Back to the motherland? Or at least the mother continent?
Those Sasha Vujacic negotiations aren't going all that well, it seems, and the LAT's Steve Springer reports that Sasha is prepared to take a deal in Europe if the Lakers won't pony up. How much of this is posturing, it's hard to say- I'm not in the room in which negotiations are taking place- but it's a credible threat, given Vujacic's roots and the recent decision by former Hawks forward Josh Childress to play in Greece.
Having lost Ronny Turiaf, to then lose Sasha would do some serious damage to the team's depth, a strength last season for sure. The pair would also need to be replaced, meaning they'll have to pay someone (with the unavoidable luxury tax penalties), and looking over the free agent lists, the possibilities aren't enticing. I'd encourage them not to get too stuck on a few million here, especially on a player who fills some very specific needs (outside shooting, aggressive-if-not-always-intelligent play defensively) and unlike Turiaf, played a lot of important fourth quarter minutes last season.
More from Janis Carr of the OC Register.
Stay tuned.
BK
i enjoy watch Sasha but not at what he wants. Sasha needs to remember there are hungry talented player out there waiting for a shot. Sasha is a key role player...the word being ROLE... a good energy off the bench player but not one consistently produce. Yes he will get better but so will others. If he is after the big bucks Europe is the answer. What he should take is a shorter contract..prove himself...and get the big nba $$$$$
Posted by: alohaland | July 24, 2008 at 11:01 PM
comparison to Luke and Vlade,,,yes Sasha is better ...no arguement to that....but does the lakers want to make the same kind of mistake. Luke had promise and a good year prior to his contact.... Vlade did well in a different system. Sasha needs to put back to back to back good years and he will command the bigger $$$$$
Posted by: alohaland | July 24, 2008 at 11:06 PM
This lack of news until today is like the sinking feeling an attorney gets when the jury is out too long.
Frankly, if the Lakers fail to re-sign Sasha, I am going to be one extremely angry fan. We've seen far too often that players are not interchangeable parts. You can't just replace Sasha with another guard and expect the same results.
Mitch Kupchak assured us after the Finals that very few changes were needed or contemplated going into next season. As fans, we need to hold Kupchak's feet to the fire and demand that the Sasha deal gets done. As I've said previously, if money is an issue, just start the season with 14 players on the roster.
After investing in Sasha all the seasons he was an 11 am shooter only, that investment has now paid off. What do you do, just kiss it goodbye?
As has already been expressed by so many of you, money is being wasted on Luke and Vlad as the result of poor Front Office decision making. So now, the fans must be victimized by another poor Front Office decision that it can't afford Sasha? I say, that's ridiculous.
Mitch: Give Sasha the money. Maybe the players can't take a pay cut, but the GM can. Take it out of your pocket, Mitch. Give Sasha the money.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | July 24, 2008 at 11:19 PM
just to clear up my last post - i'm betting that a deal gets made for sasha but that the MLE doesn't get used on another player(s). we'll probably have a 14-man roster to start the year (including Coby and Sun Yue)... unless we pick up a 15th player at minimum, not fully guaranteed for the year.
Posted by: dave m | July 24, 2008 at 11:22 PM
"considering the Lakers aren’t offering him more than a qualifying one-year deal worth $2.6 million."
What a stinky offer! No wonder Sasha's pissed. 4 years, $15 million would be more like it. He's young, there's no reason to only offer him a one-year deal, unless it's to try and stay under the cap for one year while Lamar's contract is still bloated. But then you have to negotiate again in a year, so what's the point?
Posted by: Very Nearly the Absolute Truth | July 24, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Hey,
It was me who googled Ding How, and found out that according to google there is a Ding How in Prattville, and I even gave the address....
Let's keep it civil here, I told him to watch his grammar and spelling and I think he's doing a pretty good job. As far as I know and am concerned, I don't want this guy to be stereotyped on this blog as "Hop Sing", which isn't all that funny from my angle (also Asian, not Oriental, cuz that would be a "rug").....
Is it just me, or does this blog sometimes jumble what you type in, then you post it, the you look like "Let's go c's", BTW, congratulations for coming out of the closet. It did make sense, what that post said about him.....he's a closet Laker fan...and probably more...
Posted by: humanomaly | July 24, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Mike.
Let’s see, your theory is that the Lakers are going to get rid of several existing players because they can’t play defense, including Sasha, Mihm, Walton, and Radmanovic – oh, hell, let’s just say every white guy on the team – in order to completely remake the roster into a defensive oriented roster headed by Kwame Brown, whom you claim is a superior defensive player who can seal-the-lane, which must mean sticking to your man like glue while letting everybody else’s man drive to the rim for uncontested layups.
Is that about right? We were 2 games from an NBA championship and you’re going to remake the roster and build it around a guy that nobody else in the entire NBA is willing to even offer the veteran’s minimum? And this is the secret plan of the Lakers front office that has just been discovered by you personally, all based on a single paragraph in Bill Ingram’s HoopsWorld article. Wow, what a revelation, Mike. What a wet dream!
