Quote:Plot thickens between Malone and Lakers

Negotiations between Los Angeles Lakers and free agent power forward Karl Malone are moving in a direction where the Lakers could sign him and be in a position to take on another free agent, point guard Gary Payton.

ESPN's David Aldridge confirmed that Malone would be interested in the Lakers if Payton signs with them. Payton is expected to sit down with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak on Saturday. Payton made $12.6 million last season while playing for the Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks.

Aldridge also reports that Payton won't make a decision Saturday and has several options, while Malone has narrowed his list down to four teams, two of which are the Lakers and current NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

The scenario would go like this: Malone signs for the veteran minimum of $1.5 million for next season, which would help the Lakers attract Payton. Teams cannot sign free agents until July 16.

If Los Angeles reels in Payton and Malone to join All-Stars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would be formidable contenders for next season's NBA title.

:bang:

I don't want another title if we have to get those two.

Lakers need to do something Natche - couldn't win with Horry and Fisher anymore.

I agree LA needs to get some new faces in the lineup but what would Malone and Payton bring to the table? A quick fix maybe but in two years we would be right back where we are now. IMO, Malone and Payton best days are way behind them.

Malone has atleast one more good year left in him and Payton probably has 2 or 3 more good years. At 34 (I believe he was 34 this past season) he was still one of the best point guards around. I hate the Lakers but I think adding Malone and Payton would all but guarantee the Championship next year. Yall drafted Brian Cook and I think he is going to be a pretty good player very much in the Robert Horry mold. To tell you the truth I dont see Shaq playing for that much longer. He has dominated the game for the past 3 years, his body is wearing down and he really doesnt have anything left to prove. So a couple of years with Malone and Payton may be all you have until you figure out if Kobe can lead the team by himself.

That just seems like too many egos and shooters on the same team. Payton gets his share of assists, but likes to take 15+ shots a game. Malone is used to taking 20-25 shots a game. Add that to Kobe's 25-30 and Shaq's 20+ and you've got at least 80 shots every game between those four. I can't see that going over too well. I mean Kobe and Shaq have had their complaints about wanting more shots when it's basically those two taking all of them during a game anyway.

JoltinJacket Wrote:That just seems like too many egos and shooters on the same team. Payton gets his share of assists, but likes to take 15+ shots a game. Malone is used to taking 20-25 shots a game. Add that to Kobe's 25-30 and Shaq's 20+ and you've got at least 80 shots every game between those four. I can't see that going over too well. I mean Kobe and Shaq have had their complaints about wanting more shots when it's basically those two taking all of them during a game anyway.

That's exactly what I was thinking too. There wouldn't be enough basketballs in the Staples Center for all four of them. :laugh: :laugh:

Malone is chasing Kareem's record of most career points. How weird would that be if he played all those years with Utah, then came to L.A. and broke the record??

Personally I've always loved Karl Malone and I can't believe he's finally a Laker!! I've wanted him in a Laker uni since the Magic Johnson days.........this may be about 5 years too late but I'll take it! Payton is much needed as well......

While I don't think this guarantees any championship, I'm not the least concerned about egos. That rarely has been a problem for teams of this caliber in the past. I can't wait for the NBA season to get going......

This may be the last gasp before Europeans take over the league entirely!! :(

Galactus Wrote:This may be the last gasp before Europeans take over the league entirely!! :(

I dont think we have to worry about that, all the Europeans play soft.

the new arrogance of this team is going to be disgusting, i assure you. I saw payton or malone talking about the team, and malone said something like "kobe and shaq'll make 30 ppg, gary and i will make 15" Could you imagine that? that's 90 ppg between 4 people!

It's real entrapment if you ask me, if karl and gary stayed with utah and milwaukee, people would have gotten pissed that they stayed for the money, but going to LA, people get upset, because they're out for the hardware.

All the same, i've concluded that the NBA is no longer worth watching... but perhaps because this is because i'm a memphis fan! j/k

Payton and Malone have both been great players for a long time. IMO they both deserve to be able to add NBA Champions on their resume. Malone with Stockton, no doubt, would have won one or perhaps even a couple if it wasnt for a guy named Michael Jordan, Payton probably would have as well. I think they have both deserved this chance, even if it does sort of feel like they are cheating. All of the great players who never won one (Stockton, Barkley and Patrick Ewing to name a few) would love to have had the oportunity that Malone and Payton are getting right now.