RealGM

I'm bored, waiting for the Jazz, so I was thinking about what position the Lakers needed help in, in the off season.

Looking at what we have:
C = Bynum, Mihm and Mbenga (Don't need a Center)
PF = Gasol, Rony, Odom, Walton (Don't need a PF)
SF = Odom, Vlade, Walton, Ariza (Don't need a SF)
SG = Kobe, Sasha (Not much depth here, but why add a another SG, as Ariza could probably slide over to SG as well)
PG = Fisher, Farmer, Coby (Don't see much of a future with Coby, Fish is NOT getting any younger and Farmar is decent but "short")

With the young hot PG's in the West such as Paul and Williams and I see one guy out there that we should make a run at:

Jose Calderon, a 27 Y.O., 6'3", 210 lbs, Free Agent PG from the Toronto Raptors, he is from Spain (hint hint) averaged 11.2 points and 8.3 Assists and played in ALL 82 games. He made just under $2.5mil last year and if the Lakers offered him the entire MLE ($5.?mil) he may just take it to play with Pau...

Also for the Season he shot: FG = 52% FT = 90% 3-Ptrs = 42% (Overall pretty darn good!)

LINK: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/p ... atsId=3989

THOUGHTS?

Toronto has said numerous times that they would match any offer made for Jose, and since he is a restricted free agent he wouldn't have a choice.

I think we should use some or all of our MLE on Diop.

Jose Calderon will likely get an offer larger than the MLE. And Even if he did accept an MLE offer, Toronto would match it in a second. So you can pretty much forget about Jose Calderon.

As far as the MLE goes, I seriously doubt that the Lakers use it, because it will cost them double. I suppose if Artest or Corey Maggette said they wanted to come here for the MLE then the Lakers would probably use it, but other than that I doubt it.

one more thing:

According to this Jose is a Free Agent and NOT a restricted one:
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/toronto.htm

To keep the payroll down, I would have no problem trading Vlade for him..

ShowtimeFan wrote:one more thing:

According to this Jose is a Free Agent and NOT a restricted one:
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/toronto.htm

To keep the payroll down, I would have no problem trading Vlade for him..

How did you come to that conclusion?

This might help:

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#36

Just as a summary: Jose Calderon was signed as an undrafted free agent back in the summer of '05. Since he has only been in the league for 3 years, the Raptors can submit a qualifying offer to him, thus making him restricted. FYI, Hoopshype only lists the qualifying offers for 1st round picks. Any player that wasn't a 1st round pick that has been in the league for 3 or fewer seasons can be a restricted free agent, assuming his team submits a qualifying offer.

As far as Vlad goes, he has been playing better as of late, but considering his contract I still think his trade value is negative. In other words, the Lakers would have to take a worse contract or give up something valuable to move him.

This is a much better resource for free agents this summer:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=2008freeagents

ShowtimeFan wrote:one more thing:
To keep the payroll down, I would have no problem trading Vlade for him..

As if anyone would take on Vlad's contract let alone for a young stud in Calderon. Calderon is no secret, every GM has their eyes on him.

How bout Tyrone Lue, how much is he making?

I doubt the MLE is going to be used I think the only player the Lakers would sign is a vet PF/C like a Ratliff or something. Bringing back Lue is interesting but we have Fish, Farmar and even Sasha who can play PG not to mention if Sun Yue is any good he plays PG too.

Wow. That's a pretty weak list.

I don't think the Lakers will do much if anything. Think about it. Financially, they are at the ceiling and with Bynum/Ariza rejoining the team it'll be like adding two more weapons to current roster.

A combo guard might be the only minor need, and could be acquired with the 2nd round pick. Or that player could be Sun Yue.

C's - Bynum (2., Mihm (2.5), DJ (returns $?)
F/C - Gasol (15.1)
F's - Odom (14.5), Vlade (6.0), Luke (4.4), Rony (returns $?)
F/G - Ariza (2.9)
G's - Kobe (21.2), Fisher (4.7), Farmar (1.1), Sasha (returns $?), and Yue/or '08 2nd/or Coby.

