2009, the lowest spending offseason ever????

[VIPER8382]

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.

[joe.linnen]

Here is jus a list of some players that can behad in 2009 off season

Antonio McDyess (P)
Rasheed Wallace
Kwame Brown (P)
___________
Ron Artest
Dikembe Mutombo
______________
Trevor Ariza
Kobe Bryant (ETO)
Chris Mihm
Lamar Odom
____________
Jamaal Magloire
Shawn Marion
______________
Stromile Swift
___________
Chris Wilcox
Damien Wilkins (ETO)
Desmond Mason
Mouhamed Sene
Joe Smith
Robert Swift
_________________
Keith Bogans
Brian Cook (P)
Adonal Foyle
Anthony Johnson (P)
Hedo Turkoglu (ETO)
Mike Wilks
______________
Matt Barnes
Grant Hill
____________
Morris Almond
Carlos Boozer (P)
Jarron Collins
Brevin Knight
Kyle Korver (ETO)
Mehmet Okur (ETO)
Ronnie Price
_______________
Juan Dixon
Mike James (P)
Etan Thomas (ETO

[NOODLESTYLE]

Jason Kidd is also a unrestricted free agent, if he doesn't receive his extension.

[tkb]

The threat of players signing for European teams will keep the contracts competitive.

[Dr Aki]

lakers FO sign rasheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddd

truth be damned if the celtics get him

[joe.linnen]

I would love to have Rasheed Wallace and Lamar Odom come of the bench with Farmar, Vujacic, and Ariza. Turkoglu, Okur, and Artest would be nice as well.

With Wallace and Odom
SF:Walton/Ariza/Radmanovic
PF:Gasol/Odom
C:Bynum/Wallace/Mihm
SG:Bryant/Vujacic
PG:Fisher/Farmar/Sun

Pipe Dream
with Odom, Turkoglu, Okur, and Artest
SF:Turkoglu/Artest/Walton
PF:Gasol/Odom/Radmanovic
C:Bynum/Okur
SG:Bryant/Vujacic/Ariza
PG:Fisher/Farmar/Sun

[hermes]

kwame will be available?

along with robert and stromile swift, talk about your speed upgrade

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

How would the lakes sign Sheed unless it was for ML money? Then we still have Ariza and Odom FA's.

[lakeshow248]

From what I've looked at their are 4 teams that could sign a player next year to a decent deal. Detroit will stand at 33 million w/ Sheed and AI walking. Memphis will be at 36 million, OKC at 35 and Port at 46 and maybe 35 if Miles doesn't play.

So Odom would fit in Memphis and Detroit and possibly OKC that is about it. They could offer more then the mid level. The other dangerous team out their could be the Knicks they have 4 guys w/ big player options in the final year of their contracts. Curry 10.5 m, Al Harrington 10, Q Rich 9m, J James 6.6 all in their final year of their deals w/ player options. Curry has a player opt for this year and the following but he will probably be the first one to go.

If they want Lebron in 2010 they will have the space but they still need someone for him to play with so in the off season they might just buyout the whole lot of them. They could go as low as 37 million if the buyout everyone. Odom would be attractive to Dantoni I would think.

David Lee and Malik Rose for Odom would be a nice deal.

[Asianiac_24]

If the Lakers can get Rasheed, please do. I'd be willing to give up both Odom and Ariza for Rasheed.

[RJM]

Overkill. Use the MLE.

[TylersLakers]

The threat of players signing for European teams will keep the contracts competitive.

You know what TKB, I used to think that was a thread 2 months ago, but not anymore. NBA players who signed there overseas are being paid late with their agents not being paid at all. I don't think players are going to want to go there anymore after seeing this happen. Do you really think Kobe is really going to risk leaving the Lakers to accept a 40+ million a year offer that he might not even get?

It will be interesting to see though, just how much money is shelled out this off-season.

[tkb]

I agree that most players won't probably end up going, but using the possibility as leverage will help them not get "ripped off".