Celtics vs Lakers: The Future

[Mon]

State of the Franchise: Celtics vs. Lakers

Since everyone is debating the past and the present…shoot… why not the future?

The following are the contract situations of the Celtics and Lakers:

Boston Celtics
Player           2007/2008   2008/2009   2009/2010   2010/2011   2011/2012   
Kevin Garnett
               $23,751,934   $24,751,934   $16,451,934   $18,866,934   $21,281,934   

Paul Pierce
               $16,360,094   $18,077,903   $19,795,712   $21,513,521           N/A   

Ray Allen
               $16,000,000   $17,388,430   $18,776,860           N/A           N/A   

Kendrick Perkins
                $4,480,912   $4,078,880    $4,250,000    $4,390,208           N/A   

James Posey
                $3,206,000   $3,462,480           N/A           N/A           N/A
   
Brian Scalabrine
                $3,000,000   $3,206,897    $3,413,793           N/A           N/A   

Tony Allen
                $1,868,141   $2,744,299           N/A           N/A           N/A   

Eddie House
                $1,500,000          N/A              N/A           N/A           N/A   

                  
Rajon Rondo
                $1,229,280   $1,315,080    $2,094,922    $3,018,783           N/A   

Scot Pollard
                  $770,610          N/A              N/A           N/A           N/A   

Leon Powe
                  $687,456     $797,581           N/A           N/A           N/A   

Gabe Pruitt
                  $650,000     $711,517      $825,497           N/A           N/A
   
Glen Davis
                  $427,163     $711,517           N/A           N/A             N/A   

P.J. Brown
                  $226,650          N/A              N/A           N/A             N/A   

Brandon Wallace *
                  $130,662          N/A              N/A           N/A             N/A   



Los Angeles Lakers
Player            2007/2008   2008/2009   2009/2010   2010/2011   2011/2012
   
Kobe Bryant
               $19,490,625   $21,262,500   $23,034,375   $24,806,250         N/A   

Pau Gasol
               $13,735,000   $15,106,000   $16,452,000   $17,823,000         N/A   

Lamar Odom
               $13,248,596   $14,148,596           N/A           N/A         N/A   

Vladimir Radmanovic
                $5,632,200    $6,049,400    $6,466,600    $6,883,800         N/A   

Derek Fisher
                $4,352,000           N/A         N/A           N/A           N/A

Luke Walton
                $4,000,000    $4,420,000    $4,840,000    $5,260,000   $5,680,000   

Trevor Ariza
                $3,100,000    $3,100,000           N/A           N/A         N/A   

Chris Mihm
                $2,500,000    $2,762,500           N/A           N/A         N/A   

Andrew Bynum
                $2,172,000    $2,769,300    $3,771,786           N/A         N/A   

Sasha Vujacic
                $1,756,951    $2,605,559           N/A           N/A         N/A   

Jordan Farmar
                $1,009,560    $1,080,000    $1,947,240    $2,847,126         N/A   

Ronny Turiaf
                  $770,610           N/A           N/A           N/A         N/A   

Coby Karl
                  $427,163      $711,517           N/A           N/A         N/A   

Didier Ilunga-Mbenga
                   $90,660           N/A           N/A           N/A         N/A   




So my questions are:

Which franchise is in overall better shape?

Who can be contenders the longest?

Which team’s viability is easier to maintain?

Which young duo (Rondo and Perk versus Farmar and Bynum)can handle the torch when passed?

Can the Lakers resign Bynum?

Can the Celtics easily replace Ray?

Who is a better GM (drafts and trades)?

Since we have to wait another million hours before tipoff...let's discuss!

[Roy Hobbs]

Which franchise is in overall better shape?

Both teams are pretty set for the immediate future, although Boston has more questions going into the off-season (does Posey opt out, who is our back up point guard, etc.)

Who can be contenders the longest?

The Lakers.  Their entire core is under 30 right now, although Kobe hits that in August.

Which team’s viability is easier to maintain?

Easiest?  Probably the Lakers, because there are fewer questions marks.

Which young duo (Rondo and Perk versus Farmar and Bynum)can handle the torch when passed?

I like the Lakers young players better overall, and Gasol is only 27, but between Rondo/Perk and Farmar/Bynum, it's pretty much a toss up to me.  Most neutral observers would pick the Lakers duo, though.

Can the Lakers resign Bynum?

Yes.  They have the financial ability to do so, the rules permit it, and they're smart enough to know how dominant a Bynum/Gasol front court can be.

Can the Celtics easily replace Ray?

I'm not sure what's meant, exactly.  He's a high-quality player who is a great shooter.  He's clutch, and stretches the floor.  It will be hard to find those attributes in somebody else.  However, he'll have a large expiring contract after next season, so he may be the player that gets moved to bring some fresh blood in here.

Who is a better GM (drafts and trades)?

I like Danny.  No move on his resume' is nearly as bad as Caron Butler for Kwame.  Overall, I think Danny's draft picks have been better, and he's built something from nothing.  Kupchak, on the other hand, had Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol fall into his lap.

[Barnabas]

Which franchise is in overall better shape?

That's hard to say, although one "expert" mentioned that the Lakers have a dynasty in the making.  One good thing going for Boston is Ray Allen's contract will expire in two years.  I don't believe Danny will re-sign Ray Allen.  We can use that money to pursue an impact plater.  Ofcourse, it's even better for LA since Odom's contract will expire sooner.  Odom is a good player, but I believe for that kind of money, the Lakers can hire themselves a better player.  They can either extend Bynum's contract, make it bigger, and lock him up for a few years.  Or they can pursue a third impact player to help Kobe and Gasol.  A lot depends on how Bynum develops.

