GP to sign with the Lakers :D

Undertaker · July 8, 2003 1:57PM

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0708/1578233.html

Tuesday, July 8

Payton to 'follow dream' with Lakers

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ESPN.com news services

Gary Payton, in the words of his longtime agent Aaron Goodwin, has decided to "follow his dream."

The dream, in this case, is winning a championship, and Payton wants to chase that dream in Los Angeles alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Goodwin told ESPN's David Aldridge on Tuesday afternoon that Payton has verbally agreed to sign a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 16, despite L.A.'s financial limitations.

As a team well over the NBA's salary cap, which is expected to fall between $40-42 million for next season, the Lakers are limited to offering Payton a starting salary of $4.9 million next season. It is believed Payton, who turns 35 on July 23, will sign a multiyear deal with the dethroned champions, who received word of Payton's plans just two days after the franchise and its fans were rocked by sexual-assault allegations against Bryant.

"He could have taken a lot more money to go somewhere else," Goodwin told ESPN.com, referring to efforts by the Portland Trail Blazers to acquire Payton in a sign-and-trade with Milwaukee. "But he's going to Los Angeles to follow his dream."

The Lakers have been negotiating with Payton over the past several days, general manager Mitch Kupchak said Tuesday.

"It is the Lakers' intention to enter into a contract with Gary Payton once the moratorium period ends. Due to NBA rules regarding free agency I am unable to further comment at this time,'' Kupchak said in a statement.

The Blazers reportedly offered Milwaukee a package featuring Jeff McInnis and Arvydas Sabonis, which could have taken the starting salary of Payton's next contract into the $10-million range. But the lure of the Lakers -- described by Goodwin over the weekened as "absolutely" Payton's first choice -- prompted the nine-time All-Star to resist substantial overtures from Portland and Miami, according to Aldridge.

Milwaukee is thus left with no compensation for Payton, who came to the Bucks at the February trading deadline in a blockbuster trade with Seattle for Ray Allen. Payton spent the first 13 1/2 seasons of his career with the Sonics, then reunited briefly with Bucks coach George Karl until Milwaukee was eliminated by New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs.

Karl is the only prominent figure left from the Bucks team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001. Glenn Robinson was traded last summer, Allen was dealt away in February and Sam Cassell was traded to Minnesota the day after last month's NBA draft.

After lengthy negotiations with Michael Jordan, Bucks owner Sen. Herb Kohl elected to take the franchise off the market. Payton's departure significantly reduces the Bucks' payroll, but Milwaukee likely faces a long rebuilding process now, with only youngsters like Desmond Mason and Michael Redd for new general manager Larry Harris to build around.

For the Lakers, of course, the outlook is suddenly brighter, in the wake of the Bryant controversy and a tumultuous season in which L.A. started 11-19 and saw its run of three consecutive championships halted by a second-round playoff loss to San Antonio. Payton is precisely the sort of long-limbed, defensive-minded guard who can thrive in Jackson's system while helping to ease the scoring burden on O'Neal and Bryant.

The Lakers, furthermore, hope to secure a similar commitment Wednesday or Thursday from Utah's Karl Malone, who has indicated a willingness to accept a starting salary of $1.5 million in exchange for the chance to make it four future Hall of Famers in Jackson's starting lineup.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

WOOHOO! Now the only thing left for them to do is sign Malone and we know the 03-04 Champs baby

bjork73 · July 8, 2003 2:28PM

Geez this is almost as good as the proposed deal a few years ago that would have landed Shaq, Jordan, Kobe, and Scottie Pippen on the same team... if Malone signs it's not only a lock for the NBA title but a definite contender for best NBA season for a team ever... makes the Avalanche's one-year bargain with Kariya and Selanne look relatively pathetic

cardnyou · July 8, 2003 2:30PM

no way in hell will they match 72-10...i dont see it happening ...oh no no no

Undertaker · July 8, 2003 10:30PM

<< no way in hell will they match 72-10...i dont see it happening ...oh no no no

>>

you don't WANT to see it happen

I don't really care about that record (because it's very hard to lose less than 10 games in a 82 games season), but man what a team.. they gotta dump George though.. and Shaw, Walker, etc.. and sign 2 young forwards.. either way, things are looking briiiiiight for the Lakers

Vincecarder · July 8, 2003 11:49PM

Man...that really sucks that GP went to the Lakers....and the Mailman wants to go there too..

