Lakers in the News 3/13/12 Sources: Bynum, Bryant help Lakers beat Grizzlies in 2 OTs = Bulls vying for Pau Gasol

[Cha*n]

Report: Magic want Lakers back in the Dwight Howard bidding war

By Royce Young | NBA Blogger

Are the Magic are hoping the Lakers get back into the Howard-drama? (Getty Images)

As the Dwight Howard carousel goes round and round, one prominent team has found a way to keep its name out of mud. But the Los Angeles Lakers are getting dragged back into the mix.

According to Sporting News, the Magic are waiting and hoping the Lakers re-emerge as a player to put a trade package together for Howard.

One thing the Magic are holding out for, a source told Sporting News, is the resurrection of talks with the Los Angeles Lakers. As the process has played out, it has become clear that the Magic are not going to get a better player in return for Howard than All-Star Lakers center Andrew Bynum.

Back in December, the Lakers had strong interest in Howard, but team VP Jim Buss said there was no way he would trade both Pau Gasol and Bynum to the Magic for Howard. Given Bynum's injury history, a deal in which Bynum was the main target was a longshot.
It's become painfully clear to the Magic that Bynum is almost assuredly the best player they can acquire in a Howard trade. The question is if the Magic would insist on that package including Gasol, which is something the Lakers likely wouldn't be comfortable with.

[Cha*n]

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak Defends Jim Buss for Decision Making

Written by Ryan Ward on 03/13/2012

Throughout the entire shortened NBA season thus far, the one person in the Los Angeles Lakers organization that has been criticized and villainized more than any is Jim Buss. With Lakers owner Jerry Buss now taking a backseat and letting his son Jim basically run the storied franchise from here on out, the moves and decisions of Jerry’s son have been questionable for Lakers fans.

It is never an easy transition between owners for professional sports franchises, especially when the previous owner has been as successful as Jerry Buss. The current owner of the Los Angeles Lakers is Jerry Buss, but now Jim Buss is being groomed to take over and in the process he has taken the reigns to help make choices for the team moving forward with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak.

During this transition period, Jim Buss has received a lot of criticism from fans, NBA analysts and former players like Magic Johnson for his decision making. Fortunately for Buss, Kupchak has backed him up by saying that he deserves much more credit than criticism via Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times:

“Jim gets way too much criticism and not enough credit with the success this team has had,” Kupchak said. . “He is following in the footsteps of the most successful owner maybe of all time, which is hard to do. But since he’s gotten more and more involved, which has been about seven or eight years, we’ve had some pretty good moments.”

[USCandLakers]

Magic...just go away. No commitment from Howard, no trade(at least I hope).
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A banana is killed every time a terrible thread or post is made. Save the bananas. Stop creating terrible posts!

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Hmmmm.... As suspected the Magic are starting to sweat.

D12 just put a lot of pressure on the Magic; nobody wants a 2 month rental for an all-star no matter how good Dwight is. Even our own LG poll is about 60/40 against the trade; his comments about not signing an extension is a huge factor.

[Cha*n]

Lakers-Grizzlies matchup: Five things to watch

By Mark Medina

March 13, 2012, 12:40 p.m.
1. Can the Lakers finally correct their road struggles? Sorry for being redundant, but the Lakers have yet to solve a season-long problem. Their 7-14 road record featured two losses last week against Eastern Conference basement-dwellers in Detroit and Washington. Of course, part of the blame pointed to a lack of focus and letting up after holding double-digit leads. Memphis, which has won eight of its last 10 and holds a No. 4 playoff seed, should inspire the Lakers to play with more urgency. But there's no predicting with this team.

It's easy to dissect the home-road disparity in total offense (97.3, 91.5), field-goal percentage (48%, 42.7%), assists (23.7, 19). It's harder to figure out why, beyond the team's development and initial disparity among quality of opponents. Regardless of the reason, it's imperative for the Lakers to get off to a good start. They have gone 19-5 when they lead at halftime.

2. The Grizzlies will be without Rudy Gay. Not everyone possesses the same ability to bounce back from injuries that Kobe Bryant has. He passed various agility, baseline and neurological tests and a game of two-on-two within a three-day span after suffering a concussion in the 2012 NBA All-Star game. Gay hasn't had such luck. The Memphis Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery reported that Gay will sit out against the Lakers after failing to pass baseline tests for two consecutive days after suffering a mild concussion Sunday against Denver.

[kemi4kobes]

[Cha*n]

Lakers-Grizzlies Preview

ESPN Stats & Information

A stop in Memphis might not provide the Los Angeles Lakers with the best opportunity to win back-to-back road games for only the second time this season.

The Lakers will look for a third straight victory overall Tuesday night, but to do it they'll need to snap the Grizzlies' season-high six-game home winning streak.

Los Angeles (25-16) pulled out a 97-94 home win over Boston on Sunday, two days after snapping a three-game road skid with a 105-102 victory at Minnesota. Beating the Timberwolves merely improved the Lakers to 7-14 on the road, where they last won consecutive games Jan. 29 and Feb. 3.

