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fourplusonemore said: Was that ejection the last time Dwight will be in a Lakers uniform?
I’ve believed for most of the season that Dwight was here for one year. I also believe Dwight leaving is actually the best-case scenario for the team, though Buss and Kupchak may not see it that way.
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How the Mighty Have Fallen
Bus rides down Figueroa Street, Laker chants in every sports bar, purple and gold oceans in downtown Los Angeles, me standing in the middle of those oceans; those days are long gone. I’ve been a Laker fan my entire life, and that is not coming to end. Unfortunately, this season has come to an end and I’m left with a strange feeling the organization is so far removed from the glory days that its current management team simply does not have the formula needed to get the team back to those days. The team has put itself in a predicament and for the first time in the history of this legendary team, it has no control over its immediate future.
The Lakers are the type of team that doesn’t really have an off-season. Even when basketball is not being played, the Lakers are making moves, preparing for the new season; and everybody follows, reports, and discusses each one from rumor to reality. So what should we Laker fans expect this off-season? This year could consist of one big question being answered followed by a bunch of nothing, leading to a 2013-14 season that could be a repeat of the 2012-13 season.
Jim Buss, the not-so-basketball-savvy son of the basketball genius, Dr. Jerry Buss, has put the team’s future on Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard has already admitted this season was a nightmare, this after being ejected during a 7-point performance during the elimination game against the Spurs. Yet, Buss and Mitch Kupchak, Lakers’ GM, insist Howard is staying a Laker. Since Howard is an unrestricted free agent now, the Lakers will make zero moves until Howard makes a decision, and Howard has proven he’s not the best at making quick decisions.
So what happens when Howard finally makes up his mind? If Howard decides to stay, the Lakers will enter a 5-year, $108M commitment with Howard, leaving the Lakers little money for other players. This will leave the Lakers with the decision to amnesty Kobe Bryant, the person who has been the face of the Lakers for 17 seasons. This would be an ultimate slap in Kobe’s face but while I think Jim Buss values dollars over winning, I don’t believe he will take this route. The only other player of trade value is Pau Gasol. I have never been the biggest fan of Gasol, but I’ll admit he was treated like garbage this year and he handled it like a true professional. This trade would have to bring in some serious young talent to make this worthwhile.
On the other hand, if Howard decides he doesn’t want to play with Kobe Bryant for even one more year and decides to go somewhere else, that’s $108M the Lakers get to pocket. This is the decision that puts Lakers management in a position they are accustomed to—one where they hold the cards. The team would now have the ability to go after young talent, they could move up in the first round of the draft, they could start thinking about life after Kobe rather than forcing in a replacement before Kobe is ready to step aside (there can only be one Alpha). In my honest opinion, losing Howard would actually be the best thing that could happen to the Lakers.
As a long time Laker fan, I can say this has been the most frustrating season I’ve ever experienced. I’m actually glad this year is over for the Lakers. But as always, there will be no off-season. The new Lakers season begins tomorrow. Kobe can now dedicate himself to therapy full-time, Howard can stop pretending to like his teammates and can start smiling again until the season ends and he can make his announcement, Kupchak can start trying to convince Jim Buss that D’Antoni’s system simply won’t work with this team, and we can start speculating about the move that will move the Lakers into the top 15 picks of the first round of the NBA draft.
Monday, April 29 2013: The beginning of the 2013-14 Lakers season. It wil be a tall order to get back to the days of purple and gold oceans along Figueroa Street, but in Los Angeles, every dream can become reality. Look around, our City of Angels will chew you up and spit you out, only after that can you rise to become successful and call the city your own. The Lakers must now begin to rise once again, as they did in the 90s.
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Now I must figure out what I’m going to write about the Lakers to close this very depressing season.
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The Season is not Over
I’ve said what I wanted to say about Kobe. Now on to the team. The season is not yet over and the Lakers can still make the playoffs. I was a fan before Kobe and will be when Kobe decides to retire. Now is not the time to stop supporting the team. Whether the season ends Wednesday, or in the first round, or in June; I’ll be watching.
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Kobe Rehab
I have much respect for Kobe, his game, and his heart. A torn Achilles is tough to come back from but I trust he’ll have a successful recovery and come back so he can exit the game on his own terms.
We’ll see the Mamba in a Lakers jersey next year. It’s sad such a great individual season ended this way but that is life.
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Kobe
I’m going to hold off on writing anything until the MRI confirms the torn Achilles.
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I need some classic Laker games. I need to see true Laker centers who proudly wore purple and gold.
Uncle Drew vs Black Mamba, part 2
Win or lose, I can’t wait to see them go at it again. Kobe should convince Kupchak to go after Kyrie.
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Even Jack Can’t Watch the Lakers
Damn. Jack Nicholson got up and left with 7 minutes left in the game. It’s a tough time to be a Laker fan.
Purple and gold through the good and bad years.
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