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

[Viljanen]

That can´t be true... it makes no sense at all. Lakers to save money?? go cheap now with Kobe having his last good 2/3 seasons?? come on... I don´t believe a word.

Ths people just run out of news to say and tried with this one. I wouldn´t understand why wolves couldn´t find higher offers for him and just can´t see Lakers rejecting such a deal.

[DrewBynum77]

FO need to make up their minds.

how the **** are we going to improve if they're afraid to make sacrifices/take salaries.

either we try to contend now. or we go rebuilding mode. you can't have both.

Actually you could have both. You could continue to sell out and make the playoffs with Kobe Gasol and Drew with no help, while making your money as the FO did with Kobe in 06/07. Except this time, Kobe can't demand a trade because of his ridiculously high contract while being in the tailend of his career. Obviously its not what the fans want, but i don't think Jim Buss gives a ****. I'm going to cut out my negative crap until the deadline passes as I'm just frustrated over the Beasely thing, and I'm hoping the FO has something bigger planned and we can't fully judge until after the deadline. However, If nothing happens, and Beasely could have been had for a first round pick that we are probably going to sell anyways for a salary dump, It would be safe to say that Jim Buss isn't concerned about winning.

yep, they going to coast on kobe's final years then they gonna rebuild for ~5 years and make a huge profit for almost a decade and then when fans get tired they gonna try to build a contender...

bulls had like 8 years of sellouts after jordan and the team was hot garbage...

[DrewBynum77]

I just hope hope hopethat Mitch wont do the mistake of trading any of our bigs if not to get a top PG back or in order to get D12.

trading gasol to get a good pg and a good SF changes NOTHING. This team can improve 1 and 3 without destroying our Front Court...

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?

probably they would use it in a package to land a superstar(d12) because it would create more money for them, but not just to help the team "win".

[desertlakerfan]

Butler not ready to be a starting SF. Deng plays so much he almost untradeable. For Gasol they might do but they would need another deal for a defensive SF who can shoot.

If we get Deng we're sending one of our SF's back to make room.

Deng + Watson + Gibson + Asik for Gasol + Barnes works in the trade checker, not sure if it's enough for the Bulls to make a deal.

If Im the Lakers though I do that deal if Howard isn't happening. Even if it makes us slightly worse this year, getting young athletic players to put around Bynum will make the last few years of Kobe's career much better than it would with the current group we've got.

Watson/Blake
Kobe/Fish
Deng/Metta
Gibson/Murphy
Bynum/Asik

For the Bulls you get a serviceable starting SF to replace Deng in Barnes, and you move Boozer to the bench to try a 3 big man rotation of Pau/Noah/Boozer like we did with Pau/Bynum/Odom.

Rose/Lucas
Rip/Brewer
Barnes/Korver
Pau/Boozer
Noah/Pau

[YellowHammer87]

In a perfect world the Lakers could package their better pick with Luke Walton for Michael Beasley and then use their TPE and the other first round pick to the Cavs for Sessions and Gibson.

For the Lakers it fills their three biggest holes in the SF and PG positions while adding depth, experience, and a reliable outside threat in Boobie Gibson. All the while LA keeps Gasol and their biggest advantage in the their front court dominance. Both Cleveland players are under contract for only this and next season, keeping the Lakers noncommittal to unwanted contracts for the '14 season.

I like this for Cleveland for they will be getting the first round pick they desire for Sessions and are also creating cap space for next season when a number of contracts will come off their books including Jamison's 15 million dollar deal. Allowing them for more flexibility to build around Kyrie. Gibson has been having and unproductive year and has been hampered by injuries I don't see him being to much of hangup for the Cavs. Possibly include a second round pick of some sort. Aside Marc Gasol in 2007 the front office hasn't plucked any significant names out of the second round since I can remember.

