Hey, Who Are Those Guys With Kobe?

Enough about Kobe Bryant! Well… at least for today. With all talk about the Lakers this offseason focused on Kobe’s future, it’s easy to forget about all the other players on roster. While Kobe is obviously still the focal point of this team, the supporting cast’s ability to make plays will ultimately determine just how far this team goes.

So just how good are these guys? A breakdown of the non-Kobe Bryant Lakers roster:

In The Backcourt

• Jordan Farmar- Last season’s first-round pick had minimal impact as rookie (15 min/gm, 4.4 ppg, 1.9 apg), but Farmar is a solid floor leader who’s played extremely well in the preseason, averaging 9.5 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in just 19 minutes per game. Preseason stats, though generally worthless, can be useful in identifying the emergence of second and third-year players. If his preseason play is for real and Farmar can play at this level for 25 minutes a night, he’ll be a big part of this team.

• Derek Fisher- His veteran presence on and off the floor, championship experience, as well as his relationship with Kobe Bryant will prove invaluable to the Lakers. Toss in the fact that he still has some game (10 ppg, 3.3 apg in 2006-07), and Fisher could be one of team’s most valuable players in 2007-08.

• Sasha Vujacic- After three seasons with the team, Vujacic hasn’t managed to develop into anything more than an occasional contributor. What’s worse, it’s unclear exactly what type of player he is- he’s not a pure point guard or a pure shooting guard, and his all-around game isn’t not good enough for him to be a combo-guard. This is probably his last season with the Lakers.

• Javaris Crittenton- Crittenton, the #19 overall pick in the draft, didn’t exactly fill a need on the roster, but he’s an exceptional athlete that could grow into a star. He definitely needs more experience and improved consistency on his jump shot, but Crittenton has a chance to be a contributor for the Lakers as the season goes on.

• Coby Karl- Despite the similarity in their first names, if “Coby” gets anyhere close to as many minutes for the Lakers as “Kobe”, the season is a lost cause.

In The Frontcourt

• Lamar Odom- Odom is the Lakers’ #2 option on offense and an almost ideal basketball player. He’s tall, unselfish and incredibly skilled. At his best, Odom’s stat lines are similar to those that Magic Johnson would produce in his prime- unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency have kept him from ever fulfilling his potential for more than a few games at time. Other than Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom is the Lakers’ most attractive trade target and is frequently mentioned in trade rumors. Ideally, the Lakers will be able to acquire a third quality player to team with him and Kobe, but the reality is that Odom may have to be dealt in order to bring another star to Los Angeles.

• Luke Walton- Walton is NBA rarity and a real asset to the Lakers- the quintessential intelligent role player signed to a reasonable long-term contract. There won’t be many (or any) games where he carries the team, but he can be counted on to play composed, mistake-free ball and chip in 12, 5 and 5 (points, rebounds and assists).

• Ronny Turiaf- One of the most energetic and likable players in the NBA, Ronny Turiaf is reminiscent of Kurt Rambis, only with more talent. As the Lakers’ only true power forward, Turiaf will be counted on to come off the bench and guard some of the West’s best big men and to hit the board (particularly the offensive glass).

• Brian Cook- There’s a lot to like about Cook. He’s a good outside shooter, capable of putting up 25 or 30 points on a given night, he normally plays within himself and he has a very reasonable contract. The biggest problem with Brian Cook is that he’s REALLY one-dimensional- not much versatility on offense and little-to-no defense or rebounding. With that said, his value as a spot-up shooter is justified by his cap-friendly contract.

• Maurice Evans- The most underrated member of the Lakers. Evans is an explosive athlete whose effort level is off the charts. He can make on both ends of the floor and, on any given, he blow up for 30 points on any given. Expect an outstanding season from him in this, his contract year. The Lakers will be smart to keep him.

• Vladimir Radmanovic- An off-season mistake from a year ago. Radmanovic is a serviceable offensive option, but his game is almost a mirror image of Brian Cook’s, at 160-170% of the salary. Radmanovic’s outside shooting range, which extends beyond the 3-point line, could make him an attractive target at the trade deadline for a contending team in need of outside shooting. That is, if the 3 years and more than $19 million left on his contract after this year doesn’t scare away potential suitors.

In The Middle

• Andrew Bynum- He may be most famous for his indirect role in almost trading for Jason Kidd and for being the object of Jim Buss’ man-crush, but the fact is that Andrew Bynum looks like he’s going to be a pretty good NBA big man. At only 19 years old (his birthday is tomorrow; Happy birthday, Andrew!), he’s just learning the NBA game and has already shown the ability to play effectively against NBA competition. At 11.8 ppg, he’s the Lakers’ #2 scorer in the preseason and by far the team’s top rebounder, averaging 8 per game. Who know how good Andrew Bynum is going to be, but at least it looks like he’s going to be pretty good!

• Kwame Brown- A big body in the paint who should chip in about 9 points and 6 rebounds a game- not bad of a #1 overall pick in his 7th year, huh? Actually, Kwame should be traded by the deadline, as his $9 million deal expires at season’s end. This cannot come soon enough. Hopefully he can produce 5-8 good games for the Lakers this season. How is this guy not better than he is?

• Chris Mihm- Although missed all of last season with an ankle injury and entering this season as the Lakers’ 3rd option at center, Chris Mihm is a more-then-serviceable center. In 2005-06, when he was healthy, he averaged more than 10 points, 6 rebounds and a blocked shot per game. He seems to be close to 100% now, averaging 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in less than 13 minutes per game in the preseason. Despite the talk of Chris Mihm be the odd man out at center, his contribution this season will likely exceed expectations.

The 2007-08 Lakers are a team that is shrouded in question marks. Will Kobe Bryant finish the season as a Laker? Can the front office make any moves to get him some help? (More on this here) Will any of the team’s young players elevate their game to new heights? If so, who?

This Laker team could win anywhere from 25 to 50 games this season (40-45 is a likely estimate), but one thing is clear: there is a collection of young talent here that, given the opportunity, could mature into a solid NBA team in the not-too-distant future.