I never said I was against a Salmons trade Carl. I don’t see why cutting Wally makes a difference either way. You trade Salmons then so be it. You trade him then. I would hope that he would fetch a 1st round pick, but we can’t be certain of that.

Now, and I want to see this bearing your option to trade Salmons in mind, how are you going to do that? I mean you have to trade salary away in Salmons meaning you’re going to have to get salary back The only team with cap room to take Salmons without taking any money back is Memphis. They already have Gay, Mayo and Warrick. What would they need Salmons for.

I think your point is understood, and up to a point, particularly if it was feasible, I would say go for it. I just don’t see how trading Salmons under your scenario will happen. I still think cutting Wally makes more sense anyway. He bitched & moaned all last year while on Seattle because of PT. Why wouldn’t he do that in Sac?

I think the time to trade Salmons is next off-season, and not now.

An expiring contract for an expiring contract with nothing else…

FALSE: Kenny Thomas going to LA. This is the only deal that I’m talking about. I haven’t seen another deal with the Lakers that looks like it’s worth doing. Please stop implying otherwise.

Just because thats the one the media is talking about doesn’t mean its the Only thing out there.

FALSE: This was first brought up (as far as I know) by Lakers fans on LA Radio and was widely discussed here long before I saw any real “media” cover it. I can’t speak for anyone else, but the “media” has zero relevance to this deal for me. I don’t even know why you’re hanging your hat on that point, because it’s not like there’s a national storyline about Odom-for-Artest going on.

Is there actually a trade proposal with the Lakers that I’m not aware of?

ASSININE: We don’t know anything for sure about what offers do or don’t exist. It’s all speculation. Just like any other trade idea that anyone here comes up with . . . including Wally Z & a 1st for Artest & K9 . . . any truth to that, or is that just “speculation and blather”?

Thought so.

I don’t think its likely in the end we get rid of K-9s salary, if so, it will probably be Cleveland that takes it on.

SOURCE? If Petrie can’t trade Thomas, then either (a) he looks for something else, or (b) Artest stays as an expiring contract. How or why Cleveland is the most likely to take Kenny Thomas on is beyond me, unless you know something that I don’t.

Deng:

I don’t even want to get into the whole “Deng” situation, I just thought that was a terrible attempt to find a more realistic deal for Artest in the East. That said, I’d trade Artest for him in a second, which is probably why I think it’s so ridiculous. Stranger things have happened, I suppose, but I don’t think it helped your “Wagons East!” campaign at all.

Lakers better: All things being equal, and getting nothing long term for nothing somewhere else would be equal – you Never make a division rival better.
Its dispiriting to both your players and your fans.

HUH? I’m not even sure what you’re saying here other than beating the “don’t help division rivals” drum. If there’s a deeper point in here then you need to restate it so that it’s clear, because this doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Oh, and using StR as a sample, there aren’t a whole lot of people here who would be “dispirited” if the Lakers made the best offer . . . although I’m sure there’s a lot out there like you who would be. I think a lot of them post at SacBee & KingsTalk. I expect more reason from people here, however.

As for the Wally Trade – I was the one who proposed that before the it started going around.

CREDIT DUE: I didn’t claim anyone else started it, but I used Pookey as an example of someone who thought that was the “best” offer available. His reasoning had nothing to do with the Cavs being in the East, but because he felt it was the best return for the Kings. Your reasoning is more emotional than rational, but at the saying goes: Even a broken clock is right twice a day. If this offer was from the Lakers, would you feel the same way? (Answer: NO) Backhanded compliment aside, this is a good, and more importantly, realistic trade proposal.

As for your ‘REC’, congratulations…

To be honest I feel like a tool even referencing that. The only point I was trying to make was that I’m not standing on an island here; there are plenty of people who agree with the idea of taking the best offer for your team, and not worrying about who that offer comes from. I don’t think this has anything to do with the “media”, but apparently you believe that we’re all a bunch of sheep to the flock. I don’t know what I can say/do to change that opinion, other than to let you know that I strongly disagree.

I should have said that more clearly, but didn’t because I was walking out the door, and unfortunately, posts cannot be edited . . . so my self-referential comment will be there longer than I’d like.

I realize that none of this will make any difference, and I doubt I will continue this exercise in futility beyond this post, so I’ll leave you with a fun little quote from Willy Wonka:

Wrong, sir! Wrong! Under section 37B of the contract signed by him, it states quite clearly that all offers shall become null and void if – and you can read it for yourself in this photostatic copy:

“I, the undersigned, shall forfeit all rights, privileges, and licenses herein and herein contained,” et cetera, et cetera…”Fax mentis incendium gloria cultum,” et cetera, et cetera…”Memo bis punitor delicatum!”

It’s all there, black and white, clear as crystal! You stole fizzy lifting drinks. You bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and sterilized, so you get NOTHING! You lose! Good day sir!

I said, “GOOD DAY!”