Lakers Watch (7/1/10)

There is still nothing major yet to report regarding the Laker off-season moves, but this so-called exciting job fair is starting bad. Really, really bad with too many non-top-tier players (and counting) getting offered ridiculous contracts.

But phone companies and cell carriers were put to the test at the stroke of midnight last night fielding calls from general managers to the agents of all available free-agents on the market in the NBA. That list now includes Jordan Farmar and in some aspect Shannon Brown, who decided to opt out of his $2.1 million salary for next season. The Lakers have wisely decided to not offer Farmar a qualifying offer which officially brands him as "unrestricted". Brown is looking for some employment stability and is hopeful the Lakers will give him a multi-year deal to keep him as the team's most exciting finisher.

Farmar was "real happy" about his new status because he still thinks that his skills-set is better in an up-tempo system. Being an average shooter, a mediocre passer, and a poor defender (not to mention having no desire to improve his game whatsoever), his new team (Pacers, Knicks, or Blazers) will soon realize that he's never meant to be a starting point guard in this league, let alone a leader. As for Brown, well...good luck, kid!

Mitch Kupchak didn't waste anytime letting Derek Fisher knows that the Lakers aren't quite the same team without him by making the first phone call to his agent last night. No deal has been reached yet because the Lakers don't want to shell out more than $2.5 million a year while Fish is looking for something around the neighborhood of $5 million per meaning Fish doesn't want to take any pay cut. However, both sides know Derek belongs in purple and gold so it's amicable that both sides will eventually reach an agreement. How soon? Maybe as soon as we hear from Phil Jackson no later than Friday.

Shortly after the Lakers won another back-to-back title, Fish wasn't shy about showing everyone his support for his head coach and his stark opinion on how his employer values "the best coach" in NBA history. It looks like Fish has learned something else from Phil by throwing his own bluff by making Jerry Buss appreciate what he's done for the Lakers. Afterall, Kobe Bryant has yet to win a title without him. We'll see how this Fisher-Jackson signing issue plays out in the next several days.

Brian Shaw spent 2 days this week in Cleveland to have an interview to replace fired coach Mike Brown. Interestingly enough, no offer was made for Shaw after the interview. But it didn't matter. Shaw withdrew his name from a very short list of candidates stating that not having Lebron James with the team will make his first head coaching job even more difficult and that the quick turnaround for the Cavs to have a coach by Friday is way too soon for Shaw to make personal plans for.

This could only mean two things: Shaw is either will be the new head coach of the Lakers or will still be the assistant coach sitting next to PJ. Either way, it benefits the Lakers and their core players because Shaw will surely retain the Triangle offense if Phil sticks to his retirement plan. That decision has given Byron Scott to accept the deal from the Cavs.

It seems that the Lakers are keeping a closer eye on Steve Blake as their first potential non-Laker free agent acquisition. Blake split his time with Portland and the Clippers last season (he got traded to the Clips along with Travis Outlaw for Marcus Camby) and finished the season averaging 7.3 points per game and 4.8 assists per game while shooting almost 42% from the field and 39% of his three-pointers (44% with the Clips).

The Lakers have always like Blake for his pass-first mentality and ability to shoot the long ball. He rarely turns the ball over (1.5 career turnovers per game) and avoids fouling too much on the defensive end (1.5 career fouls per game). But his mediocre defensive abilities and moderate foot speed aren't exactly ideal upgrades to that of Fish. That could only mean that the Lakers are only looking for players to solidify that Laker bench which brings us too...

This Bynum-for-Bosh trade rumor that is still alive and well. Actually, it's been upgraded to Odom & Bynum for Bosh & Jack scenario. But Toronto Raptors exec Bryan Colangelo says such a deal with the Lakers is "highly unlikely".

So for those of you out there so enamored in seeing Chris Bosh in Laker uniform, get over it! The reasons to keep Andrew Bynum far outweigh the reason why a lot of Laker fans seem to think that the Lakers can't win another title without Bosh. Laker blogger Don Landrigan of With-Malice gives us his thoughts why. I happen to agree with him, and I'm sure a lot of Laker fans do as well.

Other possible Laker free-agent targets include: Tracy McGrady, Raja Bell, Earl Watson, Mike Miller, Luke Ridnour, Kurt Thomas, Raymond Felton, Randy Foye, Ronnie Brewer, and Craig Smith just to name a few. But ESPN Los Angeles' Andy and Brian Kamenetzky has a couple of interesting lists of free agent guards and bigs that could be seen on the Laker bench next season.

Finally, Roland Lazenby calls out Jerry Buss as to why he hasn't publicly showed his support to bring back Phil. Well, that is if he really wants to have Phil back. Lazenby is spot on about Buss keeping mum about a possible drastic change with his franchise next season if he lets things slip by without even hinting a bit of interest either way.

Jerry has always run his franchise his way since purchasing it back in 1979 from then-owner Jack Kent Cooke. His impressive success record makes it hard to argue with him even with dealing with his employees on a personal level. But Jerry is also known for his stubborness and unyielding pride. Those traits may have brought him a lot of good fortunes when it comes to being a businessman, but they may also prove to be his undoing when it comes to securing the future of the Lakers this summer.

Brace yourselves for another possible long summer fellow Laker fans.

GO LAKERS!!!