I disagree with the thoughts about LMA's D. True that when he is forced to guard a player away from the basket (i.e Lebron James) it is not pretty. But against traditional PF's (The brusiers that you all seem to crave) LMA is very good. It is the tweeners that kill him. Yet the guys who are often mentioned by fans as a better alternative are equally as bad on the perometer. (i.E Boozer)
Bottom line is you call LMA soft, but he plays well against POWER forwards. The Corey Maggette's , LeBron James, and Dirks, who pull him outside and go around him.....he struggles as most pF's do.