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

[JSD]

Ridding Nash will cost Randle. However, they could use the stretch provision here to spread the hit out and keep Randle?

[JSD]

Gasol
Randle
Melo (4 years $97 M)
Kobe
Nash/Marshall

MLE
Sacre
A bunch of vet minimums

This is a cusp playoff team in the west.

[knuckleballer]

The Lakers have made some awful decisions the past few years.
Hiring Mike Brown
Hiring Mike D'Antoni
Burning their relationship with Phil Jackson
Trading 4 draft picks (including two first round) for a 38 year old Steve Nash and giving him a 3 year deal
Giving an injured Kobe a two year extension for $48.5 million for his age 36/37 year old seasons.

I hope the trend continues.

[Fafnir]

Gasol
Randle
Melo (4 years $97 M)
Kobe
Nash/Marshall

MLE
Sacre
A bunch of vet minimums

This is a cusp playoff team in the west.

Is it?

I have my doubts. Relies on Kobe coming back full strength to get to even that level and is relying a lot on Randle/Gasol.

Also note that if the Lakers use cap space to sign Melo they will have no MLE. They'd have to do some sort of sign and trade to preserve it and they have nothing to offer the Knicks of value to help them out.

[JSD]

Gasol
Randle
Melo (4 years $97 M)
Kobe
Nash/Marshall

MLE
Sacre
A bunch of vet minimums

This is a cusp playoff team in the west.

Is it?

I have my doubts. Relies on Kobe coming back full strength to get to even that level and is relying a lot on Randle/Gasol.

Also note that if the Lakers use cap space to sign Melo they will have no MLE. They'd have to do some sort of sign and trade to preserve it and they have nothing to offer the Knicks of value to help them out.

So you don't even think that team sniffs the playoffs as an 8th seed?

[Fafnir]

Gasol
Randle
Melo (4 years $97 M)
Kobe
Nash/Marshall

MLE
Sacre
A bunch of vet minimums

This is a cusp playoff team in the west.

Is it?

I have my doubts. Relies on Kobe coming back full strength to get to even that level and is relying a lot on Randle/Gasol.

Also note that if the Lakers use cap space to sign Melo they will have no MLE. They'd have to do some sort of sign and trade to preserve it and they have nothing to offer the Knicks of value to help them out.

So you don't even think that team sniffs the playoffs as an 8th seed?

Not really.

Perimeter defense would be a huge problem, I think Gasol/Randle is similarly limited defensively. So they'd have to wins games entirely on offense. I mean they have 4 minus defenders at least and that's if you count Melo as neutral.

They'd score points, but I can't see that roster making the the playoffs out west. I think Melo is a worse player than Dwight Howard and a Lakers team with him and a younger/healthier Kobe barely made it.

And the West has gotten better.

[JSD]

You know what? You're probably right. The Lakers are essentially screwed for the life of Kobe's contract unless they can bring in James this offseason.

[MBunge]

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...

Neither Melo, nor LeBron nor Bosh is taking 16.5 mil to go to LA.  Melo might take the max.  That only leaves 12 mil or so left and that assumes they can get rid of Nash.

The best case scenario for LA is Kobe, Melo, Gasol, Randle and scraps.  That ain't winning anything out West.  And in 2 years when Kobe's gone, they're gonna rebuild around a 32 year old Melo on a max contract? 

The Lakers are screwed.

Mike

[Rodan45]

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...

Neither Melo, nor LeBron nor Bosh is taking 16.5 mil to go to LA.  Melo might take the max.  That only leaves 12 mil or so left and that assumes they can get rid of Nash.

The best case scenario for LA is Kobe, Melo, Gasol, Randle and scraps.  That ain't winning anything out West.  And in 2 years when Kobe's gone, they're gonna rebuild around a 32 year old Melo on a max contract? 

The Lakers are screwed.

Mike

"Some men just want to watch the world burn."