Sources say Peja-for-Odom trade discussed

[LMM]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12417257p-13273555c.html

Sources say Peja-for-Odom trade discussed



By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, February 21, 2005

DENVER - With the NBA trade deadline approaching, one of the most prominent rumors circulating within Pepsi Center on Sunday was a potential deal that would send Peja Stojakovic to the Los Angeles Lakers for swingman Lamar Odom.


According to sources within the Kings organization, a swap involving the players was discussed but rebuffed by basketball president Geoff Petrie and co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. Although there is ongoing concern about the on-court chemistry between Stojakovic and Chris Webber, or more specifically, the team's inability to incorporate Stojakovic prominently in the offense, the Kings reportedly remain resistant to moving their veteran small forward and are hopeful the lingering tension between teammates can be resolved.



"It was talked about," one Kings official said, "but no one wants to trade Peja."

The trade deadline is Thursday.

Stojakovic, who is owed $6.9 million this season and $7.6 million next, can become a free agent at the end of 2005-06. He has been slowed by injuries and visibly dispirited by his diminished involvement. A year ago, he was the league's second-leading scorer and, during Webber's 58-game absence, the Kings' primary option.

One source close to the situation insisted there is strong sentiment within the Kings organization to trade Webber, but that because of his massive contract (three years remaining at over $62 million) and previous knee problems, his market value has proven to be virtually nonexistent. Odom is receiving $9 million this season and under contract to the Lakers for four more. Petrie, who's scheduled to return today from a scouting trip to Spain, wasn't available for comment. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times he hadn't engaged in trade discussions with the Kings and denied any interest in moving Odom.
---------------------------------------------
are you kidding me.. that's pathetic..

 

[Bricklayer]

Ailene as usual. Still quoting her janitor within the organization I see.

Now, given the writer, you have to take everything with a grain of salt, but the rest of that article would make me a little mad actually if it were true. I said way back in the summer that Petrie/the Maloofs could really mess things up with Peja because of their personal feelings -- that Petrie might have a blind spot and not be his normal robotic self in the case of Peja and might hear and see onyl what he chose to. If because of those feelings he ends up sending the rest of the team into battle down the stretch of this season undermanned on defense and the boards and with a major player who doesn't really want to be here...well guess what? Our genius GM will have blown it.

In Petrie we trust...but not when he let's personal feelings interfere with his job.

 

[starks]

Ailene as usual. Still quoting her janitor within the organization I see.

Now, given the writer, you have to take everything with a grain of salt, but the rest of that article would make me a little mad actually if it were true. I said way back in the summer that Petrie/the Maloofs could really mess things up with Peja because of their personal feelings -- that Petrie might have a blind spot and not be his normal robotic self in the case of Peja and might hear and see onyl what he chose to. If because of those feelings he ends up sending the rest of the team into battle down the stretch of this season undermanned on defense and the boards and with a major player who doesn't really want to be here...well guess what? Our genius GM will have blown it.

In Petrie we trust...but not when he let's personal feelings interfere with his job.

Peja, GP favorite player?.....I don't see that....and explain GP personal feelings in Peja's case

 

[Bricklayer]

Peja, GP favorite player?.....I don't see that....and explain GP personal feelings in Peja's case

GP discovered Peja. He and the Maloofs consider him family. Its no great secret.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Not only did he discover Peja, he help get him to the states and then when Peja broke his leg, Geoff would personally drive Peja back and forth to the doctor. Peja=Petries Baby...

 

[VF21]

All things considered, I think AV had to find something/anything to spice up her article since she was so late out of the gate on this one. (Boy, I bet she hates that.) Her article contains NOTHING that hasn't been tossed about all week-end and even earlier, including here on this board.

VF21 goes back to counting down the hours until the trade deadline has passed... 72 hours and 58 minutes

 

[SacKings384]

I really worry that they are unwilling to move Peja... However, I don't know how well the Odom trade would have worked out... Odom doesn't work well without the ball, that has been his problem in LA... Imagine him in Sacramento... But he WOULD help our rebounding TREMENDOUSLY...

 

[piksi]

I really worry that they are unwilling to move Peja...

Of course they are. Otherwise Kings might have Artest allready.

That is the whole point of all this.

 

[PFFFT!!]

Brick, Ill trade ya 2 yellow peanutbutter M&Ms for 1 green peanut and future M&M considerations. They cannot be stale or past prime, or our deal is dead. Waddayasay?

