King Latifah wrote:rsrii wrote:King Latifah wrote:Here's my pre-draft prediction, and I don't rule out Lakers trading on draft day which would render this a more meaningless prediction than it already is... The best I think we could wish for:
PG Conley, Russell, Clarkson, Huertas
SG Russell, Clarkson, Lou, Fields, Brown
SF Batum, Ingram, Fields, Nance, Brown
PF Randle, Nance, Bass, Word Peace, Ingram
C Whiteside, Black, Bass, Maker
Other players I'd like to see with the Lakers:
PG13
Durant
Tony Allen. If not Allen, Stephenson
Conley, Batum, Whiteside are all tradeable next season, too.
Option 2: Offer Durant a one year contract, no ties, $30M, see what follows... Nobody would blame him for trying elsewhere for a year at that pay rate, he could leave without being too hated. We wouldn't want him here long term if he hated it anyway. It would be a very well paid one year trial as the Lakers' franchise superstar.
I'd bet all kinds of ring focused players would beg their agents to call Mitch right after that - Conley etc, probably Whiteside, too.
Option 2 cannot be done. Durant is not eligible to make 30m next year per the CBA.
Okay then. Any other creative ideas as to what can be done within the CBA rules tonsure him here? Can we back load a four or five year player option extension?
No. The most LAL (or any team other than OKC) can offer is a four year deal. The first year starting at 30% of the cap and a 4.5% raise in each additional year. OKC can offer five years with the first year starting at the same amount but with 7.5% raises for each additional year. He is expected to sign a two year deal with a player option for year two so he can opt out and become a free agent again next year. In 2017 he will be eligible for a starting salary of 35% of the cap.
