Roster Review

There's something perverse in human nature that attracts us to disaster stories.  For example, The Towering Inferno is still one of my favorite movies of all time.  It's the only way I can understand Clipper fans.  Why else would you subject yourself to decade after decade of heartbreak?  Elton Brand and Baron Davis teased them with a week of relevance, then Brand sucker punched them and left for Philadelphia.  LA is assured of being the Lakers' town with the Clippers remaining just a freakish sideshow for their disaster enthralled fans.  Had Brand stayed, things could have got interesting next year... 

The Lakers roster is solid going into the off-season and if I had my way, they'd bring the same team back next year.  As events are unfolding, it looks like that won't happen.  Here's a review of the roster: 

May be playing somewhere else next year

• Ronny Turiaf - there are now published reports that Ronny will sign a 4 year $17 million offer sheet with the Warriors.  I don't see the fit here from a basketball standpoint.  The Warriors already have Andris Biedrins, Al Harrington, and Brandan Wright.  But you can't argue with the money.  I'm guessing Ronny signed the offer hoping, praying even, that the Lakers would match.  But I don't see it happening.  With the Lakers so deep into the luxury tax, they'd have to pay $8 million+ per year to keep him.  There are going to be less expensive options out there that will give the Lakers close to what Ronny gives them. 
• Sasha Vujacic - Sasha appears to be playing a wait and see game with free agency.  There haven't been any published reports that I've seen of any offers on the table.  I'd guess that he'll get a decent offer once the first round of free agents signs.  I'm hoping the Lakers match.  It would be a shame to lose both Ronny and Sasha.  Basketball aside, those two guys give the Lakers bench a lot of
  its personality. 
• Lamar Odom - The Lamar for Ron Artest rumors are starting to heat up.  The Sacramento Bee reported today that the Lakers have offered Lamar for Artest.  Gavin Maloof was on The Loose Cannons talk radio show last week and wouldn't go any further than to say that "Ron Artest is a member of the Sacramento Kings".  Now there's a ringing endorsement!  You gotta figure the Kings will do just about anything to get rid of Artest.  On the other hand, you gotta figure that the Kings *hate* the Lakers and will do just about anything to send Artest anywhere else.  The Lakers may be willing to send them Lamar and take back the bloated contract of Kenny Thomas, but I'm not sure  Lamar fits into the Kings' long term plans.  They may hold out for a promising young player and I think that will be too steep for the Lakers. Anyway, as a fan, I'd love to give Lamar a chance to play with Bynum and Gasol.  We can always trade him at the trade deadline if it doesn't work out.  Some team will jump at his huge expiring contract.  And let's face it, Artest is a head case of the highest order.  I've got plenty to write about without him.

You may wish they were playing somewhere else next year

• Luke Walton - I don't expect Luke to go anywhere.  He's a great triangle player.  Phil loves him.  He's a good citizen.  And his contract makes him virtually untradeable.  Assuming Lamar, or someone they get for Lamar starts at small forward, Trevor Ariza is likely to be the first small forward of the bench.  That means Luke is going to have to fight hard next season for playing time.   If he can re-gain the shooting touch that he showed at the start of last season (when he led the league in 3 point shooting percentage for a stretch), he can be a valuable member of the bench MOB.
•  Vladimir Radmanovic - The man who writes the checks probably wants to send our favorite martian back to space, but Phil appears to be a believer.  Since Vlade's contract is just about untradeable and the Lakers need shooters, he'll be back next year.  Mark Jackson, the TV commentator during the Finals TV broadcast had an insightful comment on Vlade.  He said (paraphrasing): "I played with players like Radmanovic.  They keep both teams in the game."

The solid core

• Kobe Bean Bryant - He's saying all the right things this offseason.  Expect him to win the MVP again next year and this time, pair it up with an NBA title and Finals MVP award, provided that... (see next). 
• Andrew Bynum - The biggest question mark going into next season is going to be: "is Andrew Bynum for real?"  If he is, the above will be true, Drew will sign a near max deal, and the Lakers will be the story of the NBA for the next five years.  If he isn't, well, Kobe still has an opt-out next summer.  Better hope he doesn't pull an Elton Brand on us!
• Pau "wow" Gasol - I love him and he isn't soft.  In the finals, he was a power forward playing out of position at center.  Yes, he was over-matched, but Andrew Bynum will change everything for Pau.  Next year, we'll get to see just how multi-talented and valuable Pau Wow is.  
• Derek Fisher - When he retires, the Lakers need to make him an assistant coach.  As long as Kobe is in LA, LA needs Fish.  I've said it before, Kobe only becomes The One True Kobe when Derek Fisher has his back.
  
• Jordan Farmar - If Sasha goes elsewhere, I'd like to see Jordan start next year.  If Sasha stays, I'd like to see him stay a reserve.  The energy that he and Sasha brought to the game coming off the bench together was a joy to see.  Who knew Jordan would be for real?
• Trevor Ariza - I can't *wait* to see what he can do if he stays healthy for a whole year.  Swapping him for Brian Cook and Mo Evans may end up being one of the better deals in Laker history.

The fringe

• Chris Mihm - He exercised his player option to stay for one more season.  He's such a great guy, and a serviceable center, that I'd like to see him have success next year.  Perhaps if Ronny leaves, Mihm will get some more minutes next season.  Best guess, though, he plays a bit part and then leaves in free agency next summer. 
• Cobey Karl - I think the drafting of Joe Crawford is a pretty good sign that Cobey's Laker career is one and done. 
• DJ Mbenga - It's not out of the question that Mbenga re-signs if he's willing to work cheap enough.  
• Ira Newble - It's fantastic to see an athlete with social consciousness.  If only Newble had hooked up with the Lakers earlier in his career, he could have used playing for a large market team as a platform for his message about Darfur.  Sadly, he's not in their plans and is unlikely to be back.