Sessions explains why he opted out

[The Skyhook]

As much as I wish Sessions were still on the Lakers I can't really blame the guy for opting out. We pulled off two big moves this summer without really having to move anyone of value other than Bynum simply because everyone was seen as garbage by opposing team's GMs. If Sessions wasn't included in a sign and trade for Nash, I could see him being thrown into the Howard trade. Sessions knew that the Lakers were going to be trying to pull something off this summer and he would have been the Lakers best trade chip after Bynum.

[semi-sentient]

I understand where Sessions is coming from, and I'm not sure if there's anything we could have done to keep him. When he opted out we hadn't really procured Nash yet so things were sort of up in the air at that point. I doubt our FO was in a position to say with any certainty what Sessions future with the Lakers would have been.

Anyway, he got $10 million on a 2 year deal from the Bobcats whereas the best we could do was offer up the mini-MLE which is $12 million over 4 years. It's was a no-brainer for Sessions.

I truly wish that there was a way that we could have kept him. His effect off the bench was undeniable. He choked in the playoffs (understandable considering he'd never sniffed post-season play), to be sure, but he's an excellent play-maker that really got the best out of our reserves.

[Anklebreaker702]

You damn right Imadogg.......he owes me NOTHING or the Lakers NOTHING. He reasoning was stupid though, as a pro athlete you know the ramifications of being traded. My opinion is mine I don't have to fall in line with the " it works for him" crowd. His choice is his choice.....so be it.

That's the point though DEEP. He knows as a pro athlete that he can be traded any time, so he took a step to avoid that.

Not trying to make you change any opinion, just saying his reasoning doesn't go against what you've stated. Trades are a part of the game, he avoided that for now by opting out, getting paid, and moving closer to home.

Bad job to Sessions basketball-wise for not staying with a good team and not letting us see him run the offense over Blake, but good job on him taking care of himself.

I see your point imadogg but depending on his performance it may turn out to be career suicide

[TruSkool]

Nope. I disagree with a lot of you. put yourself in sessions shoes, and tell me you wouldn't opt out for more cash and a guaranteed starting position WHEN YOU KNOW THATS THE BEST YOU CAN BE IN THIS LEAGUE.

it really aint too much about the hotshots LA acquired. he simply the lakers were trying to get better at the PG spot, and on top of that, they already had gasol, bynum, kobe, and artest, so he'd see no spotlight with an elite pg starting over him.

lets not say he was necessarily 'scared' of the spotlight; he actually wanted it on him as a starter, and once he knew he wasn't gona get it in LA, he moved on.

I'd do it if i was an NBA player, and so would you once you knew steve nash or deron williams was about to get dealt to LA.

it was really a wise decision on his part....and i stick to my point regarding sessions as the best PG we've had since gary payton. (I'm sure nash will end up better than both combined though)

[TruSkool]

That's the point though DEEP. He knows as a pro athlete that he can be traded any time, so he took a step to avoid that.

Not trying to make you change any opinion, just saying his reasoning doesn't go against what you've stated. Trades are a part of the game, he avoided that for now by opting out, getting paid, and moving closer to home.

Bad job to Sessions basketball-wise for not staying with a good team and not letting us see him run the offense over Blake, but good job on him taking care of himself.

I get that Dogg, I get him taking secure money, moving closer to home also. I'm just say'in he probably cut himself a little short in the long run. He'll probably be replaced by Kemba Walker next season as the starter, and since he'll be an expiring again chances are he'll be dealt or he'll be on the hunt for another team. And it's a given he won't make another 10 mil. But it's cool that he got his now cause it ain't coming again.

its a hell of a lot easier competing against a ~20 y/o kemba walker than it is a 2 time former mvp

[Speedlot]

Not true. Steve would've taught sessions well. We can all agree that Sessions had potential. I was the biggest hater of the Sessions hype, but even I got excited for the first good fast break in 7 years. His piss poor play in the playoffs was disappointing and I wasn't sad when he was gone. Regardless, his decision to leave the Laker is more or less career suicide. Nobody that has left the Lakers has done remotely well except perhaps Shaq.

Best PG since Payton? Better than Smush Parker, Old Fisher, and Blake. Oh what a glorious tale to be retold to his grandkids. Truth be told Fishers first few years during the Gasol era was BETTER than Sessions performance last year. Not just play, but leadership in being able to IGNORE Kobe demanding the ball for once. Not to mention the playoffs where he was actually useful unlike Sessions worthlessness.

Sessions should have stuck it out with he Lakers, and I really see us offering him a long 3-4 year deal at 4-5 per, Blake money. Learn from Nash. Unlke Kobe nash can Mentor this guy. Kobe can only teach work ethic (ODOM, ARTEST), however Nash will teach you skills to be a point guard, most recently Dragic. Hope he does well in Charlotte I suppose, but I would be the first one to say "I told you so" again if he fails.

