2009, the lowest spending offseason ever????
Posted: Sat Jan 3, 2009 6:45 am
I really anticipate this off season to be very interesting. With every team focused on the 2010 extravaganza, what teams will there be that are making free agent offers to the free agents? The only teams I can really see offering any contracts over the MLE would be Memphis (who may see this as their only time to strike, and Portland(who won't have the space in 2010 even if they don't spend in 09 due to Roy and LMA extensions).That will give any big name free agents the following options:
1- take pretty big money from Memphis (at most 2 can do this), or Portland (at most 1 can do this, and only if Miles doesn't play in 10 games).
2- sign with a team that will be over the cap in 2010 anyway for the MLE
3- stay with their current team utilizing Bird rights
The key here is that this should lead to historically low contracts, as the teams that are going to spend will snatch up the 2-3 guys they can get, and then once that happens the only competitive offers that can be made will be for the MLE. Yes the team that holds the Bird rights can offer more, but why would they if other teams can only offer the MLE. I think you could see a lot of guys stay with their current teams for near MLE money.
I bring this up because of Lamar, a lot of people are counting him gone after the season, but I don't understand it. As much as I love Lamar I don't see him being in that top 2-3 free agetn category. Where is he going to go? Who will be able, and want to offer him more than MLE money? I could see Lamar staying in LA on a 3-4 year deal starting @ around MLE money with max rasises, becasue he loves being a Laker, and because he probably can't get more money anywhere else. He could take a one year deal, but that puts him in the 2010 class which would probably be much the same for him (only MLE offers on the open market).
The other way this is relevant to the Lakers if that they may be able to steal somebody from another team for the MLE if they are willing to spend the money, but that would cost the Lakers about $40 million including lux tax for a 3 year deal. It would be pricey, but for the right player it may be worth it.
1- take pretty big money from Memphis (at most 2 can do this), or Portland (at most 1 can do this, and only if Miles doesn't play in 10 games).
2- sign with a team that will be over the cap in 2010 anyway for the MLE
3- stay with their current team utilizing Bird rights
The key here is that this should lead to historically low contracts, as the teams that are going to spend will snatch up the 2-3 guys they can get, and then once that happens the only competitive offers that can be made will be for the MLE. Yes the team that holds the Bird rights can offer more, but why would they if other teams can only offer the MLE. I think you could see a lot of guys stay with their current teams for near MLE money.
I bring this up because of Lamar, a lot of people are counting him gone after the season, but I don't understand it. As much as I love Lamar I don't see him being in that top 2-3 free agetn category. Where is he going to go? Who will be able, and want to offer him more than MLE money? I could see Lamar staying in LA on a 3-4 year deal starting @ around MLE money with max rasises, becasue he loves being a Laker, and because he probably can't get more money anywhere else. He could take a one year deal, but that puts him in the 2010 class which would probably be much the same for him (only MLE offers on the open market).
The other way this is relevant to the Lakers if that they may be able to steal somebody from another team for the MLE if they are willing to spend the money, but that would cost the Lakers about $40 million including lux tax for a 3 year deal. It would be pricey, but for the right player it may be worth it.