Luke still has a bad back. might not play next season

[Iamabeasttt]

Mitch Kupchak was "optimistic" about Shannon Brown returning to the Lakers, and called [the signing of] Matt Barnes "insurance" because Luke Walton (back - nerve damage) might well miss Next Season

http://twitter.com/KevinDing

he should retire if he doesn't want to risk further injury. this will be the 3rd year that he's hardly played and has had the same injury

[Danny Darko]

he's got his dad's genetic issues with injury. Bill can't even announce games anymore due to his back. Luke should be honest and retire, maybe become an assistant coach. This would allow us to sign Shannon and both rooks

[Sedale Threatt]

No way he's going to retire and walk away from that contract. He's going to be hanging on until the last check clears.

[magic1fan]

feel bad for luke. he is one of my favorite current lakers. always makes the right play imo.

[ock]

If Luke's back is that bad, we can use injury exception.

[semi-sentient]

Sigh. This guy is going to make more money next season (doing absolutely nothing) than I will in my entire lifetime working as a software engineer. There's something seriously fscking wrong with that.

[brandonkb8]

as if he would of played anyway haha

[Sedale Threatt]

Sigh. This guy is going to make more money next season (doing absolutely nothing) than I will in my entire lifetime working as a software engineer. There's something seriously fscking wrong with that.

Just pretend he hit the lottery, or won a poker tournament or something.

[semi-sentient]

Doesn't help...

[Nbagmlakers]

If Luke made 1 million a year, people would not be whining. It is because he accepted that deal in 2007 that has him making five million a year that he was offered by the Lakers that gets everyone up in arms about him being on the team. Let us be honest, we all would have signed that deal if we were Luke.

We need to stop hitting on Walton because of his injury. It makes me sick this is how we treat our own. Luke has always be hard working, loyal, and tried to work in the offensive scheme and made a few clutch plays or played in important crunch minutes in order to help us. Where are the "Get Well"pages? Instead it is, Luke retire page or dump Luke page. He has a passion for the game and really wants to return and have an impact and no doctor has stated that his career is over. He probably feels down about his injury already, so lets stop pouring salt into the wound. Luke is not some jerk or greedy selfish guy.

He probably does not read this garbage, but if you do,there are some Lakers fans who appreciate what you have done and the dedication to the game. Get better because you need a third ring with Kobe and Company.

[semi-sentient]

Well, if we're being honest, I would have signed that deal for $500k a year if I were Luke. I think I can live off that and still have a little spending money left over for a wild cocaine party once or twice a week with a bunch of hot ass strippers, seeing as how I won't be playing much and all.

I actually like Luke, but this is just ridiculous.

[LApwnd]

He DOESN"T necessarily have to retire, I know it will get complicated but can't we just apply for the medical exemption. If its likely he'll miss the entire season, at least the money can be used to pay Brown. Walton will still get paid and have chance to return to the league AFTER this season. Someone mentioned that on clublakers in terms of how hou got money to pay Trevor, even though they gave him MLE money it made it easier to pay him that by getting Yao salary for the year he missed not count against their tax lvl even though they still had to pay yao.

[WorthyLaker42]

If Luke made 1 million a year, people would not be whining. It is because he accepted that deal in 2007 that has him making five million a year that he was offered by the Lakers that gets everyone up in arms about him being on the team. Let us be honest, we all would have signed that deal if we were Luke.

We need to stop hitting on Walton because of his injury. It makes me sick this is how we treat our own. Luke has always be hard working, loyal, and tried to work in the offensive scheme and made a few clutch plays or played in important crunch minutes in order to help us. Where are the "Get Well"pages? Instead it is, Luke retire page or dump Luke page. He has a passion for the game and really wants to return and have an impact and no doctor has stated that his career is over. He probably feels down about his injury already, so lets stop pouring salt into the wound. Luke is not some jerk or greedy selfish guy.

He probably does not read this garbage, but if you do,there are some Lakers fans who appreciate what you have done and the dedication to the game. Get better because you need a third ring with Kobe and Company.

^ i agree, and props for you telling it like it is. i like luke walton... i get pretty irritated when my friends trash talk about him. its pretty sad how things are turning out for him.

but i do see the other fans negative POV's... its kinda hard accepting the fact he's being paid a significant amount of money to not do much. BUT we gota consider the fact that luke does everything in his power to be a part of the team, one way or another. if luke were to sit out this entire season, he should suit up... grab a clip board, and take part on the assistant coaching staff haha.

