Has Sasha played himself up to the Mid-Level?

see topic title. ... do we do it? I wouldn't want to, but I think we have to. Considering the caliber of guys receiving the mid-level, he's got a strong case for it. Plus he's on the floor to finish off games, and has been HUGE even when his shot isn't falling

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ May 25 2008, 02:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He's not worth the MLE and I don't see the Lakers caving into any contract demands his agent requests. He's having a nice run, but Sasha is an easy piece to replace. If he wants to play with Kobe and stay loyal to the Lakers he needs to accept $2.5M to $3M and cash in more on his next contract.</div>

$2.5 mil to $3 mil is low balling him quite a bit, dont you think? Mid-level exception by definition is average salary, you're trying to tell me he's only half way to being an average ball player? That's Aaron McKie money. Lets not kid ourselves, Sasha's market value right now is very close to the MLE - shooters are at a premium, shooters who can defend are at a ++ premium - and even if we wish to get a loyalty discount, a 50+% discount is waaay too steep.

I understand the Lakers have to be smart with their money, but being gun shy because of a few bad signings (Vlade + Vlad Deaven George + Luke to an extent) is a quick way to mediocrity.

 

I agree, $2-$3.5 million.

If it does eat into the MLE, the Lakers could not add anyone significant during the offseason. I think they are fine with the current 9-10 man rotation.

 

I think the Lakers can afford the Luxuary tax, especially if Lamar/Bynum is low-balled to an extent.

 

i would hate to see Sasha guarding Kobe in the future though...

hope Mitch could wave his magic wand again and make everyone happy (with their salaries)

Kobe will take a pay cut (i really think he will and he has to, to keep this team intact), Odom should be resigned at 8M (thats still above average), bynum given only 10M... if this happens then i think we can give Sasha around 4M.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (igotask8board @ May 25 2008, 03:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If it does eat into the MLE, the Lakers could not add anyone significant during the offseason. I think they are fine with the current 9-10 man rotation.</div>
He won't eat into the MLE because he is our own player. But either way, whether we resign him or not, we're probably not going to use the MLE this year. There's no point. As for Sasha, I would love to have him back, but it really depends on the price tag. Mitch himself, said that his number one priorities this offseason is to retain both Sasha and Ronny. So we'll see what happens. All we can hope for is that Sasha continues to play this way for the rest of the postseason. Please do keep in mind that he is in his contract year, and after watching the whole Luke Walton debicle, I'm kind of warry of this "contract year bloomers"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ May 25 2008, 11:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kobe23 @ May 25 2008, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i would hate to see Sasha guarding Kobe in the future though...

hope Mitch could wave his magic wand again and make everyone happy (with their salaries)

Kobe will take a pay cut (i really think he will and he has to, to keep this team intact), Odom should be resigned at 8M (thats still above average), bynum given only 10M... if this happens then i think we can give Sasha around 4M.</div>

I completely disagree with this line of thinking. Kobe Bryant is the best player in the league and these role players surrounding him must take less money because it's a privilege to play alongside him. You're also playing for the best franchise in the league, which has plenty of perks you're not going to get playing somewhere else.

I don't want players on this team who want to define their careers by how much money they can make. I want guys on the team who are all about winning titles and reaping the rewards once they've accomplished those goals.

Sasha's only played NBA caliber basketball for half a season. You always have to red flag these type of players who have career years right before their current contract is about to expire.

I think a fair solution is to give Sasha a 3 year deal at $10M, but have the 3rd year be a player option for him to exercise. If he continues to play well for another two years then he renegotiate for more money. He'll still only be 25 or 26 in two years.

Where exactly do you rank Sasha among other shooters in the league?

Kyle Korver - $4.7M
Jason Kapono - $5.4M
DeShawn Stevenson - $3.6M
Damon Jones - $4.5M
Sasha Pavlovic - $4.5M
Mickael Pietrus - $3.4M
James Posey - $3.4M
Matt Carroll - $5.5M
Charlie Bell - $3.3M
Chris Duhon - $3.3M
Gordon Giricek - $4M

I would group Sasha with the Pietrus, Posey, & Stevenson type group. These guys have decent outside shots and play irritating defense.
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You're right, those guys have decent shots, but Sasha's shot is better than decent. Kapono's contract last year is a very good benchmark to what the market value of a top shooter is.

Again, I'm not saying Sasha is worth the full MLE, but I think he's close enough and important enough to the team where if he asks for it, I would just give it to him. Pay a slight premium to keep the chemistry going IMO.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ May 25 2008, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kapono's in the upper echelon of outside shooters, he's shooting nearly 50% from behind the arc the last two years. I wouldn't put Sasha in the same category. I'd also argue Toronto overpaid for Kapono, and they had to because most teams must overpay to pry a player away from another team.

Toronto is now in a tough spot this upcoming offseason with cap issues and risk losing Jose Calderon. I think most Toronto fans would rather have Calderon than Kapono for the same money.

If the Lakers pay a premium for Sasha then it's going to prevent us from keeping one of the other role players on this team or forcing us to make a trade.

Do you sacrifice Turiaf or Ariza or Farmar to retain Sasha or deal Walton or Radman to keep him?</div>

I'd argue that Sasha is now in the upp echelon of outside shooters. Kapono is shooting near 50% in 3's, but Sasha has double the makes Kapono has, while still shooting a Lakers franchise record 44%. PLUS he plays defense.

To answer that question, if it comes down to it, this has been our lineup during crunch time .. Kobe-Fish-LO-Gasol-SASHA. That alone should tell you that he's our most valuable bench player, so yes, if it came down to that scenario, I'd sacrifice any of those other guys you mentioned. Heck, I think dealing Walton or Radman is a no-brainer if it could be pulled off somehow

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ May 25 2008, 01:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Smush Parker used to close out games for us, too.

Right now Sasha is closing out games, but next year he won't be, because of Bynum. Lakers starters will be Fisher-Kobe-Odom-Gasol-Bynum.</div>

Smush Parker was played out of lack of alternatives, you know that shape.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ May 25 2008, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Do you sacrifice Turiaf or Ariza or Farmar to retain Sasha or deal Walton or Radman to keep him?</div>
I'd deal Walton or Radman in order to keep Sasha in a second. I love Turiaf, but I don't think he's as important to this team as Sasha, or at least he certainly hasn't been this season. I'd probably sacrifice Ariza as well, as good as he is, his injury past scares me. He has foot problems as well, which could be a problem in the future. Farmar, maybe...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ May 25 2008, 01:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know, but I was pointing out it's not hard to replace these guys. If Sasha wants too, much money I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Lakers replace him with Gasol's buddy, Juan Carlos Navarro.</div>
JCN is a point guard right? Do you see him getting more playing time than Fisher or Farmar next season? I don't think he has the height to play the 2