So, where does The Mailman go?

[Booze Hound]

Just throw this into the pot.

Karl Malone, apparently, seeks two things:

1. A Champioship Ring

2. Kareem's scoring record

To get the latter he would need to average about 20ppg for three more seasons (I don't think he will) but he will need to do it on a team that provides the former.

A few of the options:

Lakers:

Pros - with him on board they'd have a strong '3 punch' and a great chance of the title.
Cons - don't see Shaq and Bryant making room for the 20ppg (and he'd have to beat Mark Madsen out)

Kings:

Pros - they trade CWebb (hmm.... CWebb for KG who plays SF with Karl at PF, scary)
Cons - probably wouldn't happen so no place for Karl

Mavericks:

Pros - gives them much needed 'bite' in the paint area
Cons - would force them to change their up tempo style, and he's not as strong in the post as he used to be. Would 20ppg be available?

Spurs:

Pros - Duncan slides over to centre (his natural position) and with another year of development for Parker and 'Manu' this could easily be the dominant team
Cons - I don't really see one, he'll fit with their style (and they'd still have 'cap' money for other talent

Magic:
Pros - "TMac drives and dishes to Karl for a 12ft jumper" could see that happening a lot. Even with no Hill the Magic would go deeper in the playoffs.
Cons - they would have to move Gooden to sf where he was far less effective this season. They'd still need much more at centre to be really serious.

T'Wolves:
Pros - give the support KG seeks, with Rasho he would form a decent frontcourt
Cons - I think they'd still need to improve the pg situation to challenge properly

These are just a few of my thoughts on the matter.

 

[jod23]

Nice post Booze Hound, here is my take on where he may go and a rebuttle to the teams you listed.

T-Wolves - I just dont think the Pups would want him. They are looking to build a dynasty and why wouldnt you when your building block is Kevin Garnett. Malone is way too old to have any sort of future with the club. Malone and KG may get the Wolves out of the first round but they still wouldnt be good enough to beat teams like the Spurs, Lakers or Kings. The Wolves need to find young talent who can help KG...much like Duncan has in SA with Manu, Parker etc...

Orlando - Malone and T-Mac would almost guarantee the Magic a trip to the finals.....if they trade Gooden. That wont happen. Aquiring Malone would push Gooden down to SF where he has hardly any impact on a game so if Malone were to go to Orlando they should trade him for some decent frontcourt help. Malone would then retire in a year or two and perhaps you fell short of getting a ring and your back where you started. Not the smartest of moves considering Gooden is so young. Not sure McGrady would be happy bringing in Malone either...it would only be a temporary solution to their frontcourt problems. T-Mac doesnt want a one and done type deal.

Mavericks - definitely not an option. He would completely destroy their playing style which is all run and gun. He is just too old now to run back and forth all night long, outside of New Jersey nobody in the NBA runs the floor like Dallas. The Mavs main problems are defence related anyway and Malone no longer really brings defence.

Sacramento Kings - I doubt the Kings will even look at him. They pretty much have their team sorted and could dominate the NBA for the next few years....why bring in a wild card when your already settled and only centimeters from a title. Could depend if they win it all this year, if they do they wont look in Malones direction. If they dont, he may get a look in. Wont happen though IMO.

Spurs - this is definitely an option IMO. The Spurs have been well documented that they are fishing for a big name free agent. Kidd and Jermaine O'Neal have been rumored to be moving to San Antonio so Malone could be an option if the other two dont happen. He wouldnt really mess up the Spurs type of play, it's not a quick fix as they have youngsters in Parker and Manu and Duncan isnt exactly old so even after Malone retires, life would go on in San Antonio. Malone would really just be replacing Robinson in a way. Definite possibility IMO, could hinge on whether or not they win the title ala Kings.

Lakers - this is my pick. Shaq is now kind of old, he is 31 in June this year so perhaps bringing in Malone to have another 1 or 2 runs at the title could be in order. You could say let Shaq retire, they still have Kobe. But Kobe with George, Fisher, Horry and Fox aint gonna win ****. So the Lakers may want to get everything they can out of the Shaq and Kobe era. Bringing in Malone may prolong that era and perhaps bring another ring to LA. He would fit in well with their style of play and finally Kobe would have someone to drive and dish too who he would trust to knock down a jumper. He would also add some toughness to somewhat of a fragile team. LA is my pick.

Oh and the Kareem scoring title. IMO that doesnt matter to him until he gets a ring. If he goes to LA and wins a ring I think he will be happy enough to get traded to Denver and just toil away for a couple of seasons, get the record, have his ring and get out. I dont think he will care if he can only average 10ppg in LA, just as long as he gets his ring. Then after that he will worry about the scoring record.

 

[Dingster]

I agree that the Lakers are the most logical choice, but how will they go fitting him into their salary cap?

 

[Squeak]

Wouldn't be a problem, surely they have 10 or 11 guys on minimum wage.

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by Squeak
Wouldn't be a problem, surely they have 10 or 11 guys on minimum wage.

Squeak... Carringbush got the dubya! Back to the main boards with you!

Malone will go where he can score, IMO, in order to get the record. That would probably leave us with Minny, possibly Orlando and Detroit. They are the only contenders where he can score, but it certainly wouldn't be at his usual output. Catch 22 situation - the record or the ring?

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by Guey_34
Squeak... Carringbush got the dubya! Back to the main boards with you!

Malone will go where he can score, IMO, in order to get the record. That would probably leave us with Minny, possibly Orlando and Detroit. They are the only contenders where he can score, but it certainly wouldn't be at his usual output. Catch 22 situation - the record or the ring?

Well that's the thing, I think the ring comes first. I dont think he cares about the record, if he has to score 10ppg in LA to get a ring I think he will take it, then get traded to Denver or something and toil away for another couple of seasons until he gets the record. Ring, record, retire. That's his plan IMO. I dont think one of those 3 will happen, guess which one.