14 same as this season's start. Committed $ 75.2 mil for 10 players so far.

Call me a dreamer but I am hoping BDiddy goes on a ring chase and signs with us for the MLE, in reality though I dont even see us using it.

El Hardee wrote:Call me a dreamer but I am hoping BDiddy goes on a ring chase and signs with us for the MLE, in reality though I dont even see us using it.

Yeah, i agree, that is probably the only sort of scenario where i could see us using all the MLE.

Chris Duhon for 1 or 2 mil would be a good signing, IMO. Would be nice to have a good defender at the point.

Someone in SoCal on this board has to have a Baron connection, get this seed planted already.

I like Beno Urich at MLE, he is pg w/ nice quicks only 26, avg 12.8 ppg and 4.3 ast in 32 min a game. His 3pt game nice as well 38.7 %.........

I like Alonzo w/ the LLE....cheap Bynum back up w/ lots of motor 1.7 blks in 15 min a game.........

To be honest w/ Odom becoming free agent after nxt I could see Lakers try to get a top 10 pick in this years draft and a player they like or even trying to land a Baron for Lamar type deal.....the key to that would be the Baron telling and demanding a trade to LAkers..........

Either way Lamar will be gone and only upgrade on Lakers is really at PG.... I like the mix of SF w/ ARiza, walton and vlad sort of a popouri of defence, passing and shooting--too bad they couldnt' get it in one player......

Diop for the MLE

PLayers i'd love to have for teh MLE (in order). OF course, some wont happen, but its just players id love to get.

Mickael Pietrus
Desagna Diop
Lindsey Hunter
Juan Carlos Navarro
Keleena Azubuike
Alonzo Mourning
Brent Barry/Michael Finley
Ramon Sessions
Leon Powe
Brandon Bass

DeSagana Diop would be nice as a true backup for Bynum. Mourning would as well if he's considering coming back for a different team than Miami.

The MLE starts at like 5 million a year plus.....no way Diop costs that much he is at same level of DJ benga IMO......And w/ cash Buss has dished out and will have to Add to sign Ronnie, Sasha and Bynum in another yrs--i don't see Lakers adding anything really other than moving Lamar at some point during off season....or during for that matter....

The might add a LLE player like Zo just because, Mihm to say the least is injury prone and ZO adds a D element which is always tough to find......

The other move that could be looked at is moving one of the small forwards just too much money into one positon.....Ariza at 3 mill... luke at 4 or 5 mill and Vlad at 6 or so.....that is almost 14 mill at one postion....that being said the might have to package w/ lamar to move Luke or Vlad.... I think Trevor is safe because of defence and athletisim......ALL in ALL i luv this team....you can't really have 5 allstars at every positon and I think the Lakers role players are near the tops of all out depth when everybody is in the fold....

Ya'll are forgetting whos coming over to help us at PG.

THE ASIAN MAGIC JOHNSON!!! SUNG YUE!!!!!!

I would be shocked if the Lakers use their MLE this summer. They're going to have enough trouble keeping current Lakers up for extension.

The luxury tax is enough of a concern that Mitch, usually laconic, divulged Odom's uncertain future with the Lakers, quite pointedly.

If money were no object at all to Buss, he'd keep everybody of any value, cut those who are taking up roster spots, regardless of their contract length, and use the cap exceptions to add as many potential contributors as possible. But that's unreasonable to expect, as every (private) owner has his limits, which has historically been the luxury tax threshold.

In light of those assumptions, in my opinion, one would have to weigh every possible MLE-level FA against the possibility of losing Sasha, Turiaf, Ariza, and even Lamar.

Unless a remarkable player is available for the MLE, I don't think the Lakers would be interested in using it.

As Mitch said, the Lakers aren't looking to be active in the offseason. I hope he wasn't referring to our own free agents.