RealGM

I see Kobe and Gasol are all off the books in 2014.Not many .. Would we have the cap space to land a premiere free agent? I could see Kobe and Gasol resigning for reduce contracts

maybe land a star like

Carmelo Anthony
we will be tired of losing for another 2 years in New York

its really hard to forecast the cap without knowing whats going to happen with both pau or kobe. right now they take up like 50 mil on their own, and even if you bring each back at half their price (25mil), when you add them to a hopefully re-signed howard (20) and nash's (10)contract, thats basically the entire cap right there.

I feel like Gasol will for sure be a laker this year.. He is needed...

But as a 19 million expiring next year I could see us shopping him for a couple nice young pieces...my dream we trade Gasol for a high lottery pick and land Shabazz Muhammed Jabari Parker Andrew Wiggins...

Has a team ever traded a star after winning a title for a youth???I know it might be ballsy but I think Mitch might have to do it in 2014..
I know we landed James Worthy somehow in the mid 80s..I think Derrik WIlliams would be a great fit next to Gasol if he is still on the block in a year..Mitch is a genuis he could make it work and get a first round pick too. Also looking ahead i predict Jose Calderon will sign with us next year(2013) .. he wants to play for us. Kobe might say he wants to just play for the love of the game and take a low figure deal.. Carmelo his best friend will get tired of losing to the Heat 2 years in the playoffs, and watching the Heat play the Lakers. He decides to join the lake show to cement his legacy as a great. Hopefully Ebanks, Meeks,and Jordan Hill shine this next years and become great role players..

again this is just pure speculation
Howard
Derrik Williams ( or another young piece for Gasol)
Melo
Kobe
that would be killer

Nash would be on his last legs, and Jose would be older too but would help out Nash

Bench
Ebanks
Hill
another ring chaser like Jamison(Jamison might retire in a year or two)
1st round pick for Gasol trade
Meeks
lower tier fa pick up

lol all speculation that would be sweet.. all this happening would be sweet after beating the Heat back to Back! 2014 hopefully we land a young star or in his prime star to pair with Dwight

I truly believe if Kobe wins 1 more title and passes MJ in total points he'll call it quits after the 2014 season. I think they could resign Pau at half the price he's getting paid now since there doesn't seem to be many good PF's available in 2014. Also Nash could still be there plus Hill, Meeks and maybe Ebanks and Morris develop u could have a nice little core to start with. Carmelo would be the target but seeing how at this point him and Amare can't seem to click the Lakers could look at Deng also Granger and Gay are available. To replace Kobe, Mayo will be an FA again I could see the Lakers looking at him.

if only CP3 signs a one year deal with the Clippers and becomes a free agent in 2014 ....


How good would a Melo and Dwight Howard team be for a couple years? hmm
Melo will be 30 in 2014 and dwight would be 29...the possibilities

I'm sure Kupchak and crew are licking their chops at all the freedom and flexibility they will have, that's for sure. It is a GM's wet dream.

And to top it off, the Lakers will have Dwight Howard to build around. Not a bad start.

Kevin Love's name has been thrown around for a long time however he can't become a free agent until 2015. Perhaps if Kobe and Gasol came back for one more season after their contracts are up in 2014 then I could see the Lakers putting themselves in the position to go after Kevin Love. I know a lot can happen between then and now but it would be comical trying to watch opposing teams try and out rebound Kevin Love and Dwight Howard.

KingLakers wrote:I truly believe if Kobe wins 1 more title and passes MJ in total points he'll call it quits after the 2014 season. I think they could resign Pau at half the price he's getting paid now since there doesn't seem to be many good PF's available in 2014. Also Nash could stil be there plus Hill, Meeks and maybe Ebanks and Morris develop u could have a nice little core to start with. Carmelo would be the target but seeing how at this point him and Amare can't seem to click the Lakers could look at Deng also Granger and Gay are available. To replace Kobe, Mayo will be an FA again I could see the Lakers looking at him.

You don't think Kobe will stick around to pass Kareem? He could do it, but it might take just over 4 seasons (maybe he'll start throwing playoff games in easy series' to get more games per year).

As much that knee treatment helped i just think after two more seasons worth of milage added on i think Kobe will just call it a career and walk away.

imagine... if the Lakers have a 3 peat!

Kobe plays 4 more years and gets the all time scoring record


8 titles
All time scorer
10 time all defensive player

Just imagine

I'm sure many of you guys think it but Howard could easily leave after this year. It never seemed like he was excited to come to la in the first place and of course once hes traded hes gonna smile and stuff. i dont see any loyalty in him. so, looking at 2014 is crazy but thinking he'll be there for sure is crazy too imo.

Don't count your cap space before you have it...

If I had to guess how much cap space we had in 2014, based on past experience, I'd say -$15M...

MoLakers wrote:I'm sure many of you guys think it but Howard could easily leave after this year. It never seemed like he was excited to come to la in the first place and of course once hes traded hes gonna smile and stuff. i dont see any loyalty in him. so, looking at 2014 is crazy but thinking he'll be there for sure is crazy too imo.

with brooklyn out of the picture, i don't see any other destination that is so much more appealing than the LA Lakers that he forfeits like 25mil. brooklyn would have me worried cause his agent's agency already helps run the barclay/s center (the nets new home), but since they can't even s&t for howard per the rules that will be in effect, i don't see any other team stealing howard away.