So... What the heck are the Lakers going to do?

[LarBrd33]

Simmons today:

Bill Simmons @BillSimmons  ?  51m

Hearing the Lakers made a MAJOR impact on Melo this week - it's now a legit 3-way battle between LA/Chi/NYK to land him. Crazy NBA weekend.

LA will always be in position to make immediate upgrades. 

Good news is that if the Lakers land Melo, we can add them to the list of potential suitors for Rondo.   Rondo for Randle + Nash's expiring/retiring contract would make some sense for us.

[Ogaju]

why would we want to make LA better?

[LarBrd33]

why would we want to make LA better?

I think if we need to trade Rondo, we do it without worrying about where we send him... since the team will not be relevant for a few more years anyways. 

[soap07]

If Kobe signed a reasonable contract extension, LAL could have had enough cap space to sign two max contract players this summer. That would have been a game changer for them. Allowed them to instantly rebuild and put a contender back on the floor.

Kobe chose money over (on court) success. Kobe has only himself to blame when LAL fail to build another title contender around him.

Oh please. If cap rules didn't exist, Kobe's market value over the years would've been far above the money he has made. The Lakers have made a ton of money off him. With the way the CBA is set up, basketball players, at the top level, are already limited in the money they can make. Why shouldn't Kobe get his money? If owners want to win, go into the luxury tax, but don't blame players for having to take less than they're worth.

[Fafnir]

If Kobe signed a reasonable contract extension, LAL could have had enough cap space to sign two max contract players this summer. That would have been a game changer for them. Allowed them to instantly rebuild and put a contender back on the floor.

Kobe chose money over (on court) success. Kobe has only himself to blame when LAL fail to build another title contender around him.

Oh please. If cap rules didn't exist, Kobe's market value over the years would've been far above the money he has made. The Lakers have made a ton of money off him. With the way the CBA is set up, basketball players, at the top level, are already limited in the money they can make. Why shouldn't Kobe get his money? If owners want to win, go into the luxury tax, but don't blame players for having to take less than they're worth.

You're missing the point, if the Lakers had Kobe on a reasonable deal they could acquire two elite players to pair with him.

Currently they can only acquire one, which has nothing to do with whether or not the Lakers ownership is willing to pay the luxury tax and spend on the roster.

Kobe chose money over the best chance at putting a good team around him in his last few years. That was his choice, arguing about his past market value doesn't change that choice.

[LarBrd33]

If Kobe signed a reasonable contract extension, LAL could have had enough cap space to sign two max contract players this summer. That would have been a game changer for them. Allowed them to instantly rebuild and put a contender back on the floor.

Kobe chose money over (on court) success. Kobe has only himself to blame when LAL fail to build another title contender around him.

Oh please. If cap rules didn't exist, Kobe's market value over the years would've been far above the money he has made. The Lakers have made a ton of money off him. With the way the CBA is set up, basketball players, at the top level, are already limited in the money they can make. Why shouldn't Kobe get his money? If owners want to win, go into the luxury tax, but don't blame players for having to take less than they're worth.

You're missing the point, if the Lakers had Kobe on a reasonable deal they could acquire two elite players to pair with him.

Currently they can only acquire one, which has nothing to do with whether or not the Lakers ownership is willing to pay the luxury tax and spend on the roster.

Kobe chose money over the best chance at putting a good team around him in his last few years. That was his choice, arguing about his past market value doesn't change that choice.

Only thing preventing them from signing two max contract players is Nash's expiring contract... which they could use in a sign-and-trade scenario.

[Who]

If Kobe signed a reasonable contract extension, LAL could have had enough cap space to sign two max contract players this summer. That would have been a game changer for them. Allowed them to instantly rebuild and put a contender back on the floor.

Kobe chose money over (on court) success. Kobe has only himself to blame when LAL fail to build another title contender around him.

Oh please. If cap rules didn't exist, Kobe's market value over the years would've been far above the money he has made. The Lakers have made a ton of money off him. With the way the CBA is set up, basketball players, at the top level, are already limited in the money they can make. Why shouldn't Kobe get his money? If owners want to win, go into the luxury tax, but don't blame players for having to take less than they're worth.

You're missing the point, if the Lakers had Kobe on a reasonable deal they could acquire two elite players to pair with him.

Currently they can only acquire one, which has nothing to do with whether or not the Lakers ownership is willing to pay the luxury tax and spend on the roster.

Kobe chose money over the best chance at putting a good team around him in his last few years. That was his choice, arguing about his past market value doesn't change that choice.

Only thing preventing them from signing two max contract players is Nash's expiring contract... which they could use in a sign-and-trade scenario.

