Lakers: Over the Luxury Tax Threshold
August is usually the vacation month for the NBA but after signing four players to contracts (Luke Walton, Chris Mihm, Derek Fisher and Javaris Crittenton), it would appear the Los Angeles Lakers have done the bulk of their summer heavy lifting and have begun their holiday a little early.
The furor caused by Kobe Bryant's trade demand has subsided. Kobe Bryant presented a professional front recently in Las Vegas as he scrimmaged with Team USA. The last conversation (known publicly) between Kobe Bryant and General Manager Mitch Kupchak was an apology from the Laker guard.
Kobe Bryant hasn't necessarily taken his demand off the table . . . but he has tempered it some. The new plan is to "wait and see."
To date the Los Angeles Lakers have tried and failed in their quest to land Kevin Garnett (but then so has every other suitor). If the Minnesota Timberwolves renew their efforts to trade the former MVP, the Los Angeles Lakers will certainly make a pitch.
To count on such a long shot would be foolhardy, so LA for now has moved on.
The same can be said for Jermaine O'Neal who remains available . . . but not at a price the Los Angeles Lakers would deem acceptable.
Allegedly LA made a pitch for Gerald Wallace, orchestrated by agent Rob Pelinka who represents Wallace and Kobe Bryant. The bait was reportedly Lamar Odom in a three-way deal with the Charlotte Bobcats and New Jersey Nets.
Though it may have been a move the Los Angeles Lakers considered, it never reached critical mass. Agent proposed deals are far more common than the average fan might suspect . . . but like nearly all trade discussions, most fall flat.
Kobe Bryant may not be thrilled with the team's changes so far this summer. Fans may not be thrilled with the team's changes so far this summer. Even Coach Phil Jackson may not be thrilled with the team's changes so far this summer.
Nonetheless, LA may not have much opportunity to improve beyond the moves already made. Their first round draft pick, Javaris Crittenton, was very impressive on the Las Vegas Summer League squad. His experience in high school running a version of the triangle should make his rookie transition somewhat easier. He may contribute despite Jackson's tendency not to give much time to first year players.
Javaris Crittenton signed a $1,285,200 contract and technically cannot be traded until August 3rd. There's very little chance LA would move him, but the trade restriction is worth noting.
For the record, the team's three free agent signings cannot be traded until December 15th. Fisher signed a three year deal starting at $4,352,000. Mihm inked for just two years at $2.5 million a year. Barring injury or poor performance he's expected to opt out of his deal after next season.
Finally Walton signed a six year deal starting at $4 million. His contract doesn't expire until the summer of 2013 but he's only on hook for $5.8 million in the final year of his deal.
The Los Angeles Lakers have 14 players under contract for a total of $70,532,742. The luxury tax threshold this season is $67,865,000 which puts LA $2,667,742 over the mark. In addition to the dollar for dollar penalty, LA would also lose out on the corresponding tax redistribution which may total $2+ million. After the season the tax paid out by teams over the tax gets redirected back to teams under the threshold.
If they were to sign a rookie like Coby Karl to a minimum salary of $427,163 . . . the price tag with the tax is $854,326. If LA uses the $1 million they have left of their mid-level exception . . . that's a total outlay of $2 million.
Barring a cost cutting move, the team's total salary would be roughly $75 million (including the $2+ million in lost redistribution.).
With that in mind, would it surprise anyone if the Los Angeles Lakers tried to trade someone like Brian Cook to a team with cap space or a trade exception?
Subtract Cook's $3.5 million contract and the team's payroll would total $67,032,742 . . . just under the tax threshold. Factor in the money they would get back for not paying taxes and number shrinks to about $65 million.
In other words dropping Cook's $3.5 million salary could end up saving the team $10 million. Perhaps they're regretting that extension now, even if Cook is a dead-eye shooter?
There's no hint that such a move is in the works but it's worth keeping an eye on. The team has publicly indicated they'd be willing to pay extra for a contender. Certainly the Los Angeles Lakers have improved over last year's debacle but even with the assumption of health are they a favorite to make it as far as the Conference Finals? Probably not.
One more technical note: Kwame Brown has a 7.5% trade kicker. If he is moved this summer his salary will count as $9,075,000 for the Los Angeles Lakers . . . but the incoming team would have to cut him a check for $680,625 and count his incoming salary as $9,755,625.
The Bottom Line
If the Los Angeles Lakers have the opportunity to improve, they'll take it. The buzz is that Andrew Bynum has been very dedicated this summer. The team's future rests on his young shoulders, especially if the team does not make another move.
As talented as Kobe Bryant is, the Los Angeles Lakers need an inside presence. If it won't come from without, Andrew Bynum will have to bring it from within.
In the meantime, the team has added depth and experience within the triangle offense. If they can stay healthy and get past Kobe Bryant's disillusionment . . . 50+ wins and a solid playoff run is not out of the question.
No one will mistake them as a championship contender but they are better than probably 20 other teams in the association.
It's easy for fans to say, "Well then send the Sacramento Kings Kwame Brown and Jordan Farmar for Ron Artest" . . . but it's an entirely different thing if you're Mitch Kupchak and the Kings aren't willing to make that move in July (or perhaps any time in the foreseeable future).
Ultimately there is a lot of time before training camp. A trade still could materialize but fans should expect the following roster come opening night (rotation to be determined):
PG Derek Fisher/Jordan Farmar/Javaris Crittenton
SG Kobe Bryant/Mo Evans/Sasha Vujacic
SF Luke Walton/Vladimir Radmanovic
PF Lamar Odom/Ronny Turiaf/Brian Cook
C Andrew Bynum/Kwame Brown/Chris Mihm
KEY NEWSLINES
Miami Herald: "After three years, the NBA and ABC wisely concluded the novelty has worn off Shaq vs. Kobe/Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas. Instead, word is the NBA will have the Heat play in Cleveland on Christmas, creating a Dwyane Wade vs. LeBron James matchup. Though the schedule circulating is tentative, Heat-Cavs is expected to be one of two ABC games that day, a league source said. The Heat is tentatively set to open at home against Detroit on Nov. 1."
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Asked about bypassing the opportunity to play for Pat Riley and alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, Williams offered the type of response that gave pause. "I mean, we all see Miami from the outside looking in and say, 'OK, they've got Pat Riley in Miami,' " Williams said. "But people don't know, everything that looks good on the outside, everything is not peaches and cream on the other side of the field." A way of re-ingratiating himself in Milwaukee? Possibly. But he did re-sign with the Bucks after talking with Riley, the only coach in the NBA yet to commit to next season. And Williams also is represented by agent Mark Bartelstein, who also represents Antoine Walker and James Posey, players suspended last season by Riley for failing to meet his seemingly draconian conditioning standards. Perhaps Williams' comment is much ado about nothing. Or perhaps the cynics have a point, that the luster is gone from a franchise where the coach waffles and South Beach no longer seduces."
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Bucks restricted free agent Charlie Bell is next on the team's list, after the signings of Desmond Mason and Williams. Bell also is represented by Bartelstein, the agent for Williams and Bucks forward Bobby Simmons. "We've been talking throughout the process with Mo," Harris said. "We certainly know he (Bell) wants to be here, and we want to have him here."
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