2014 capspace expectations

[dockingsched]

Here are the top 2014 free agents:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/2014-nba-free-agents

pg: eric bledsoe, jameer nelson

sg: kobe bryant, dwyane wade

sf: lebron james, carmelo anthony, danny granger, luol deng, rudy gay

pf: dirk nowitzki, pau gasol, chris bosh

c: andrew bogut, marcin gortat

---------------------------

so who do u think the lakers should go after that they actually have a chance of getting? what kind of long term plan can the lakers present to entice these guys?

with kobe already saying he wants to come back for two more yrs (who knows what salary he'll command in 2014, i'll use 10- 15mil for the sake of best case scenario discussion, also assume nash retires and cap is 60mil ish), you're looking at having these packages to entice free agents:

- kobe/howard + $20-25 cap
- kobe/griffin + $23-27 cap
- kobe + $40-45 cap

for reference, here are the free agents in 2015, headlined by rajon rondo, kevin love, lamarcus aldridge, marc gasol, tony parker and brook lopez. Also some of the 2014 free agents could decide not to opt out and become 2015 free agents (lebron/wade/bosh/anthony) http://www.hoopsworld.com/2015-nba-free-agents


* numbers are very very rough, just to spark discussion

[Slava]

If we can keep Kobe + Gasol + 35ish million cap, I wouldn't mind taking chances on two of Parker/Dirk/Deng/Bosh. Of those guys I'd only assume Bosh & Deng would hit the market. Dirk's situation may change based on what Dallas can get from this free agency and I expect Tony to retire a Spur.

[dockingsched]

kobe + gasol would need to earn around a combined 20 mil to have 35 mil in cap space. might be tough.

[Kilroy]

I think the only big name we have a shot at in '14 is Melo... But so far, I think he loves playing for the Knicks so it might be harder than I think... Maybe Granger. I think Riley will sell any portion of his soul that remains to try to keep LeBron... I don't think he's going anywhere...

If we somehow protect our cap space until 2015, I think we might have a shot at Love and Rondo... Other than that, I think the cap space dream might be just that in all honesty.

[ROballer]

Said it in various "trades/moves" threads

I want to believe we're gonna score a big time FA,but it's unlikely and far from a certain thing

I've seen numerous posters opposing to possible trade scenarios just because it messes up with our grand 2014 scheme which is beyond stupid reasoning(furthermore because the players involved in the discussion were on rookie deals)

If we can get some youth while also upgrading the roster,we HAVE to do it......save 18-20 mil for a possible max contract but that's it....we have to be **** stupid to reject trade options because we want to have 30 + mil in cap space and put all of our eggs in one basket
Miami scenario was once in a lifetime,it ain't happening again so let's get rid of a the pipedream

So as a summary,what I'd want to see

-save 18-20 for a MAX deal in 2014...more ONLY IF we can't make some moves until then ..if we can't get anything in 2014,hold on another year for 2015
-absolutely DO any trades that involve getting young players on rookie deals/lottery picks.....especially if it adds some pieces of need.....4-6 mil less in cap-space but used by a potential core piece is a deal I'll certainly
take every single time

[dockingsched]

I think the only big name we have a shot at in '14 is Melo... But so far, I think he loves playing for the Knicks so it might be harder than I think... Maybe Granger. I think Riley will sell any portion of his soul that remains to try to keep LeBron... I don't think he's going anywhere...

If we somehow protect our cap space until 2015, I think we might have a shot at Love and Rondo... Other than that, I think the cap space dream might be just that in all honesty.

i've been a big fan of giving the pau/kobe/nash and hopefully howard or griffin at least til 2015. first i just never thought kobe would retire in 2014 (he's not) and i never thought he'd take such a big paycut. also i never thought there was a realistic target worthwhile, and melo to me isn't realistic and isn't worthwhile at all.

something like rondo/griffin/marc gasol in 2015, i can get behind that.

[Slava]

I'd stay away from giving big money to Melo/Granger/Bledsoe/Bogut. I'm on the fence about Griffin's development as well.

[hermes]

might as well go after lebron, they tell me he's pretty good

[Kilroy]

I think the only big name we have a shot at in '14 is Melo... But so far, I think he loves playing for the Knicks so it might be harder than I think... Maybe Granger. I think Riley will sell any portion of his soul that remains to try to keep LeBron... I don't think he's going anywhere...

If we somehow protect our cap space until 2015, I think we might have a shot at Love and Rondo... Other than that, I think the cap space dream might be just that in all honesty.

i've been a big fan of giving the pau/kobe/nash and hopefully howard or griffin at least til 2015. first i just never thought kobe would retire in 2014 (he's not) and i never thought he'd take such a big paycut. also i never thought there was a realistic target worthwhile, and melo to me isn't realistic and isn't worthwhile at all.

something like rondo/griffin/marc gasol in 2015, i can get behind that.

I agree with all of this...
So what about going for 2 of the 3 future targets with maybe the weirdest 3 way in history, with us getting Rondo/Griffin, Boston getting DJ/Bledsoe, and LAC getting KG/Dwight/(Pierce/Doc)... I know the numbers don't add up and was thinking maybe Butler would work his way in there somewhere since Pierce is almost certain to go to the Clippers...
Anyway, it's a rather complicated thought... LAC becomes a powerhouse on paper, but has the same challenges we had last season, we get our future and a good foundation to build on, Boston get's a fresh start.

