Bender being traded to LA????

[AleksandarN]

WTF if that is indeed true why could we not package something for Bender and thier pick. What are the Pacers thinking if this goes down. THey get Devean George, Slava Medvedenko and a second-round pick for Bender and thier number 1 pick.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_13091.shtml

What Now?
Now that the coach is out of the way, what's next for the Lakers?

As originally revealed by Hoopsworld.com in April, Jonathan Bender is indeed on his way to Los Angeles along with the 17th pick in the draft. In return, the Lakers will send Devean George, Slava Medvedenko and a second-round pick. Loose ends: which Laker second-rounder goes to Indy? Did the Pacers convince the Lakers to send Brian Cook instead of Medvedenko? Expect the deal within a day or two of draft day, although it may not be triggered until June 28.

With that in mind, the Lakers will have the 10th, 17th, 37th and 39th picks in the draft. Assuming one of the second-rounders go to the Pacers, LA will have to decide if they can fill their needs where they stand . . . or make a package to move up. The following are potential picks that that have been associated with the Lakers. Keep in mind that some of these may be smokescreens or just wild rumors run amuck

 

[funkykingston]

If true, I don't see the value of this trade to the Pacers.

George and Medvedenko have ending contracts, but Bender's is up a year later. And even with Miller's retirement, the Pacers will still be over the cap next summer.

I knew that the Pacers were shopping their pick, but why not just deal it for cash, or for a future first? Or do they really think that Bender is worthless?

Despite his myriad of injuries and less than stellar seasons, Bender does still have great size (for a guy who plays primarily on the wings), a nice shooting touch and some potential.

I'd hate to see the Lakers get a good reclamation project AND a draft pick in a fairly deep draft for what amounts to spare parts.

 

[Bricklayer]

I've just about given up on Bender at this point, but you just can't give Phil Jackson yet ANOTHER hypertalented underacheiver to work with. One of those guys will turn it around for him, and then the Lakers will be back.

 

[Ryle]

Everything I have heard about Bender healthwise is bad news. He is only 24 but last year the Pacers were mentioning "career threatening". He played in 7 games last year, 21 the year before that and 46 the year before that. That's 74 games over the last 3 years.

 

[funkykingston]

If this is a legit trade rumor (I've heard it for quite a while now) then you have to figure it is absolutely ZERO risk for the Lakers.

The 17th pick could very well net a solid contributor. Jack, Diogu, May, Taft, Villaneuva in addition to what they can get at 10. Or maybe they package those two picks with Caron Butler to move up to get Bogut, Green or Paul.

If Bender FINALLY stays healthy and produces it is basically a bonus. At the very worst, they pay him 7 mil for two seasons and let him go.

And the reason it is no risk to LA is that with Phil coming back, the chances of Devean or Slava playing meaningful minutes is pretty slim. I'd look for Odom to move to the 3 where he can avoid beatings and use more of his versatility. Butler will either come off the bench or get traded. I think even Walton will move ahead of George on the depth chart b/c of his hoops IQ and passing. He always struck me as a purely Phil Jackson pick.

Medvedenko was buried during Jackson's first go around and I suspect he will be again.

A great deal for LA, but I still don't understand the motivation on Indy's side. If I'm Petrie I'd eagerly offer up Kenny Thomas for Bender and the 17th but it looks like Indy is looking to cut costs, not necessarily looking for equal trade value. In that case KT's contract would be prohibitive. Corliss maybe?

 

[Bricklayer]

It does seem that are a variety of darft day type of deals out there to be made -- lot of people looking to move picks, players etc. Now whether we make them or not is another question.

 

[Lamar_Odom]

If true, I don't see the value of this trade to the Pacers.

George and Medvedenko have ending contracts, but Bender's is up a year later. And even with Miller's retirement, the Pacers will still be over the cap next summer.

I knew that the Pacers were shopping their pick, but why not just deal it for cash, or for a future first? Or do they really think that Bender is worthless?

Despite his myriad of injuries and less than stellar seasons, Bender does still have great size (for a guy who plays primarily on the wings), a nice shooting touch and some potential.

I'd hate to see the Lakers get a good reclamation project AND a draft pick in a fairly deep draft for what amounts to spare parts.

Ending contracts. Plus, Bender has been a disappointment for the Pacers.

 

[Lamar_Odom]

I'd hate to see the Lakers get a good reclamation project AND a draft pick in a fairly deep draft for what amounts to spare parts.

You'll be hating for a while. Players love playing for the Lakers especially now as they try to rebuild and get back to contention. As they say, "I love L.A.!"

 

[RaY Z]

hmmm interersting news.... beneder has been an underachiever his whole career so far... decent player... but could be better.... i wonder if jackson can make him better??? i surely hope not...

