Roster Moves - Offseason

[tviper]

Projecting offseason moves now that the season is over. This assumes D12 signs a max deal, and KB24 defies all the doubters and is ready at the start of the year, or shortly thereafter.

Core:
KB24=30.5M
DH12=20.3M
Nash=9.8M
Blake=4.0M
Hill=3.6M
Clark=2.5M (e.g., 3 for 9M, 0.5M increase each year with team option in 3rd)
Meeks=1.5M
TOTAL=72.2M

Traded/Waived/Not Re-signed:
Gasol=Traded
MWP=Amnesty
Duhon=1.5M Buyout
Jamison=not re-signed
Ebanks=not re-signed
Morris=not re-signed
Sacre=not re-signed

Goal should be to stay under about $93M or so, depending on where the tax line comes in. This is because the incremental tax next year jumps to $1.50 from 0-5M over, then to $1.75 from 5-10M over, then to $2.50 from 10-15M over, then to $3.25 from 15-20M over. Thus, if you can keep it under tax+20M the salary plus tax will be about the same as 2012-13. However, doing so will probably require a Pau trade into cap space given KB24 huge number and D12 max salary. The total assuming the above but not including Gasol (or players traded for him), or players to fill out the roster is $73.7. The latest projection for the luxury tax (that I can find) is 73M. So, remaining salaries can be at most $19.3M for 5 players under this scenario.

PG=Nash, Blake
SG=KB24, Meeks
SF=Clark
PF=Hill
C=D12

Best trade for Pau would bring back minimal salary and maximum players. CLE has been floated as a good trade partner, as has UTA for this purpose.

Edit: Changed assumptions based on Leto's comment.
Edit2: Updated on 05.29.13. New assumption is that Nash will not be waived (at least this year), the TO on Meeks will be exercised, and Clark is signed to a slightly smaller contract (3/9M instead of 3/10M).

[Leto]

Yes, but if you're 10-15 milllion over that doesn't mean that all 10-15 million is taxed at 2.50. It means the first 5 mil is taxed at 1.5 + the next 5 million at 1.75 + the remaining salary at 2.5. Hope that clears it up for you.

Also, I did the calculations and if the Lakers are at about 92 million that would equal about 130 milllion in salary and taxes OR about exactly what they are paying currently.

[IamBBAnalysis]

Posted this in Game thread but makes more sense here. Note: Is money/tax the big concern? I don't see that and I get the feeling many posters on here may be on a different page then management.

Long Term Goals:
-Keep Dwight, Hill
-Sign Clark
-Make a trade to get younger pieces (Gasol is the only option)

Short Term Goals:
-Play out next season and see if Kobe can play. A championship with Kobe/Dwight will always be a possibility so a season cannot be thrown away.
-Maintain flexibility after the season.
-Obtain players that fix some of the weaknesses above (shooting, athleticism, speed) and remove players that are part of that...but attempt to maintain strengths (free throw shooting, Dwight, Kobe, interior scoring).

Players that will likely stay:

Dwight, Kobe, Hill (could be traded), Blake (could be traded), Steve Nash (no one will trade for a 39 year old with a large contract that just ended the season with an injury no one knows how much of an issue it will be next year...the only thing that may happen is he simply does not play next year if the injury is serious but he will be a Laker), Duhon (no one would take him willingly), Meeks (could be traded).

Players that will likely leave:

Gasol (he simply cannot be around next season or it will be more of the same with the team), Morris, Jamision, Artest, Ebanks, Sacre.

Other: Goudelock. He may return. Unknown but he should get a chance. Clark may stay but he may demand too much and he was not getting a lot of minutes towards the end of the season. He should be kept for his defensive potential and energy.

What I think makes sense is getting 3 new rotation players. 2 wings and one pf.


Starters pre Kobe:

Blake
New Wing
Howard
New Pf
New Wing

Bench pre Kobe:

Nash
Meeks
Hill
Clark
One of starting wings

The starting team focuses on Howard, defense, and inside out. The bench comes in and plays up tempo with energy. Hill is a good pick and roll player and the team can spread the floor.

Post Kobe:

Blake
Kobe
Howard
New PF
New Wing

Nash
Meeks
Hill
Clark
New Wing

Also, D'Antonni should be replaced with a coach that commands respect and can install a plan and discipline.

[tviper]

Yes, but if you're 10-15 milllion over that doesn't mean that all 10-15 million is taxed at 2.50. It means the first 5 mil is taxed at 1.5 + the next 5 million at 1.75 + the remaining salary at 2.5. Hope that clears it up for you.

Also, I did the calculations and if the Lakers are at about 92 million that would equal about 130 milllion in salary and taxes OR about exactly what they are paying currently.

Leto, great point. The total would be 127M for 92M with all of the escalators (assuming 72M tax line). One of my assumptions is that D12 wants Phil, and with the changes that occurred this year, Jim and Mitch will be convinced that Phil should return (if for no other reason to keep D12, and Phil wants to return which seems pretty clear with all of the press lately). If this happens, Phil will command at least 10M which means that salary for roster may be capped internally at 120M. With the tax calculation, this means players salaries would total around 90M. Either way, I think you are right and will edit the post accordingly.

Do you have an opinion on what salary Clark and the FO will agree on?

[Leto]

^ Im not sure about Clark becaus I don't have a clue what the Lakers direction is going to be. As it stands, he probably won't be coming back unless you shed even more salary after a Metta amnesty.

Its going to be an interesting summer for th Lakers, but I think what they'll try to do is amnesty Metta, re-sign Howard and then try to turn Gasol into 2-3 players while shaving a little more salary. That will be the hard part. But if you amnesty Metta, you won't have to also have to take a huge talent downgrade because of having to dump more salary. IOW, your leverage won't be totally shot.