I'd stay away from giving big money to Melo/Granger/Bledsoe/Bogut. I'm on the fence about Griffin's development as well.

My thoughts as well... Melo may already be on the back end of his prime and I'm not all that interested in the rest of those names... Griffin isn't a franchise leader, but he's got upside and he listens and is willing to play his part... If we got another alpha dog, I think it could work.

[The Skyhook]

I do not realistically see the Lakers getting one of the big names in 2014 so I've always wanted the Lakers to bring Kobe and maybe Pau if possible back for one more season in 2014 so that their contracts run out in 2015. I think making a splash in the summer of 2015 is a bigger reality. Love seems to be unhappy with the Wolves and his name has been linked to the Lakers in the past. He would only be 27 but his injury riddled history does scare me. Kevin Love would be my number one target depending on the type of seasons he has over the next two seasons.

I had no idea Marc Gasol would be a free agent in 2015 but if Dwight leaves then Gasol would be a great replacement. The potential to create a front court of Kevin Love and Marc Gasol would be too great to pass up.

Rondo is the other guy that I have right up top with Kevin Love as for who we should target in 2015. The Lakers haven't had a legit point guard in years. His pride as a Celtic might not allow him to sign with the Lakers but if he is one of the guys I would want to see the Lakers going to war with on their side. I used to hate Rondo but I've grew to respect the hell out of him. He is one tough SOB and I've never seen him back down to anyone.

[richboy]

Banking on free agency is a losing equation. Years from now you might be able to start thinking about guys like James Harden, Durant, Westbrook in free agency. The names in 2014 outside of Lebron are nothing special.

Rondo
Griffin
Gasol

Is that even better than

Conley
Randolph
Gasol

Guess what. It isn't time to be lazy and try to be like the New York Knicks. Just build a mediocre team with overpaid free agents. You can do what Miami did when you land a Lebron. You can do it when you land a Shaq. If your banking on free agency to get guys not in the top 5 in the league your just doing what a lot of bad franchises do.

Right now get Dwight back and get him back to playing to the MVP level he was. With the rest of the roster do whatever you can to get draft picks. Do what the Lakers have done throughout history. Find those special players in the draft.

[crazyeights]

Agreed. Would be nice to see this team stop trading picks and reload with youth.

[Dr Aki]

lebron or bust.

[moonpie]

Check the sig.

[Ckay]

John Wall?

[EArl]

Not a fan of Lebron, but obviously we will pitch for him I doubt we get him though.
Granger and TP would also be favorable, but I doubt we get TP either.

[dockingsched]

Check the sig.

setting yourself up for disappoint if i'm to understand u want the lakers to position themselves to get wiggins, don't do that to yourself!

John Wall?

if he doesn't sign an extension this summer, he'll be a restricted free agent in 2014 so no reason to think the lakers can get him. same with paul george and a few other players coming off their rookie contract.

[Patman]

I think the only big name we have a shot at in '14 is Melo... But so far, I think he loves playing for the Knicks so it might be harder than I think... Maybe Granger. I think Riley will sell any portion of his soul that remains to try to keep LeBron... I don't think he's going anywhere...

If we somehow protect our cap space until 2015, I think we might have a shot at Love and Rondo... Other than that, I think the cap space dream might be just that in all honesty.

Riley can't do jack if LeBron wants to leave. It's all up to LBJ.

[hazy_01]

Can't see us in a position to be crap enough to land a top draft pick next yr even without Dwight on board (so Wiggin is outta the question). Kobe is coming back on schedule time and we would still have nash and pau, we might not make it to playoffs but won't suck enough in comparison to the bobcats, suns, etc. However, the good thing is the 2014 draft is deep, meaning even we get a mid-round pick I believe he can contribute immediately to the team.

As for LBJ? Honestly, if they win the champ I don't see him leaving Heat. Miami would be equally attractive place- with a big market, cap space, and they can offer him the most money.

[Kilroy]

I think the only big name we have a shot at in '14 is Melo... But so far, I think he loves playing for the Knicks so it might be harder than I think... Maybe Granger. I think Riley will sell any portion of his soul that remains to try to keep LeBron... I don't think he's going anywhere...

If we somehow protect our cap space until 2015, I think we might have a shot at Love and Rondo... Other than that, I think the cap space dream might be just that in all honesty.

Riley can't do jack if LeBron wants to leave. It's all up to LBJ.

He may make some sounds like he wants to leave, but I think they'll look to move bosh and then they'll have LeBron's bird rights. I think now that he's won at least one championship and has Wade and whatever Bosh brings this off season, he's going to look forward to putting the whole "Imma take less to win championships" thing behind him and will sign a full max deal to stay in Miami... He knows young guys coming up are going to want to play with him there. So I just don't see any reason for him to move.

If they loose game 7 and can't get any good pieces for Bosh so that next season is a disappointment for them too... Like missing the playoffs... Maybe he looks elsewhere... But I just don't see it.

I think Durant may actually be a dark-horse candidate for us. Or if Durant get's more disgruntled, maybe even Westbrook. I think those are actually more likely than LeBron... But still hit-the-moon-with-a-pea-shooter long shots.