One positive thing is that I won't have to see Fisher on the floor as much as well as Horry (who makes me really sick) All they have to do is get rid of George and trade Kobe (for a superstar of course) and I won't mind the Lakers at all. It's the perfect time to move Kobe now, couldn't keep his hands off a 19 year old....ship him to Portland, he'd be perfect there!!!

c0LLect0r · July 9, 2003 12:10AM

I don't think GP will help him as much as people think he will. Here in Milwaukee he always shot like 10-30. I am actually glad that he is out of Milwaukee because now this will give T.J. Ford his big chnce. I dunno...we'll see how the Lakers and Bucks do with this change...

Undertaker · July 9, 2003 12:20AM

<< I don't think GP will help him as much as people think he will. Here in Milwaukee he always shot like 10-30. I am actually glad that he is out of Milwaukee because now this will give T.J. Ford his big chnce. I dunno...we'll see how the Lakers and Bucks do with this change... >>

lol.. ok we're talking about the 2nd best PG in the league here.. (and if it wasn't for Kidd, he'd still be the best)
let's take a look at his stats w/ Milwaukee:

G G MPG FGM-A FG% 3PM-A 3P% FTM-A FT% OFF DEF TOT APG SPG BP TO PF PPG
28 28 38.8 221-474 .466 20-68 .294 88-118 .746 .80 2.30 3.10 7.4 1.43 .29 2.00 2.30 19.6

now.. his 3PT% might be a li'l off (he's never been a great shooter from beyond the arc), but .466 for a PG isn't exactly 10-30

In fact, he put up better numbers than Kidd (talking about 10-30 and a bad 3point shooter).
You're just mad that he left that crappy team

Can't blame you tho.. I'd be mad as well

c0LLect0r · July 9, 2003 12:43AM

I wasn't really talking about lay-ups and stuff...I was mostly talking about jumpers. Yes, I did exaggerate with 30 shots a game because he only took 16...but his 3-point percentage tells about his perimeter shooting. I mean, he just about wasted 70 shots on a shot that he makes 30% of the time. I also think he'll be driving much less with the Lakers because he has Shaq who he can just lob it to in the center of the lane. He just wasn't a good fit with teh Bucks. And I still don't know how you can say that a playoff team is a crappy team. They gave the Nets their biggest scare in the Eastern Conference and if it wasn't for Rodney Roger's missed free throw which turned into a jumper and Gary Payton missing 5 (yes...I counted) lay-ups in the last minute of the last game against the Nets, we probably could have made it deep into the playoffs. Now I can understand you saying the Nuggets or Grizzlies or maybe even the Bulls are a crappy team...but they didn't even come close to the playoffs and the Bucks did and won 2 games in it. The Lakers lost in the playoffs too, but do you see me calling the Lakers a "crappy team". No...because I have nothing against them. I don't like them but don't say they aren't good. You people always rag on the Bucks...but tell me one thing you have against them...

LAdude465 · July 9, 2003 3:53AM

yea its over, the lakers basically won there next ring in signing GP!!! ITS OVER!!!

Undertaker · July 9, 2003 4:19AM

The Bucks just ARE a crappy team.. I mean come on, they trade their best player for a 34 y.o. PG who would NEVER end his career there because he doesn't have a reason to compete (everyone knows that).
Now they have Tim Thomas on PF (talking about a soft player), and Anthony Mason on C (who is, what, 6'8", 250?), OR they can start with Przbilla or Gadzuric, 2 all-star centers

The point is Jackson, that you think the Bucks are ok, but in fact, they'll be the worst team out there next year.. it's time to realise that

dherm360 · July 9, 2003 4:22AM

They are by no means the worst team. I still think they will be fighting for a playoff spot. But they do need to start picking up some quality players and rebuild.

McGradyMVP · July 9, 2003 4:31AM

The Lakers have to be the favorites, but it doesnt mean they win a title.

Just to say though, if they do not win 70+ games and a title, it will be a dissapointment.

