10/1/2004 08:45:49 PM|||Shep|||[ed: Mail may not come every day, but we're working around the clock to bring you the best fantasy basketball coverage ever. EVER.]

Not sure if this link is permanent, so I'll quote...

Karl Malone told the Los Angeles Lakers he's not ready to play, but he didn't rule out returning sometime this season or beyond.

Malone

"Karl's not playing, but he's also not retiring," Malone's agent, Dwight Manley, said Friday. "He's leaving his options open. Nothing's carved in stone.

"He will be 100 percent physically in the next couple months and his skills are obviously still great. He still could play this year. Anything's possible -- the door is still open."

Fantasy Impact

First of all, let's remember that the Mailman opted out of his contract and is a free agent. While he allegedly had lunch with Jerry Buss and said he wouldn't play for anyone else (but the Lakers) we all know what a little booze can do... Get it? Booze? As in Boozer. Okay, worst attempt at anything that's ever been attempted...

Anyway. Where does that leave the Lakers?

Considering the Lakers can start Lamar Odom at PF, Caron Butler at SF, and Vlade Divac at C, they probably won't miss Malone too much. His experience may be missed by the younger players, but probably not by fantasy owners. His abscence also likely means more playing time for Brian Grant. Many argue that Grant is a Center (at least Yahoo is trying to convince me of that), but he's not. He's best at the PF spot, and backing up Odom is a good spot for him. If the Lakers indeed insist on using Grant at the 5, then that leaves the door open for everyone's favorite Illinois grad Brian Cook.

So that's about the looks of things from the Lakers side of the tracks in LA.
|||109668067985846301|||A Long Sunday (Mailman Not Ready to Play)