Reasons Why the Lakers Deserve a Discount on FAs

[lakersfanatic]

u know... it might just work. But then again.. if they allow it for one player, they have to allow it to all players. Which would come down to massive abuse of giving players coaching salary to lower their luxury cap.

But then again it may back fire as well. Meaning they now have more money to give out thus bringing back the luxury cap. lol. It's a loophole i tell yah. A loop whole that david stern has thought out very well and unstoppable hehe.

[Mamba Venom]

Keep them all

Buss won't have to worry about buying food

He can eat all those free Tacos the next few years!

[gentega]

It is true that the Lakers have possibly the best trade/FA record of any NBA franchise, not only picking up Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kobe Bryant for a warm 6 pack of beer each, but before that Kareen and Wilt, and top-flight FA's like Sam Perkins when he was one of his franchise's best players. It is axiomatic that every team has a history of good and bad trades, but the Lakers good to bad ratio is unbelievable. How amazing is it that the current Lakers STILL reflect Jerry West's direct imprint (Kobe, Fish, and the guys the Lakers got for Shaq, who West persuaded to come to LA?). Still, the first post-Shaq years showed how much harder it is to make trades and steals today, though the Gasol, Kevin Garnett, Allen etc trades show it still can be done.

[Sofa King]

13. You have to defend the title in 2010



14. You NEVER... EVER... let this happen again. You become part of basketball lore.

[gentega]

]

"Well since 96, we never really ripped anyone off. Kobe was a 13th freaking pick, Shaq was done with Orlando and everyone knew that, Horry is not a big time player, Ariza was a nobody in Orlando, and the Gasol trade was a lot more even than people think"

Ok, I agree Kobe was not a "rip off" in the same sense that trading Don Ford for the #1 draft choice was a rip off (known and mediocre quantity (Ford)) for a top pick; same with fading Gail Goodrich for a #1, those were deals done with foolish owners; but if you factor in quality scouting and player evaluation (Jerry West), trading a fading Vlade Divac for Kobe, a guy West considered one of the greatest young players he'd ever scouted, it falls at least in the category a calculated risk where the better talent evaluator prevailed. I remember the Charlotte owner saying at the press conference that it was one of the greatest deals ever for that franchise. Ouch.

Anyway, two questions, how do you conclude that Horry was not "big time" and why do you think the Gasol trade was more even than perceived? On Horry, I think we'll just have to disagree. But I am curious about your take on Gasol. I'm pretty sure the Memphis decision makers were pretty bright, and I still can't figure out the trade from their standpoint.