TK's Tidbits: Lakers jilt Jackson; Could a trade with Big Al and Gasol work?


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

Here's to old quotes not adding up and coming back to haunt. Recent quotes can look even worse. Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson loved the trade that brought Dwight Howard to LA, "This puts them as the team to beat, right there with Miami."

Or, not!

Phil said he was "stunned".

(Photo: Tony Gutierrez AP)
(Photo: Tony Gutierrez AP)

I love that the LA Lakers just jilted Jackson. The "Zen Master" was in the midst of reportedly negotiating all kinds of key contract extras like traveling to fewer Lakers road games, increased say in personnel decisions even angling toward owning a piece of the Lakers franchise and restoring his salary to the level he had when he retired. Phil reportedly wanted $12 Mill a year — Lakers got D'Antoni for $12 Million over 3 seasons.

Time will tell, but the Lakers GM says not hiring Phil had nothing to with any contract demands but rather basketball realities. This team isn't ready to learn the intricacies of the 'Triangle' offense. I love that this re-unites an "offensive genius" (says Kobe) Coach D'Antoni with a 2-time MVP Steve Nash. The ball has to be in Nash's hands (back in the lineup in a week or two max says Steve).

The challenge for the former Suns and Knicks headman and Olympic assistant (Beijing, London) is D'Antoni wants to run and shoot threes. Relentless uptempo? With 36 year old, already injured Kobe, plodding Pau, aging defensive talent MWP and the smiling enigma down low that is Dwight Howard, they don't have bigs who can space the floor and shoot 3's.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol, center, of Spain puts up a shot (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol, center, of Spain puts up a shot (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Ex-Kentucky 'filler upper' Jody Meeks will be great in this system, Steve Blake could work, but the Lakers bench may be the worst in the NBA, and how much time will D'Antoni be given to tweak the roster with guys who fit his system?

And, oh yeah, this hire de-emphasizes de-fense, which makes sense cause this may be the weakest defensive team the Lakers have had in decades. Of course their games will sizzle Hollywood style and that may ease the pain of piling up losses.

BTW, Spurs just beat LA by 2 in Staples last night, so Jazz may get 2 more road wins at the Lakers this season.

*************************************

That got me thinking ... think the Lakers would bite on this trade? Why wouldn't the Jazz?

Big Al (Big expiring contract) Alec Burks (not playing here, perfect in D'Antoni's system) maybe you throw in Earl Watson (longest recovery/rehab from minor knee surgery in NBA history) for Pau Gasol. Jazz lose low-post offensive stud/defensive liability but gain better defender, better passer, higher BKB IQ, Pau has this season plus one more left on a contract that will pay him just under $38 Million, so those 3 Jazz players should make the numbers work in a trade.

*************************************

How crazy is it that right before our very eyes we've witnessed the flipping of franchises in LA. The CLIPPERS now pragmatic, sound and shrewd (plus talented and exciting) Lakers are suddenly off-the-wall, grasping/groping, sporting a pricey roster that's straight from the 'Island of Misfit Toys'?

*************************************

Good Luck to Local Ute Gremlin football league overnight star Sam Gordon. 9 year old's off on a coast-to-coast media blitz. The result of her dad, SLC Attorney Brent Gordon, posting her amazing, elusive running skills on YouTube. Hundreds of thousands of views later Samantha (nicknamed "sweet feet") is heading to NYC, Chicago and West Coast, to see the sites and be seen by millions. And football isn't even her first love, Samantha's huge into soccer. USA National team star Abbey Wambaugh's already gushed about Sam on Twitter!

*************************************

And, finally huge hopes for Gary Andersen and Utah State! Win at Louisiana Tech Saturday and Aggie-Nation's celebrating a WAC Football Championship!

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

Utah JazzSports
Tom Kirkland

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast