Reasons Why the Lakers Deserve a Discount on FAs

[Mamba Venom]

The Lakers deserve a discount on FA because:

1. The opportunity to win a championship

2. The opportunity to play for coach that will make you a better

3. The opportunity to have a great (and sometimes hall of fame) assistant working with you.
(Arizas shot and Andrews post moves)

4. The opportunity to get endorsements
(even Farmar is in many Nike commercials)

5. The opportunity to get mass media exposure
(Ariza's halftime spot on ABC... that's huge, you can't buy publicity like that)

6. (For SFs) the opportunity to start for the most distinguished franchise in all of sports and be Kobe's Pippen

7. The opportunity to pursue other interests (movies, acting, Rhianna)

8. The effect of having the defense focus on Kobe and Gasol will open you up to be the X-Factor and will showcase your skills to the world

9. The world appreciates champions a lot more than 20 point scorers on seller dwelling teams.
(Ask Gasol if people treat him differently now than when he was on Memphis)

10. The Lakers get the most nationally televised game in the NBA.

11. More fans to appreciate you. The Lakers have the largest fan base in the NBA

I hope Mitch has this list ready to show the FAs.

LO knows this... I hope Ariza and Brown know this too.

West and Shaq did a good job letting other players know about these benefits during the 2000-2002 3-peat. I hope that the Lakers add even more talent like we did then w/ Mitch Richmond, Glen Rice, Brian Shaw, AC Green, Ron Harper, John Sally, Horace Grant, Isiah Rider, Greg Foster and Samaki Walker.

[YiYaoYue]

LA just need to get rid of the trash salaries like Sasha, Sun Yue, Morrison, and maybe Walton. That will save enough money to sign Ariza and Odom is not worth that much and he knows it.. he will go down like 2-3 mill in salary. Then sign some guys at minimum to meet minimum roster size and just in case of injury. We will have just brown, odom, and maybe walton off bench with some good rotations there probably won't be need of another player off bench. If only brown was just a few inches taller he could get significant SG minutes.

Remember a lot of Laker fans thought the same thing about Turiaf and that he wouldn't bail for more money. Players still put money very high on their list... especially for bench players because those endorsements probably not as big of a deal as it is for star players. Then again, Ariza may stay for a little less because he is a starter and Odom seems really genuine about wanting to stay in LA.

[larry14r]

LA just need to get rid of the trash salaries like Sasha, Sun Yue, Morrison, and maybe Walton. That will save enough money to sign Ariza and Odom is not worth that much and he knows it.. he will go down like 2-3 mill in salary. Then sign some guys at minimum to meet minimum roster size and just in case of injury. We will have just brown, odom, and maybe walton off bench with some good rotations there probably won't be need of another player off bench. If only brown was just a few inches taller he could get significant SG minutes.

Remember a lot of Laker fans thought the same thing about Turiaf and that he wouldn't bail for more money. Players still put money very high on their list... especially for bench players because those endorsements probably not as big of a deal as it is for star players. Then again, Ariza may stay for a little less because he is a starter and Odom seems really genuine about wanting to stay in LA.

You know no is going to take those contracts and you know this god forbidding.

[Kreuk]

You know no is going to take those contracts and you know this god forbidding.

we need to dump those contracts on the suns for shaq.

[larry14r]

You know no is going to take those contracts and you know this god forbidding.

we need to dump those contracts on the suns for shaq.

And that's why no is going to trade with us anymore because we keep trying to rip them off.

[daddyfivestar]

You know no is going to take those contracts and you know this god forbidding.

we need to dump those contracts on the suns for shaq.

And that's why no is going to trade with us anymore because we keep trying to rip them off.

Fans say that every time, but history shows different:

"LA has been doing this to the league for 35 years so nothing is impossible. '75 Kareem, '77 Wilkes, '77 Dantley. '79 Magic, '82 Worthy, '83 Byron, '87 Mychal, '96 Kobe, '96 Shaq, '97 Horry, '07 Ariza, '08 Pau"

NBA gms are not concerned if LA got better or worse, just that they did what they had to do to get better, and ultimately, keep their jobs.

[daddyfivestar]

Here's the discounts:

1) Kobe loves rings - so he opts out and signs for 5yr/$100 at 17, 18.5, 20, 21.5, 23. That 17 helps keep the boys.