 

[KP]

I though it was really well documented that Peja was Petries boy, thats no surprise, but I think he's proven (even just as recently as this year) that emotion has very little to do with the decisions he makes. No, if he doesn't trade Peja it means he thinks he has to much value on the court to trade him for whoever is offered. On that note I'll put Petries personnel decisions over anyone elses on this board, even you Brick

. He's not perfect... All trades, or non-trades(those he turns down) are calculated risks in one way or another, but he has shown he is the best in the league at making those calculations. With a piece as big as Peja... I doubt he would take that kind of risk lightly.(or at least as lightly as some around here do)

 

[VF21]

I'm certainly not going to read too much into ANYTHING AV has to say. And I agree wholeheartedly with KP. It was clear during the Christie/Mobley trade that Petrie really hated to do the deal but he did it for the good of the team. I understand his fondness for Pedja, but I strongly doubt if he would allow his personal feelings to override his duty to the team.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

I'm certainly not going to read too much into ANYTHING AV has to say.

That pretty much sums it all up there. You know, at some point even she has to stop taking her self seriously. It is getting overly lame.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

if it were gonna happen, would we hav any idea?

over the petrie years, through all the amazing trades with huge upsides petrie has made (including but not restricted to trading for webber, bibby, and miller), was there ever discussions beforehand of making those trades or any close to them? Personally, I don't recall hearing about rading j-will, mitch, or even fan fav crazy-haired scot polard.....correct me if im wrong on that.

I don't see any way we're actually gonna trade Peja, and if we were, why would we give him and BOBBY JACKSON!(I'm outraged...lol...) for Lamar Odom. He's a good player, but worth both of them?i dont think so

(btw, nice stat piksi...13-2 when peja leads us in scoring...obviusly doesnt gaurentee a win, but shows when we distribute well and peja is on his game, the whole team is...now, can we do anything similar with Odom?)

 

[KP]

over the petrie years, through all the amazing trades with huge upsides petrie has made (including but not restricted to trading for webber, bibby, and miller), was there ever discussions beforehand of making those trades or any close to them? Personally, I don't recall hearing about rading j-will, mitch, or even fan fav crazy-haired scot polard.....correct me if im wrong on that.

I don't see any way we're actually gonna trade Peja, and if we were, why would we give him and BOBBY JACKSON!(I'm outraged...lol...) for Lamar Odom. He's a good player, but worth both of them?i dont think so

(btw, nice stat piksi...13-2 when peja leads us in scoring...obviusly doesnt gaurentee a win, but shows when we distribute well and peja is on his game, the whole team is...now, can we do anything similar with Odom?)

Good first post.^ although any post praising Piksi could be cause for concern...

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

Good first post.^ although any post praising Piksi could be cause for concern...

even tho you're kidding about piksi, i dont get it, obvoiusly cause i havnt been around here much

 

[KP]

i dont get it, obvoiusly cause i havnt been around here much

Don't worry you will.

Seriously though Piksi is one of the best posters on Kingsfans, he's just a little piksimistic thats all.

 

[iheartBrad]

AV just put together an article based on the rumor just like ANY of us could of have done

as of right now i don't like the deal

but only time will tell...about 3 more days to be exact.....c'mon Thursday at 5

 

[peja16]

Lamar Odom has been a "potential" this and that forever. People who watch him regularly dont have the same high opinions of him as the rest of the world. There's a reason why he floats around teams, and is never seen as the focal point of a team, or leads them to victories. Last year, rook DWade took over the Heat in the playoffs.

Odom is 26, and Peja is 27. It's not as if Odom is a young stud waiting to explode.

Peja is not a #1 guy, but neither is Odom. For that matter, neither is Webber. Instead of having one low FG%, brick-laying ballhog, you'll have two (look it up, Odom's shooting is NOT efficient).

From what I've read and heard from LA fans, his offensive versatility is overrated, and he needs too many isolations and sloppy plays to get his numbers. Although he gets assists, he also racks up turnovers to match (3.5:2.65 currently). In the playoffs, his A:TO ratio is below 1:1, and all of his stats are down across the board.

His scoring has never been over 17, and it's not as if he hasn't had opportunities.

This offence could hide many of his shortcomings, and 1:1 it's not a terrible deal, considering Peja's off year and contract coming up. Petrie doens't have to bend over backwards to make this happen, and there is no reaosn to throw in Bobby. Either way, Odom is not going to suddenly propel this team to a title.

 

[KP]

Lamar Odom has been a "potential" this and that forever. People who watch him regularly dont have the same high opinions of him as the rest of the world. There's a reason why he floats around teams, and is never seen as the focal point of a team, or leads them to victories. Last year, rook DWade took over the Heat in the playoffs.

Odom is 26, and Peja is 27. It's not as if Odom is a young stud waiting to explode.

Peja is not a #1 guy, but neither is Odom. For that matter, neither is Webber. Instead of having one low FG%, brick-laying ballhog, you'll have two (look it up, Odom's shooting is NOT efficient).

From what I've read and heard from LA fans, his offensive versatility is overrated. Although he gets assists, he also racks up turnovers to match (3.5:2.65 currently). In the playoffs, his A:TO ratio is below 1:1, and all of his stats are down across the board.