[EArl]

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1247076

Already a thread bro^

[tviper]

^ Im not sure about Clark becaus I don't have a clue what the Lakers direction is going to be. As it stands, he probably won't be coming back unless you shed even more salary after a Metta amnesty.

Its going to be an interesting summer for th Lakers, but I think what they'll try to do is amnesty Metta, re-sign Howard and then try to turn Gasol into 2-3 players while shaving a little more salary. That will be the hard part. But if you amnesty Metta, you won't have to also have to take a huge talent downgrade because of having to dump more salary. IOW, your leverage won't be totally shot.

good point on MWP. the other thing that I don't see mentioned is that MWP could exercise his ETO and then sign a longer deal at a lower yearly value to reduce the lux tax hit in 2013-14. but that would add $ to the roster in the 2014-15 season which the FO probably doesn't want to do. thus, most likely is that MWP is waived via the amnesty provision.

[minifang]

It's going to be difficult moving Gasol for expiring contracts so we don't ruin the 2014 plan. We either move him for a big piece (i.e. Love) or don't move him at all.

[hoops_32]

It's going to be difficult moving Gasol for expiring contracts so we don't ruin the 2014 plan. We either move him for a big piece (i.e. Love) or don't move him at all.

Pau Gasol to Minnesota for Derrick Willaims,Brandon Roy, and their lottery pick would be good for both teams. Minnesota isn't trading Love and could use a center with Pekovic a free agent and possibly leaving for a bigger contract. Gasol would play center which is his best position at this point in his career and get to pay alongside Rubio. This draft isn't very strong so losing their lottery pick wouldn't be too big of a loss if they could land Gasol.

Williams was the #2 pick in the draft just two years ago and could benefit from a change of scenery. He is a better fit for D'Antoni as he can play on the perimeter and would give Dwight more room to operate. Roy is done because of injuries but has a non guaranteed deal so we could save money as he would retire. With the lottery pick we could draft a good young player to add to Dwight and Williams to build around for the future.

[tviper]

It's going to be difficult moving Gasol for expiring contracts so we don't ruin the 2014 plan. We either move him for a big piece (i.e. Love) or don't move him at all.

Pau Gasol to Minnesota for Derrick Willaims,Brandon Roy, and their lottery pick would be good for both teams. Minnesota isn't trading Love and could use a center with Pekovic a free agent and possibly leaving for a bigger contract. Gasol would play center which is his best position at this point in his career and get to pay alongside Rubio. This draft isn't very strong so losing their lottery pick wouldn't be too big of a loss if they could land Gasol.

I think this is a good trade, but depending on what happens with AK and Pek, another salary may have to be added such as Ridnour (which in the given scenario would be good for PG depth) to make the trade work under the CBA. Even assuming Ridnour, the deal could save 8M (DeWill (5M), Ridnour (4M), Rookie (2M) = 11M). For MIN, seems favorable to pair up Pau with Love, keep future flexibility, and not a deep draft this year anyway.

[MelosSoreWrist]

Fire DAntoni. Hire Phil Jackson.

[TARIQ]

I want Tyreke Evans and Darren Collison

[minifang]

Would it be possible to get Farmar back from overseas? I don't know the details of his contract situation.

[hazy_01]

Would it be possible to get Farmar back from overseas? I don't know the details of his contract situation.

He has an opt-out this offseason. He's signed long term with his current team, so we will see if he has a stronger desire to come back to the NBA or not

[KingLakers]

I agree with the thread starter about letting go of Jamison, Ebanks, Duhon, Artest (amnesty), Gasol (trade). I would keep Nash, Kobe, Dwight, Blake, Meeks, Clark, Hill. Bring back Morris, Goudelock, and Sacre for training camp maybe keep 2 of them. On the trade front I was tweeting Mark Heisler 2 weeks ago he said the insiders who follow the Lakers believe the Bulls are a likely landing spot for Gasol if the Bulls would give up Deng and Gibson for Pau I would do it in a second. In free agency outside of resigning Dwight and Clark i don't see the Lakers dong much maybe signing an SG to hold Kobe's spot unti his return maybe a guy like a Belinelli or someone like that.

[TARIQ]

Earl Clark States Desire To Remain With Team Next Season
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news ... 013/04/28/

[minifang]

Earl Clark States Desire To Remain With Team Next Season
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news ... 013/04/28/

Good to hear! I guess he has a lot of gratitude towards us for giving him his chance.

[AI]

if the Bulls would give up Deng and Gibson for Pau I would do it in a second.

You really thing Chicago would give us Deng AND Gibson for Pau? Without us even taking back Boozer or any of their bad contracts?!

[kblo247]

if the Bulls would give up Deng and Gibson for Pau I would do it in a second.

You really thing Chicago would give us Deng AND Gibson for Pau? Without us even taking back Boozer or any of their bad contracts?!

Not only that, but boozer is better on both sides at PF than Pau. Pau would make their whole D worse and Noah's life harder.

[KevinUrb]

If we were to re-sign Dwight...

My pipe dream scenario would be for us to somehow yank Kevin Love from Minny for Pau.
I've heard they are more inclined to build around Rubio so maybe the Rubio and Pau chemistry might intice them, especially with How Kevin Love has played out for Minny thus far.
Then we somehow get rid of MWP and get back a player like Ariza.

2013-2014 core
Nash/Blake/Morris
Kobe/Meeks/Goudelock
Ariza/Kobe/Clark
Love/Hill/Clark
Dwight/Hill

2014 After Kobe's contract
We somehow make a push or manage to grab a young stud, preferablly Kyrie or Paul George or somehow both...
Imagine a core of Dwight and Love with one of those aforementioned.