You are right. They can get pretty [dang] close to two max contracts. Wow, did not realize that. Lakers really saved by that extra $5 million cap increase. Did not realize that.

Kobe at $23.5 million. Randle around $2.5 million cap hold. About $4 million for 8 cap holds. That is $30 milllion. That would leave LAL with $33 million total or $16.5 million starting salary for two near max contracts. One for Melo. One for Bosh? Or ... LeBron?

LAL much more attractive free agent destination than I had realized due to that.

[JSD]

Here we go...

Melo s&t for Nash and Randle. Watch.

[JSD]

Do the Knicks own their own picks next season?

[Who]

I do not think LAL need to give Randle to move Nash's contract.

I believe the Lakers could move Nash's contract for 2 future first rounders. Maybe even a single first, a 2015 first (top 5 protected), if a GM was bullish about LAL missing playoffs next season.

There were rumours of LAL offering Randle and Nash prior to draft in a trade but that was in a move that brought them back a quality player. Like Michael Carter Williams from Philly. Not a straight salary dump. Giving up a #7 lotto pick for a $9.7 million cap dump is excessive and unnecessary. LAL can move Nash's contract at much cheaper price (1-2 future firsts).

[LarBrd33]

Here we go...

Melo s&t for Nash and Randle. Watch.

and if they did that, they then have max cap room for Bron or whoever

[LarBrd33]

If Kobe signed a reasonable contract extension, LAL could have had enough cap space to sign two max contract players this summer. That would have been a game changer for them. Allowed them to instantly rebuild and put a contender back on the floor.

Kobe chose money over (on court) success. Kobe has only himself to blame when LAL fail to build another title contender around him.

Oh please. If cap rules didn't exist, Kobe's market value over the years would've been far above the money he has made. The Lakers have made a ton of money off him. With the way the CBA is set up, basketball players, at the top level, are already limited in the money they can make. Why shouldn't Kobe get his money? If owners want to win, go into the luxury tax, but don't blame players for having to take less than they're worth.

You're missing the point, if the Lakers had Kobe on a reasonable deal they could acquire two elite players to pair with him.

Currently they can only acquire one, which has nothing to do with whether or not the Lakers ownership is willing to pay the luxury tax and spend on the roster.

Kobe chose money over the best chance at putting a good team around him in his last few years. That was his choice, arguing about his past market value doesn't change that choice.

Only thing preventing them from signing two max contract players is Nash's expiring contract... which they could use in a sign-and-trade scenario.

You are right. They can get pretty [dang] close to two max contracts. Wow, did not realize that. Lakers really saved by that extra $5 million cap increase. Did not realize that.

Kobe at $23.5 million. Randle around $2.5 million cap hold. About $4 million for 8 cap holds. That is $30 milllion. That would leave LAL with $33 million total or $16.5 million starting salary for two near max contracts. One for Melo. One for Bosh? Or ... LeBron?

LAL much more attractive free agent destination than I had realized due to that.

I've been telling people that since the day they signed Kobe, but the perception remained that they made a "horrible move".   

And you're right.  They don't need to give up Randle. If Melo goes to the Knicks and says, "look.. im signing with the Lakers.  They have the cap space.  Either watch me sign there or take back a couple 2nd rounders in a sign-and-trade", the Knicks probably opt to take back an asset or two.  It wouldn't need to be Randle.

They could come out of this with Kobe, Melo, Bron and Randle...

[KGs Knee]

Just to note, LA can not trade a 1st round pick until 2019, and even that would be a conditional pick that could potentially not be conveyed until 2021.

Don't think that is going to entice anyone to take Nash.

And I highly doubt Melo or LeBron is willing to take the pay cut a $16m contract would represent. The 10 year max is approx $22m.

[JSD]

Just to note, LA can not trade a 1st round pick until 2019, and even that would be a conditional pick that could potentially not be conveyed until 2021.

Don't think that is going to entice anyone to take Nash.

And I highly doubt Melo or LeBron is willing to take the pay cut a $16m contract would represent. The 10 year max is approx $22m.

Tp for the good info. Do you have a link about the picks?

[Who]

Just to note, LA can not trade a 1st round pick until 2019, and even that would be a conditional pick that could potentially not be conveyed until 2021.

Don't think that is going to entice anyone to take Nash.

And I highly doubt Melo or LeBron is willing to take the pay cut a $16m contract would represent. The 10 year max is approx $22m.

Tp for the good info. Do you have a link about the picks?

Yeah, great stuff.

Forgot LAL owed all those first round picks. Nash trade and Dwight trade.

I thought the max was closer to $19-20 million. $22 million down to $16.5 million is a big difference.