 

[KA_2]

Bender is garbage, he's never healthy and worst yet, his health problems are related to his knees. Bad sign. That said, even if he is healthy I don't expect him to be anything more than an older Robert Horry, which is a solid part time role player, but nothing more. Reason Lakers do this trade is to dump the garbage (George, Slava) while getting a valuable 17th pick in return, which they can either use or package in a trade.

 

[Gargamel]

That pick's earmarked for Utah. Hopefully.

 

[funkykingston]

And besides the 17th pick, what do the Jazz get in return for Boozer?

Caron Butler and the ending contracts of Vlade and Atkins?

That's one of only two scenarios I can think of. But why would Utah want Butler? They've already got Harpring, Kirilenko, Snyder and Bell on the wings. Plus Giricek I guess. Plus Sloan would march onto the court and strangle Chucky himself for launching countless treys and not playing a lick of defense.

The other scenario I can think of is Lamar Odom, which would make some sense if the rumor of him struggling to play alongside Kobe was true. But Phil's public comments about wanting to work with Odom lead me to believe this isn't the case at all.

Is there something I'm missing. Because the second scenario doesn't seem to make sense from LA's position and the first scenario makes no sense from Utah's perspective. Regardless of the bulk of Boozer's deal and his problems with Sloan, giving away 18 points and 9 boards for ANOTHER small forward (with an all-star already at that spot) and a mid round pick doesn't make much sense to me.

It opens some caproom (if they decide not to keep a few guys) but that's another couple steps back for a team that was on the rise last season and was expected to make some noise before ultimately disappointing this year.

 

[VF21]

Here's the most important part of that little "article":

Keep in mind that some of these may be smokescreens or just wild rumors run amuck

 

[SoupIsGood]

It is really sounding like this will happen. It's almost to the point that I will be surprised if it doesn't.

 

[funkykingston]

I've heard this LA-Indy rumor for quite a while now. If it isn't true, it certainly is a persistant little piece of gossip.

Also, Laker fans are convinced that a deal was nearly complete for them to land Boozer at the trading deadline. That's another rumor that definitely has legs.

Why any team would be in a rush to make lopsided deals with the Lakers, I have no idea.

 

[VF21]

It is really sounding like this will happen. It's almost to the point that I will be surprised if it doesn't.

How come everybody else gets rumors they're pretty sure are true and all we get are press conferences that go on for an hour and pretty much say absolutely nothing?

 

[SoupIsGood]

I'm thinking it won't happen now. It sounds like Bird has fallen in love with someone at #17.

 

[Warhawk]

How come everybody else gets rumors they're pretty sure are true and all we get are press conferences that go on for an hour and pretty much say absolutely nothing?

I like it when the bomb is dropped. What's the fun in knowing about a trade 3 weeks before it happens? Give me GP's silent manouvering and unanticipated depth charges any day - keeps things interesting....

 

[Gargamel]

Newest rumor du jour is Atkins, Butler, and 10 for Patterson and 3 on draft day. Fueled in part by LA working Green out and Portland working Bynum out.

 

[Gargamel]

How come everybody else gets rumors they're pretty sure are true and all we get are press conferences that go on for an hour and pretty much say absolutely nothing?

We get that **** too, but your GM is prolly more skillful at laying down the maneur.

 

[KA_2]

Gargy, Bender deal is still on according to Lionel. This will be another feather in his cap if he's able to scoop yet another Laker deal, especially if he gets every detail right like he has before.

By the way, I'd love for that Portland deal to go down. But I want Green, not Paul. I saw more tape of Green yesterday and I'm convinced he's the next poor man's Tmac.

 

[Gargamel]

Gargy, Bender deal is still on according to Lionel. This will be another feather in his cap if he's able to scoop yet another Laker deal, especially if he gets every detail right like he has before.

By the way, I'd love for that Portland deal to go down. But I want Green, not Paul. I saw more tape of Green yesterday and I'm convinced he's the next poor man's Tmac.

Lionel just stuck his neck out further too, said wait 'til Tuesday.

Even assuming the POR rumor has legs, there's no way of knowing if it's correct in terms of who goes where, but I'd take 3 and Patterson for Butler and 10 without looking back. Of course, I'd prefer to keep the 10 if at all possible, but I'm not one of those emotional groupies who overrates Butler because of his "sick moves". Anyway, Caron's groupies should keep a box of Kleenex handy for Gerald's first open path to the rim.

Speaking of GG, I frankly think he's more advanced offensively at his age than Kobe was, at least until he proves me wrong when playing against NBA competition. I think he's got high odds of becoming a star, but there's only one LeBron so that means at least 2 years of hard knocks for Gerald regardless of who drafts him. Under this hypothetical POR/LA trade, I think it's moot to even discuss Paul. Phillip and Mitchell didn't want Baron Davis on two separate occasions, so I doubt they want a guy who would be a wild success if he merely matched Baron's output.

