The official- "LA rejects X player for 1st"

[Jajwanda]

Oh don't worry they'll purchase that pick from us for 3m in the summer.

[Jetset]

You're acting as if Minnesota backed out.

THere is no way that Minnesota takes on $6 million in 2012-13 salary to trade away Michael Beasley. They are not the Lakers who sign mediocre players to ridiculous contracts. A late first round draft pick can be purchased for $3 million, so why would they be interested in paying $5.8 million for one?

Again, you're acting as if Minnesota backed out. They're the ones who as you say were willing to pay $5.8 mil for a late 1st rounder. We're the ones who turned the deal down.

So it sounds to me as if you should be thanking us.

[moonpie]

It's pretty obvious the Lakers have narrowed their sights on getting Dwight, not because he's a great player (which he is) but because they want a marketable star post-Kobe. Doesn't matter what reasons are being spewed out there as to why they are turning down deals or whatever, the fact is they are intent on keeping ALL of their assets to land Dwight. From there they'll see what pieces they have left and improve from there if possible. At the end of the day it's all about the $$$. Personally...I don't know if that's the right call but we'll see I suppose.

[mlhouse]

You're acting as if Minnesota backed out.

THere is no way that Minnesota takes on $6 million in 2012-13 salary to trade away Michael Beasley. They are not the Lakers who sign mediocre players to ridiculous contracts. A late first round draft pick can be purchased for $3 million, so why would they be interested in paying $5.8 million for one?

Again, you're acting as if Minnesota backed out. They're the ones who as you say were willing to pay $5.8 mil for a late 1st rounder. We're the ones who turned the deal down.

So it sounds to me as if you should be thanking us.

I highly doubt that. THe Lakers almost certainly turned down an offer for Beasley for a first round pick but absorbing his contract with their TPE. There is no way that the Wolves offered Beasley for a 1st and Walton's contract back. Zero chance of that, mainly because THERE IS NO WAY THE LAKERS WOULD TURN THAT DOWN!!!!

[Jajwanda]

Off course they wouldn't. In the summer they'd let Beasley go as well though citing the CBA.

[DrewBynum77]

hey jetset, can I curse @ shortBuss, Jim now?

what a **** idiot.

beas is not worth a 20-30 pick? come on. This organization is gonna be ruined by shortbuss Jim

[DrewBynum77]

**** Jim Buss.

Under the new revenue sharing plan in the recently adopted collective bargaining agreement, the Lakers will pay a bundle and because of that, owner Jerry Buss is no longer willing to spend so freely in going above the luxury tax, according to sources...

EDIT: JERRY????????????????????

[ChampagnePapa]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... Luxury_Tax

This better mean there's another deal on the horizon. Beasley is not a PG but still. A late 1st for Beasley would be nice.

[KingLakers]

Cant Minnesota amnesty players or is that only for teams over the cap? Im just saying that i think the Lakers want Beasley but they want the MInny to take back either Walton or Artest so basically the Lakers tax bill stays the instead of going up.

[ngcoolman]

Cant Minnesota amnesty players or is that only for teams over the cap? Im just saying that i think the Lakers want Beasley but they want the MInny to take back either Walton or Artest so basically the Lakers tax bill stays the instead of going up.

A team can only amnesty a player that is with the team when the new CBA started. So you cannot amnesty a player that is traded after the CBA.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Teams can only amnesty players that were on the team at the time the new CBA was signed

[KOB3]

Or its Jimbo being cheap! The fact that our front office or more so our ownership doesnt wanna have to deal with paying more bc of a luxury tax.
Lets hope they have a trade on the table thats going to IMPROVE our team.

[Dalakerbox]

Hearing that money is keeping them from improving the team won't sit well with Kobe or laker fans. Besides wouldn't using the amnesty on Metta soften the blow. They could then turn around and buy fish out. And trade Luke for a 2nd rounder which is a contract another team could use next year as a trade chip, because it's and expiring contract. There use to be a time our FO wasn't afraid to spend money to contend. Those days are long gone fellas get used to first exits for a while boys.

[moonpie]

Ireland on ESPN710 says Minny wanted BOTH 1st rounders

[RamonSessions7]

Ireland on ESPN710 says Minny wanted BOTH 1st rounders

That would help me get over it, def not worth that, and I love Beasley

[Jetset]

Broussard is saying that the Bulls have inquired about Gasol and the Lakers want Deng.

That's about the only way I see a trade happening with Chicago.

[Sofa King]

Teams can only amnesty players that were on the team at the time the new CBA was signed

Teams can only amnesty players that were on the team at the time the new CBA was signed

Teams can only amnesty players that were on the team at the time the new CBA was signed

Ok there. I hope everyone has that through there thick skulls before throwing out pointless trade ideas.

[Dalakerbox]

So with the lakers not willing to spend more money because of the luxury tax. Do we take that to mean the never had any intention on using the TPE?

[C.lupus]

I highly doubt that. THe Lakers almost certainly turned down an offer for Beasley for a first round pick but absorbing his contract with their TPE. There is no way that the Wolves offered Beasley for a 1st and Walton's contract back. Zero chance of that, mainly because THERE IS NO WAY THE LAKERS WOULD TURN THAT DOWN!!!!

This is correct. Say what you want about David Kahn but he has been very consistent about two things: making "value" deals and keeping financial flexibility. Beasley is an expiring contract to the Wolves. It's pretty obvious that he has no future with Adelman's system. Kahn is trying to see if he can get an extra pick (or some other asset) in a Beasley trade. If he can't, then he just lets Beasley walk in the offseason. Either way it's $6 million off the book. There is absolutely zero chance that he would take on additional salary/years to move him. Zero.

My guess: Kahn offered Beas for the TPE and a pick. Buss countered with Walton + pick. Kahn said no and went back to talking to Boston about Beas for JO and a pick.

[Sofa King]

This is correct. Say what you want about David Kahn but he has been very consistent about two things: making "value" deals and keeping financial flexibility. Beasley is an expiring contract to the Wolves. It's pretty obvious that he has no future with Adelman's system. Kahn is trying to see if he can get an extra pick (or some other asset) in a Beasley trade. If he can't, then he just lets Beasley walk in the offseason. Either way it's $6 million off the book. There is absolutely zero chance that he would take on additional salary/years to move him. Zero.

My guess: Kahn offered Beas for the TPE and a pick. Buss countered with Walton + pick. Kahn said no and went back to talking to Boston about Beas for JO and a pick.

With all the media criticism and being the butt of NBA GM jokes for the past few years, do you think Kahn is on the right path of being a better GM?