WRITE ON: THE SWEET 16.

BRACKET 3

SILVER vs. BLACK

AM SILVER

26

West Hollywood On-line magazine editor

Deal or No Deal? Deal

There comes in point in every fan's life when he realizes his jumper isn't Jordanesque, gravity is a force to be reckoned with, and the 11-inch growth spurt isn't going to arrive. While most of us are able to come to terms with not being an NBA player, the delusion that we could be GMs is harder to surrender. Every parent thinks their kid is a genius, and everybasketball fan thinks they could have made a better trade for Shaq.

Unfortunately, this isn't baseball. There's no turning to the Florida Marlins to solve all of life's problems. This is the NBA; salaries have to match (kind of) and even the Raptors seem to get it right sometimes. While the Lakers don't have much expendable talent, they dohave lesser commodities: draft picks (there are already enough servings of youth) and the expiring contacts of George and Medvedenko.

No trade talk can omit the possibility of Ron Artest. Odom? Not enough of a talent upgrade (if at all) to justify the risk. Bynum? Call it Jermaine O'Neal-itis, but pass. Mihm or Kwame, expiring contracts, and picks for Artest and whomever Indiana wants to unload? Only someone as confused as Artest is though to be would turn that down.

However, the Epic of Artest, which seems to have more in common with Kafka than Elias, should not obscure other possibilities. George, Medvedenko and the #1 from Miami might net P.J. Brown. The Lakers would get the tough veteran they sorely lack, while the Hornets would have contracts coming off the books and a young player to show for their efforts. A similar package could get Joe Smith from the Bucks; and an Al Harrington visa, if not too expensive, should be looked at. A backup guard is another necessary addition for the Lakers, but the likely answer is a healthy Aaron McKie, or an agent that can convince Latrell Sprewell to readfor the part.

Armchair GMs rise up! Or at the very least, raise your voices. You want to see ``Showtime,'' not ``fivehundredsomething.'' A superstar is the easy, although hard to get, answer. Still, the acquisition of the right role players would ensure the Lakers look their best more often. They don't necessarily have to be blockbusters, but some deals have to go down.

Colin T. Black

20

Granada Hills

Student at Pasadena City College

The Blueprint

Jesus ran with the 12 apostles. Bonnie always had Clyde. Kobe's gang consists of a Smush, a Slava, and another Euro with the frame of Lindsay Lohan. Not very intimidating, less Scarface more Barney. So if you end up in a gunfight with your opponent knowing you have nothing but a knife; how does one suggest to fight? Good question right? The first punch is not a haymaker it's a calculated jab.

But the best move for the Lakers might be to play the role of pacifists. I'm not convinced in trading Lamar Odom. Which is the only way the Lakers would pick up a quality non- stopgap return (Ron Artest). Well, I wouldn't just nix a trade that acquires Artest for the blatant reasons. I would reject them for even more obvious ones! Ron made it clear that he would not resign with a western ballclub. In fact he would just play out his contract, in hopes of getting on a roster closer to his Queens stomping grounds. Even if those words are not the Gospel according to Ron, it's enough to turn down a rational risk assessment.

Knowing this, the suits at 1111 S. Figueroa St., certainly won't make a marquee move. There is no need for one anyways. The Lakers aren't one move away from contending. Trading for another scorer is not going to make Smush Parker a better defender. Nor is it going to make Bynum or Kwame progress quicker. Laker fans are just so accustomed to winning that having the second youngest team in the NBA doesn't register. Youth would be best served or severed in the off-season. This team is built with a handful of long-term anchors, the rest are unremarkable, interchangeable, wholesale commodities.

The most viable of those is Devean George a la carte, or packaged with a stiff like Slava. But what do you think you are going to get back from that. Nothing much. The endless possibilities can be discussed over one of those dread full sport's talk shows. Basically when you turn in a bag of soda cans, don't expect to yield a gold bar.

