Other than that, one of those veterans might be a good fit (Ratliff, Brown, or Mutumbo)
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therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

i think of those you mentioned Ratliff would be a good addition because he could play the PF or the C because of his size. and i think PJ Brown was pushing it last year with his age (even though he still kicked our a$$es) so i wouldnt want him, plus he brings baggage psychologically.

fandango · Joined: 01 Dec 2007 Posts: 69 Location: Shadow Hills

Carl Landry and/or Reggie Evans - YES

Kwame Brown - NO.NO,NO,NO,NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO .

I have trown a small TV frow my window, because of that idiot.
There is no way, that he can wear again the gold jersey. No way! Even, if it is for free. D.J.Mbenga is the same [Swearing is not permitted at Clublakers. You must edit this post prior to submitting.]. Just cheeper.

There are so many young guys playing at C and PF. Why we need to get someone like Kwame or Mutombo or Morning or Doleac. Just look at the Free Agent list.

therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

Dude thats exactly what i did. the first post of this thread is the list of Free Agents.

I happen to like Mbenga because yes hes like Kwame, but with twelve times the heart, plus hes a seven footer who loves to play. he can give us the kind of size everyone wants off the bench.

plus the other names you said are perfect because theyre relatively cheap, experienced players that can add mental toughness to our team.

LakersFan1211 · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

I heard Landry is trying to go overseas as well?

therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

the article actually says that hes had offers from teams over seas and that hes just "considering" all of his options.

if he gets better offers in the NBA im pretty sure he'll take them

his agent just said that hes shopping around and so forth

trodgers · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject:

I'll do this in the other thread as well.

If I were to create a "starting five" of Free Agents, I think I'd go... (and considering Triangle Skills):

PF: Theo Ratliff
C: Kwame Brown

Price Range: both guys will probably see more than the Vet Min. Kwame is coming off a 9.1m salary, but may not see 1/3 of that. Likewise, Ratliff made almost $12m last season...and certainly won't see 1/3 of that. That said, neither will come cheap. Half the MLE should get Kwame at this point, maybe less if he doesn't get the offers soon. Ratliff may end up settling for as little as BAE money, but again half MLE is more likely.
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therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

i liked the idea of Ratliff too

someone told me that he wouldnt fit well into our team though
can someone prove him wrong?
or is there a better choice?

trodgers · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:53 am Post subject:

therealdeal · Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 245

well i think Mourning is a little too big and cumbersome to play PF...in that case i think Ratliff would do a better job.

Farmar
Sasha
Ariza (hopefully Odom at somepoint)
Ratliff
Mihm/Mbenga

besides Sasha we'd be suffering on the offensive end...
is there an offensive minded PF available though?
i think Ratliff would be a good addition we would have to keep Gasol/ Bynum/Kobe someone who can be the scoring option
overall i think Ratliff would be a good addition

lakerfan2 · Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 2844

Now that Kwame is off the list of free agent big men...here's who I feel could fit the backup PF/C role nicely...

1. Francisco Elson - He can body up big men very well and has a defensive mindset. I wouldn't mind him at $1.5 - 2.5 Million.

2. Theo Ratliff - He's long and can change shots, but he's a little old. I believe he'll take less than $2 million

3. Juwan Howard - He was very unmotivated to play in Dallas, and had little playing time behind Nowistky and the up and coming Brandon Bass. He could play the same role as PJ Brown did in Boston. He could play for less than $2 Million.

4. Robert Horry - Don't know how much gas he has left in his tank. But I'll take Big Shot Rob or Cheap Shot Rob as the Sun's like to say back at the Vet's Min

5. Adonal Foyle - Undersized and overweight. Wide body, but that's all he can bring.

If nothing happens, I'll take Mbenga back for cheap.
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10scott10 · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject:

if ratliff's knee is good, i'd take him.

otherwise, i'd go with elson
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emplay · Clublakers Analyst Joined: 15 Aug 2004 Posts: 2784

Maybe Horry - but the Lakers probably go with the Bynum, Gasol and Mihm tandem at center

at the four it's Gasol, Odom, Vlad

three it's an army Odom, Ariza, Vlad, Walton, Kobe

at two it's Kobe, Sasha

at one it's Fisher, Farmar

They probably use 1-2 spots for Karl, Sun and Joe Crawford

Unless there's something big that goes down (Chicago, Atlanta, etc) - this is probably the team with maybe one more spot minute player - Horry, Mbenga.

I personally would LOVE if they signed Q Ross - but I don't think he would come with so few minutes available.

DahaDan · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 134

MUTOMBO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then Landry

jam2

Weezy · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 21550 Location: Anaheim, CA

Of the available guys I like PJ Brown, Theo Ratliff, Elson, and Skinner for a backup.
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