Hello, Pau.
Sorry that you had to fly back into town for this meeting but the order already had been established in these player sessions.
It’s been a whirlwind season for you, I suppose. I know you never expected to land in Los Angeles and play for the Lakers, just as we did not envision getting a player of your caliber.
However, all that changed when our promising young center, Andrew Bynum, went down with his knee injury.
Your acquisition, without doubt, was the catalyst that turned the Lakers from a playoff contending team to a championship caliber team and it was no surprise at all that our regular-season record, after you were acquired, was the best in the league.
I know that you are as disappointed as everyone else in the organization is that we didn’t complete our quest and win the title. And I’m sure that you have heard the reasons why from all the critics, who said that the Boston Celtics outmuscled us.
Throughout your career, you have been criticized for being too soft. But you’ve been sturdy enough to have averaged 18.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, in seven seasons. I don’t believe anyone can consider those numbers to be soft.
Due to Andrew’s absence, you were forced to play center for us, which is not your natural position. You should be commended for the performances that you turned in down the stretch of the regular season and in the playoffs.
But your center days are over. With Andrew expected back at full strength for the upcoming season, you will go into training camp playing power forward.
With you, alongside Andrew and Lamar Odom at small forward, the Lakers should have the league’s most potent front line.
Although your scoring and rebounding averages might dip a bit, overall we believe that the components that we can put out on the court will measure up to any other team in the league.
Be ready to be part of something very special in 2008-2009. Our goal, which should be yours, is achieving nothing less than than winning the NBA title.