SILVER 4, BLACK 0

Great column for an ``armchair G.M.'' Black's slow start and generalities hurt him a lot.

Sal Pizzo

50

Tarzana

Music analyst

Lakers can lift playoff embargo without trade

Entering the 2005-06 NBA campaign, it was widely agreed that this version of the Los Angeles Lakers would be a work in progress well into the season. Where as many experts might feel that that is still the case, I believe that the last ten days have brought about much clarity to the identity of this team.

While trade rumors regarding Ron Artest continue to swirl through just about every NBA camp including the Lakers, a few important facts have begun to chrystallize. The most telling of these came to light during the first two games of 2006, as Kobe Bryant sat out a suspension that might just have been a bigger blessing than acquiring Artest or anyone else. The Lakers not only lost both games to the Utah Jazz, but proved in the process that no one else on the roster was willing or able to step up in Kobe's abscence. All the more reason to rev up the pursuit of another scorer you say? Nope!

Anyone viewing those two losses against Utah should never again question why Kobe shoots as much as he does. But here's the rub. His teammates don't question it and actually embrace it. Therein lies the reason that this team actually has developed a great understanding if not true chemistry. Lamar Odom has shown that he is very comfortable doing the dirty work and deferring to Kobe on the offensive end. With Odom as a second option and third-year man Brian Cook emerging as a consistently reliable shooter, as a third, the Lakers have the ingredients to be a threat. Sure there will still be nights when Kobe will need to score forty plus to win. But he can, and doesn't have to worry about his teammates complaining if it takes thirty shots or more to do it. They understand that it's the best chance they have to be successful. The new face you could add through a trade might not buy in like the current players have. Stand pat Mitch.

Granted, this team does not appear to be a championship contender in it's current makeup. However, just ask Ozzie Guillen and Bill Belichick if they have the most talented team in their respective sports? Just allow Phil ``Mad Zen Chemist'' Jackson to continue to mix the elements he has to work with. It might just turn out to be a concoction that lifts the Lakers one season playoff embargo.

SHAWN BORACK

27

Lancaster

Student/Concrete pumper

Best is yet to come

With the Lakers hovering at or around .500, and players such as Ron Artest on the market, many fans are clamoring for a trade. Before considering any trade options, the Lakers must realize that they are not a team on the brink of a championship that only needs one player to get over the proverbial hump. Nor are they an aging team that missed its opportunity to win a championship. The best years are still to come for this team.

Lamar Odom is the Lakers' most tradable player, but is it wise to do so? He is a unique talent in the NBA who is a nightmare for opponents because he is nearly impossible to match up against. His size and quickness, coupled with his skill set are one of a kind. He is a strong rebounder, a good defender both on and off the ball, and a terrific ball handler. In short, it would be tough to replace Lamar Odom.

With no player available to put them over the top, and no need to get younger, developing the talent around Kobe and Lamar makes the most sense. Smush Parker, Sasha Vujacic, Kwame Brown, and Andrew Bynum are all young players who have tremendous potential to blossom under the guidance of Phil Jackson. Letting these players develop will pay big dividends in the future.

Team chemistry is perhaps the most difficult factor to consider when assembling a team. Often times a more talented team will lose to a team with better chemistry. Currently the Lakers have good chemistry with every player seemingly happy with his role on the team. Bringing in another player could disrupt the chemistry so essential to winning.

Unless a player is familiar with the triangle offense, it is difficult for a player to come in midseason and contribute. Coaches and players alike contend that it takes upwards of two seasons to understand the intricacies of the complicated offense. Bringing in a new player sets the team back from a development standpoint. Having the patience to allow the current team time to master this offense is a much more prudent option for the Lakers.

The Lakers are not in a position to win a championship with one trade. Making a trade for the sake of making a trade does not make sense. Let's let this team develop and enjoy the championships in a few seasons.

PIZZO 3, BORACK 1

This was a toss-up. Neither were especially strongly worded, but Pizzo prevails.