Radmanovic's contract is bad for the Lakers, Luke Walton's is questionable.  But Boston also has its albatross in Scal and Tony Allen. 

Who can be contenders the longest?

The Lakers would seem to have the edge here.  Kobe can probably play at this level for a few more years.  Gasol is young, and they've got lots of young talent on the bench.  Boston's best bench players are seniors, guys like PJ Brown.  The Celtic youngs Rondo, Powe and Big Baby are probably not as good as Vujacic, Farmar, and Bynum.  Bynum is the key.  If he develops into an All-Star then LA will most likely have a dynasty.  Boston has no such young talent right now, not at that level, with that much potential.

Which team’s viability is easier to maintain?

The Lakers.  Because next year, no matter what happens this year, the Celtics will have to retool.  We will need a back up PG, at the very least.  And we do that with little money to offer!  The Lakers can simply maintain.

Which young duo (Rondo and Perk versus Farmar and Bynum)can handle the torch when passed?

Both teams will be hurting if either of that pair is the two best player on their team.  Perk makes a good complimentary player on a team that already has a lot of "guns".  Rondo will be decent PG, but not a franchise player, from what I can see.  Same with Farmar.  Bynum, to me, has the most potential out of the four you mentioned.  Think Perkins, with more offense.

Can the Lakers resign Bynum?

Sure, but they would have to give up someone that's very useful.  Can't have it all.

Can the Celtics easily replace Ray?

Yes, very easily.  If I were Danny, I would not re-sign Ray at the end of his contract.  That should free up enough cash to pursue an impact player.  My advice to Danny is to not get attached to Ray, or any player. 

Who is a better GM (drafts and trades)?

Danny

Since we have to wait another million hours before tipoff...let's discuss!

[seccom]

Barnabas,

Your comment regarding Ray Allen may not be possible. The CBA will not allow a team to use his expire contract to sign a free agent. Unless some team is willing to sign and trade for him. However, given his age. I doubt it.

Boston is actually in the same position as the Spurs last year. The CBA pretty much prevent any winning team retool using free agency.

With no draft picks and every little trade value, the middle level exception is pretty much the only thing that the Celtics can use.

[LarBrd33]

sign Ron Artest to the MLE.  Lets get nutty

[Analyst]

The Celtic's don't want to become another Miami Heat - a team that has one great year with a bunch of veterans and then falls off the Eastern Conference Seaboard.

Rondo and Perkins are only going to get much better. Call me crazy but I see Rondo becoming an elite point guard in this league - especially defensively. As Rondo and Perkins are a perfect fit on a team with three scorers. Defence and more Defence. (I like the way Perk plays D - most of the time) I'm curiuos to see how Big Baby develops and Gabe Pruit.

The Lakers have a brighter future on paper with Bynum. All we can do is wait and see how well they all mesh. It could be scary or it could be the 1980's 76ers with Dr J, Billy Cunningham, Moses Malone and Andrew Toney. All that talent with just 1 title to show for it.

[Mr October]

The Celtics and Lakers immediate futures are great! This will be a fun rivalry to watch unfold! Boston will be set for the next 2-3 years after this. And the Lakers for about 4-5. Then Pierce, Garnett, and Kobe will decline.

There may be an opportunity to trade Ray in a year and a half. But if the right situation doesn't come along, it would be nice to resign him cheap as a bench gunner, and replace him with some MLE-esque defensive wing stud. There's time to let this play out.

Bynum will definitely be resigned... but the other question, will Odom then walk next summer as a FA? Do the Lakers want to pay Kobe $20 mil, Gasol $17 mil, Bynum $10+ mill, Odom $10+ mill, plus the role players? And will Bynum pull a Mark Blount when he gets his money? It'll be fun to watch these two teams battle over the next few years, starting in 2 days!!!! Go Celtics!

[oneofthesedays]

I suspect when Bynum returns this won't be much of a series at all.  Repeat of the 80's.  Celtics win the 1st Finals, Lakeshow wins the next two.  Celtics fade into oblivion for the next 20 years.

[LarBrd33]

I suspect when Bynum returns this won't be much of a series at all.  Repeat of the 80's.  Celtics win the 1st Finals, Lakeshow wins the next two.  Celtics fade into oblivion for the next 20 years.

Nah...  Celtics win the next 2... we trade Ray for young prospects, draft wisely... win the next 4... Kobe blows out his knee... Lakers fade into oblivion for the next 20 years.

[Barnabas]

I suspect when Bynum returns this won't be much of a series at all.  Repeat of the 80's.  Celtics win the 1st Finals, Lakeshow wins the next two.  Celtics fade into oblivion for the next 20 years.

Oh, you're being too pessimistic!

First of all, we are not 100% certain about Bynum.  Who knows, he might not come back as good as before the injury.  Anything can happen. 

Here's what Barnabas thinks:  The Celtic owner, Grousebeck, seems like he is serious about contending for titles.  And, he has put together a good organization/front office to get that done.  He has shown us that he's willing to put up the $ for the right players.  And he is very much involved with the team.  To me, that is a good sign.  A very good sign.  Having said that, it is much easier to lure players when the team is playing good ball.  We would not have gotten PJ Brown if we were not in a position to contend. 

Ok, I know this is gonna sour a lot of people, but I say don't hang on to the Big Three as long as they did with Bird, Parish, and McHale.  I would say try to trade the Big Three as soon as the team starts to decline.