rugby-hook wrote:Buss is one of the LEAST wealthy owners in the NBA. He has not only major sources of revenue besides the Lakers and lives off of the team. The LT is a huge hit and the mere fact that LA has 13 not 15 players proves that Buss is trying to mitigate costs. The team did not trade for Hinrich with the Morrison EC because of the LT; the team played hardball with LO and Fisher because of the LT and sold draft picks because these dollars financed a portion of the LT. Buss has cut costs after the first 3-peat when they dumped Lindsay Hunter and did not replace him. they needed another big man with Malone and would not get the extra salary.
Vujacic is on the bubble to be dumped like Mihm. Vujacic costs the team almost $11mm this year -- that is equal to 1/3 of the total LT bill. LA will use its 1st and cash to move him at the deadline and try to save the $5.4mm in LT. That is a big number considering the team usual makes only $20mm in a championship playoff run. The LT is very punitive and Buss needs to be aware of it.
The most surprising part of the deadline last season was that Morrison was not moved, but there were few teams that had $6.0mm of cap space available and LA had no 1st pick to dish. Once traded Vujacic will be replaced with a young FA for a $450,000 salary. The dollars are simply too big not to make this move.
Eh, not so much. Buss certainly isnt a billionaire like paul allen, but his net worth is right in the mid-range when it comes to nba owners. SA and HOU owner's have net worths of only 80 mil. each in comparison to Buss' net worth of $380 million. According to Forbes, "The Los Angeles Lakers
are owned by Jerry Buss and Philip Anschutz (Net Worth: $8 billion)" So the silent partner is worth $7.5+ BILLION. Not sure where you got your stats from, but the article I found said the operating income was $48 million in 08, the year we LOST the chip.
Saying that Sasha's 11 mill accounts for 1/3 of the LT is a bit deceiving isn't it? Everyone's collective contracts contribute to exceeding the salary cap, not just sasha's or whatever player you dont like. Even if we get rid of him, we will still have to pay the LT. The fact is, Sasha is still the best/only pure shooter the Lakers have, but for whatever reason his confidence fell off and he has not performed well in games since 08. But his stroke is still pure. All it will take is for him to get over that hurdle. Just like the commentators always say, shooters keep shooting even if they are 0-100 on their previous attempts. If suddenly this year he regains his form and starts shooting 44% from 3-pt land, which he is totally capable of, and actually accomplished in 08, his contract will actually look like a discount, especially to a team with no other shooter on it. Paying $5 million to a reliable 3-pt shooter (if he regains form) is peanuts to an ownership group worth $8 BILLION.
The Lakers consistently have the highest payroll, consistently have the highest operating income, and consistently win championships. I don't see any of that changing under Buss.