After scoring 34 at Minnesota, Kobe Bryant posted 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter Sunday and hit the go-ahead jumper with 41.7 seconds to play. Andrew Bynum had 20 points and 14 rebounds, securing the win with a hook shot over Kevin Garnett in the final seconds.

It was Bryant's decision during a timeout to get the ball to Bynum for the decisive basket.

"I just think that Kobe has always continued in that evolution in terms of doing different things to try to get us to the top and trying to get us to a championship level team," guard Derek Fisher told the Lakers' official website. "I believe we have always been pretty dangerous down the stretch because it's difficult to decide what to do. It's tough for teams to make a choice."

[Cha*n]

Lakers, Grizzlies battle on Beale Street

March 13, 2012, at 02:09 PM ET

(sports Network) - Despite persistent trade rumors involving Pau Gasol, the Lakers find themselves in a familiar position, atop the Pacific Division, thanks in large part to their acumen at Staples Center.

The road has been a different story for LA, however, and the Lakers will be attempting to win consecutive games away from Southern California for just the second time this season when they visit fellow Western Conference contender Memphis.

The Lakers have won two straight overall, including Sunday's 97-94 thriller over Boston in LA. Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 41.7 seconds remaining in that one.

Bryant tallied 10 points in the final frame for Los Angeles, which closed the game on an 8-0 run and is now 1 1/2 games ahead of the Clippers in the Pacific.

[Cha*n]

Sources: Bulls vying for Pau Gasol

Updated: March 13, 2012, 4:40 PM ET
By Marc Stein | ESPN.com

The Chicago Bulls are exploring avenues to acquire Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol before Thursday's trade deadline, according to sources close to the situation.
The Bulls have long hoped to wedge themselves into the trade running for Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard, but sources told ESPN.com that Howard's well-chronicled lack of interest in a trade to Chicago has prompted the Bulls to switch their focus to Gasol in advance of Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline.
Sources say that the Lakers, however, have limited interest in the players Chicago would be offering, starting with Bulls forward Carlos Boozer.

So the Bulls would have to recruit at least one more team to the discussions to have any shot at Gasol, sources said, with the Lakers known to be insistent on getting back at least one certifiable star if they consent to the trade the Spaniard. Sources say that the Lakers, furthermore, continue to talk to other teams about Gasol in advance.

The Lakers' longstanding preference, of course, is acquiring a top point guard if they agree to surrender Gasol. L.A. included the 7-footer in the December deal with New Orleans and Houston that would have landed Chris Paul with the Lakers, only for NBA commissioner David Stern -- acting as the final decision-maker for the league-owned Hornets -- to tell New Orleans' basketball people to cancel the deal after all three teams agreed to terms.

[jodeke]

Forget Howard, we don't need a center we need a PG. If the Lakers GIVE Orlando Andrew and Gasol for Howard it would seal my belief that Jim Buss was the wrong choice to run the franchise.

The new CBA handcuffs franchises like the Lakers and the Maverics. I think it would have been fair to grandfather in contracts like Kobes. Adding existing contracts to the CBA should be, if possible, challenged. I get the impression Mike has lost his voice with the team.
_________________
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

[Cha*n]

Not so fast on Bulls-Lakers deal

Trade involving Gasol and Boozer has difficult salary cap issues

By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune reporter

8:03 p.m. CDT, March 13, 2012
The Bulls and Lakers had exploratory trade talks centered on All-Star center Pau Gasol, league sources confirmed. However, multiple obstacles exist for any deal to occur before Thursday's 2 p.m. deadline.

The talks, first reported by ESPN.com's Marc Stein, were driven at least in part by Arn Tellem, the shared agent of Gasol and Derrick Rose. Tellem has had a longstanding strong relationship with Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

Sending Carlos Boozer and C.J. Watson to the Lakers would satisfy trade provisions under the collective bargaining agreement.

However, the Lakers, who are seeking an upgrade at point guard, have zero interest in adding the remaining three years and $47.1 million remaining on Boozer's contract. A habitual luxury tax team, they are wary of the more prohibitive penalties under the new collective bargaining agreement, which toughen in 2013-14.

[Cha*n]

Report: Bulls Chasing Gasol

HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol in the same uniform?

Apparently someone is trying to make it happen, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, who is reporting that the Bulls are trying to find a way to land the Lakers’ power forward in advance of Thursday trade deadline.

It’s one of the more intriguing ideas to surface throughout this frenzied countdown to the trade deadline, a stretch of every season that is rife with rumors, speculation and flat-out lies.

The Bulls haven’t been mentioned previously with Gasol, but recent developments have placed them squarely in the middle of that conversation now, details courtesy of Stein:


The Bulls have long hoped to wedge themselves into the trade running for Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard, but sources told ESPN.com that Howard’s well-chronicled lack of interest in a trade to Chicago has prompted the Bulls to switch their focus to Gasol in advance of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline.

Sources say that the Lakers, however, have limited interest in the players Chicago would be offering, starting with Bulls forward Carlos Boozer.

So the Bulls would have to recruit at least one more team to the discussions to have any shot at Gasol, sources said, with the Lakers known to be insistent on getting back at least one certifiable star if they consent to trade the Spaniard.