In my eyes Minnesota is the team that would hold up this trade. Although nobody wants Luke Walton's "skill set" and the year and half left on his contract, no other team with interest in Beasley has a TPE for amount that can acquire him. With that said, the Wolves will most likely take on somebody packaged with a draft pick. As fond as I am for what Andrew Goudelock has done, I have no problem including him if need be to either Cleveland or Minnesota if it nets us all three.

In the wake of this trade the Lakers would still have to commit to taxes which are seemingly the biggest reason they have not agreed to the deal with Minnesota currently on the table. However they would shed Walton's awful contract for next season and have the opportunity to amnesty Blake or Peace. If they do not re-sign Beasley, the taxes owed next year would look similar to what they are on track to be. Now if management re-signs Beasley to a similar deal to his current contract, they would be paying similar taxes for next as they would this year if only trading for Beasley as opposed to also having Sessions and Gibson.

With the above trade completed, the Lakers would undoubtedly have a greater shot a championship for this and next season. All at the expense of Walton, Peace of Blake, and two first round picks with the possibility of future picks as well.

[chefy]

FO need to make up their minds.

how the **** are we going to improve if they're afraid to make sacrifices/take salaries.

either we try to contend now. or we go rebuilding mode. you can't have both.

Actually you could have both. You could continue to sell out and make the playoffs with Kobe Gasol and Drew with no help, while making your money as the FO did with Kobe in 06/07. Except this time, Kobe can't demand a trade because of his ridiculously high contract while being in the tailend of his career. Obviously its not what the fans want, but i don't think Jim Buss gives a ****. I'm going to cut out my negative crap until the deadline passes as I'm just frustrated over the Beasely thing, and I'm hoping the FO has something bigger planned and we can't fully judge until after the deadline. However, If nothing happens, and Beasely could have been had for a first round pick that we are probably going to sell anyways for a salary dump, It would be safe to say that Jim Buss isn't concerned about winning.

contending and just making the playoffs are different.

[azdaver]

Come on Laker fans. I think some of you need some fresh air.

We don't know entirely what Mitch is angling for in terms of the direction of the franchise. Every team out there is struggling trying to find their sea legs operating under this new CBA.

We can't simply continue the patterns of piling up expense the way the franchise did under the prior CBA agreement. The luxury tax penalties will be excruciating and will drive us into the ground. We have to first figure out how to play the game by the new rules

So on the one one hand, we want to upgrade the team but while we're doing that we have to find a way to drop some of this expense. It's a tricky dribble and a perilous course.

This is why we must consider moving Gasol now. Because at a top line cap structure of $58 million, between Kobe, Bynum and Gasol we're already in excess of $50 million.

We can't operate this business with three players being that top heavy. Making matters worse, both Bynum and Kobe will have to have salary extensions again in the next couple of seasons.

You people who are demanding an upgrade to the team need to make friends with reality and quickly! Some of you imbeciles sound like the American voter populous who want Social Security to continue without disruption but don't want to see their taxes increased to pay for any of it.

Those of you who are saying, "Hey keep the whole thing in tact and just add more players around our core." sound like those American voter imbeciles. The problem is that these players cost money and assets we don't have.

Pau is 31 years old now. We aren't going to dispatch Kobe anywhere, he's here to stay for the time being. We could decide to do something by way of a trade for Bynum, but it's much, much harder to find a true center in this sport anymore then it is to find almost anything else and despite the injury potential, Andrew is still just 24 years old.

These are our problems. So why would we trade a number one pick for Beasley and increase our expenses and exacerbate our cap problems for a guy on an expired contract who's going to leave in the summer because we won't be able to pay enough to keep him?

Moreover Beasley was acquired by Minnesota for two second round picks. Why would we turn around and give them a number one pick for a guy they're trying to rid themselves of because he's a headcase.

Now if we were considering trading our headcase (MWP) for their headcase, which actually could be possible considering that MWP's last great season occurred whilst he was playing for Adelman in Houston; I would have no problem with that deal. But we have to stop being incrementalists and start actually planning out future if we intend to have one.