2) Lamar goes 3yr/$27 at 8/9/10. That 8 helps with Ariza.

3) Ariza goes 5yr/$31 escalating Luke style deal at 4.5, 5.37, 6.25, 7.13, 8 which runs him from age 24-28 and concurrent with Kobe - thus, maximum ring potential and another contract hopefully at 28yo.
That 4.5 first year helps with Shannon.

4) Shannon sees the opportunity and goes 2yr/$5 at 2/3 with year two the chance to start and make a payday for himself after Fisher retires.

blam - 4 deals to ensure consistency. Kobe and Ariza thru 2014, Odom thru 2012, Shannon thru 2011 (at which time Sasha expires).

Buss says yes to the taxes and we are in business.

[Slava]

We need to get rid of one of Ammo or Sasha to keep all 4 of our useful FAs. The problem is that unless someone is interested in our 2nd rounders there really isn't much we can do to sweeten a deal. Since Ammo is expiring next season, may be some team trying to sell their picks can absorb that salary for a season? Seems pretty long shot though.

[daddyfivestar]

^ or Fisher retires or somehow Luke gets traded (probably the longest shot of all).

Of those 4 things - Sasha, Fisher, Luke, Ammo; one HAS to happen, two will get the payroll back into the 70's.

Brown (2.0)/Fisher (1.95)
Kobe (17.0)
Ariza (4.5)
Gasol (16.45)/Odom (8.0)
Bynum (12.5)
DJ/Powell/Yue/#42 = (3.1 for inexpensive bench)
= 65.5 (11 players)

the rest (2 of these 4)
Sasha = 5.0
Fisher = 5.05
Luke = 4.84
Ammo = 5.26

Luke = hardest to move
= 70.24 (nearing tax line)

Fisher = retires

Move either Sasha or Ammo + #29 for NOTHING
and

Payroll = under 76 mil for 13 players.

If the FA's can help with the discounted signings.

This also means no MLE's unless Buss wants to go 80 !!!! (You feeling me Kidd?)
.

[YiYaoYue]

I wonder if it is illegal to give like a million dollars under the table to players. So Ariza signs for less but gets the money direct deposit. I'm sure it is illegal, but would be hard to catch it.

[daddyfivestar]

I was hoping for
1 Phil retires
2 Kobe opts out
3 kobe re signs for 1 mil per
4 Lakers hire Kobe as coach for 19 mil per
Based on Zo's comment that Kobe is coaching now
Kobe becomes player-coach

Only 1 mil counts on the cap

Alas, that too is apparently against the rules

[Slava]

^ or Fisher retires or somehow Luke gets traded (probably the longest shot of all).

Of those 4 things - Sasha, Fisher, Luke, Ammo; one HAS to happen, two will get the payroll back into the 70's.

Brown (2.0)/Fisher (1.95)
Kobe (17.0)
Ariza (4.5)
Gasol (16.45)/Odom (8.0)
Bynum (12.5)
DJ/Powell/Yue/#42 = (3.1 for inexpensive bench)
= 65.5 (11 players)

the rest (2 of these 4)
Sasha = 5.0
Fisher = 5.05
Luke = 4.84
Ammo = 5.26

Luke = hardest to move
= 70.24 (nearing tax line)

Fisher = retires

Move either Sasha or Ammo + #29 for NOTHING
and

Payroll = under 76 mil for 13 players.

If the FA's can help with the discounted signings.

This also means no MLE's unless Buss wants to go 80 !!!! (You feeling me Kidd?)
.

Of all our immovable contracts, Luke is the guy I see who can have an impact as he's shown in the playoffs so far. Sasha basically brings zero to the game when he's not shooting well and we all have absolutely zero hopes for Ammo to crack the rotation even if he stays. So to me the ones that can be moved and should be moved are Sasha and Morrisson. Sasha can be traded based on what we saw with Kapono who was probably the worst contract in the league at the moment.

[Sofa King]

12. All the hot girls you want.

[Jajwanda]

^ or Fisher retires or somehow Luke gets traded (probably the longest shot of all).

Of those 4 things - Sasha, Fisher, Luke, Ammo; one HAS to happen, two will get the payroll back into the 70's.

