Vujacic Scares Lakers... then Gets Contract

The Machine almost went haywire.



Sasha Vujacic, the Los Angeles Lakers scrappy shooting guard, scared the Lakers by threatening to do a Josh Childress, i.e. playing in Europe for a fatter contract. The Lakers didn't his bluff and immediately gave him a 3-year contract amounting to around $15 million.



Vujacic, or The Machine as fans would call him, was intrumental in the Lakers emergence last season by providing quick offense off the bench and 3-point marksmanship. It could be said that he played the role Phil Jackson designated for Steve Kerr during their run with the Chicago Bulls in the Michael Jordan era. But still Vujacic needs to be more consistent in playing, not just contesting calls with flair.



Losing Ronny Turiaf to the Golden State Warriors was a blow to Lakers fans. Good thing Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak extended an offer to Vujacic, otherwise, it would have been one less reason to see a fun Lakers team next season.





Tags: Lakers

Lakers won't Match Turiaf Offer Sheet

The Ronny Turiaf Era for the Los Angeles Lakers is over.

ESPN has reported that the Lakers will not match the offer sheet tendered by the Golden State Warriors. Ronny Turiaf had decent numbers for a reserve (7 points and 4 rebounds last season) and had steadily improving stats since his rookie season three years ago.

But Ronny was known for his high energy play on the court and "cheerleading" the Lakers on the bench. His love of the game was marked my his comeback from a major heart surgery to play for the Lakers during his rookie year.

Strategically, I can't blame the Lakers front office for not matching the offer sheet from the Warriors, but keeping Turiaf would mean the Lakers would be a bit more fun to watch.He will be missed definitely.

Here's a video tribute to Ronny I found at YouTube:


Tags: Lakers

What's Next for the Los Angeles Lakers?

Jeez, it actually took me a month to get over the demolition the Los Angeles Lakers went through during the 2008 NBA Finals. (What fan can get over a 30-point blowout loss in an elimination game?)



But life, and the offseason must go on.



So, has happened to the Lakers since the playoffs?

1. Ronnie Turiaf signed an offer sheet from the Golden State Warriors


2. Sasha Vujacic is a restricted free agent


3. The Lakers drafted Kentucky's Joe Crawford (no, he's not Joey Crawford the NBA ref)


4. Luke Walton underwent ankle surgery


5. Ron Artest-Lamar Odom trade talks are floating around

The off-season moves for this year are not as crucial as last year when Kobe Bryant went on a ripping spree on the Lakers front office. But I do agree that the Lakers need get better defenders without giving up a major piece like Lamar Odom. Ron Artest is an appealing addition, but I still like Odom's fit so far. I just wish Lamar would be more consitent on defense.



I'm not buying the whole "Andrew Bynum will save the Lakers" choruses, but I do think he'll improve the Lakers' chances next season. The key thing here is the Lakers should mature and learn from the Finals experience and bounce back and not do a Dallas Mavericks nosedive after the Big Dance.





Tags: Lakers