I am skeptical, but I definitly love GP and Kobe in the backcourt playin the 1 and 2.

c0LLect0r · July 9, 2003 5:25AM

<< The Bucks just ARE a crappy team.. I mean come on, they trade their best player for a 34 y.o. PG who would NEVER end his career there because he doesn't have a reason to compete (everyone knows that).
Now they have Tim Thomas on PF (talking about a soft player), and Anthony Mason on C (who is, what, 6'8", 250?), OR they can start with Przbilla or Gadzuric, 2 all-star centers

The point is Jackson, that you think the Bucks are ok, but in fact, they'll be the worst team out there next year.. it's time to realise that >>

It's not their fault they traded Ray Allen for Gary Payton. Maybe you didn't know this...but it's the general manager's decision. Tim Thomas is soft? Hmmm...he had 3.2 fouls per game and Kobe Bryant had 2.7. Hmmm...seems like Kobe plays softer than Thomas. I never said that our big men were good...that's what we need...a good big man...but you can't insult their guards and forwards. T.J. Ford, Michael Redd, Desmond Mason, Tim Thomas, Toni Kukoc, and Marcus Haislip. Hmmm...that doesn't seem like the worst team out there to me. Seriously you think they are going to be the worst team? They were 27-26 without Payton and Mason and with them they were 15-14 with them. Hmmm...gosh...looks like Gary Payton really helped us out. Wouter, I agree with you on most things but you people just rag and rag and rag on the Bucks for no reason. Go rag on like the Grizzlies or something cause the Bucks are 20x better than them.

Undertaker · July 9, 2003 5:30AM

Thomas is just too soft to play PF.. his number of fouls don't have anything to do with that..
They have good players in Mason & Michael Redd, but all the others you mentioned wouldn't even start on a contender team.. and I think you realise that..
I know the GM made that decision.. that's what I'm saying.. how stupid can he be?
Payton didn't even give 100% IMO.. I think Milwaukee can only pray that T.J. Ford will be a surprise like Amare was last season for the Suns, and that they will sign a decent big man.. otherwise the upcoming season will be a disaster..

Vincecarter15152 · July 9, 2003 5:42AM

i actually agree with taker on something

c0LLect0r · July 9, 2003 5:46AM

<< Thomas is just too soft to play PF.. his number of fouls don't have anything to do with that..
They have good players in Mason & Michael Redd, but all the others you mentioned wouldn't even start on a contender team.. and I think you realise that..
I know the GM made that decision.. that's what I'm saying.. how stupid can he be?
Payton didn't even give 100% IMO.. I think Milwaukee can only pray that T.J. Ford will be a surprise like Amare was last season for the Suns, and that they will sign a decent big man.. otherwise the upcoming season will be a disaster.. >>

You don't think Marcus Haislip is good? The only reason he didn't play was because Geroge "f'in" Karl doesn't play rookies. Karl even said Haislip is a hell of an athlete...plus...Haislip has proven to have the highest verticle leap in the NBA. Thomas doesn't even play PF. If you actually watched a Bucks game you ould see he plays SF. And Toni Kukoc wouldn't start on a contending team? Toni had a .432 fgp and 11.6 ppg and Robert Horry had a .387 fgp and 6.5 ppg. Hmmm...seems like Toni is a bit better.

"The Bucks just ARE a crappy team.. I mean come on, they trade their best player for a 34 y.o. PG"

"I know the GM made that decision.. that's what I'm saying.. how stupid can he be? "

I always thought "they" meant multiple people. And they did get rid of Ernie Grunfeld which was a step in the right direction. But now...tell me why you always rag on the Bucks...

Undertaker · July 9, 2003 6:51AM

<< You don't think Marcus Haislip is good? >>

I have no idea.. but come on.. that's like saying that Slava is good, but he just didn't get any minutes..

<< If you actually watched a Bucks game you ould see he plays SF. >>

um.. yeah but he'll have to play PF next season.. or they can start Joe Smith, but he's even worse

<< And Toni Kukoc wouldn't start on a contending team? Toni had a .432 fgp and 11.6 ppg and Robert Horry had a .387 fgp and 6.5 ppg. Hmmm...seems like Toni is a bit better. >>

lol.. yeah he shoots better.. big deal.. Horry has proven more in his career than Kukoc ever will..

<< But now...tell me why you always rag on the Bucks... >>

I don't 'rag' on them, but it's just that you always say they're good, and they have a good team, but in reality they really suck.. I mean they couldn't even make it past the 1st round in the East last year.. w/ Payton & Cassell.. I wonder if they'll even make the play-offs this year

c0LLect0r · July 9, 2003 8:47AM

<< I don't 'rag' on them, but it's just that you always say they're good, and they have a good team, but in reality they really suck.. I mean they couldn't even make it past the 1st round in the East last year.. w/ Payton & Cassell.. I wonder if they'll even make the play-offs this year >>

Well not only did Payton screw us over (going 1-15 on 3's) in the playoffs...but WE PLAYED THE BEST TEAM IN THE EAST. The Lakers would have lost in the first round if they played the Spurs. Why? Because the Spurs are better.

GP to sign with the Lakers :D

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