LA Lakers

Starting Five		Player Rating
C	Vlade Divac	6.5
PF	Brian Grant	6.5
SF	Lamar Odom	8
SG	Kobe Bryant	10
PG	Chucky Atkins	6
		37

* Player Rating on a 1 to 10 Scale. 10 denotes best at position in the NBA with no weaknesses, 5 would be average player who holds his own etc.

Reserves		Position Rating
C	Slava Medvedenko	5
PF	Chris Mihm / Brian Cook	5
SF	Caron Butler / Luke Walton / Devean George	8
SG	Kareem Rush / Jumaine Jones / Sasha Vujacic	6
PG	Sasha Vujacic	3
		27

* Ratings based on ability of bench to fill in a position. More than one backup at a position would influence the rating as would one player's ability to play multiple positions. No players signed yet for Denver.

Sep '04

This team could be really fun to watch or it could be a total mess with everyone wanting the ball. I expect them to do the former -- Odom has matured well and Kobe should have too. Grant will do the dirty work and Butler really improved towards the end of last season.

Divac's health and fitness are major concerns (he just hurt his back) but they will use him more in the playoffs than the regular season. In fact extra minutes for Mihm may be a good thing.

The bench depth is not too good except at SF where they are loaded. Luckily most of the players can play multiple positions. Kupchak may look to move George who will lose minutes to Butler and Walton. A young, talented point guard for the future would be a good pickup but may be hard to find.

Kobe will carry this team to 50 plus wins. Unfortunately, this team is likely to do better in the regular season than the playoffs - the first round is all they will see.

 

Old Post -- July '04

Needs:
The dust begins to settle. Shaq's gone. Odom, Butler and Grant are here to stay. Kobe should decide any time now whether he'll be a Clipper or Laker. If Kobe goes, this team will not make the playoffs. If he stays, they should -- just about. Kupchak has done a less than stellar job since taking over for West and its time he made his mark with the team. This is the year he has to do it. If Kobe leaves, they will have cash available but not too many free agents still available. If he stays, all they really need is a big man to help out at Center. Payton may be back, if not they can go after Fisher to man the point. Kupchak has to turn Payton, George, and Fox/Walton/Butler into a decent C.

I would love to see this team put Kobe, Butler, Walton, Odom and Grant on the floor at the same time. Maybe if Don Nelson was the coach...

Center
Vlade Divac looks to be the leading candidate. With three good passers already on this team, adding Divac would make this team entertaining to watch but vulnerable in the playoffs.

Prediction: That will come after Kobe makes his decision. Assuming he stays, they will struggle to win 50 and lose in the first round of the playoffs.