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Under contract for next season.

Kobe 23 million if he don't opt out.
Gasol 16 million
Bynum 12.5 mill

Vlad 6.4, Fish 5.0, Sasha 5.0, Luke 4.8, J Far 1.9 and Sun Yue team opt of 700k.
So your looking at approx 76 million dollars in 8 players.

You got Lamar, Ariza free agents along w/ Powell, Mihm and Benga. It appears that they will have to go over the amount they are at this year w/ Lamar of 78 million just by adding the additional 6 or 7 roster spots.

So, in a sense if Lamar walks like a lot of people think he will then the Lakers' basically have no leverage to get another quality backup. I really don't see Mitch offering a MLE to someone after the Luke and Vlad and to a degree Sasha contracts have panned out. So you would think that they would trade Lamar to find that backup now and possible ship one of Vlad or Luke with him to set up the roster for next year.

They will be over the cap so they can't sign any free agents, the MLE probably won't be used as it hasn't worked that great in the past. So, do they think Powell, Mihm or Benga can actually give 20-30 minutes of good ball a night or do they think any one of the three could fill in if their was an injury to Pau or Andrew, I would hope not.

And then their is the Ariza factor who might get a MLE offer from a team, they could lose their best SF in the process of that. So, either way with 51.5 million tied up in the big three next year Mitch has a lot of work to do--they don't have any depth in the Center/ Power Forward position, nobody signed.

I think Mitch's hands are tied, he has to trade Lamar this year before the deadline or go into the off-season w/ a very thin depth chart up Front. Eight players at 76 million. If they go out and add one good front line replacement, which will be tough being over the cap, and just use lower contracts for the other spots they still we be at 85 million you would think. So, I really expect some kind of roster shakeup because I'm not sure the Busses' will be thrilled with that number.

Unless Ariza gets 8-10 mill a year offer the Lakers will resign him especially if they let Odom go. If the Lakers win a title this year and Lamar is willing to come back for 7-9 mil IMO the Lakers will resign both and make another run at back to back titles. Vlad will only have 2yrs left on his contract and there is an outside shot they can move him. No chance to move Walton because he will have 3yrs left and teams are trying to get under the cap for 2010. Mihm, Mbegna, and Powell are not big losses if they leave and the lakers would be able to sign all of them for the vet min or just over that. The Lakers are in a position where they will have to pay the luxury tax for the next several years but they are also in a position to win a title for the next 3-4 years.

In your scenario the Lakers' would be close to 90 million w/ Odom resigning for 9 million and Ariza say 5 which I both doubt. And then they'd have to fill 4 more spots--so your looking at 100 million dollars.

I really don't see that in the Lakers' future. Optimistic but I really doubt it.....

I don't know how well you really understand the salary cap but you make it seem as though the Lakers are utterly strapped, which couldn't be further from the truth.

lakeshow248 wrote:So, in a sense if Lamar walks like a lot of people think he will then the Lakers' basically have no leverage to get another quality backup. I really don't see Mitch offering a MLE to someone after the Luke and Vlad and to a degree Sasha contracts have panned out.

This is a plain flat out lie here, how is it that they don't have leverage ? Did you know they didn't even use their MLE for this season because they planned to use it and other salary scraped together to sign Artest if had opted out like he should have ? And if LO resigns he'll have to do it at a salary much less then what he's getting now.

lakeshow248 wrote:So, do they think Powell, Mihm or Benga can actually give 20-30 minutes

You are aware that Mihm is off the books this summer right ? And it's almost a certainty they will sign Powell who is a very solid player that is not getting time now due to the depth in the front court, it has nothing to do with his play at all. And Benga can be signed for a cheap salary too, plus he's integrated in the system now..........nothing to lose here.

lakeshow248 wrote:the MLE probably won't be used

How do you know that ? A lot of your post have been way off the mark, I see why Erik Eleven warned you.


Bottom line here is basically your talking about something that in reality won't take place. Kobe will most certainly opt out and some of the guys you mention here in this post probably won't be here. Guys like Luke and Mihm is as good as over here...........do gotta be a scientist to get that. Guys will sign here hell just about every team but Charlotte is over the cap, so it's not everybody but the Lakers are going to cash in you know.

Trading Vlad for Evans and a filler (Ivey?) fixes this and adds immediate toughness.

What if Bryant took a major pay cut? Lets say more than half of whats he getting now...

The point is they don't have a backup signed for next year their "Deep". They will be at 76 million w/ 8 players. I just don't see LA dishing out the cash to anti up to 100 million. They will have 6 to 7 roster spots to fill depending on Yue.

And based on watching this team and management work over the past 30 years, I say they won't use the MLE. Mcdyess and Gooden would only probably fit the bill for that next year I would think.

And Deep this is an opinion board not the LA times. I know you have a lot of posts and think your big time but you should relax, I'm a fan and I give my opinions--just as you do. If you feel the Lakers' will go to close to 100 million then that is your opinion. My is they wont.

And you probably didn't read my post because I said they don't have any backup big men signed for next year, that would include C Mihm.

i would bet that powell comes back

maybe mihm if he's up for the min.

Odom will come back for close to MLE money as long as they give him years like they did for Walton.

I'd say that he signs for something like 30 million for five years.

Ariza will sign for the same deal that Vujacic got--like 15 mill over three years.

Also, I think they will definitely use the MLE. They will sign Jason Kidd to 5 mill for two or three years.

I'd dump Vujacic for Lue and Charlie Bell and field a team like this one:

Kidd - Fisher - Farmar
Kobe - Bell
Bynum - Gasol
Odom - Powell
Ariza - Walton - Radmanovic

30 mil in 5 yrs isn't even full mle money. no way, no how.

sasha isn't being traded for lue/charlie freakin bell. c'mon now.

You're probably right about MLE money.

My larger point is that Ariza, Walton, Vujacic, Radman, and now Odom will all (more or less) make the same amount of money (5-6.5 mill), but Odom will get the years because (like Walton) he is cementing himself as a Laker for life (which is what he wants).

Regarding Vujacic, I think that Charlie Bell is the type of under the radar, intangible, tough guy, shooter, versatile defender that we need off our bench. Lue is insurance if Farmar is erratic and will keep the young pup on his toes (where he seems to thrive).

it has been brought to my attention that Kwame is going to be a free agent

ALL HAIL wrote:Odom will come back for close to MLE money as long as they give him years like they did for Walton.

I'd say that he signs for something like 30 million for five years.

Ariza will sign for the same deal that Vujacic got--like 15 mill over three years.

Also, I think they will definitely use the MLE. They will sign Jason Kidd to 5 mill for two or three years.

I'd dump Vujacic for Lue and Charlie Bell and field a team like this one:

Kidd - Fisher - Farmar
Kobe - Bell
Bynum - Gasol
Odom - Powell
Ariza - Walton - Radmanovic

Gasol coming off the bench? Uh let me think . . . NO!

I wonder how long Camby will be a Clipper

Lamar returnning to the Lakers will depend mainly if the Lakers win the 'ship this year. He has said that will take a pay cut to stay here. Dr Buss said he will pay to keep a successfull team togther. I dont think Buss would break the team up to save money if the win it all. Im guessing 8-10 mil for 3 years for Odom


Regarding trading Sasha for Lue or Bell, NO WAY

i believe Powell has a team option. Plus is Lamar decides to leave there is always a sign and trade. Hopefully Ariza accepts a deal for the MLE per year. We'll see what happens.