Brown (2.0)/Fisher (1.95)
Kobe (17.0)
Ariza (4.5)
Gasol (16.45)/Odom (8.0)
Bynum (12.5)
DJ/Powell/Yue/#42 = (3.1 for inexpensive bench)
= 65.5 (11 players)

the rest (2 of these 4)
Sasha = 5.0
Fisher = 5.05
Luke = 4.84
Ammo = 5.26

Luke = hardest to move
= 70.24 (nearing tax line)

Fisher = retires

Move either Sasha or Ammo + #29 for NOTHING
and

Payroll = under 76 mil for 13 players.

If the FA's can help with the discounted signings.

This also means no MLE's unless Buss wants to go 80 !!!! (You feeling me Kidd?)
.

Of all our immovable contracts, Luke is the guy I see who can have an impact as he's shown in the playoffs so far. Sasha basically brings zero to the game when he's not shooting well and we all have absolutely zero hopes for Ammo to crack the rotation even if he stays. So to me the ones that can be moved and should be moved are Sasha and Morrisson. Sasha can be traded based on what we saw with Kapono who was probably the worst contract in the league at the moment.

Maybe just maybe you can trade Sasha if he revitalizes his value next year early on.

Luke I actually think you can trade with cash plus a first round pick. I really and honestly do think that there are fits in this league for him when he's healthy. The Clippers are a strong possibility.

[Asianiac_24]

And that's why no is going to trade with us anymore because we keep trying to rip them off

Fans say that every time, but history shows different:

"LA has been doing this to the league for 35 years so nothing is impossible. '75 Kareem, '77 Wilkes, '77 Dantley. '79 Magic, '82 Worthy, '83 Byron, '87 Mychal, '96 Kobe, '96 Shaq, '97 Horry, '07 Ariza, '08 Pau"

NBA gms are not concerned if LA got better or worse, just that they did what they had to do to get better, and ultimately, keep their jobs.

Well since 96, we never really ripped anyone off. Kobe was a 13th freaking pick, Shaq was done with Orlando and everyone knew that, Horry is not a big time player, Ariza was a nobody in Orlando, and the Gasol trade was a lot more even than people think

[daddyfivestar]

Really? I'd seriously disagree with everything you said Asianiac.

Plus, the point is that other GMs still deal with LA even though LA has only missed the playoffs only twice in the past 30 years and make the NBA Finals basically 50 percent of the time in the entire history of the league. LA continues to take acquisitions and turn them into critical components of teams that contend for and win titles, all with the cooperation of GMs who know the track record yet seem to think it won't be them.

The Lakers are the only organization with such streaks. Not historic Boston, who spent a decade on the outside of playoffs for the most part. Not Chicago, who were the dregs for a decade before and a decade after Jordan. Not the Knicks, Rockets, Blazers, none. They've had long prolonged periods of ineptitude and rebuilding.
I expect the Lakers to make another miracle acquisition in the next few years... because it's their legacy.

[Mamba Venom]

We have ripped everyone off except the Wizards.

The Lakers have a lot of talent.

Besides Bynum, Farmar, Luke and Sasha everyone else all came from other teams. Its not like the Lakers have more than 2 single digit pick (selections #1-9) since the 1970s.

The reason why is Jack

I LOVED THE ADDITION OF THE LAKER GIRLS TO THE LIST

The best concert, the beach and sunshine should all be added to the list also.

[KObe Bryant]

If we win the championship, I believe we could really keep Ariza, Odom and Brown. No doubt.

[daddyfivestar]

We have ripped everyone off except the Wizards.

The Lakers have a lot of talent.

Besides Bynum, Farmar, Luke and Sasha everyone else all came from other teams. Its not like the Lakers have more than 2 single digit pick (selections #1-9) since the 1970s.

The reason why is Jack

I LOVED THE ADDITION OF THE LAKER GIRLS TO THE LIST

The best concert, the beach and sunshine should all be added to the list also.

We came close against Washington - if only Kupchak doesn't blow out his knees. Trading weak Brad Holland for him was a steal, and Kuppy did contribute to two rings. And of course, his assistant GM work with Jerry West and what he's done recently as GM. I would say "ripped off" but definitely an asset to the Lakers over the years in two capacities.

[KingLakers]

Sun Yue's contract has no real effect on the Lakers cap he makes less then 1m per year also I think the Lakers have a team option on him in the summer. I wish the Lakers could trade both Sasha and Morrison for second round picks or something but I think getting rid of one is more likely probably Morrison because next season is the final year of his contract maybe a trade similar to what the Lakers did with MIhm.