GET WELL SOON LUKE!

[Sedale Threatt]

No offense, but screw all that. This isn't high school.

It's nothing personal; I certainly hope he regains his health so he can enjoy the rest of his life.

But these guys aren't my family. I follow them for one, solitary reason -- because of their ability to play the game of basketball for my favorite team. My affections and loyalties are determined directly by their aptitude, and sometimes not even that's enough if I don't like how a guy carries himself.

I certainly don't like somebody automatically because he play for the Lakers. Play well, and then we'll talk. When you've been stealing money like Luke has -- even when healthy, he doesn't even come close to earning his paycheck -- it's pretty hard for me to muster any enthusiasm.

Nice guy, good teammate, but otherwise he's had a pretty forgettable career here. So, frankly, I'd be thrilled if we figured out a way to get rid of him.

[96 Til Infiniti]

I agree you don't have to like somebody because he plays for the Lakers, but I think you should definitely support them. No doubt, Luke has had a disappointing career (especially under the current contract) but it's not his fault Mitch overpaid him.

Feel bad for the guy that he could be forced to retire early especially after he saw first hand what injuries did to his pops. Get better Luke, otherwise there will be an assistant coaching job open for you on B. Shaw's staff next season.

[Gek]

DISABLED PLAYER EXCEPTION -- This exception allows a team which is over the cap to acquire a replacement for a disabled player who will be out for the remainder of that season (if the player is disabled between July 1 and November 30) or the following season (if the player is disabled after November 30). This exception can also be granted in the event of a player's death. This exception can only be used to acquire one player. The maximum salary for the replacement player is 50% of the injured player's salary, or the average salary, whichever is less (see question number 25 for the definition of "average salary"). Approval from the league (based on a determination by an NBA-designated physician) is required for this exception to be used. This exception can be used to sign a free agent, or to create room to accept a salary in trade. When used for trade, the team may acquire a player whose salary (including any trade bonus) is up to 100% of this exception plus $100,000 (not 125%). Also see question number 20 for more information on the availability and use of this exception.

If a player is disabled between July 1 and November 30, the team must acquire the replacement player within 45 days. If the player is disabled between December 1 and June 30, then the team has until October 1 to sign a replacement. If the disabled player comes back sooner than expected, then he may be activated immediately, and the replacement player is not affected. However, if the disabled player comes back before the exception is used, then the exception is lost.

Teams sometimes have had difficulty getting the NBA to approve an injury exception. For example, Danny Manning tore an ACL toward the end of the 1997-98 season, yet the NBA did not approve the Suns for this exception. More recently, the Magic did not receive this exception in 2003 for Grant Hill. However, this exception was granted in the 1999 offseason to San Antonio, so they could replace Sean Elliott, who was disabled due to kidney problems. This exception was also granted to Charlotte soon after Bobby Phills was killed.

Don't confuse this exception with the salary cap relief teams can apply for a year after losing a player to a career-ending injury or death (see question number 55). This exception allows a team to acquire a replacement player. The salary cap relief removes a contract from the books.

[Sedale Threatt]

Feel bad for the guy? Bad back or not, dude hit the lottery of life. I think I'll reserve sympathy for people who actually deserve it.

[Iamabeasttt]

full article on luke's situation and barnes.

""The most important thing is that Luke make the correct decision for his life, not for basketball," he said. "The aging process of a healthy athlete is difficult enough as it is. So we counsel Luke, and our trainers do, to try to keep the big picture in the forefront of any decision. But like most young players they want to play. Sometimes they don't [listen.]"

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/n ... id=5405069

[96 Til Infiniti]

Feel bad for the guy? Bad back or not, dude hit the lottery of life. I think I'll reserve sympathy for people who actually deserve it.

Not saying I feel bad for him for pulling in $5M a year either or playing the NBA, but..

I feel bad for him in the sense that he's been around two, maybe now three championship teams with little opportunity to contribute. If he's any kind of competitor that's gotta kill him. And as I said he's seen his dad's career cut short, for him and his family this has gotta be deja vu.

Also, a lot of guy's in Luke's situation would be enjoying the gravy train but no one question's his rehab and work ethic, it's clear that he wants to be out on the floor not riding the pine.

[slifersd]

if Walton does miss the whole season, i think we can use insurance to pay for his contract. that could explain why we still have the budget to resign Brown after getting Barnes.