Is the Lakers' payroll now the largest in the history of the NBA?

[Roy H.]

What I want to know is how the Lakers can afford Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Antwan Jamison, Jodie Meeks and other than our core players, we can't even supposedly afford Carlos Delfino or the Birdman

It is a good question. If the Celtics wanted to spend a lot more money could they simply go way over the salary cap and pay the huge penalties as the Lakers will do?

That's my understanding. For all this "salary cap" talk, the only real consequence is paying the luxury tax. But if you put an all star team on the court, the "luxury tax" pays for itself.

This isn't accurate.  The Celtics have no real mechanism to add payroll.

Read here:  http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm

[vinnie]

So I guess what I am hearing/reading here is that Mitch Kupchak is one heck of a general manager, and/or there are so many loopholes in the NBA player/owner agreement that if your smart, there is no salary cap. I just don't get it.

[celtsfan84]

So I guess what I am hearing/reading here is that Mitch Kupchak is one heck of a general manager, and/or there are so many loopholes in the NBA player/owner agreement that if your smart, there is no salary cap. I just don't get it.

The article that Roy linked to is the most comprehensive, understandable, and informative explanation out there, in my opinion.

The general idea is that the NBA's cap is not a hard cap, but is a soft cap, which means that it can be exceeded following the rules of certain cap exceptions.  When a team is over the cap, they can not sign free agents unless an exception is used.

The Celtics are over the cap.  They have the bi-annual exception (which I believe is in the $1.5-$2 million range) and the league minimum exception with which to sign players.  They can also make trades.  Beyond those exceptions, they can not sign players.

[Roy H.]

So I guess what I am hearing/reading here is that Mitch Kupchak is one heck of a general manager, and/or there are so many loopholes in the NBA player/owner agreement that if your smart, there is no salary cap. I just don't get it.

Kupchak is a good GM.

He dumped Lamar Odom on Dallas, picking up a trade exception in the process.  He then used that trade exception on Steve Nash.

During the one season during his tenure that the Lakers missed the playoffs, he drafted Andrew Bynum.  He then flipped Bynum for Howard.

Basically, this off-season couldn't have happened without smart planning and drafting.  It's impressive work.

[scottwedman]

So I guess what I am hearing/reading here is that Mitch Kupchak is one heck of a general manager, and/or there are so many loopholes in the NBA player/owner agreement that if your smart, there is no salary cap. I just don't get it.

Kupchak is a good GM.

He dumped Lamar Odom on Dallas, picking up a trade exception in the process.  He then used that trade exception on Steve Nash.

During the one season during his tenure that the Lakers missed the playoffs, he drafted Andrew Bynum.  He then flipped Bynum for Howard.

Basically, this off-season couldn't have happened without smart planning and drafting.  It's impressive work.

I hate the freaking Lakers - and I hated Kupcake when he was a Bullet - but I'll give him (partial) credit.  No way I thought they'd be able to add Nash and Howard for basically Bynum and garbage.  The other part of the credit, however, goes to the owner for spending that kind of dough.

I hope they go bankrupt.

[CelticG1]

So I guess what I am hearing/reading here is that Mitch Kupchak is one heck of a general manager, and/or there are so many loopholes in the NBA player/owner agreement that if your smart, there is no salary cap. I just don't get it.

Kupchak is a good GM.

He dumped Lamar Odom on Dallas, picking up a trade exception in the process.  He then used that trade exception on Steve Nash.

During the one season during his tenure that the Lakers missed the playoffs, he drafted Andrew Bynum.  He then flipped Bynum for Howard.

Basically, this off-season couldn't have happened without smart planning and drafting.  It's impressive work.

I hate the freaking Lakers - and I hated Kupcake when he was a Bullet - but I'll give him (partial) credit.  No way I thought they'd be able to add Nash and Howard for basically Bynum and garbage.  The other part of the credit, however, goes to the owner for spending that kind of dough.

I hope they go bankrupt.

Yeah and the other "minor part" is the fact that its hollywood

Seems like a lot of guys are more interested in branding and marketing themselves in the NBA these days. In LA those opportunities are limitless

[kozlodoev]

I am sure I could do the research, but I was hoping someone would know offhand. It is astounding how much money they will be paying out next season.

Absolutely not. The Knicks were over $125 million in the days of Isiah Thomas, I believe. Now _that_ is an astounding number.

edit: Found it.
http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries06.txt

[Surferdad]

I am sure I could do the research, but I was hoping someone would know offhand. It is astounding how much money they will be paying out next season.

Absolutely not. The Knicks were over $125 million in the days of Isiah Thomas, I believe. Now _that_ is an astounding number.

edit: Found it.
http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries06.txt

and the Knicke were lousy!  Thomas has to one of the worst GMs ever in this league.

[celtsfan84]

I am sure I could do the research, but I was hoping someone would know offhand. It is astounding how much money they will be paying out next season.

Absolutely not. The Knicks were over $125 million in the days of Isiah Thomas, I believe. Now _that_ is an astounding number.

edit: Found it.
http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries06.txt

Portland's payroll hit $105 million in 2002-03.  That bought them a first round exit at the hands of Dallas.

So I guess what I am hearing/reading here is that Mitch Kupchak is one heck of a general manager, and/or there are so many loopholes in the NBA player/owner agreement that if your smart, there is no salary cap. I just don't get it.

Kupchak is a good GM.

He dumped Lamar Odom on Dallas, picking up a trade exception in the process.  He then used that trade exception on Steve Nash.

During the one season during his tenure that the Lakers missed the playoffs, he drafted Andrew Bynum.  He then flipped Bynum for Howard.

Basically, this off-season couldn't have happened without smart planning and drafting.  It's impressive work.

I hate the freaking Lakers - and I hated Kupcake when he was a Bullet - but I'll give him (partial) credit.  No way I thought they'd be able to add Nash and Howard for basically Bynum and garbage.  The other part of the credit, however, goes to the owner for spending that kind of dough.

I hope they go bankrupt.

A bankrupt Lakers probably means a bankrupt NBA, seeing as they are the league's most valuable franchise.  Something horribly drastic would have to happen to the entire NBA for the Lakers to go bankrupt.  The Celtics would probably go bankrupt before the Lakers.