The Clippers are now being regarded as the team to beat in LA since they landed Chris Paul in the only blockbuster trade of this year's quick off season. They have also brought in another top point guard in Chauncey Billups, who they claimed off the waiver wire. Reports on ESPN said Billups will move to the two guard position, which may make things difficult for two point guards that are very similar to play together on the court at the same time. They might work things out, but it may take a season to work the kinks out. Or Billups might move on after this season, to another contender for a title, something he said he wanted to go to before being claimed. The Clippers also added Caron Butler, one of the most sought after free agents this year, who before his surgery last season was an excellent scorer and has career averages of 16.6 points a game and 31% at the three-point line. Adding those three top level players with the likes of Blake Griffin, who is a dunking machine, will make the Clippers the more exciting team in LA, with all of the alley-oops and power dunks, but the experience and championship rings point to the older, veteran club in the Lakers. Plus with the Lakers also have the best player in the league, with Kobe Bryant, a player who is just as hungry as he was when he one his first title. Also, after last year's sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, he is ready to prove he is not over the hill and that they deserve another ring.
The Lakers have lost two key pieces from their two championship teams from a couple years ago with Shannon Brown signing with the Phoenix Suns and more importantly Lamar Odom, who was traded to the defending Dallas Mavericks after requesting a trade because the Lakers tried trading him to the Hornets. Both when were the Lakers bench last season, adding that spark to the offense when it was lacking. Odom was an everything man who will not and can not be replaced by any of the players that the Lakers signed this season. He could play every position, shoot, rebound, run the offense, and had the skill set of a point guard, but was a 6'10" forward. Both of those players will help their new teams out more than those teams will realize until the season gets into full swing. The players the Lakers signed will have a tough time replacing Brown and Odom, but in Mike Brown's new offsense, players may be able step up in different ways.
The newly signed Lakers that look to have a solid role on this year's team are Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts, draft pick Darius Morris and possibly recently signed Troy Murphy.
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| Jason Kapono photo courtesy of AOLnews |
Jason Kapono was the first "big" sign for the Lakers. They added the three point specialist who holds a career average of 43% at the three point line. He was lost in the shuffle last season when he played for the Sixers, playing in 24 games total and only going one for eight at the three point line. As a two time Three Point Champion at the All-Star weekend, Kapono brings his sweet three ball to a team that lacked three pointers last season. The Lakers will probably have Kapono play the back up two guard position, but will also work him into the line-up with Kobe, Bynum and Gasol. Brown has stated in interviews that his plan is to make teams double team his three superstars, that it will leave guys like Kapono open on the three point line to knock down the open shots. If he can play a solid 20 minutes, adding three pointers and helping bring the team ball effort forth on the second unit, he will be well worth the one year, $1.2 million dollar contract. If he doesn't, he could be good trade bait as an expiring contract.
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| Josh McRoberts. Photo courtesy of mcroberts blog. |
The second signing of significance for the Lakers could also be a source of criticism for them. They brought in former Indiana Pacer Josh McRoberts to play the back-up big man role that was formally Odom's. Both players are 6'10" but "McBob" can not be compared to Odom, no one can be. No on can replace Odom. But "McBob" brings in size and the ability to bang around the big guys of the west. Last season was a break out season for the fifth year veteran, where he averaged 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds. He can also space the floor, as last season he had an average of 38% at the three-point line. He won't be depended on his three point shot, but if he is open to take them, he should. He will start the first five games for the Lakers, since Bynum will be serving his suspension, so he will be able to gain momentum and confidence in this new offense and new surroundings. Also after the first five games, he will have established himself to his teammates that they will be able to trust him as a player. He did take all of the Lakers "mini mid-level exception" for two years and about $6 million dollars. This signing should work for the Lakers because it helps solidify their bench and fill the void left by Odom. But, and this is a big but, "McBob" can not compete with what Odom left for a legacy, it just won't work, he is his own player.
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| Darius Morris. Photo from ESPN |
Draft pick Darius Morris, the 41st selection out of Michigan, has a chance to be the second string point guard for this Lakers team. He is a 6'4" guard, who is known for his passing ability and defense, something Coach Brown is preaching on. During the 2010-2011 season at Michigan, Morris averaged 15 points and 6.7 assists, along with a steal a game. With a mentor like Derek Fisher and playing with the greatest player in the league, Kobe Bryant, he couldn't be worse off. He will have to earn his minutes, but he could compete with Steve Blake for minutes and if he keeps growing and becoming an NBA point guard, it would make Blake expendable. The two preseason games against the Clippers will be a good test for him, to see where he is at and where he will stand in the point guard rotation. Even if Morris doesn't break into the full rotation this year, he can gain experience and he comes cheap, where next year he will be more valuable to the team. Even when he was drafted, GM Mitch Kupchak said Morris was a steal at the 41st pick and that they were excited to draft him. For a GM to say that about a player in the second round, it means they are willing to see how this player will grow and hopefully become a full time NBA point guard and a fixture with the Lakers.
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| Troy Murphy. Photo from nj.com |
The latest player signed by the Lakers was a former double-double machine in Troy Murphy. Last season he was not himself. He was hit by injuries during the preseason and he wasn't able to get back into shape. He said on Lakers.com that he is back to 100% and ready to help out the Lakers. If he is back to the game shape that he was when he played for the Pacers, he will be able to help the Lakers second unit. He can hit the three point shot, take it inside and rebound extremely well. The Lakers didn't bring him in to the the second option, he will be behind Bynum, Gasol, "McBob," and Caracter, when he returns from surgery. Murphy will probably be playing for the Lakers come opening night, because of Bynum's suspension, but after those five games, it will determine the amount of time will be used on Murphy. If he can rebound and hit the open shot, along with spread out the floor, he should be able to earn a good 15 to 20 minutes of playing time. The Lakers didn't use too much money on him, as they only signed him for one year and around one million dollars. If it doesn't work, the Lakers didn't waste that much money, but still have a big body to give the starters a rest. If he is back to his old game form, or close to it, then they struck gold. He will be a major step up from the likes of Theo Ratliff, who played one season too long and Joe Smith, who was in the same boat as Ratliff.
With the new additions to the Lakers, it solidifies their "mob" bench, as they were nicknamed during their title run a couple years ago. Metta World Peace will be the anchor on the bench, as Brown said he was going to start Matt Barnes or Devin Ebanks and move World Peace to the bench to run the offense and defense through him. With a bench that if filled with the likes of Morris, Kapono, World Peace, Ebanks (if Barnes starts), McBob and Murphy, they have a solid bench they could help rest the starters and even provide a nice spark that they lack. Will these players replace Odom, no but it is a step in the right direction and their are enough of them to even bring more collectively to the team than just Odom and Brown.
Only time will tell and tomorrow the Lakers will find out in the preseason against the Clippers.
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