LakerTom: Rubio and Love would be a great tandem to target. Rubio has really struggled with his shot in Spain this past Euro season but his handle/speed/passing would be a godsend to revitalize this team. I saw somewhere the T'Wolves are looking to move their picks, I believe a #2 and #20, perhaps a package deal could be put together.  I love L.O.'s size and versatility, but I'm with you on reluctantly putting him on the trade-block if that's what it takes. Pau too. Well, basically everyone not named Kobe or Andrew should be available. They could use some muscle, Artest might fit their needs. Pau. Veteran savvy in Fisher. For the right trades of course, not just blowing up and starting over.  Hate to talk like this, seemingly give up on this team but I disagree with Kobe in thinking this group merely needs to be tweaked and will continue to contend.  About Fisher, if anyone has 'earned' the right to retire in purple and gold he is it. He might have a low trade value, but unfortunately it's a business and the Lakers need to stay competitive.  Should be interesting, that's for sure.  I was referring more to slow/plodding players at the 4/5 positions rather than strictly 7-footers. I don't believe Horace Grant was a 7-footer either, more like 6'9 or 6'10.  Rambis was a scrapper, a battler. He was undersized like Noah or Kevin Love now, but he had a big heart. I was referring though to his speed because that is one thing you mentioned in your previous post as a reason you thought 2 slow 7-footers couldn't coexist.  You are also arguing that Lamar and Pau are both not 7-footers. That is true since L.O. is technically a couple inches short. But they are both post players, both bigs and even though L.O. is a couple inches short of being a 'true' 7-footer, he could play center on about 20 other teams and PF on all of them. Look at how he was used in the FIBA's last year.  So, are you arguing more about footspeed? Two slow bigs can't coexist on the floor together? Or is your argument more about size, and you hold that two players that are 7-footers doesn't work - and they must literally be 7-feet tall and not an inch or two shorter. Just wondering.  As for Jerry West, he has been making some irking-type comments for a while now. I don't consider him bitter, but when he came out last year and said LeBron was a better player than Kobe - and later reversed himself I considered that to be more of a jab at Kobe than a real reflection of things. Anyways, I think Kobe would make a terrific distributor at point, it's at the defensive end of things that we would see him wear down. I don't believe he ever had to defend as much quickness at the position back then than we see now.  We can agree to disagree about Bynum's play during the Finals, we've already had that go-round a few months back. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lakers in '08 would have given the Celtics a much tougher time - if not won it - if Drew wasn't injured. Remember, we were also down Mihm our backup center and the C's correctly exploited our frontcourt. But there is no doubt the last two years Bynum has played a tremendous role in getting us those rings.  AS ALWAYS - AND FOREVER - GO LAKERS!!!!!!
While you're bored at work, join the chat box in the jump below! --Mark Medina E-mail the blog at mgmedin@gmail.com Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson talk strategy during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times