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Updated 4/17 with expiry of Dwight Buycks' 10 Day Contract and signing of Vander Blue for the remainder of the season (using Hardship Exception).

Current Cap Space: None. $7,309,042.00 over
Maximum Cap Space: None. $7,309,042.00 over (if all options/guarantees were not picked up, all FAs renounced, no draft picks were to be signed this season, and all Exceptions were renounced)
Luxury Tax Space: $6,009,317.00
Tax Apron Space: $10,009,317.00
2015-2016 Maximum Cap Space: $27,223,597.00

How I got there:

Guaranteed Contracts (16): Tarik Black, Vander Blue, Carlos Boozer, Jabari Brown, Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson, Ed Davis, Wayne Ellington, Jordan Hill, Wesley Johnson, Ryan Kelly, Jeremy Lin, Ronnie Price, Julius Randle, Robert Sacre, Nick Young

Partial/Non-Guaranteed Contracts Kept to date (0): None

Carried Money (5): Jabari Brown 1 ($29,843.00), Jabari Brown 2 ($29,843.00), Dwight Buycks ($48,028.00), Xavier Henry ($1,082,000.00), Steve Nash ($9,701,000.00)

FA Cap Holds (0): None

Draft Pick Holds (0): None

Current Exceptions: Room Exception used on Xavier Henry and Ryan Kelly. No BAE due to being under the Cap. No TPEs.

I really don't see any way that LAL don't end up renouncing Pau's rights. It only means that they would have to use cap space to resign him, but the only reason they don't have cap space is his massive cap hold (far, far, higher then his next contract will be). They could still do a S&T if another team was interested (very unlikely as he'd just sign elsewhere as a FA, but theoretically possible).

In general though, the timing with keeping/renouncing bird rights on UFA's is quite flexible. Especially with the Moratorium in early July, teams can negotiate and arrange deals, then deal with the book-keeping to make them work.

I agree with giberish. The only way Pau is NOT renounced is if he is S&T and I can't think of a single team willing and able to do make such a transaction. There are many on these boards who either are in favor of the Lakers re-signing Pau or think it will happen. It will not. Pau's time has ended with the Lakers.

I agree with most of the OP with the exception of keeping Pau, obviously. One other disagreement is I believe X will be resigned. IMO the Lakers will sign players to one year contracts to keep the 14-15 cap clean.

It's getting more and more clear from the comments made by Mitch & Buss Jr. that they are going to be building towards another run at the title asap. This includes trading that pick (unless it's top 3...still could though) along with Nash for a top player in an undesired situation.

I see them renouncing Gasol and pretty much everyone except Sacre and Marshall unless they need their space...would save them about a million. I also see Young opting out because he had a pretty nutty year. He's worth more than 1.2 mil.

They'll have Kobe @ 23.5 mil, Nash @ 9.7 mil, cap holds I believe to be @ .490 mil each and possibly Marshall & Sacre @ .91 each which adds up to approx 39 mil and with the cap @ 63.5, that leaves 24.5 mil like you suggested. That's significant.

Lakers could sign just about any big FA like Melo or one of the Heat big 3. Nash & the pick, even if it landed 6-9 instead of 1-3, could still land a legit player. Depending on where it falls, it could possibly allow them to get a player like KLove, Irving, or Rondo. There's so many possibilities.

tviper wrote:I agree with giberish. The only way Pau is NOT renounced is if he is S&T and I can't think of a single team willing and able to do make such a transaction. There are many on these boards who either are in favor of the Lakers re-signing Pau or think it will happen. It will not. Pau's time has ended with the Lakers.

I agree with most of the OP with the exception of keeping Pau, obviously. One other disagreement is I believe X will be resigned. IMO the Lakers will sign players to one year contracts to keep the 14-15 cap clean.

