I was going to write about a few bizarre trade ideas. You know, the type of Internet chatter that's fun to read and write but has no connection to reality. Lamar's expiring contract is a valuable asset, after all, and Mitch proved last year that he can turn such things into gold. I was going to call it Mid-Season Heist, the Reprise.
Here's a sample:
How about trading Lamar to the 76ers for Elton Brand? They've regretted signing EB almost since day 1. Imagine a power rotation of Drew, Pau, and EB. Try not to think of the luxury tax implications.
Don't like that one? Let's bring in Rasheed Wallace instead. The triangle is friendly to bigs who can shoot. The chemistry in Detroit is on the fritz. Maybe they'd do the deal to improve their locker room.
Or maybe the Jazz would part with Carlos Boozer for Lamar. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd like to make room for Paul Milsap. Jack Haley would be thrilled. His broadcasting career has never recovered from misreporting an Odom for Boozer swap several years ago.
Then there's Jermaine O'Neil. It hasn't happened for him in Toronto. Maybe they'd take Lamar and Vlade.
All of these deals work under the cap. And until this last FANTASTIC road trip, I would have urged Mitch to work his magic. But not now. Mellow LO let his alter-ego loose in the Boston and Cleveland games. None of these trades, even if they made sense financially, would make the Lakers a better team than they are when Lamar becomes "Lamar the Conqueror". If Lamar plays like he played last weekend for the rest of the season, the Lakers will a) win the championship with or without Bynum; and b) re-sign Lamar this off-season and make him a member of the Laker-for-life club. Of course, this isn't the first time Lamar has teased us with his potential for greatness, so don't be surprised if Lamar The Conqueror goes back into hibernation this week to be replaced by Mellow LO. If so, the Lakers will, quite rightly, let him walk this summer as a free agent.
