Lakers Look to Second Wave of Free Agents

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After a series of false starts because of labor-deal delays, the Lakers will finally remove some yellow tape from their reconstruction site today.

This morning's lifting of a league moratorium on trades and free-agent signings signals the continuation of an industrious summer for the Lakers, who will officially gain Kwame Brown, lose Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins, and re-sign Luke Walton to a two-year contract.
They shortly will also reach a decision on forward Brian Grant ? they are leaning strongly toward waiving him to save almost $30 million in luxury taxes ? and will explore a secondary free-agent market of sorts while trying to sign a player or two who drop from the "amnesty" tree.

A provision in the new collective bargaining agreement allows teams to waive one player by Aug. 15 to avoid paying luxury taxes on his salary. Such amnesty players will be paid by the teams that release them until their contracts expire but are allowed to draw a second, presumably smaller, salary from another team.

Sensible targets for the Lakers would be Golden State guard Derek Fisher, a former Laker who is familiar with Coach Phil Jackson's triangle offense, and high-scoring Toronto Raptor swingman Jalen Rose, although it's not a guarantee that either will be waived.

Other amnesty candidates include New York Knick guard Allan Houston, Dallas Maverick forward Michael Finley, Portland Trail Blazer guard Derek Anderson, Indiana Pacer forward Austin Croshere, Orlando Magic guard Doug Christie and Boston Celtic center Raef LaFrentz.

Eight to 10 teams probably will take advantage of the one-time opportunity to waive a player, leading to an infusion of free agents at relatively inexpensive prices.

"We'll continue to look at our roster and make changes where we feel we need to upgrade," Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "I don't feel we're done."

Fisher, 30, has five years and $32 million left on his contract with the Warriors, but his role lessened when Baron Davis was acquired before the trade deadline in February. Still, he averaged a career-best 11.9 points and had 4.1 assists a game for the Warriors, who would rather trade him than waive him.

Rose, 32, averaged 18.5 points last season for the Raptors and would fill the Lakers' needs in numerous ways. He has played point guard, shooting guard and small forward, and, at 6 feet 8, fits Jackson's desire for tall, athletic guards. But the Raptors, like the Warriors, would rather trade Rose than receive luxury-tax relief by waiving him.

The salary cap for the season is $49.5 million, and the luxury-tax threshold is $61.7 million, with teams paying a dollar-for-dollar penalty on payrolls exceeding the threshold.

The Lakers are well over the cap with a payroll of almost $68 million, but they still have the $5-million midlevel exception and the $1.7-million biennial exception allotted to teams even if they are over the cap.</div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_fan:</div><div class="quote_post">Its good to hear that we're finally showing official signs of doing something instead of just rumours.

On a side note, I don't think Chucky is as bad as people make him out to be. Offensively, he is quite good but on the other end he isn't. I wouldn't mind him coming off the bench and taking his shots. Its too late now as he looks to be heading to DC. He does get alot of extra slack that shouldn't be given to him by fans.</div>
When you make the comments to the media the way Chucky did, then he deserves a backlash from the fans.

I agree, offensively Chucky is solid, but he gives it right back on defense. I'll be glad when he is officially out of Los Angeles.