Sports Illustrated has been grading the offseason moves of all the NBA teams by division, and today writer Lee Jenkins did the Pacific Division and of course the Lakers were at the top of the class. Read the Lakers part of the article below or click here to read the entire article.
WHAT WENT RIGHT
Happy returns
Kobe Bryant wanted Phil Jackson to return as head coach, and after weeks of soul-searching, Jackson did. Bryant wanted Derek Fisher to return as point guard, and after weeks of negotiating, Fisher did. Jackson will make less than he did last year and Fisher will make less than he was offered by other teams, but neither could turn down Bryant.
Ideal additions
After months of speculation that the Lakers would slash payroll, they added to it, finding several bargains to bolster their bench and keep their starters fresh for the playoffs. Steve Blake will split time with Fisher and provide much-needed three-point shooting; Matt Barnes (pictured) will spell Ron Artest and bring the same rugged defense; Theo Ratliff is another big body behind Andrew Bynum. The Lakers even managed to bring back Bryant's understudy, Shannon Brown, making their second unit better than last year's.
Competitive imbalance
The Lakers opponent in the Western Conference finals, the Suns, lost Amar'e Stoudemire. The Lakers opponent in the Western Conference semifinals, the Jazz, lost Carlos Boozer. Despite the emergence of the Thunder, and the staying power of the Mavericks and Spurs, the Western Conference is not the gauntlet it used to be.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Heat is on
Though the Lakers remain the obvious choice to win the West, they are no longer the clear-cut favorite for the championship. Last season, they were more talented than any team they might have faced in the Finals, but that is not the case anymore. If the Lakers meet Miami for the title, they will have the advantage inside. Stopping the Heat's dribble penetration, however, will be problematic.
Bynum's knee, take three
For the third straight season, Bynum suffered a serious knee injury, and surprisingly he waited until the end of July to undergo arthroscopic surgery. The operation was successful and the Lakers insist that Bynum will be ready for training camp, but his knees rank as the biggest areas of concern for the Lakers. As everyone saw in the Finals, when Bynum plays, the Lakers are almost unbeatable. When he does not, they are vulnerable.
BOTTOM LINE
In an organization headlined by Bryant, Jackson and Jerry Buss, Mitch Kupchak does not get a lot of attention. But he showed this summer why he is one of the savviest general managers in the league, negotiating discounted deals for Blake and Barnes.
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