 

[Evenstar]

Newest rumor du jour is Atkins, Butler, and 10 for Patterson and 3 on draft day. Fueled in part by LA working Green out and Portland working Bynum out.

that would be funny to see the self proclaimed kobe stopper on the same team as kobe LOL!!!!!!!

what an into that would be, " hi kobe, i'm your stopper" LOL!

 

[Mad D]

that would be funny to see the self proclaimed kobe stopper on the same team as kobe LOL!!!!!!!

what an into that would be, " hi kobe, i'm your stopper" LOL!

patterson was a laker before

 

[Bricklayer]

that would be funny to see the self proclaimed kobe stopper on the same team as kobe LOL!!!!!!!

what an into that would be, " hi kobe, i'm your stopper" LOL!

yeah, that whole Kobe stopper thing actually stemmed from Patterson's play agianst Kobe in practice back when he was a Laker years ago.

As for the other Laker rumors, we'll have to see after the whole Boozer debacle, but in case I haven't mentioned it before I am NOT eager to see Phil get his hands on a pile of swingman super-talents in a Green and Bender, let alone if they were able to somehow pull of the Artest deal in addition. You are just tempting fate there. Any of those guys blossoms, and they well have the talent to, you are talking about a MJ/Pippen sort of situation and the Kings right back into fighting an uphill battle (albeit it might take a year or two for things to develop).

 

[KA_2]

Yeah Gargy, I agree with that, but I'm not sure that the Lakers wouldn't pick Paul. It seems like there's a good chance it could happen. I really hope not, I'm down on Paul moreso than any of the elite PGs in this draft; I'd take Jack, Felton, and Deron over him without much hesitation.

Brick, I wouldn't worry about Bender, he's never healthy (worst yet, major and consistent knee problems) and really doesn't have enough talent (from I've seen) to be more than a good 6th man. Green sure, has Tmac-like potential, but Bender is just an 07 expiring contract the Lakers can package with Grant ($15M) IMO. At least, I HOPE the Lakers aren't banking on Bender's talent, and are acquiring him with 07 in mind.

 

[Bricklayer]

Yeah Gargy, I agree with that, but I'm not sure that the Lakers wouldn't pick Paul. It seems like there's a good chance it could happen. I really hope not, I'm down on Paul moreso than any of the elite PGs in this draft; I'd take Jack, Felton, and Deron over him without much hesitation.

Brick, I wouldn't worry about Bender, he's never healthy (worst yet, major and consistent knee problems) and really doesn't have enough talent (from I've seen) to be more than a good 6th man. Green sure, has Tmac-like potential, but Bender is just an 07 expiring contract the Lakers can package with Grant ($15M) IMO. At least, I HOPE the Lakers aren't banking on Bender's talent, and are acquiring him with 07 in mind.

While he may turn out to just be an expiring contract, I will guarantee you that the reason they are pursuing that particular expiring contract over all the others in the league is that they are taking one more stab at the great Bender lottery. Phil is nosing around looking for that second big star, and if he accumulates enough potential laden kids, Green, Bender, Odom etc., eventually he's going to find one who he can coax into realizing his talent. Its not an accident the names that are being thrown around, and its no secret what PJ needs in order to be successful. Until that #2 stud is found and in place I expect to see the Lakers taking a lot of gambles and turning over every rock in search of him.

 

[Gargamel]

As for the other Laker rumors,

I'm not too confident that they'll make an impact move on draft day. O'course they could very well do just that and make me eat a poisoned cheeseburger prepared by Lucky16. Pippen sed something to the effect that LA has a "secret" to announce. Don't know if he was joking, didn't actually see it. Mitchell otoh said things to the LA Times that didn't sound like anything is gonna happen. From any other GM, I'd take that as smokescreen, but he's a truth-telling android. If he's lying, someone has managed to mess with his circuitry.

 

[Gargamel]

Yeah Gargy, I agree with that, but I'm not sure that the Lakers wouldn't pick Paul. It seems like there's a good chance it could happen. I really hope not, I'm down on Paul moreso than any of the elite PGs in this draft; I'd take Jack, Felton, and Deron over him without much hesitation.

I've read that the Portland talks are off the table first off, but I'd take Paul, then Felton, then Williams, then Jack. They all have parts of the total game Paul possesses (concerns: Jack running a team, Felton playing up to his potential, Deron's athleticism). Interested to hear why you're down on Paul though.

Brick, I wouldn't worry about Bender, he's never healthy (worst yet, major and consistent knee problems) and really doesn't have enough talent (from I've seen) to be more than a good 6th man. Green sure, has Tmac-like potential, but Bender is just an 07 expiring contract the Lakers can package with Grant ($15M) IMO. At least, I HOPE the Lakers aren't banking on Bender's talent, and are acquiring him with 07 in mind.

Jacko banks on guys like him. Yeah. Ironically, I bet Jackson wants Bender more than he wants the 17th pick. Sounds like Bird is going to use the pick though. The Pacers have been midieval in shooting this rumor down when they could've just said "we don't discuss trade talks".