His scoring has never been over 17, and it's not as if he hasn't had opportunities.

This offence could hide many of his shortcomings, and 1:1 it's not a terrible deal, considering Peja's off year and contract coming up. Petrie doens't have to bend over backwards to make this happen, and there is no reaosn to throw in Bobby. Either way, Odom is not going to suddenly propel this team to a title.

Really good post^ ...Nice numbers, I actually learned something for once.

 

[KingsFan54]

Answer this for me. If a trade for peja was in the works do you think JP would trade him to the lakers? A team in our own division. I don't think so. If he were to trade Peja, it would probably be to a team in the east, if that is possible

 

[VF21]

Lamar Odom has been a "potential" this and that forever. People who watch him regularly dont have the same high opinions of him as the rest of the world. There's a reason why he floats around teams, and is never seen as the focal point of a team, or leads them to victories. Last year, rook DWade took over the Heat in the playoffs.

Odom is 26, and Peja is 27. It's not as if Odom is a young stud waiting to explode.

Peja is not a #1 guy, but neither is Odom. For that matter, neither is Webber. Instead of having one low FG%, brick-laying ballhog, you'll have two (look it up, Odom's shooting is NOT efficient).

From what I've read and heard from LA fans, his offensive versatility is overrated, and he needs too many isolations and sloppy plays to get his numbers. Although he gets assists, he also racks up turnovers to match (3.5:2.65 currently). In the playoffs, his A:TO ratio is below 1:1, and all of his stats are down across the board.

His scoring has never been over 17, and it's not as if he hasn't had opportunities.

This offence could hide many of his shortcomings, and 1:1 it's not a terrible deal, considering Peja's off year and contract coming up. Petrie doens't have to bend over backwards to make this happen, and there is no reaosn to throw in Bobby. Either way, Odom is not going to suddenly propel this team to a title.

One thing you need to put into perspective. Odom played with the Clipper in LA and now he's with the Lakers. The first team sucked and the second has Kobe Bryant as the first option. The same Kobe Bryant who wants to be the go-to-guy, the hero, etc. To say Odom hasn't flourished with Kobe around is like saying a cactus hasn't flourished in six inches of water at the shallow end of the pond.

What we would be getting from Odom isn't necessarily an offensive match for Pedja which would be fine. We're not looking for MORE offense. We're looking for more defense and I don't see his defensive talents even addressed in your comments.

 

[bigbadred00]

What Lamar definitely brings over Peja is Rebounding. For his size, he is a great rebounder. Personally I don't remember him being a very great defender, but not a bad one either. Your right though this trade would not help us that much defensively but our rebounding troubles would be fixed, MAYBE? Really though how many great defenders are there in the league? I think it's a handful.

Ben Wallace
Prince
Duncan
Bowen
KG
Shaq
Wade
Christie (past)
Kobe
Payton
Artest
JO
AK
Ratliff
Kidd (before injury)
Posey
Kenyon Martin

But honestly, there are about 3 times more offensive studs. None of these guys are even on the radar for coming to the Kings.

 

[peja16]

One thing you need to put into perspective. Odom played with the Clipper in LA and now he's with the Lakers. The first team sucked and the second has Kobe Bryant as the first option. The same Kobe Bryant who wants to be the go-to-guy, the hero, etc. To say Odom hasn't flourished with Kobe around is like saying a cactus hasn't flourished in six inches of water at the shallow end of the pond.

Exactly. He played for the Clips and had plenty of time to be the #1 guy and pad his stats. Didn't happen, because he couldn't. He was given the title in Miami, and didn't produce.

What we would be getting from Odom isn't necessarily an offensive match for Pedja which would be fine. We're not looking for MORE offense. We're looking for more defense and I don't see his defensive talents even addressed in your comments.

Never watched him enough to comment, but his blocks are around .7 and steals 1.0 in the playoffs. Nothing to rave about. Rebounds are the key to this deal, but at what expense.

From what I've seen, his 1v1D is not that great. People are assuming he's a good defender based on quickness and wingspan. More than shut down his opponent, I've seen him racks up stupid fouls, and get bullied in the post.

Again, with Odom, it's more of hearsay qualities. Very few people actually watch him daily, and those who do are not that impressed. He's only like 2 years younger than KG. If he would have developed into KG, it would have happened by now.

---------

And besides, even if you trade Odom for D, he won't come here as a defensive stopper. His ego is too big for that. He's seen by some as the heir apparent to Webber based on game plan, so it's only fair to comment on his offensive deficiencies, seeing as he'd be on that side of the floor 50% of the time.

 

[KP]

Exactly. He played for the Clips and had plenty of time to be the #1 guy and pad his stats. Didn't happen, because he couldn't. He was given the title in Miami, and didn't produce.



Never watched him enough to comment, but his blocks are around .7 and steals 1.0 in the playoffs. Nothing to rave about. Rebounds are the key to this deal, but at what expense.

