LA 2008 offseason

[gkonstantas]

Do you really believe LA will change its team in the offseason? I mean,which trade could do Lakers a better team? What about chemistry? SO many men,so little time!!! Sure we have lots of talent to unload,for example at the SF we have 4 potential starters,none of them sth special. AND what about the point guard??? Fish 34 yrs old, Farmar 21 yrs old and after that...Kobe?Odom?who is our next PG?another draft pick in the 1 slot?

My thought is that it will a matter of results: lose the ring = change of persons.

your thoughts?

[bobobolas1]

We got a lot of players and id like to make a trade of 2 for 1. Id like to take a PG so my idea was trade fisher and luke for sth. but im not sure yet, that why i gave the idea of calderon, he'd fit ok in that team, imo.

I think odom got to stay, he is doing quite ok since gasol landed and bynum is about to come. bynum+gasol+odom+Kobe makes lakers the best lineup even if i were at PG.

[Rasho Brezec]

Even thought it sounds impossible, try to trade Vlad and Luke. They aren't bad players, but not good enough if you look at the amount of money they are/will be earning.

[gkonstantas]

Fisher is in LA for his little girl..Not a chance to get traded. Vlad,luke are ok to let go, but no team will take them together.Only in different trades.

[Rasho Brezec]

^^I didn't mean to trade them together, no team 'd be willing to eat up their huge contracts. Not even Zeke or McHale.

[SashAlex]

No, Fish, no way ! Even when he hits 40, I wouldn't trade him ! He's doing so much many of us can't notice, even when shooting 1 for 10...

I like the idea of bringing Caron back, but there are very few chances that we'll land him any time soon.

Considering we have Bynum at C and Gasol at PF, we need a smaller SF to guard other quick and strong SFs like Anthony, James, Pierce etc.

I don't think that the Wizards are willing to trade such a nice player.

But that would be great :

Fisher or Farmar
Kobe
Bynum
Gasol
Caron - that is a sick starting five !

What do you think ?

[salmahayek]

I think the playoffs might determine some things, but even they may not be a good barometer if the Lakers do not win the title. With Bynum looking to be back so late, there may not be a lot of time to see how a Bynum, Gasol, and Odom front lone works. Bynum may join the Bench Mob when he gets back, too, as he may not start.

So, I can see them all back with Odom's expiring deal at the trade deadline next year as some good bait to tinker with.

Also, no guarantee Turiaf and Sasha are back. So, there could be some tinkering. The Lakers will be an attractive FA landing spot, but do they even use the MLE if using money to resign Turiaf and Sasha? Bynum will likely be maxed out this offseason, too. How much of a luxury tax hit is Buss willing to take? That's the question.

[RJM]

This team is staying together. We're not going to be like the other teams where we're pulling a Riley once something goes wrong. We're gonna be the next Spurs in terms of team longevity. I doubt Mitch is making any serious team-changing moves anytime soon.

[DS1]

sasha and ronny are going to remain with the lakers for many years and hopefully a championship or two. they are both quality individuals which help make a team, a team.

[hermes]

fisher is going to stay in LA for as long as he wants
i doubt many teams will try and trade with us in the offseason
i'm guessing there won't be a lot of moves
i'll trust mitch to make the right moves

[Italianhanger]

even though fish can be a streaky shooter and you hate to see those balls just rim out or bank out
fish is going to retire a laker
he has been credited for the being the stabilizer in the locker room, i think he was brought in for kobe then for the team whatever he has produced on the court is a bonus
farmar is our future pg which in my opinion is pretty good not alot of teams have a second year player producing so well most of those guys have a sophomore slump, not Jewish Jordan
calderon, urhid, juan carlos navarro,etc. those guys would be a welcome addition if we have an extra spot for them
our team is already one of the tops in assist per game and we are pretty efficient with the threes when our guys are hot, its hell for other teams that is why we are also one of the tops for points per game just outside of gsw and phoenix. even though we dont show it we play way better D then those two run and gun offenses plus we have a legit core of big men

[hermes]

our biggest position that needs to be addressed is SF
we have an abundance of them, so something needs to be done there
but vlad and luke will be tough to move because of their contracts
and i'd like to keep ariza
and odom is in a good situation right now, but won't he be an expiring next year?

