Kobe – he’s the best offensive player in the universe. Few people would argue after his 4 game streak of scoring 50 or more. Laker fans need to appreciate him now, while we still have him. Anyone who remembers Magic’s press conference Nov 7, 1991, knows how ephemeral greatness like this truly is.
Lamar – if he had remained healthy this year, he would have received serious consideration for the all-star squad. You’ve got to ask who he would have knocked off – Mehmet Okur? Carlos Boozer? Shawn Marion? He may not have made it, but he’s right up there. The question is, are he and Kobe good enough together to win a championship? It doesn’t look that way. On a championship roster, Lamar is a superb complementary player, not a keystone.
Luke – he had a break though season, despite the injuries. He’s like 10W-40 in the triangle offense. The ball moves much smoother when he’s on the floor. But will the Lakers ante up $25 - $30 million to keep him this summer? They’d better, since that’s how much they’re paying Vlade!
Kwame – he is what he is, and if you evaluate him for that, and not for being the #1 pick in the draft, he’s a valuable player. He’ll never dominate offensively. He just doesn’t have the hands and the mental fortitude for it. But he’s a strong defender with a fantastic big man’s body. I don’t see him as the starting center on a championship team (picture a grown up Andrew Bynum in that role), but he’d be a superb backup.
Smush – he’s started every game that he’s been a Laker, but his time is nearing an end. He seems perpetually piqued by Phil Jackson’s use of him in the rotation. He had the chance to win the Memphis game when Phil called the final play for him. But he missed the shot and has now given way to Jordan Farmar in the 4th quarter of recent games. I can see Smush as a big star in Italy, or a disgruntled backup on another NBA team, but I don’t expect him back with the Lakers next year.
Andrew Bynum – everyone says he’s ahead of schedule (Phil, Jim Buss, Mitch Kupchack). He’s plan B to restore the Lakers to championship heights. If he matures before Kobe ages, he, Kobe, Luke, and Lamar could win a championship. Plan A is still stealing Kevin Garnett (somehow) from Minnesota.
Rony Turiaf – you just have to love this guy. He’s the feel good story of the decade. His enthusiasm is infectious. He cheers for his teammates. He hustles like a lion. And to top it off, he’s got skills. He’s a natural 4, with a sweet jump shot and post moves. But he’s tough enough to back up the 5. He’s a keeper and I hope the Lakers make him a rich man this summer.
Mo Evans – he’s a nice piece of the bench and has done a good job as a spot starter. He’s a good defender, athletic, a better than expected offensive player. Picking him up in the off-season for nothing was one of Mitch’s better moves.
Sasha Vujacic – at the close of Sasha’s 3rd year, it’s time to label him a disappointment. He’s a fantastic shooter, but it doesn’t consistently translate in games. He’s a decent on the ball defender, and he hustles, but he hasn’t been able to knock Smush out of the starting line up. He may get a shot next year, if the Lakers aren’t able to upgrade the point externally. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play out his contract next year and return to Italy, where he has the potential to be a star.
Jordan Farmar – he’s been up and down, but shown enough potential that you may hear Joel Myers call “Farmar to Bynum – slaam duuuunk!” for many years to come. Or you may not. It’s too soon to tell. He does seem to have more natural leadership ability than Smush. The essence of leadership is summoning positive emotions during adverse circumstances. Smush sulks during adversity. Jordan perseveres.
Brian Cook – he’s a nice player off the bench. He can come in and light it up. He may not be a top-notch defender, but he hustles. He did an admirable job plugging the dike when Lamar was out. He’s a nice fit for the triangle.
Vlad Radmanovic – well, this is a season Vlade (and Laker fans) would like to forget. He injures his hand in training camp, so when the season starts, he can’t shoot. He has trouble learning the triangle and shows only brief flashes of the skills that prompted the Lakers to sign him. Then he goes snow boarding, separates his shoulder, and lies about it. If the Lakers end up paying Vlade $30 million and let Luke walk, there’ll be hell to pay with Laker fans.
Shammond Williams – the most impressive thing about Shammond this season has been his professionalism sitting on the bench. He had to have been demoralized being out of the rotation for so long. But he never made trouble and, late in the season, when he got his chance, he stepped in and contributed. If he does well in the playoffs, we may seem him back next year. The Lakers would not be measurably worse off with an improved Farmar and Shammond manning the point.
Aaron McKie – injuries have prevented us from seeing what the real Aaron McKie can do. Don’t expect to find out next year either. Aaron will probably retire after the season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go into coaching.
Chris Mihm – his ankle injury is a real tragedy. Had he been healthy, he would have been a significant member of the rotation. He’s worked tirelessly to get back this year, but probably won’t get the chance. He’s a free agent this summer and the Lakers probably won’t re-sign him unless Kwame leaves via trade.
