Good article about how f'd the Lakers are in 2014

Addison Melone, the MVP of Summer League?

 

I can't believe it either.

 

I don't understand why or how they are so fucked?

 

Their owner fucked them. I see an Al Davis 2.0

 

You don't understand what "family mafia" means to preventing intelligent management?

 

maybe kobe takes a min deal, and they sign lebron and melo

 

I don't see why LeBron or Melo would go to LA... Seems like a Lakers pipe dream. They're more likely going to end up getting Deng/Gay and Gortat or something along those lines. Kobe and Pau will both be getting 10+ mil contracts so that takes quite a bit of cap room away.

 

Kobe recently said very vehemently that he would not take a pay cut under any circumstances. I don't see this happening.

http://tracking.si.com/2013/07/10/lakers-kobe-bryant-not-taking-pay-cut-in-2014/

 

i read that too, but he will imo, no way he signs for 30+ million, and then whines about the talent on the team being shit

 

You give him too much credit. He will get as much as he possibly can (first concern) and then deal with how much is left for anyone else. Kobe doesn't care about winning as much as he does his money.

 

Lets say Kobe holds out for the max any team will offer next summer... Is any team besides the Lakers going to want to offer him $30million a year? That is over half the salary cap. Atlanta is the only team that would've had near that much cap room and they would've had to cut Korver, cut Teague, and not sign Millsap. There is just no way any other team offers Kobe $30 million! I kind of doubt any team offers him $20 million, he'll be a 35 year old SG.

Garnett ended up resigning for about $10million a year even while showing he was still one of the best defensive bigs in the league. Teams just don't clear out massive cap space for free agents well over 30. I would expect the $10-15 million range is the most Kobe will be able to get. It's pretty understandable for him to not commit to any paycut now, he doesn't want to lose leverage or back himself in a corner. But if the Lakers are smart and strategic with their money, find a taker for Nash or remove $6 million of his salary from the stretch provision they could be in a very good position to add some big money free agents. The Grantland article is not well written nor well thought out.

As a Laker hater I'm not worried at all if they try to sign Melo, he is not an elite player and Kobe is not the same player he was 6 years ago. I'd love to see those two try and share the ball. I doubt LeBron has any interest in going to LA. The only scary scenario for Laker haters is if they somehow get a top 5 pick. I'm hoping they do their best to win now but fall way short of making the playoffs and outside the top 10 picks in the lottery.

 

what would a full max for kobe be? like 5/165?

hot damn, i kinda want him to do that, and then play all 5 years

 

That would be awesome! I hope he holds out and says pay me the max or I retire and the idiot Lakers agree.

 

What happened to that pick they traded to Phoenix? I remember that they kept it because they made the playoffs. So what happened to it? Is it still protected? I don't see how it just went away, like a one time shot.

 

Kobe won't get the max, but I bet he ends up forcing them to pay 5/100+. Still enough to keep them from becoming relevant.

 

The Lakers traded a future #1 and a #2 to Phoenix, but still have their own 2014 #1. But notice the every-other-year pattern. They can't trade it.

http://prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Lakers.htm

 

I think it ended up being the #30 pick, since it wasn't in the lottery Cleveland got the choice of swapping it with Miami's pick then giving the least favorable to the Suns.

 

Oh, you're asking what happened to Lakers 2013 picks? See picks 19, 30, 48, 57.

http://prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Years/2013.htm