Are we serous about Dwight? Guess so after reading this...Lin and Asik for Dwight? then go after CP3? Rumors Rumors Rumors....We still need a fkn power fwd... Who's available?

http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-houston-rockets-to-offer-asik-and-lin-for-dwight-howard/2013/06/16/

The Los Angeles Lakers will have a busy free agency period, and their top priority is to bring back center Dwight Howard.

Howard will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and the Lakers will do whatever it takes to keep him for the long run. However, there is growing concern that Howard will leave the Lakers this summer, with teams like the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks rumored to be possible destinations.

The Rockets have enough cap space to spend on Howard this summer, but the team has bigger plans and is looking to add two superstars this summer.

According to ESPN, Houston will offer a sign-and-trade to the Lakers which will ship Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin to Los Angeles in exchange for Howard. As a result, the Rockets will be able to go after Chris Paul and put him alongside Howard and James Harden.

The threat of the James Harden-led Rockets signing Howard away from L.A. is very real to the Lakers, sources said, which means the Lakers will eventually be getting a sign-and-trade pitch from Houston as well. The Rockets will have the cap space to sign Howard outright after the expected shedding of Thomas Robinson’s contract, but sources say that the Rockets will certainly attempt to convince the Lakers to take in return Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin in a sign-and-trade deal for Howard, thus theoretically keeping alive the possibility that Houston could preserve its cap space to pursue Chris Paul and possibly pair Howard with Paul.

However, with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NBA will severely punish those teams with a large salary cap. At this point, the Lakers will have a plethora of cap room for the summer of 2014, but that could all change if they take in multiple large contracts by conducting a sign-and-trade for Howard.

Lakers Nation wrote earlier that the team would rather have Howard walk rather than pull the trigger on a sign-and-trade because of the punitive luxury tax. Nevertheless, the team should look into possible deals such as the Asik-Lin one if they know the All-Star center will not remain in Los Angeles.

------------------------------------
2019 CABG Survivor

2016 OK Survivor Champion

be about it or be without it

RIP GOATs

>We still need a fkn power fwd... Who's available?

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdq7kpfAxr1rgx7ico1_400.gif

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

------------------------------------
2019 CABG Survivor

2016 OK Survivor Champion

be about it or be without it

RIP GOATs

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

to talk about his rpg.

But hey, go for it. A rookie, you've seen play maybe 5 times. Lol

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

You frothing at the mouth and sinking in some quicksand like a Walking Dead zombie.

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

just assumed you doing your UK thing were too, I couldn't even really tell who was in that GIF.

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

i still blame hip-hop.

Lol....you must really hate P-Patt

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

>Lol....you must really hate P-Patt

and as the league is going smaller (and he's a legit 6"9" 250) he's a 4.

And Billy knows how much shit I gave T.Jones at Kentucky cause with that body and system he shoulda been player of the year. He just might be an idiot.

but as far as tools to be a 4 in today's NBA. Yeah, he's got em.

But he's a solid partner for Dwight. He'd play with energy. Grab boards, block some shots.

And everything I'm saying is if he has his head on right, which he has so far in the league.

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

DO YOU KNOW WHY??? as bad as we needed a productive player in that position?????.....hes not playing bcz he doesnt cut it bro...

------------------------------------
2019 CABG Survivor

2016 OK Survivor Champion

be about it or be without it

RIP GOATs

you had talented 4's. they were young as shit, B.
On an Orlando/Milwaukee/Phoenix they'd get tons of tick and time to develop.

rockets were fighting for the playoffs and couldn't really afford to groom em.

they can all play. depending on whose left after FAgency, one of em should be a productive starter next year (likely Jones or Montejunas)

and he'd stay out of Dwight's way.

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

except dontas of course...but he aint ready either...them uk niggas aint much better...i aint see much difference from them and t rob... they BEEN there and cant crack the line up...like i said..WE NEED a PF

------------------------------------
2019 CABG Survivor

2016 OK Survivor Champion

be about it or be without it

RIP GOATs

maybe the blakes and lebron's have spoiled us, however must rookies suck.
most coaches won't play em.

even if you don't get howard, one of them should be league avg pf's next year.

if you do get dwight, with harden, parsons dwight n lin, whomever's at the 4 is gonna eat just due to all the attention paid elsewhere.

im still hopin STAT's knees hold up, man.

be grateful.

WHAT'S GOOD *****? What's REALLY good?!?!????!!! Ha HA!
http://40.media.tumblr.com/d8e2daf9f3f37244cd05436bcdf05973/tumblr_mt4qibKq4c1rgam01o1_1280.png

Golden State, Clippers, okay.