From what I've seen, his 1v1D is not that great. People are assuming he's a good defender based on quickness and wingspan. More than shut down his opponent, I've seen him racks up stupid fouls, and get bullied in the post.

Again, with Odom, it's more of hearsay qualities. Very few people actually watch him daily, and those who do are not that impressed. He's only like 2 years younger than KG. If he would have developed into KG, it would have happened by now.

---------

And besides, even if you trade Odom for D, he won't come here as a defensive stopper. His ego is too big for that. He's seen by some as the heir apparent to Webber based on game plan, so it's only fair to comment on his offensive deficiencies, seeing as he'd be on that side of the floor 50% of the time.

Yeah, he had a lot of early foul trouble take him out of games this year. He can Rebound, but I think Peja is just as good a defender if not better. I'm not sure I would even trade Peja straight up for Odom but I def. wouldn't trade Peja and Bobby. I was a big fan of Odom after last year but he just hasn't shown me as much as I thought he would this year.

 

[Bricklayer]

1) Odom is NOT a #1 scoring option on offense. And you know what, that's PERFECT. The whole problem with Peja is that that's ALL he is, and if he's not, he's not helping. We are filled to overflowing with guys who want to shoot right now. Odom does not need to to really help. Basic basketball strategy -- this isn't fantasy ball. Just like the Lakers 4 HOFs last year, more guys wanting to shoot is not always better. You're better off getting guys who can help in other ways. Shooting/scoring is NOT the be-all of player assessment -- you lack scoring punch, you take Peja. You lack anything else, you take Odom.

2) Man defense is roughly equal to Pejas. Help defense is FAR superior. Not an all league defender, but a big rangy athlete who covers a lot of ground and opposing players have to be concerend about.

3) Lamar has no ego. If anything he's got less ego than Peja. His whole problem in fact -- tremendous talent, but not driven to be All World. That's fine, we wouldn't need him to be.

4) We began this season with 3 players who did the bulk of our passing, and then Miller as an extra guy. When we traded for Mobley we lost some of that passing -- Bibby and Webb carrying the load right now. Odom would RESTORE that same balance to our offense that we had, not take it away.

5) Call him a 3, and Odom is the best rebounding SF in the game -- he's the 6th leading rebounder in the NBA right now. Insto fix to our biggest problem. As a SF his passing is as good as any player not named McGrady or LeBron. Call him a PF and only Webb and Garnett stand above him. He once averaged 5.9ast a game in a season -- even Webb has never done that.

6) He is, BTW, only a couple of months past his 25th birthday.

7) As an aside, most Laker fans on their boards don't want this to happen either. Seems they are more than a little concerend that Odom's perfect for our system and will blossom while Peja only does the one thing. Imagine that.

 

[LPKingsFan]

1) Odom is NOT a #1 scoring option on offense. And you know what, that's PERFECT. The whole problem with Peja is that that's ALL he is, and if he's not, he's not helping. We are filled to overflowing with guys who want to shoot right now. Odom does not need to to really help. Basic basketball strategy -- this isn't fantasy ball. Just like the Lakers 4 HOFs last year, more guys wanting to shoot is not always better. You're better off getting guys who can help in other ways. Shooting/scoring is NOT the be-all of player assessment -- you lack scoring punch, you take Peja. You lack anything else, you take Odom.

2) Man defense is roughly equal to Pejas. Help defense is FAR superior. Not an all league defender, but a big rangy athlete who covers a lot of ground and opposing players have to be concerend about.

3) Lamar has no ego. If anything he's got less ego than Peja. His whole problem in fact -- tremendous talent, but not driven to be All World. That's fine, we wouldn't need him to be.

4) We began this season with 3 players who did the bulk of our passing, and then Miller as an extra guy. When we traded for Mobley we lost some of that passing -- Bibby and Webb carrying the load right now. Odom would RESTORE that same balance to our offense that we had, not take it away.

5) Call him a 3, and Odom is the best rebounding SF in the game -- he's the 6th leading rebounder in the NBA right now. Insto fix to our biggest problem. As a SF his passing is as good as any player not named McGrady or LeBron. Call him a PF and only Webb and Garnett stand above him. He once averaged 5.9ast a game in a season -- even Webb has never done that.

6) He is, BTW, only a couple of months past his 25th birthday.

7) As an aside, most Laker fans on their boards don't want this to happen either. Seems they are more than a little concerend that Odom's perfect for our system and will blossom while Peja only does the one thing. Imagine that.

If one is able to get past the sentimentality of trading Peja, especially to the Lakers, and this pretty much sums up the logic of why the deal should go down. I agree with everything you say here, but it's still tough.

PS How'd you get your old join date back Brickie? Is that a special mod power??

 

[PFFFT!!]

inter...est....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz