NBA News 2011: Lakers have recent history of making trades during extended trips

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By this point, Lakers guard Derek Fisher has grown accustomed to the routine. Any time the Lakers take an extended trip, the concerns go beyond solidifying travel arrangements and how many wins the team compiled. It has also lately involved the Lakers trading someone on their roster.

That's why when the Lakers returned in late December, Fisher focused more on the Lakers shipping off Sasha Vujacic for Joe Smith than the team's 6-1 mark during the trip. Fisher, too, noticed that this isn't anything new for the Lakers, what with the Lakers trading Vladimir Radmanovic for Adam Morrison and Shannon Brown a day before a six-day trip ended in the 2008-09 season, and the Lakers' blockbuster trade involving Pau Gasol on Feb. 1, 2008, came in the middle of a six-game trip.

Can the Lakers ever go on an extended trip without making a deal?

"I don't know," Fisher said with a laugh in late-December, though the Lakers made no moves during the Lakers' seven-game trip last season. "It seems to have been a little bit of a curse in the last couple of years. The trip we have right before All-Star break I'm sure will be a little bit nerve-racking for everyone."

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/02/lakers-have-recent-history-of-making-trades-during-extended-trips.html

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NBA News 2010: Los Angeles Lakers' Summer Report Card

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CATEGORY	GRADE
Frontcourt The Lakers are five-deep with potential starters: Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Matt Barnes. That's a tremendous luxury, but also a necessity given Bynum's injury history.	A
Backcourt Kobe Bryant is still great and Derek Fisher remains a clutch contributor, but only if their bodies allow it. Adding Steve Blake and re-signing Shannon Brown ensures depth at the point.	B
Defense Bryant and Artest form what is probably the league's best wing tandem on defense, and now Barnes joins the mix. The Lakers were fifth in shooting defense last season.	A
Bench Odom is an enviable first option. Then, with no incumbent starters leaving, the Lakers were aggressive in the offseason in solidifying the second unit, most notably signing Blake and Barnes.	B
Coaching The summer would have been a success even without the positive line-up adjustments, as long as Phil Jackson returned. Once he committed to 2010-11, stability and sideline experience was ensured.	A

http://www.nba.com/reportcard/summer/2010/lakers/

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