Off-season moves make LA not such a clear cut favorite to repeat

The off-season deal making hit a fever pitch as the free-agent signing period gun went off on July 2nd and every contender has made big moves to position themselves to knock LA off their championship perch. Here’s who we think has made the biggest off-season improvements so far.

San Antonio – Amazing off season moves for a team that was supposed to be strapped. All key additions including a proven commodity in Richard Jefferson, veteran Antonio McDyess, mid-career pick-ups Malik Hairston and Marcus Haslip, lastly, a excellent pick in the draft of Dejuan Blair who could end up as another Paul Millsap. Mark my words, if the aging core of the Spurs can stay healthy, this team will take the Lakeshow right down to the wire in the West.

Boston – back to their ol’ tricks with the signing of ‘Sheed, a crafty vet who despite his public rep as a ‘cancer’ on a ball club is known throughout the NBA as a great teammate and has immense playoff experience, a ring, and most of all a victory over LA in the finals. However, the flip side to this coin is that the C’s will probably be losing Powe and Davis so they are pushing ‘all in’ for this next year.

Cavs – what can you say? Now they have a “combo” of their own, to rival that of Shaq/Kobe and DWade/Shaq. Now the other two ended up with jewelry at the end of the rainbow, will this one? It gives the Cavs a great starting line-up but it doesn’t address their weakness, which is their bench. This was poignantly obvious in the ECF as the team with the best record in the East was easily dismissed, and in a league that peredicates around matchups and runs, if you don’t make adjustments your results will not vary.

Lakers – The best did get better as the knock on LA has always been their soft underbelly which the Bostonians were able to expose in 08’ but where Howard didn’t have enough help in 09’. The Lakers have addressed that issue with one swift move with the addition of Ron Artest. His reputation speaks for itself as do his problems. Ariza is an up and comer there’s no doubt about that but he will never be a career 16 & 6 guy like Artest (Ariza is 4 & 6) but had the edge in athleticism. It’s a trade for the ‘now’ which put LA in the position to repeat in the eyes of many, but the key to this deal, AND team now is the signing of Lamar Odom, besides being “the impossible cover” he’s also a childhood friend of Artest and probably instrumental in keeping the potentially explosive Laker locker room benign. Who do you think made the biggest off-season movers? Let us know here and in the NBA chat rooms and team rooms.

World Champions struggle to keep the core together

Update: Deals in stone, Artest to LA, Ariza to Houston

Only two days into the free-agent singing period our question was answered if the defending champs were going to be able to keep the club together for one more title run. The quick answer is no, but the retort might be “are the Lakers even better now?” LA traded youth and the future for the present as 24 yr old Trevor Ariza, LA native, UCLA product, and local favorite is swapped with the ever unpredictable Ron Artest 29. The Lakers' decision to go with Artest instead of younger Ariza shows they're putting everything into these next three years and not worrying too much about the future. Ariza would have wanted a five-year contract; Artest was willing to come for three. The end of Artest's contract coincides with the reported opt-out clause for Bryant. We don't know whether Kobe will choose to leave in 2012, but we do know this: He'll be 33 that summer and either way the clouds will be clearing in the West and the Purple Reign will be ending.


As soon as the parade was over, well actually during the parade, the questions were swarming if the Lakers were going to be able to keep their championship team in tact. Mainly free agents Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, and Shannon Brown. The feeling in LA is that they have the components to make another trip back (and win) a second consecutive NBA title. After Kobe stated that he would not opt out of his extension it appeared that the off season in La-La Land would be as beautiful as the weather. Unfortunately there are some flaws in the planning of the “Purple Reign” sequel. Firstly, the Lakers need to get their house in order as they appear to be unclear on the Odom (10 million) deal and even further away from Ariza (5.6 vs. 8million) that his agent was looking for, and the Shannon Brown talks have yet to get off the ground. Even if LA can miraculously come to terms with all three that doesn’t ensure their ticket for a return engagement as the rest of the league has made additions in the draft the Lakers felt they had enough in the cubborad to stand pat, a major mistake. The move that may come back to haunt them is passing on the Pittsburgh twins (Blair and Young) who could have immediately helped their one blaring deficiency, getting out “physicaled” on the boards. They got plenty of firepower on offense what they need is an enforcer (aka Rick Fox, Coach Rambis). Although not complacent, perhaps too confident that their current hand will be good enough to withstand another flop, and even though they may be playing with house money as the last team to repeat, if the chips don’t fall into place USC can feel comfortable re-painting the Coliseum Cardinal and Gold again. Are the Lakers the team to beat again in 2010? Let us know here and in the NBA chat rooms and team pages.