Sources say that the Lakers, furthermore, are talking to other teams about Gasol in advance.

[Cha*n]

Report: Bulls eye Pau Gasol trade with Lakers?


What's more difficult: Acquiring an All-Star 7-footer at the NBA Trade Deadline or finding a taker for an underachiever set to make $60 million over the next 3+ seasons? The correct answer: both are exceedingly difficult.

The Chicago Bulls will reportedly attempt to do both, simultaneously.

ESPN.com reports that the Bulls are attempting to land Los Angeles Lakers All-Star big man Pau Gasol in a trade that would send forward Carlos Boozer, he of the terrible contract and below expectations performance, to a third team.

The Bulls have long hoped to wedge themselves into the trade running for Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard, but sources told ESPN.com that Howard's well-chronicled lack of interest in a trade to Chicago has prompted the Bulls to switch their focus to Gasol in advance of Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline.

Sources say that the Lakers, however, have limited interest in the players Chicago would be offering, starting with Bulls forward Carlos Boozer.So the Bulls would have to recruit at least one more team to the discussions to have any shot at Gasol, sources said, with the Lakers known to be insistent on getting back at least one certifiable star if they consent to the trade the Spaniard. Sources say that the Lakers, furthermore, continue to talk to other teams about Gasol in advance.
The Chicago Tribune also reports that the Bulls can't execute a direct swap of Boozer for Gasol because the Lakers "have no interest" in Boozer, making a 3-team trade scenario the only way they could land Gasol.

[Cha*n]

Bynum, Bryant help Lakers beat Grizzlies in 2 OTs

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Andrew Bynum had 37 points and 16 rebounds, Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 34 points after halftime and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 116-111 in double overtime on Tuesday night.

Pau Gasol added 14 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who won their third straight. Bynum and Bryant accounted for the Lakers' last 10 points after Steve Blake connected on a 3-pointer to open the second extra period.

Marreese Speights led the Grizzlies with 25 points, while Marc Gasol finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Tony Allen had 18 points, and O. J. Mayo scored 14, but was 7 of 25 from the field. Mike Conley finished with 10 points and 11 assists for Memphis.

The Grizzlies took an early lead in the second overtime, but the Lakers clicked off six straight points, including a pair of baskets by Bynum, for a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Memphis played without leading scorer Rudy Gay, who was still suffering from concussion symptoms after a blow to the head in Sunday night's game at Denver.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/03/13/bynum-bryant-help-lakers-beat-grizzlies-in-2-ots/#ixzz1p3wlQBOE

[Cha*n]

Lakers outlast Memphis in double overtime, 116-111

By Mike Bresnahan

March 13, 2012, 8:34 p.m.
Reporting from Memphis -- It took the Lakers a long, long time, but they finally improved their road record, outlasting Memphis in two overtimes, 116-111, Tuesday at FedEx Forum.

Andrew Bynum had 37 points on 15-for-18 shooting and also took 16 rebounds as the Lakers improved to 8-14 on the road.

Kobe Bryant had 34 points in 52 minutes, including a four-footer with 1:47 left in the second overtime that put the Lakers ahead for good, 110-109.

The Lakers trailed by 17 in the third quarter and made enough of a run the rest of the way to force overtime.

The Grizzlies had a chance to win in regulation but Mike Conley missed a three-point attempt with 0.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Lakers had a chance to win in the first overtime but Bryant's 16-footer barely grazed the front of the rim.

[Cha*n]

Five things to take from Lakers' 116-111 2OT win over Memphis

By Mark Medina

March 13, 2012, 8:45 p.m.


1. The Lakers' 116-111 double overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies should be a big confidence boost. The big picture ramifications can't be overstated enough. The Lakers (26-16) have a 1 1/2 game lead over Memphis (24-17) for third place in the Western Conference. The game marked the Lakers' first signature road victory since winning last month at Boston. And most importantly, the Lakers' ability to overcome a 17-point deficit also represents growth. Considering the Lakers' 8-14 record, such a win in difficult circumstance have be the turning point they need in becoming a consistent road tim.

2. The Lakers Big Three made critical baskets. The last three baskes in the fourth quarter represented everything Kobe Bryant should do in the final minutes. Bryant connected with Andrew Bynum inside to cut Memphis' lead to 95-92 with 2:11 remaining. On the next possession, Bryant buried a deep-three-pointer after the Grizzlies mysteriously left him open. Then Bryant found Pau Gasol cutting inside and connected with him on a dunk for a 97-95 edge with 50 seconds left.

In overtime, that chemistry continued.

Gasol threw a lob to Bynum that tied the game up at 103-103 with 1:20 left in the first overtime. Gasol's steal on his brother Marc led to Bryant making an open shot for a 110-109 edge. Another Gasol-Bynum lob extended that to 112-109. And a pair of free throws from both Bryant and Bynum secured the game for good.

[BROW GOAT 23]

Bulls call Lakers:
Bulls: we want Gasol.
Lakers: what do you offer?
Bulls: Carlos Boozer.
Silent
Bulls: Hello??? Hello??? Hello???
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