[King Glorious]

I thought the Celtic one might be the best of the bunch. The Lakers would get back Paul Pierce who is not only a consistent all-star player but is a guy that can be a 26-30 point a night scorer. In addition to that, he's a local guy so he'd already have a fan base here. He's also got a few more years left on him than Kobe does. In Gerald Green, u have instant excitement. He's not too much unlike a young Kobe. He's only 21 and last year, he averaged 10 points a game in only 22 minutes a night. In the second half of the season, he showed quite a lot of potential, even averaging 16 a game in the last month of the season in 33 minutes a night. Also, like Kobe, he's a guy that won the slam dunk contest. These two guys would fit in great with LA and the whole "Showtime" atmosphere that Buss wants back. With that #5 draft selection, they could pick up a big guy that can play some defense. A guy like Joakim Noah or Al Horford might be available or maybe they go in a different direction and select a guy like Brandan Wright or Corey Brewer. Maybe even a point guard like Mike Conley could be available. I don't think this lineup is too bad:

Kwame Brown
Lamar Odom
Paul Pierce
Jordan Farmar
Gerald Green

Coming off the bench they could have Maurice Evans, Luke Walton, Joakim Noah, Rony Turiaf and they would have to bring in a veteran with the mid-level exception, most likely a guy that can play the point. They wouldn't need anyone flashy, just steady and that can play some defense. I think this would be an exciting team again. Or how bout offer up Odom and #5 for Kevin Garnett and have a lineup of Brown, Garnett, Pierce, Farmar and Green? That works for me.

The Carter deal might not be bad either. Again, we are talking about a proven all-star capable of getting u 25-30 a night. His style of play would be great here too. The Lakers are already paying Kobe max money so I don't know that they would be against giving Carter that amount. They need a superstar player in return in any trade and any superstar is going to get max money. I know about Kristic's injury but I haven't heard that he's not going to return. When he does, he's a much better player than Kwame Brown, even at 60% or so. Plus, Kwame is also coming off of a series of injuries himself. Neither one of them alone makes a great player but the two of them combined could give u a decent center combo. Add in Andrew Bynum and u have a 3-headed monster.

The Atlanta deal, I could see that happening too. Joe Johnson is an emerging star player in this league. Before his calf injury last year, he was scoring 25 a night. He plays pretty decent defense too and can rebound and score a little as well. Tyronne Lue could be the point guard, either as the starter if u feel Farmar is still not ready or as his backup. He fills a need the Lakers are weak at which is a defensive point guard. With that #3 pick, the options are wide open. Maybe a Corey Brewer or one of the Florida big men? Or how bout trade Odom and the #3 for Pierce and the #5. They could still grab one of the Florida big men and would be able to field of lineup of Brown, Noah/Horford, Pierce, Farmar/Lue, Johnson. They'd have size, quickness and great scoring. Or offer Odom and the #3 for Kevin Garnett. In either trade scenario involving Odom, they would still have their mid-level exception to use on a veteran player. And in all of this, they keep their prized young big man Andrew Bynum.

The thing is this. If they have to get rid of Kobe, they need a superstar in return. There just aren't that many guys in the league that can get u 25-30 a night. I've given u scenarios where u can get either Pierce, Carter, or Johnson, three of the ones that can. If they deal with Atlanta or Boston, they would also get a #3 or #5 that they can offer up with Odom for a guy like Kevin Garnett. I don't see how they beat this stuff. They don't need Jerry West. They need me.