Lakers keep Sasha in L.A.

-bob- · Post #1 » by **-bob-** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:04 pm

Lakers keep Sasha in L.A.

03:45 PM PDT on Friday, July 25, 2008

By BRODERICK TURNER
The Press-Enterprise

After some tense negotiations, the Lakers and restricted free agent guard Sasha Vujacic agreed to a deal Friday afternoon.

Vujacic agreed to a three-year, $15 million deal, according to sources close to the player.

The 6-foot-7 guard is scheduled to earn $5 million per season.

http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/lak ... cdf99.html

Post #2 » by **TyCobb** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:10 pm

That's actually not bad. I love the length.

Jajwanda · Post #3 » by **Jajwanda** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:17 pm

Well that basically puts an end to Lamar Odom's career as a Laker probably.

We'll be at 60m-61m next year. If Kobe opts out and then in we'll save maybe 4m at the most so we'll be at 56-57m. With that said Bynum will likely get 13-14m in his first year putting the Lakers at 70-71m. Ariza will cost another 5m to re-sign if he gets the playing time we anticipate this year. That puts us at 75-76m just above the luxury tax.

Unless Lamar is willing to accept maybe MLE or lower type pay, he's a goner. No way he gets 9-10m.

Buss will not pay 20m a year essentially for Lamar especially if he fails at small forward.

Luxury · Post #4 » by **Luxury** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:19 pm

I like.

Jajwanda · Post #5 » by **Jajwanda** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:22 pm

If anything I think with our SG/SF depth relatively secure (I still wouldn't mind a veteran SF like Michael Finley for cheap) they'll explore options with trading Lamar if he fails in training camp.

Expect a trade but only later in the year. They may decide to package him away with Radmanovic or something.

Luxury · Post #6 » by **Luxury** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:22 pm

Finally, the people who keep trying to find "Sasha's replacement" with all these wack players can stop now.

Post #7 » by **dflash3** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:26 pm

Yay congratulations Laker fans!!!! Im glad one player who was considering playing in Europe decided to stay in the nba.

LAL4Life · Post #8 » by **LAL4Life** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:28 pm

$5M/year is overpaying a bit, especially since no other NBA teams made him an offer. That said, I like the length. Plus, The Machine stays in LA. Good job Mitch!

magicfan4life05 · Post #9 » by **magicfan4life05** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:30 pm

great news

iamworthy · Post #10 » by **iamworthy** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:32 pm

Im glad we got him. I was worried another team would pick him up but when I heard he was going to Europe possibly I felt better because he wouldnt kill us. I think all Laker fans like Sasha he seems like a good dude. Plus Kobe/Phil has been kickin his a$$ for the past 3 yrs so now he is finally ready to contribute big. Off the top of my head Sasha is the only shooter in the league that actually plays defense.

DoctaJ · Post #11 » by **DoctaJ** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:42 pm

Yeah, 5 mil might be a little on the top side, but I love that it's a 3 year deal. Really glad we were able to negotiate a deal and keep him here.

Post #12 » by **Danny Darko** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:43 pm

That's not overpaying, that's just right. With the market set that is fair value for what he's done. Further, he's still developing and if he has a better season than last, he's actually a bargain. I had a feeling we'd know by today.

Machine on.

CITYOFANGELSX3 · Post #13 » by **CITYOFANGELSX3** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:44 pm

Good news. Print out those Laker Machine T-shirts! In tie with terminator salvation during the playoffs! I like it!!

Post #14 » by **tkb** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:44 pm

iamworthy wrote:Off the top of my head Sasha is the only shooter in the league that actually plays defense.

Disagree with that. Guys like Chauncey Billups, Kirk Hinrich, Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell, Danny Granger, Ron Artest all shoot good percentages from 3 (Artest at 38% is the only guy under 40% from 3) and play good D.

AceFresh · Post #15 » by **AceFresh** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:44 pm

good.

i was never really worried.
i think the only reason it took so long
was because the 5-mil is really 10 mil b.c of lux tax

Post #16 » by **tkb** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:46 pm

Glad we didn't have to sign some 6 year, 30 something million contract to keep him. Really like the length of his contract. Well done Mitch.

Luxury · Post #17 » by **Luxury** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:50 pm

tkb wrote:
iamworthy wrote:Off the top of my head Sasha is the only shooter in the league that actually plays defense.

Disagree with that. Guys like Chauncey Billups, Kirk Hinrich, Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell, Danny Granger, Ron Artest all shoot good percentages from 3 (Artest at 38% is the only guy under 40% from 3) and play good D.

I think he meant sharp shooters. Like Peja, Miller, Kapono and etc. Those are the people who are in the same genre as Sasha, in terms of shooting.

Post #18 » by **crazyeights** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:54 pm

Sasha, you tricky bastard, welcome back.

The bench mob is still semi-intact. Now let's make a trade for Sean Williams or sign Kwame. Then get Bynum healthy, sign that extension and get to work.

Post #19 » by **milesfides** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:04 am

TyCobb wrote:That's actually not bad. I love the length.

I hear that a lot.

Post #20 » by **TyCobb** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:05 am

milesfides wrote:
TyCobb wrote:That's actually not bad. I love the length.

I hear that a lot.