We can still sign and trade Pau if we renounce him. It's under rule 90 on the CBA faq,

"A sign-and-trade deal can be made with a free agent who has been renounced"

GeorgeDillion wrote:

tviper wrote:I agree with giberish. The only way Pau is NOT renounced is if he is S&T and I can't think of a single team willing and able to do make such a transaction. There are many on these boards who either are in favor of the Lakers re-signing Pau or think it will happen. It will not. Pau's time has ended with the Lakers.

I agree with most of the OP with the exception of keeping Pau, obviously. One other disagreement is I believe X will be resigned. IMO the Lakers will sign players to one year contracts to keep the 14-15 cap clean.

We can still sign and trade Pau if we renounce him. It's under rule 90 on the CBA faq,

"A sign-and-trade deal can be made with a free agent who has been renounced"

This is true, but he can't be signed for as much as he might be if he were not renounced. That is the challenge. He's not a max guy, but he's not a minimum guy either. Probably 10-12 million a year is my guess.

The lakers are in a good spot, they can and probably will try to trade Nash/#5 for an All Star... Rondo? Horford?

Indeed we're in a good spot. I see us making one more run with Bryant, Gasol and said draft pick. I would love to see Wiggins here

May 28, 11:00am EST

By June 26th, The Lakers will have 5 players: Kobe, Nash, Marshall, Sacre and the 7th overall pick.

The cost of these 5 is: $37,927,446.
Add in the cost of 7 cap holds: $3,551,352 (507,336 each)

Projected Cap: 62,100,000
Projected Space if all free agents are renounced: 20,621,202

Updated OP on 6/2.

Updated OP on 6/24 to reflect Young opting out.

Nash will have to be traded to get both LeBron and Carmelo. The cap hold on #7 is also a challenge.

Raptors offer:

John Salmons (UNG - $1M) + 2015 1st Round Pick (Unprotected) + 2016 1st Round Pick (NYK)

for

Steve Nash + #7

That saves the Lakers roughly $11M in cap space minus the cap hold for Nash's empty roster spot. The Lakers also get two picks they can use to improve their roster after making major free agency acquisitions.

Can I ask the million dollar question: If the Lakers are Kobe, Melo, LBJ and minimum salaried players, then why is LBJ leaving the Heat? The Heat got more out of Wade than the Lakers got out of Kobe last year. Bosh is a better all around player than Melo. The Lakers play in the West. That looks like a 7th seed and possible first round exit to me.

Updated OP on 6/28 to reflect team renouncing all FAs except for the two RFAs. This created a significant amount of projected cap space.

Troubadour wrote:Nash will have to be traded to get both LeBron and Carmelo. The cap hold on #7 is also a challenge.

Raptors offer:

John Salmons (UNG - $1M) + 2015 1st Round Pick (Unprotected) + 2016 1st Round Pick (NYK)

for

Steve Nash + #7

That saves the Lakers roughly $11M in cap space minus the cap hold for Nash's empty roster spot. The Lakers also get two picks they can use to improve their roster after making major free agency acquisitions.

This is a very fair trade and I would have to think LAL would be interested. Of course, with the news that the MIA guys opted out, the extra cap space would be for Melo and another second tier FA like Lowry or Stephenson (or Irving if he asks out).

I don't think we're dumping Randle's 2+ million salary just to get more cap. Thats just me.

Updated OP on 6/29 to reflect team declining to issue a Qualifying Offer to Kent Bazemore.

Smitty731 wrote:Updated OP on 6/29 to reflect team declining to issue a Qualifying Offer to Kent Bazemore.

still don't see any news about Kelly. What about his QO?

tviper wrote:

Smitty731 wrote:Updated OP on 6/29 to reflect team declining to issue a Qualifying Offer to Kent Bazemore.

still don't see any news about Kelly. What about his QO?

Everything I have read says they are still deciding, but leaning towards giving him a QO. It makes sense. He has value as a stretch 4. Teams are always looking for those guys. Of course, we also have no idea who the new coach will be and what system he will run.

warren weel im wrote:I don't think we're dumping Randle's 2+ million salary just to get more cap. Thats just me.

In order for Nash to be moved for capspace it would have to include Randle. No team is going to eat Nash's salary without good incentives.