But the Rockets have the money and can offer Dwight the max. So...why would they do this, other than to drop Lin?

------------------------------

17x NBA Champions

thus making signing both CP3 & Dwight more of a realistic possibility.

Not that I don't think a pairing of CP3 and D12 would be great...but the Rockets' depth with Asik would be pretty incredible. Lin isn't overpaid whatsoever.

------------------------------

17x NBA Champions

-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.

But that being said, the Lakers won't sign and trade for those guys. Blake/Bledsoe, okay. But Asik and Lin? No. It'll take away all financial flexibility next summer.

------------------------------

17x NBA Champions

lin will be overpaid next year if he's not already. middle of the pack starting point guard at best. i look at a team with howard and cp3 as an upgrade over a team with asik and lin. who the hell doesnt?

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

But the Lakers won't take Asik and Lin in a S&T.

Lin will be an expiring deal next year and is only making like $7 mil.

------------------------------

17x NBA Champions

like i said, only way i see the lakers taking this is that dwight says he is only going to one place. i guess even then they don't have to S+T, but i think lin and asik would be better than nothing, personally. if in fact lin's contract is an asset and not a liability because of that fat final year, that's all the more reason to do it.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

the only team where lins 5 5 15 would have shown up as a cap figure was the knicks

w/ houston he's PAID 5 5 15, his cap figure is 8.3 8.3 8.3

if he's moved, the team assuming his deal gets him at 8.3

and as far as middling pg's go, he's paid about what george hill and mike conley are, however those guys got 5/40 and 5/45.

2+ years later those deals are reasonable. Lin's is done much quick so *if* he's not worth it, much easier to let go.

i'd take mike conley in a heartbeat over him. hill is a comparable player, sure.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

w/ that tv contract.

as well consider that Alexander is only paying him 5 and 5 the first 2 years w/ a cap figure of 16 combined. So the money is just a deferment on what he's owed.

if you're a fan the only number that should concern you is his cap # as it affects the team's ability to make moves.

what he's paid in cash is immaterial to anyone but Lin and the owner he plays for.

and let's not make it seem that giving mike conley 45 mil over 5 years was praised at the time.

he was (and for the most part still is, statistically) a 13 and 6 guy.

he's able to do some things now that people hadn't seen, and one would hope so, he's been in the league as a starting guard for 5 yrs.

Hill came from San Antonio and was highly valued by them, and hasn't set the world on fire either.

didn't stop either of them from getting 40m deals.

ive always maintained that by ASG season 2, you'll know what Lin is. If he's a bum, someone will take him for a yrs at 8 per or you eat it and he's gone. And if he's worth it and then some, you have an asset you can control.

With or without that tv contract.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

They have traditionally been verrrrrry tight with money, even more recently when they have actually had rich ownership by virtue of the Lakers' assets appreciating (TV deal, soaring ticket gate, etc).

The phrases like "deep pockets" and "will spend whatever to win" don't apply to the Lakers. They maybe apply to the Nyets. I like the Lakers' approach much better, personally.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

resigning dwight and keeping pau that number only makes that number higher due to the cba lux tax penalties kicking in next year.

I completely understand not wanting to pay Lin that because the org feels he's not worth it. Totally.

However it isn't as if they're misers. They spent, have spent, and will spend.

they are still not the mavs, blazers, knicks or nyets in that sense though.

most people here whose opinion i trust seem to think that if D12 re-ups, pau will be moved to cut salary. i cannot evaluate that, personally, i have heard it from people who cover the team regularly.

these are also exceptional circumstances. kobe is keeping their bottom line super high because of where he is in his career and how long he has managed to stay at a high level. when youre dropping $30M with 11 more slots to fill right off the top, caps and thresholds are really not feasible things to deal with.

edit: when i think about asik and lin, yes, they are overpriced for a season but asik is a tremendous value for one year while lin is a decent one. 21M due over two years for your starting 1 and 5. the cap hits average out to less than 10.5M (around 8.3) as someone already pointed out. so in those terms, it's not *so* awful.

again, i think it comes down to pressing on or blowing up. if it's the former, they make the deal. if it's the latter, they tell howard to go sign on the open market or deal him for picks if that is on the table.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.

It's advantageous for them because they move two substantial salaries, including one bad contract from a player whose given them mixed results. Go spend that money on a PG and/or a PF, while adding Dwight in place of their outgoing starter center and a guard they would not mind replacing.

