Here’s my (mostly realistic) dream Laker team for next year, with salary info in (). Below that is a brief explanation of why I want each guy, and how we’d get ‘em:
STARTING FIVE
- Dan Dickau - PG ($2,100,000)
- Kobe Bryant - SG ($15,946,875)
- Lamar Odom - SF ($11,465,500)
- Reggie Evans - PF ($5,000,000)
- Chris Mihm - C ($3,796,875)
BENCH
- Mark Madsen - F ($1,500,000)
- Chris Andersen - F ($1,670,000)
- (IF HEALTHY) Vlade Divac - C ($4,500,000)
- Luke Walton - F/G ($1,000,000)
- Brian Cook - F ($865,800)
- Brian Grant - F ($14,458,438)
- Jumaine Jones - F ($1,875,000)
- Sasha Vujacic - G ($910,440)
Bo Outlaw - F/C ($1,000,000)
So you package the 10th pick in the first round (Phil was never a big fan of having a ton of youngsters around) with Caron Butler, Devean George, and Slava Medvedenko, and send them to New Orleans for Jamaal Magloire and Chris Andersen.
You sign Reggie Evans, because he’s a stud rebounder and can play some low post D, which are the biggest thing we need out of the PF spot.
You hope for some luck in getting a healthy Vlade, who helps Chris Mihm improve his post passing
Of course, if there is a lockout and things are as bad as some people would have you believe, maybe all of this will be moot.