c2c basketball

Welcome to Hollywood is the Los Angeles Lakers’ team report written by Stephen James.

Team reports are articles written by the General Manager of each franchise. Whether it is weekly, monthly, or after every trade or game, c2c’s team reports are an inside look to each franchise. Maybe an explanation of a trade or a week in review of how the team has faired in games, either way, these are the words of the league and owners.

Brace yourselves.

With a roster of only nine players and four of them being point guards not suitable as starters, the Los Angeles Lakers had enormous needs going into this year’s draft. Holding the 7th and 18th picks, they were assured of getting players that would help right away in a draft many experts considered one of the deepest in recent history. Having one of the worst defenses in the league and looking at at Dorell Wright as their starter at SF, the needs were crystal clear.

Leading up to the 7th pick, the team felt the player they coveted most; Mike Conley would be outside their reach, but that Joakim Noah would probably be available. Drafting Noah would add a defensive, rebounding and shot blocking presence in the post and would certainly give a jolt to their interior defense. The problem was San Antonio Spurs having a similar need bypassed two players rated higher by every analyst in the country, selected Noah at number 6. Having thought about this as a remote possibility, the Lakers had a contingency deal in place with the Charlotte Bobcats that would send the 7th pick along with Carlos Arroyo and Dorell Wright to the Bobcats in return for the 11th, 55th picks, Jamal Tinsley and a late 2008 1st.

Trade Analysis: This trade gives the team a starting PG that digs in on defense and loves to pass. His contract isn’t too appealing, but Stephon Marbury’s 20M salary comes over the books very very soon. This move also gives the Lakers an extra pick to add depth and a 2008 1st (more ammunition in the Beasley / Rose sweepstakes).

Due to a trend that saw starting quality small forwards falling in the draft, the Lakers were more than willing to fill a need (Tinsley as a starting PG) and move down three spots. At 11, they knew they needed to scoop up Sean Williams, the shot blocking, rebounding specialist out of Boston College, and they did just that. Paring Williams with Amare Stoudamire and Udonis Haslem gives them flexibility in moving Amare between PF and C to create matchup problems for other teams.

In order to make the first round a success, the next item on the agenda had to be adding a starting SF. After trading away Wright and with no cap room available, the only way to add a starting SF to the roster would be through the draft. After watching Corey Brewer and Thaddeus Young go respectively at picks 12 and 15, the Lakers began to get a bit nervous. After Jeff Green, who went 10th, the team had Al Thornton and Jamario Moon as the highest rated SFs on their board. Wanting the opportunity to choose between Thornton and Moon, the Lakers engaged in another trade. In order to move up one spot, the Lakers sent Brevin Knight’s expiring contract to Milwaukee for Antonio Daniels.

Trade Analysis: Adding Daniels contract could be looked upon as a negative, but the fact that they have Marbury’s 20M to offset it is worth the money since it allows them to add a starting SF who will be very good for them. Adding Tinsley and Daniels contracts only account for half of Marbury’s 20M.

With the option of choosing between Moon and Thornton at 18, the decision was a bit tougher than some may have thought. While Moon’s age works against him, the Laker scouts deemed his defense and rebounding as off the charts for a SF. Adding Moon would allow the team to walk away having added three strong defensive players. On the flip side, Thornton is one of the top 4 scorers in the draft. Adding him would give the team a third scorer (and balanced attack) especially when Richard Hamilton and Amare get into foul trouble. Thornton would also offer more of an upside than Moon. Given that, the decision was Al Thornton.

In the second round, the Lakers have the 37th, 55th and 57th picks. With those picks look for them to add depth. The 37th pick will be of particular interest because the player chosen here will likely see some decent minutes as a rookie. With Louis Williams and DeShawn Stevenson being free agents after the season, SG could be the direction the team goes. If not, more depth at SF could be an option.