Dwight will want an S+T no matter what, also, more $. A team with the cap space could do it for draft picks, sure, but I think Houston would prefer gaining financial flexibility. Not a too terrible deal for the Lakers either, they will need a center and likely a point guard, too.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

------------------------------------
2019 CABG Survivor

2016 OK Survivor Champion

be about it or be without it

RIP GOATs

-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.

lol

------------------------------------
2019 CABG Survivor

2016 OK Survivor Champion

be about it or be without it

RIP GOATs

If there was someone I hated more than Rondo and ALMOST as much as Richard Jefferson, it's bitch ass Chris Duhon...lol

There were actually a few Laker fans (just a few) trying to say he'd be pretty decent especially running D'Antoni's system

fuck Duhon

-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.

feelings are still hurt over that Lin shit, lol

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

that lin contract is wack and he is a replaceable player for less money.

the only way i see LAL taking that is if howard says houston is the only place he'll go. then they will have to take it because the numbers work and they at least shore up two positions of need with these relative scraps.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

I doubt if the Lakers take that deal unless Howard forces their hand (which is a definite possibility)

It'd be pros and cons for Lin though. He'd play well under D'Antoni, but he'd get CRUCIFIED in LA if he played bad, not just by the media, but also by the mamba.

but he'd get CRUCIFIED in LA if he played bad, not
>just by the media, but also by the mamba.

-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.

We're most likely going to roll with Pau/Nash and Kobe, when he returns, hoping for the best.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

for nothing?

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

Houston is attempting to dump both of those poison pill contracts they signed on the Lakers. This is not worth it. They're better off daring DHo to leave money on the table and walk away without any compensation than damaging their future with this trade.

Jeremy Lin is not worth more than Lebron James.

No empathy for white misery (c) BDot

"root for everybody black haters say that's crazy, wow..."

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

do you want to get zero assets or do you want to get something? asik is a fair value for his contract, that poison pill year could turn into an asset.

too many question marks for now to evaluate this deal. will there be more than one player in the D12 sweepstakes? what will become of steve nash?

if they are setting up to pare down totally for upcoming UFA classes, yes, what you are saying is true. if they are going to ride the fence at all, i think getting something is typically better than getting nothing.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

tons of tv money, and the Lakers and LA itself.

they're not like teams who can't draw FAgents and always need something back.

and depending on how things pan out, assets might be the better move. it's a pretty narrow set of circumstances where a lin/asik acquisition might be a good move, but it does exist.

for all this talk of LA's appeal, they haven't landed one big name FA since shaq. you could argue GP and Malone, but that was a one-year thing with two old guys trying to outrun the sun. they brought in dwight and nash, well dwight doesn't seem thrilled with "all it has to offer" and nash basically fucked them out of $27M.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

so FAgents in and of themselves aren't the only reason you'd want to have it.

Im a NYG fan. they don't do big free agents. draft, cut people left and right, restructure contracts, and keep it moving. there's no star power grabs.

the Lakers, they HAVE to bring in a star. That's what they do. and that space is the asset. They're not gonna be Pacers west with shrewd drafting and player development.

Someone w/ a name who puts asses in the seats is coming.

since Shaq though? I can't think of any time where they targeted anyone and missed out, in that time.

this has been at least 3 CBAs now where S+T is the preferred way to move a star with no contract, or a deal in the final year or years of their current deal. in both cases, the salaries have almost always matched within the 15% and typically the team acquiring the star had no significant cap space, if it had any at all.

LeBron and Bosh were exceptions, even there it was S+T but only for picks so that differed from the norm. Outside of that, Amare and Boozer, who arent quite marquee guys, OK. Some of the second deal guys walked (JJ, Arenas) but those were RFA situations and no one can tell me those guys were stars at the time, they got paid on potential.

KG, Deron, Melo, AI, Shaq (to MIA), Paul, Gasol, ZBo, D12 et al, the stars that got moved all came via trade or sign and trade, and in either instance they went to teams that didn't have the cap space to absorb their salaries.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

So while to say we can't attract big name free agents sounds bad on the surface, it's a very simple matter of NBA economics.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

the knicks had cap space for amare, sure, but not melo. they found a way. most of these guys don't hit the open market or even if they do it's an S+T. in this day and age of players forcing deals, if a team or market or whatever is that attractive, it can happen. like ainge said, cap space is totally overrated. it's not the way you get big names. look at the big names that have changed hands since shaq. other than miami's group, they have all come via trade one way or another, either as their contract wound down or an S+T

the open market signings have been mostly crap, really. those are the moves where you need cap space.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

Asik signed a similar deal. I'm team linsanity all the way but he's not worth $20 million for one year. Those aren't legit assets due to their contracts.