[lakerfan10770]

If anyone is curious, here is the Laker's cap numbers for this summer:

Guaranteed Contracts:
Kobe Bryant - $21,262,500
Pau Gasol - $15,106,000
Lamar Odom - $14,148,596
Vlad Radmonovic - $6,049,400
Derek Fisher - $4,700,160
Luke Walton - $4,420,000
Andrew Bynum - $2,769,300
Jordan Farmar - $1,080,000
Total Guaranteed Contracts - $69,535,956

Options:
Trevor Ariza - $3,100,000 (Player Option)
Chris Mihm - $2,762,500 (Player Option)
Coby Karl - $711,517 (Team Option)
Total Options - $6,574,017

Free Agents & Cap Holds:
Sasha Vujacic - $5,270,853 (Free Agent Amount, He will be a Restricted Free Agent if the Lakers give him a Qualifying Offer, which would be $2,605,559)
Ronny Turiaf - $1,001,269 (Free Agent Amount is his QO, He Will be a Restricted Free agent if the Lakers give him a Qualifying Offer)
DJ Mbenga - $797,581 (Free Agent Amount)
Mid-Level Exception - $5,356,000 (Using '07-'08 amount)
Lower-Level Exception - $1,830,000 (Using '07-'08 amount)
Total Cap Holds - $14,255,703

Total Salary Cap - $90,365,676

Here is how I think it will work out:

1. Both Chris Mihm & Trevor Ariza will not opt out of their contracts. Depending on who is available to replace him, they may look to buy-out Chris Mihm.

2. If the Lakers could find an expiring contract for Luke and/or Vlad they would do it, but that is highly unlikely.

3. Both Sasha & Ronny will be resigned to deals starting at $3M-$4M each for about 3-4 seasons.

4. The Lakers will be very hesitant to use their MLE, but if they can get a great deal with someone that will take a huge paycut then I suppose it's a possibilty, but don't count on it.

5. The roster will be filled out with a couple of veteran free agents looking to latch on to a championship caliber team.

Here is what it would be:

Kobe Bryant - $21,262,500
Pau Gasol - $15,106,000
Lamar Odom - $14,148,596
Vlad Radmonovic - $6,049,400
Derek Fisher - $4,700,160
Luke Walton - $4,420,000
Sasha Vujacic - $4,000,000
Ronny Turiaf - $4,000,000
Trevor Ariza - $3,100,000
Andrew Bynum - $2,769,300
Chris Mihm - $2,762,500
Jordan Farmar - $1,080,000
Veteran Free Agent - $797,581
Veteran Free Agent - $797,581
Total - $84,993,618

[hermes]

will dj be one of the vet. free agents?

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

will dj be one of the vet. free agents?

I hope we can get a legit vet FA this off season. Enough with the aaron mckie's and mitch richmond's.

[f0gman]

1. Both Chris Mihm & Trevor Ariza will not opt out of their contracts. Depending on who is available to replace him, they may look to buy-out Chris Mihm.

This sounds right. Injuries have a way of making marginal players gunshy in free agency. A buyout of Mihm may be possible if the Busses are looking to save on luxury tax, but how much would they really save? $500K?

2. If the Lakers could find an expiring contract for Luke and/or Vlad they would do it, but that is highly unlikely.

There aren't many similarly sized ending contracts next year, and many of the players in that list are pretty good. Teams will probably hold on to these knowing they're good currency.

3. Both Sasha & Ronny will be resigned to deals starting at $3M-$4M each for about 3-4 seasons.

I like this idea because that's essentially what Luke got. He got his based on shown improvement. While no one can argue that he really worth the contract right now, the starting salary was fair considering the market.

4. The Lakers will be very hesitant to use their MLE, but if they can get a great deal with someone that will take a huge paycut then I suppose it's a possibilty, but don't count on it.

5. The roster will be filled out with a couple of veteran free agents looking to latch on to a championship caliber team.

I can see Mitch signing one free agent, probably a big man to the minimum. The MLE is too costly. Using it means $20 million in luxury tax on top of another $3 million lost since they won't get a tax distribution. There are practical limits.

[Mr. Sun]

Total - $84,993,618

Including the tax the actual number is approx. $100,986,618.

[Sedale Threatt]

Good thing we have one of the most profitable teams in the league.

Time to empty those pockets, Jerry, and live up to your recent comments in the Times.

"Make money? I've been there and done that," he says, his voice soft, yet strong. "I'm doing this for the license plate."

The license plate?

"The one on my car that says, '9XWCHMP,' " he says. "I want to change it to 10."

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

-= original quote snipped =-



Including the tax the actual number is approx. $100,986,618.

Good thing we dont have 40 million commited to a deteriating 36 year old center for the next 2 seasons.

[hermes]

Good thing we have one of the most profitable teams in the league.

Time to empty those pockets, Jerry, and live up to your recent comments in the Times.

"Make money? I've been there and done that," he says, his voice soft, yet strong. "I'm doing this for the license plate."

The license plate?

"The one on my car that says, '9XWCHMP,' " he says. "I want to change it to 10."

will he have enough room? how many characters can you get on a licence plate i thought it was 7