 

[Mattster]

if Malone truly wants the ring, he would take a pay-cut and play with the Lakers. The Ring should come before the money especially after he's earnt so much already. And it would mean the Lakers become at least a 3-man team.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Why is everyone completely discounting New Orleans?

Since the Hornets moved Karl has been saying he wants to play there.

The Hornets, despite a shocking run with injury, still made the playoffs, and with the improvement in Magloire, and the injury free return of Baron, they are sure to be a contender in the East.

Throw Karl in at the 4, and they suddenly have a very imposing team.

This starting 5 would go well.

Davis
Wesley
Mashburn
Malone
Magloire

Bring P.J Brown in off the bench, and you have a very solid roster, a roster capable of winning the East imho.

 

[Portmanteau]

Moiso would come off the bench. PJ Brown to Dallas.

 

[Portmanteau]

Good point, but, P&P.

 

[Darealrath]

Huge fan of Karl, be a travesty if he goes out without a championship. I reckon i'd even bring myself to hoping the Lakers would win it if he went there (assuming they aren't playing Indiana).

 

[CURVE]

I would be more than happy to see Malone finish his career, and win a deserved Championship with the Lakers. Hopefully we will be aiming for our fifth straight, and Malone in Purple and Gold maybe all the incentive needed to keep the Lakers hungry.

 

[Dingster]

Originally posted by DEVO
I would be more than happy to see Malone finish his career, and win a deserved Championship with the Lakers. Hopefully we will be aiming for our fifth straight, and Malone in Purple and Gold maybe all the incentive needed to keep the Lakers hungry.

Shaq, Malone and Kobe...the championship would almost be a lock..barring injury.

 

[Mattster]

so will Karl and the Jazz definitely be parting company? how definite is it?

 

[jod23]

Is Malone that type of player though? We all heard about the offer that Phil Jackson gave Jordan when he returned. But MJ turned it down as he isnt a passenger to get some cheap glory at the end of his career.

Would Malone do something like that?

 

[Dingster]

Originally posted by jod23
Is Malone that type of player though? We all heard about the offer that Phil Jackson gave Jordan when he returned. But MJ turned it down as he isnt a passenger to get some cheap glory at the end of his career.

Would Malone do something like that?

Stan Alves never regretted changing to North to win a premiership. Clyde the Glyde didn`t seem too unhappy either. Good luck to him if he wants some icing on his cake.

 

[CURVE]

Originally posted by jod23
Is Malone that type of player though? We all heard about the offer that Phil Jackson gave Jordan when he returned. But MJ turned it down as he isnt a passenger to get some cheap glory at the end of his career.

Would Malone do something like that?

Jordan had already won 6 rings, so he came back for the enjoyment of the game. Malone hasn't tasted Championship glory yet, and that may entice him to Lakerland. When he eventually retires, he will go out a winner, but it could be so much sweeter if he goes out as a Championship winner, and his best chance maybe with the Lakers.

 

[Booze Hound]

Malone is, I understand, happy to take the minimum exception in order to get a ring but he also does want a shot at the career points total and I don't see him getting the shots at the Lakers to do that - he can't afford a season on 15 ppg.

I'd stil say that the Spurs, whatever happens this year, may be the most tempting option (especially as they would also be able to bid for Kidd). Feeding off Duncan and Jason would hive him plenty of scoring opportunities within a style of play he can handle.

Money is surely not an issue for Karl - he'll retire and drive his 18 wheeler on the open road for fun.

And good luck to him.

 

[Mattster]

the problem i have with the Spurs is they already have a champion Power Forward in Duncan. I was always under the impression that they didn't want to move Duncan to Center, and that he plays his best at PF anyway.

I am probably wrong, i never see NBA matches so i'm not sure whether he plays half the game at C anyway

 

[Booze Hound]

When Duncan entered the League he was cnsidered a center before a power forward - although he clearly had the skills to be a great at both spots.

Had he not gone to a team with such a good center he would have filled that spot from day one.

P&P - He could go to the Hornets but I feel they would still need an improvement on Wesley to be a serious challenge.

 

[jod23]

Duncan, much like Jermaine O'Neal is much more comfortable at the PF spot so it is unlikely that the Spurs will bring in Malone. Particularly seen as they are going so well this season, a major change like bringing in Malone could mess up team chemistry.

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by DEVO
Jordan had already won 6 rings, so he came back for the enjoyment of the game. Malone hasn't tasted Championship glory yet, and that may entice him to Lakerland. When he eventually retires, he will go out a winner, but it could be so much sweeter if he goes out as a Championship winner, and his best chance maybe with the Lakers.

Yeah fair enough...he may just go whereever he can in order to get a ring. Lakerland is certainly his best shot at a title and he would be a perfect fit. The Lakers are always criticised for their lack of support for Shaq and Kobe. Malone would provide ample support and then guys like Horry, Fox and Fisher wont have to be relied upon so much and actually seem like good role players to back up the 3 stars.

With Shaq getting older, then adding Malone may squeeze one more title out of the Kobe/Shaq run before Shaq gets to old and retires and the Lakers have to start all over again with Kobe.

 

[CURVE]

The Lakers need a third scoring option, so Malone would get plenty of scoring chances. The only thing that would deter him from going to Lakerland, is he won't be able to wear Number 32.

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by DEVO
The Lakers need a third scoring option, so Malone would get plenty of scoring chances. The only thing that would deter him from going to Lakerland, is he won't be able to wear Number 32.

Damn that Magic Johnson

 

[Mattster]

so given the Lakers exit from this years Championship, how does this affect Malone going to the Lakers? Improve or damage his chances?