I'd be much more interested in offering a pick or two to Utah for Paul Milsap and using our trade exception to sign him. I'd be interested in trading Gasol to the Sixers for Iggy and Jrue Holiday and Nic Vusuvic.

But whatever we do we have to be patient and measured in our approach and we have to be concerned about taking our cost structure down whilst we're upgrading our team. Both have to a priority right now.

[fabio]

not a Lakers fan, but I think that LAL is doing the right thing here

[KingLakers]

They're trying to trade Beasley not because he's a headache its because they want to push Derrick Williams.

[Emperor_Earth]

These financial arguments are terrible. Beasley is a very cheap experiment. If Kahn was going to let him walk, we can also let him walk if that experiment doesn't pan out. For half of his salary this season, we can find out whether our winning culture can fix him and if he can create + 3ball as well as we need him to. If yes, he'll be well worth that extension. If not, we will let him walk and still be in the same position as Odom's TPE would also expire this coming summer anyways.

If we are not stalling MIN for a TPE + 1st for Sessions deal, then it's time to:

#blameJim
https://twitter.com/#!/Emperor_Earth/st ... 8250827778

[dockingsched]

its not just half his salary. its basically 150% of his salary cause the lux tax number is taken at the end of the yr, so if beasley is on the books, the lakers are going to have to pay a dollar for dollar tax on his entire salary, so 6 mil. throw in what you're paying him in salary for the 2nd half of the season, and you're at 10mil+ in addition to the draft pick or picks its going to cost.

[azdaver]

These financial arguments are terrible. Beasley is a very cheap experiment. If Kahn was going to let him walk, we can also let him walk if that experiment doesn't pan out. For half of his salary this season, we can find out whether our winning culture can fix him and if he can create + 3ball as well as we need him to. If yes, he'll be well worth that extension. If not, we will let him walk and still be in the same position as Odom's TPE would also expire this coming summer anyways.

If we are not stalling MIN for a TPE + 1st for Sessions deal, then it's time to:

#blameJim
https://twitter.com/#!/Emperor_Earth/st ... 8250827778

He's not a cheap experiment at all. Only a few teams are holding two first round picks for 2012 which is expected to be a much deeper draft then normal and we're one of those teams.

Minnesota acquired this head case from Miami for two second round picks. Why should we be duped into paying more for him then they paid? Mentally he shows up to play once every 5 or 6 games.

By their own admission he hasn't improved and if he had they wouldn't be aggressively trying to move him. Plus he's an expiring contract that we'd have trouble re-signing in the summer even if we did like his services.

I might feel inclined to give Minnesota 2 second round picks which is what they paid for him if we reach the deadline and he's still available.

They're just as likely to become desperate to move this kid and take anything for him before the deadline. Why would we jump at this deal two weeks early?

This guy isn't going to be the difference maker in 2012 for the Lakers. If we're going to indulge him as a "cheap experiment" let's make sure it's really, really cheap.

[Emperor_Earth]

its not just half his salary. its basically 150% of his salary cause the lux tax number is taken at the end of the yr, so if beasley is on the books, the lakers are going to have to pay a dollar for dollar tax on his entire salary, so 6 mil. throw in what you're paying him in salary for the 2nd half of the season, and you're at 10mil+ in addition to the draft pick or picks its going to cost.

iirc, the tax only includes the amount you paid. Hence you're looking at $3million(half season) + $3million ($4$ tax). In that, my 50% was a bit misleading, since I see his salary cost to already include luxury tax. Regardless, the articles I've seen quotes Jim's arguments as new CBA nonsense which doesn't affect the basic premise of the argument, again: half season gamble. If he's worth it, give him some $. If not, let him walk a la Kahn.

And wasn't it for just one draft pick? Mid 20s is not going to get a better bet than Beasley and 1st rounders are guaranteed contracts so if finances are an argument, 1st rounder is a bigger longterm commitment.

This is the same guy that can go off for 20 almost at will.

