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It may be the offseason, but that'll never stop us from yammering. For that matter, we actually found a fair amount of substance to yammer about during our latest session at the mic. Among the talking points:

PODCAST
Andy and Brian talk about Shannon Brown in purple and gold, Shaq in green, and which players belong in the Laker rafters. Can you make an argument for Fisher? What about Slava? Podcast

- (3:50): After firmly establishing what kind of brothers we are, Brian and I discuss the implications of Shannon Brown resigning with the Lakers. From where we sit, it's a nice deal for both sides. Shannon gets a small raise, plus the flexibility to opt out again next summer if he prefers. He's got a solidified role with room for expansion. He gets to stay in a winning environment and purse a place in purple and gold history. The Lakers get a steadily improving backup for Kobe Bryant at a reasonable price, a dynamic change of pace, silly athleticism, familiarity with their system and an upgrade over the likeliest alternative (Sasha Vujacic). Everybody wins.

- (9:50): With Shannon in the fold, the Laker roster is basically set, save the expected inking of Derek Caracter and Devin Ebanks, or an unexpected trade. So, how was the Lakers' summer? Pretty flippin' good. Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher, and Brown were retained. Steve Blake, Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff constitute an upgrade over the players they respectively replaced (Jordan Farmar, a hobbled Luke Walton, D.J. Mbenga). Caracter and Ebanks appear to be exceptional value at their draft spots. And none broke the bank. It would be hard to come up with a realistic criticism of how the Lakers could have fared better.

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