[dockingsched]

aki mentioned this and its getting overlooked, but the chances that sessions' expiring contract is still on the lakers are close to 0%. if he was on the books, he would have been used in the dwight trade for sure.

[Anklebreaker702]

aki mentioned this and its getting overlooked, but the chances that sessions' expiring contract is still on the lakers are close to 0%. if he was on the books, he would have been used in the dwight trade for sure.

That is a very good point

[DEEP3CL]

aki mentioned this and its getting overlooked, but the chances that sessions' expiring contract is still on the Lakers are close to 0%. if he was on the books, he would have been used in the Dwight trade for sure.

You can't say that with certainty, but I get that he was an earlier expiring if he was on the books. Using Mitch's logic, he felt Ramon was staying. Seeing as he's pretty good in getting what he want's in deals, I don't think he would've included him. Besides none of the teams involved had no use for him anyway.

[kblo247]

Orlando may have took him over paying big money for Nelson

[DEEP3CL]

Orlando may have took him over paying big money for Nelson

Then that's Orlando telling it's fan base they're on a total rebuild. It's plausible though.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Sessions made a good choice, because he would be riding the bench behind Nash in his contract year.

He gets an extra year, guaranteed. While with the Bobcats, Sessions will get a lot of minutes and he will put up the kind of stats that will get him a much better contract in two years, most likely. Add to that he gets to play very close to home. Last, I think there was a lot of pressure on Ramon Sessions in the playoffs. He would have been the goat if the Lakers lost to Denver. He probably felt pressure from Kobe and others to perform better.

It was a good choice for a lot of reasons.

[Dr Aki]

u kind of can say it with certainty, the reason the lakers paid so little for dwight was because we couldn't afford to pay more for him.

you can also bet that if we hadn't acquired steve nash first, that TPE and 2 1sts would've been included in the dwight trade. in fact, that was the offer at the trade deadline last season

[dockingsched]

aki mentioned this and its getting overlooked, but the chances that sessions' expiring contract is still on the Lakers are close to 0%. if he was on the books, he would have been used in the Dwight trade for sure.

You can't say that with certainty, but I get that he was an earlier expiring if he was on the books. Using Mitch's logic, he felt Ramon was staying.

i'm not too sure what you mean by mitch's logic, but i think you are referring to mitch being upset that sessions opted out. i think he was upset cause ramon was their safety net. as mitch said himself, he put in the call for nash but he never thought anything would come of it. losing sessions was a lost asset, so i can see why he would be upset.

Seeing as he's pretty good in getting what he want's in deals, I don't think he would've included him. Besides none of the teams involved had no use for him anyway.

aki responded to this, but the lakers paid basically the most they could possibly pay. they absorbed all the salary they possibly could absorb with bynum + expirings, and traded away every 1st they could. if sessions was still here, he would have been demanded as well simply cause he was an expiring. this is actually a nod to why sessions made a good decision. someone like the magic could have traded for him simply cause of his 1yr deal without any intention to include sessions in their future. sessions would be pretty damn screwed in a contract yr.

[Jakay]

When I read that earlier, it struck me as chickening out. And hey, from a personal financial stand-point, I can understand.

[So Gutta]

I'm calling it now, the Bobcats are going to trade Sessions eventually.

He obviously didn't have a lot of confidence in his game if A) he's worried about getting traded and, as a consequence, B) He's worried about getting paid next year.

He took the cash. I don't blame him. He didn't want to be a Laker and be on national TV all the time. Peace out.

[Speedlot]

Yeah that mentality makes sense. Have confidence in your game. That's most of the battle. If he played to his absolute potential he would've been 10million dollar/year rich by now.

[rugby-hook]

Sessions' argument is an after-the-fact excuse to justify a horrible career move. His agent obviously talked him into opting out, thinking that LA had to re-sign him for dollars above the mini-MLE. His agent missed the fact that LA had other options at PG. No one thought Phoenix would deal Nash and Sessions would have gone to Pho if he were around. Session's action is a repeat of the Ariza negotiations; someone that they had leverage on the Lakers and they guessed wrong and badly. Sessions will flourish just like Ariza; he will be dumped again and suffer poor stats.

After the opt-out and Nash trade, Sessions was scrambling for a deal and had no takers. He was forced to accept a back-up position in Charlotte. He would have been much better to have stayed in LA and been traded to Brooklyn or Phoenix, rather than backing-up Walker in Charlotte. He is now doomed to a life of 1-year vet minim contracts after this 2-year deal ends, versus a longer contract after this season. Sessions will put up weaker numbers and will remain one of those players on losing teams. Blame the agent for goofing up another career.