Lakers - leading the league with highest payroll

Victories coming at a high price for Lakers owner Jerry Buss



The Lakers don't have the NBA's best record this season, but they lead the league in something else -- highest payroll.

For better or worse, because sometimes it's a curse, the Lakers have a player payroll of $91.3 million and will spend an additional $21.4 million in luxury taxes if their roster remains the same on the final day of the regular season.

Their total salary bill would be $112.7 million if they make no trades or minor free-agent acquisitions. Comparatively, they spent about $86 million last season, including luxury taxes.

None of this includes Phil Jackson's $12-million salary to coach this season.

Basically, owner Jerry Buss keeps reaching for his checkbook.

"As long as we keep winning, I think he'll keep doing it," center Andrew Bynum said.

The Lakers are typically among the top five NBA payrolls, but New York and Dallas have been the big spenders in recent seasons, joined also by Boston, Utah and San Antonio.

The Knicks, however, have been on a salary-shedding spree in anticipation of next summer's free-agency pool, and the Mavericks now have the second-largest payroll, about $4 million below the Lakers'.

A big difference for the Lakers this season is Bynum's contract extension kicking into gear, moving from $2.7 million last season to $12.5 million.

Kobe Bryant will make $23 million, Pau Gasol earns $16.5 million and Lamar Odom will make $7.5 million. The Lakers have numerous players in the $5-million area: Ron Artest ($5.9 million), Adam Morrison ($5.3 million), Derek Fisher ($5 million), Sasha Vujacic ($5 million) and Luke Walton ($4.8 million).

It's a lot of money. The Lakers better win it all to please their owner, no?

"It doesn't add any pressure," Bynum said. "It just makes us more confident because we know we have a team that's capable of beating everybody."

In a league where Jermaine O'Neal makes $23 million, Kenyon Martin gets $15 million, Larry Hughes makes $14 million and Bobby Simmons earns $11 million, the Lakers don't appear to have any colossal blunders on their books, though the oft-injured Walton still has three years and $16.7 million left on his deal after this season.

Buss might not be done spending.

There have been intermittent discussions for a contract extension for Bryant that would keep him with the team through 2013-14. Like Bryant, Gasol is also in line for an extension when his contract expires after the 2010-11 season.

 

I always wondered how much money they get from selling tickets, tv deals that the have, etc?

Are they actually getting a profit or always losing? (money that is)

 

Compared to most owners, Jerry Buss isn't even that rich. But he continues to spend money to put a winner on the floor. Gotta respect that.

 

Yeah Buss' only business is Lakers, can't say it's small - not at all, but other team owners have their own businesess where the main money comes from. I think LA has no problem with money. Full seats practically every game and let's not even talk about courtside seats - and LETS'S not forget the playoffs.

Next year though, we'll hopefully have a smaller budget as we have some players leaving.
Sashas, Adam's and Farmars contracts are expiring, aren't they?

 

I heard Kobe makes more money per year than Buss. Obviously Buss generates a ton of wealth with the Lakers but then he has to pay the bills. Bryant edges out his boss by a few million.

 

Sasha's contract expires one year later, but Fish expires at the end of the year. That's roughly around 15 million (a little less), so there will be some relief for Buss.

 

Buss also rakes in some dough playing poker if I'm correct, doesn't he?

But that's the thing I like about Dr. Buss; he's willing to shell out the cash to have a winner. Not many teams can say they have that type of an owner.

 

^ Exactly, like take Cuban for example, he has way more money than Buss, yet he doesn't spend it well, plus is not willing too much, as we've seen players leave like Nash, etc.

Denny what would explain the Bulls being the most profitable team?

 

I see, thanks.

I wouldn't say they're morons though lol. They want the team to succeed.

 

So you mean if the owners started losing money they'd bring in more stars, shake up the team?

 

Is it the same owner that was there when Jordan played?

 

That sucks. lol

You guys should organize protests to get him out, and change the ownership.

 

Maybe he's just that good at managing his financials...

Anyway, damn... and the Lakers are offering Kobe the MAX deal (30M a year...)

Plus Pau is up for extension... wonder how much he'll get... hope it's more of the same or a bit less than his current contract since Drew is coming in full circle...

Can't wait to ship Ammo and Vujacic out... They would save us 20M total (10M in salaries and 10M in luxury tax)

 

you still have a franchise