No empathy for white misery (c) BDot

"root for everybody black haters say that's crazy, wow..."

The deal still sucks.

No empathy for white misery (c) BDot

"root for everybody black haters say that's crazy, wow..."

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

I said he makes $20 mill thinking of the poison pill Toronto signed.
The final year was 14.8.

I was $5+ million off.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId=8175591&city=newyork&src=desktop

No empathy for white misery (c) BDot

"root for everybody black haters say that's crazy, wow..."

The Rockets actually pay him 8.4 per year. The 'poison pill' is structured in a way that would have made NY pay him that 14.8 in the final year.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

Houston has to explore it a bit for the chance at CP3 adn Dwight who are better than Lin and Asik.

Lin would be the best starting pg the lakers have had in years lol - and would be nice back in the D'antoni system

Asik would pair nicely with Pau.

Will be nice to see Truth renounce his Lakerfandom for agenda purposes

---
"though time has passed, im still the future" (c) black thought

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

>Lin would be the best starting pg the lakers have had in years

>Asik would pair nicely with Pau.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

No way the lakers agree to do this

-----------------------------------------------------------------

if dwight wants to be out just let him walk , tank next yr (imagine if they got wiggins lol), and wait for the 2014 FA class
da fuck would you take on two role players for 16 mil then hope you could dump them the year EVERYBODY is trying to dump money for?
at least the blake/bledsoe thing makes sense from a long term perspective
getting lin/asik doesn't make sense in the short or long term

~~~~~~

you have dumbfucks here hollering about "building around" kobe bryant. i guess they think that mikan/slater martin thunder and lightning combo could get healthy any day now, too, and elgin baylor's knee might come around to really put them in business.

if they were making smart business decisions, they'd amnesty nash, shed pau's salary and buy kobe out so he could pursue some other option once he is healthy. but they are not. if they were, they wouldnt have signed nash in the first place. they made bad basketball decisions (eddie fucking jordan) that cost them $, too, regardless of what one thinks of pringles (maybe another two-front mistake).

they should tell howard to go screw. spiting him over the money and saving cash themselves are both good moves. scrap this whole disaster, re-load based on financial flexibility and the franchise's prominence, which is still at least somewhat of an asset. but they wont do that, kobe will rush back and they will spend another year trying to slap something together for him.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

they're not gonna do that because it's retarded to let howard walk to clear room for 2014 to sign a player worse than howard

him if he is amenable to it. i didnt think that was unclear, since i have said over and over that they should make every effort to re-sign him to a max deal, and the context was his being traded or being let go for cap space.

if he tells them he wants out? i say fuck it, let him walk for nothing, start scrapping this old roster, get a big pick this year, spend your ass off in 2014.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

bad mouthing howard on some "fuck em, we dont need em" bullshit or "he's NOT a max player!"

lol, yes they need him and if he isnt a max player to them, then he is to 29 other teams.

anyway i think we are on the same page here.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

__________________________
Duke, Knicks, Yankess, Giants, UGA, Rangers

Binlahab droppin science on the youth

"youre frustrated now? in undergrad? reading books all day?,
surrounded by more nubile unattached pussy than you will be in your life?"

The goal then would be to keep Parsons long term and either try to flip Lin and Asik on draft day or find a taker for one or both of their expiring deals in S&T scenarios for free agents.

Honestly, we could still be major players in the 2014 FA class while fielding a competitive team next year. Overall, it's a best case scenario if Dwight is determined to go to Houston. Those three+Nah and Pau should make for a pretty good squad, and young those legs on this team can't possibly hurt. Parsons figures to take another step forward as it is, so why not? That's a good deal for LA both short and long term. Possibly the best realistically possible deal there is.

On the surface, Houston has all the leverage in this situation and wouldn't need to include Parsons to get it done, but it would be in the Rockets best interest if they want to pursue Paul. It's a small price to pay to secure a legit Big Three. Otherwise, they can add Dwight and try again next year.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

are loading up for 2014 FA. there are just too many questions to have a real clear plan of attack, apart from something extreme like a total commitment to keeping this group together for the season or a total commitment to shedding salary and age to start from scratch next summer.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

If Dwight decides to leave, Pau is pretty much a lock to stay on the team until the deadline at a minimum, mostly likely staying until his money comes off the books along with Kobe and Ron, who probably opts in this year.

The future of Nash and Pau are pretty secure for this upcoming season. Only Dwight comes into question this year, and that's the only reason this scenario comes into play. The company line has repeatedly been in looking toward the 2014 season, in which case Pau is going nowhere until then.