[azdaver]

Again he wasn't worth a first round pick to Kahn when he acquired him. Kahn doesn't think anymore of him now than he did then or he wouldn't be trying to dump him when his team is making a playoff run.

So why would we let him fleece us for a first round pick that we can use in a trade scenario if nothing else? Let him take our $8M per year headcase (MWP) instead in exchange for this kid. At least that way when the kid busts at the end of the year it wasn't a complete loss and we save the first round pick.

Oh and Beasley is the same guy who goes off for 20 one night and then disappears for the next 6 games just like he's done this week. Scored like a mad man against the Clippers and completely missing in action against the Lakers last night and the Clippers tonight.

Stupid idea that you can change people. Yes on a rare occasion people change. Mostly though, people are just who they are. We have precious few assets to work with here. if we're going to take a flier on this kid, let's keep the risk as low as possible.

[Viljanen]

You people who are demanding an upgrade to the team need to make friends with reality and quickly! Some of you imbeciles sound like the American voter populous

I'd be much more interested in offering a pick or two to Utah for Paul Milsap and using our trade exception to sign him. I'd be interested in trading Gasol to the Sixers for Iggy and Jrue Holiday and Nic Vusuvic.

This two paragraphs shouldn´t go toguether in the same post... Paul Millsap playing at All Star level and you want to get him for a late draft pick. Brilliant. Same for the Sixer´s trade.

About Beasley... he´s an expiring. Even if you were right and Minnesota wants to get rid of Beasley because he´s useless (and that´s why he´s still playing decent minutes in both Love´s and Williams´ spots after coming from an important injury at the beginning of the season BTW), NObody would take MWP (negative value due to his contract) to get rid of an expiring. The game just works the other way round.

And the thing about the money... You say Lakers prefer paying 85M$ to be a 1st round play-off team rather than pay 100M$ to be a real contender? I wouldn´t be so sure...

[VIPER8382]

its not just half his salary. its basically 150% of his salary cause the lux tax number is taken at the end of the yr, so if beasley is on the books, the lakers are going to have to pay a dollar for dollar tax on his entire salary, so 6 mil. throw in what you're paying him in salary for the 2nd half of the season, and you're at 10mil+ in addition to the draft pick or picks its going to cost.

iirc, the tax only includes the amount you paid. Hence you're looking at $3million(half season) + $3million ($4$ tax). In that, my 50% was a bit misleading, since I see his salary cost to already include luxury tax. Regardless, the articles I've seen quotes Jim's arguments as new CBA nonsense which doesn't affect the basic premise of the argument, again: half season gamble. If he's worth it, give him some $. If not, let him walk a la Kahn.

And wasn't it for just one draft pick? Mid 20s is not going to get a better bet than Beasley and 1st rounders are guaranteed contracts so if finances are an argument, 1st rounder is a bigger longterm commitment.

This is the same guy that can go off for 20 almost at will.

This is just flat out wrong. The luxury tax is done at the end of the year based on the full year salary of any player currently on the roster, or the full salary of any player that was bought out (also the full salary counts here, not the buyout amount). So in the end it would cost the Lakers around $9 million and a 1st. The financial argument against a first rounder is also a joke. Assuming we keep that player for all 4 years, and stay way up in the tax braket, the 1st will probably cost a bit over twice what Beasley would, but the big difference is that Beasley is for 2 months, while the first rounder would be for 4 years!

[Desiderium]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 1506.story

The Lakers were close to a smaller deal with Cleveland for backup point guard Ramon Sessions but didn't want to part with the future first-round pick they acquired from Dallas for Odom.

The Lakers were so desperate for offense that fans eagerly digested rumors of Gilbert Arenas and Rasheed Wallace about to join the team . . . and were somewhat disappointed when they didn't.

[Gek]

We are desperate for offense .

[Kobe System]

Wow. First they rejected Beasley, now Sessions. I don't know what to say anymore.

[The Skyhook]

If true then it looks like they must be pushing really hard for Dwight Howard.