I always took the path of he was a Bynum replacement. I would rather face him leaving than the thought of to max or not max out Bynum like Phili did and have the future ride on his knees.
I got that he never asked to come, but I also got he came because he did one of the dumbest opt ins ever. He had reasons to leave, but honestly one thing the year showed was he didn't want to be fully in. Its just not about being him or Kobe. Is the whole arguing and screaming at Nash till Metta separates them. The whole him wanting the ball on the block over Pau, ignoring he had the second most post ups of all bigs behind Al Jefferson and had a high turnover rate, low conversion, and the hacking thing. Its been a mess of a year from death, to coaches, to injuries, but the whole thing I always looked at Dwight as being was a piece to a puzzle they try to fit together next summer and as a co star, trolling brandun aside
I tell you I didn't see a guy who should have his name up there with Kobe, Shaq, West, Goodrich, Worthy, Kareem, and Magic. Hell not even over Scott, Fisher, Cooper, Odom, Horry, Fox based off his laker tenure.
I wish him well in Houston, I'm not even sure how they all fit but I won't wish injury on a cat. I will wish that he meets the Lakers in the playoffs and they send him home. I don't advocate tanking because I don't think the west as a whole is strong or unbeatable, and because Dr Buss never would advocate that for the Lakers.
I truly don't know. The way the west looks tanking makes no sense.
- GS got a semi-star in Iggy but I think Jack and Landry will be missed
- Clips will be good but they need a backup pg and big
- Dallas doesn't really have a plan
- Kings, Blazers, Wolves, Suns are just there like always
- Dont know how a rookie coach handles Memphis
- SA usually flames out bad the year after a finals run
- OKC lacks a third scorer and needs to re-up Thabo
- Plicans got better but are a young unknown who I think will surprise people
- Denver lost players and Geroge Karl
I mean realistically I get the whole the sky is falling thing but realistically. Kobe is set to return in December at the latest. Pau gets the paint and C spot which he won titles at. Nash should be healthier at least after a summer off to rehab his leg break. I'm not saying they are a hca team, but I don't think 5/6 seed and second round depending on matchups is impossible. Games aren't won on paper, but on the court, and all it takes is health and momentum at the right time