now i'm just confused

All the talk about the Lakers-Pacers trades took a strange turn this week. Mr. Jermaine O'Neal was in LA and talked about how he'd like to play here. Fair enough. The press interpreted this as him demanding a trade and he had to back off for publicity's sake. Not a super smart move, but I like his honesty - he knows the Lakers and Nets are talking about him and he knows they're both better off than his current situation.

It looked like this would help speed up things between the Lakers and Pacers making that trade..... but they still can't agree on a deal. Figures. Yet the really strange part is that the Lakers have actually consigned themselves to giving up Bynum, which stopped them a coupel times before from making a host of deals, but now they're balking at giving up Odom.

Huh??

Memo to Mitch Kupchak: Bynum is still the centerpiece of that deal. If you're gonna trade him, why get all pissy about the guy you wanted to get rid of before so badly??? Why get so uptight over two people you clearly have to deal in order to get ANYONE?

This is bizarre because I always thought the hold up between the Lakers and Pacers was the Lakers' refusal to throw in Bynum. But now, the Pacers are insisting on Odom - kinda surprising, given their rebuilding efforts, but I can see that they're just gonna deal him sooner or later, and they know the trade doesn't have much value for them without him. Bynum is a good prospect and Odom will net some other asset in a trade.... is that asking too much for a true all-star who should be able to appease Kobe? No. The Lakers, for some odd reason, think so.

As much as I love people ripping their hair out here over this, I can't believe the ineptitude. If they whiff on Garnett and now this... they're not going to recover from it. Fans have turned in the wake of the post-Shaq mediocrity. They won't stick around for this, unless they're idiots, which many are. But not all.

So what's the hold up? The Lakers are allegedly offering Bynum, Brian Cook, and Kwame straight up. That's pretty bad. Only one guy who might do anything with cap relief? Indiana needs it but they're also stuck with some bad contracts, so they ought to be able to get more value or dump some of those contracts.

Here's one that might be better for both sides. Lakers give up more, but get more.


Los Angeles Lakers
Incoming Players

Jermaine O'Neal
Salary: $19,728,000 Years Remaining: 2
Mike Dunleavy
Salary: $8,219,008 Years Remaining: 4

Outgoing Players: Andrew Bynum, Brian Cook, Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom

Indiana Pacers
Incoming Players

Andrew Bynum
Salary: $2,172,000 Years Remaining: 1
Brian Cook
Salary: $3,500,000 Years Remaining: 2
Kwame Brown
Salary: $9,075,000 Years Remaining: 1
Lamar Odom
Salary: $13,248,596 Years Remaining: 2

Outgoing Players: Jermaine O'Neal, Mike Dunleavy


This could be fine-tuned to include more or less, but I think it works out good for both teams. Indiana gets both guys and also gets to dump Dunleavy, who is a nice complement but not worth the cash. The Lakers, however, shouldn't mind having a big wing who can shoot and pass well.

I included Javaris Crittenton originally, but they can just do this and I think Indiana would agree quickly. Some people have suggested the Lakers taking Danny Granger back if they throw in Odom. I know the Pacers would rather keep him than Dunleavy, but they might be able to swing that. If the Lakers do throw in Crittenton, Indiana could back down.

In two years, Indiana will have cap space and some interesting young guys. Next year, the Lakers will be much better. I don't see why this can't work.... unless Kupchak coninues to think he can balk. Remember, Jersey could offer some nice parts as well. He doesn't want to be left in the dust again.

Or does he? No wonder Kobe wants the Logo back so much....

NOTES -

Boston signed Scot Pollard and Eddie House. That's about all they can do now. Pollard hasn't played much the past few years, but he was once a decent backup. All he has to do is hustle and rebound for 18 minutes a night. And all House has to do is pass the ball to the stars and then get open for treys. It's not much, but they're getting a little deeper.

Golden State re-signed Matt Barnes. I don't get why he had to fire agents and go through such a hassle. Was he really going anywhere else? They like him. He fits them. And they'll need him, with Richardson and Pietrus (likely) gone.