The whole point is we would get some talent for at least this year (Asik/Lin), potential long term talent in Parsons, while maintaining some measure of long term flexibility while allowing us to sign one major FA outright next year while having three expiring deals starting next summer to use as assets to obtain another star.

The health of Nash is of some considerable concern, but that's the case regardless of what else is going on.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

i get the pros and cons of the deal here and mostly agree with you if you look at my initial response to this proposal. with those guys in year two of their deals, they are due $10M in actual salary each year essentially. that is not terrible for a starting 1/5, and the cap hits are averaged out to less than the payout.

like i said, if they are going to keep this group together, they make this deal. personally, i'd start thinking about blowing it up sooner than later. they have nothing going forward. they could save money, acquire assets and take a clear direction. but it doesn't make short term financial sense, plus they dont want to get into a PR storm by dogging kobe out in any way.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

>like i said, if they are going to keep this group together,
>they make this deal.

>personally, i'd start thinking about
>blowing it up sooner than later. they have nothing going
>forward. they could save money, acquire assets and take a
>clear direction. but it doesn't make short term financial
>sense, plus they dont want to get into a PR storm by dogging
>kobe out in any way.

The scenario I laid out gives us a chance to compete at a reasonable level next year, especially if Kobe comes back at his projected pace anywhere near last years level, keeps us as players in the FA market next summer, and gives us a long term player.

I'd like to get this ball rolling ASAP but there are too many assets around to go into a full blown rebuild.

Pau could conceivably net some solid pieces and using the amnesty on Kobe would free up cap room in addition to letting Dwight walk, but more than a PR disaster, there's nobody to sign this year because Paul has no incentive to come and unless we make Monta and Josh Smith our priorities. That would effectively mean we accept mediocrity for the next five years. There are some big fish potentially swimming next year though, and we're in prime position to make that move.

It's all uncertain, but IMO that's the best overall scenario with potential availability IMO.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

>The scenario I laid out gives us a chance to compete at a
>reasonable level next year, especially if Kobe comes back at
>his projected pace anywhere near last years level, keeps us as
>players in the FA market next summer, and gives us a long term
>player.

Even if they were 100% this year, with Howard, they would not have been a true contender. They would have won the division most likely, certainly been a higher seed, but they didn't have enough. Now Nash is a year older, Pau is a year older, Kobe is hurt and D12 is gone. They could "compete" financially, making a lot more money with that group (but paying it out also), but not in a competitive sense.

There is no way Nash-Kobe-Pau gives you a chance at a title, and for a year of lucrative mediocrity you are sacrificing a chance to do things right for the long haul.

>I'd like to get this ball rolling ASAP but there are too many
>assets around to go into a full blown rebuild.

Yeah but look at those "assets." Kobe played very well this year, but he's way up there with one year left. Give him the opportunity to make the most of it, also pocket some money. Nash and Gasol were hurt all season, they each have two years left at a maximum.

Their situation is a lot like the Cs. They have vets who have earned respect and still have something in the tank, but the writing is on the wall. The team needs to undergo a major overhaul and get younger. The longer you wait, the more opportunities you pass up and the less value those older guys have to other franchises.

>Pau could conceivably net some solid pieces and using the
>amnesty on Kobe would free up cap room in addition to letting
>Dwight walk, but more than a PR disaster, there's nobody to
>sign this year because Paul has no incentive to come and
>unless we make Monta and Josh Smith our priorities. That would
>effectively mean we accept mediocrity for the next five years.
>There are some big fish potentially swimming next year
>though, and we're in prime position to make that move.

I see it differently, I see this year's cleanup as a way to get a good pick next year and also get the ball rolling on a rebuild in 2014. Youre right that there is no one to sign this year, but a blowup now ensures their paper is straight for 2014, lets them save some money (though that would be offset some by lower ticket gate), gives these veterans a fair shot to play out their career elsewhere and generally says "we are looking to build something great soon, come be a part of it." I think sticking with these guys is what would ensure prolonged mediocrity. They all wind up walking for nothing after 2-3 high priced, unsuccessful seasons together. By then, 2014 UFAs are all signed.

Now, that said, I am not a guy who talks up cap space or open market deals. I also dont think the Lakers have *all* the appeal some people seem to believe they do. However, they are not a franchise that is going to rebuild through the draft.

>It's all uncertain, but IMO that's the best overall scenario
>with potential availability IMO.

It's a tough call. The Howard thing obviously determines the direction, he holds all the cards at this point.

And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.