Oh, and I forgot now Phil Jackson is really great and you were misled before when you published 486 editions of the Jackson Journal condemning what a terrible coach Phil was. Do I have that all about right now, Mike. I think so. And I rest my case.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 24, 2008 at 11:31 PM
they can't let him go now, especially after all those potential cheerleaders learned how to spell his name =P
Posted by: taka | July 24, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Looks like the Lakers that were once thought to be destined for a certain dynasty will have trouble making third place in the Pacific next season.
Yes, the SUNS are indeed having the more successful post-Finals season.
7-foot Robin Lopez played vs the US Men's National team as part of the elite summer league stars, and dominated the veteran bigs such as D-How and Booze Drinker.
Alando Tucker, Big 10 Playa of Tha Year chosen ahead of Greg Oden for that honor in 2007, will be getting more time, as will DJ Strawberry. That's two athletic 6'5" 215-pound guards the SUNS didn't use last season.
And then there's Matt Barnes, a long defensive wing who can finish and hit threes. Him and Grant Hill and Boris Diaw will man the SF position...compared to ragmanovich and walton and arriza.
And then, perhaps best of all, Goran Dragic will be the next great PG in the NBA. He'll learn under the greatest PG of all time STEVE GNASH and become a 6'5" version of him with the ability to dunk.
Maybe smush and kwame are good fits for the lakers...they know the system...and they're at the right price.
C'mon lakers, revert. You know you want to.
Posted by: BUTLER | July 24, 2008 at 11:32 PM
I think sasha is worth the money, his marked passion and drive is only going to become stronger.
sad that lakers would pass.
Posted by: ninotchka | July 24, 2008 at 11:40 PM
...then again Ding How just could be someone one step ahead of me...someone may have just grabbed the name, out of the air, after passing thru prattville....
Boy, we really got spun around with Mitch's words of "same team, seeya next year"....we may need programs to figure out who the players are, they should put the player's salary next to his stats, just kidding that would be cold. Matt Barnes would have been nice, what is it with this guy, whenever I've seen him play he looks like a player, then he's bouncing around, pretty soon he'll have that record of what 13-14 team???? I would take Barnes over Walton, and Walton's ability to "facilitate"....(that was the overused word a few months ago)....if the Lakers could have got him we could have taken picture of him standing next to Jordan Farmar, and called them brothers...they kind have some similar characteristcs/features....Jordan's a keeper in my opinion...he will keep improving, Sasha will keep improving, at an even faster rate, (the light bulb finally turned on last year)....I think he's going to be Mike Miller equivalent....but with defense...
2008-2009...."NO D, NO RINGS!!!"
Posted by: humanomaly | July 24, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Edwin Gueco,
>>>Another idea is to take the Bulls trade offer of Hinrich
>>>and Nacione for Odom and Farmar. Whatever savings
>>>derived there, pay Sasha.
Nice thinking. Except for the fact that Nocioni and Hinrich
make MORE than Odom and Farmar. A lot more. And for
a lot longer. And they haven't been key contributors of a team
that has made it to the NBA finals, as Odom and Farmar have.
Besides, Mike T would never buy into either Hinrich or
Nocioni because they're both white.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 25, 2008 at 12:01 AM
dave m,
Your count is a bit off. If the Lakers re-sign Sasha, that brings
the roster up to 12 players (including Karl, who's already signed).
If they add Sun Yue to that, that's 13.
13 is the league minimum, so they technically wouldn't have
to add anyone else, but I have a feeling they will try to get
one front court player who can back up both PF & C.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 25, 2008 at 12:07 AM
humanomaly,
I’m half-Chinese and I was the one who made the humorous Hop Sing comment, for which I apologize. Hell, most of the bloggers aren’t even old enough to know who he was or understand the reference.
At any rate, you obviously believe the ding how is a real poster and not a blog name? I am not sure, which is why I’ve never come out and accused anybody of any anti-Asian racism. I have a contest with dave m trying to figure out who is behind ding how.
There is a level of intelligence that has walked a very careful line not to give away whether the posts are naïve or real. Ding how is either a real nice but naïve guy who is a Lakers fan or a very funny parody on racism. And very Confucian in that you don’t really know what’s going on. In fact, ding how could be laughing at you right now.
At any rate, I chose to be entertained rather than offended but I will keep my comments and laughs to myself if it really bothers you. I think it’s all done in fun.
Anyway, that’s my take on ding how in prattville. Ding, if you’re there, please feel free to chime in. We’re all friends here in the Lakers Blog. Peace.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 25, 2008 at 12:38 AM
Why don't the Lakers backload the Sasha deal so as to avoid luxury taxes? Make it a 5 year deal with a backloaded so that in the first 3-4 years, he gets paid little and a lot at the end? By then, Luke and Vladdy's contracts could be over and we could avoid most of the penalty...
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: David Whang | July 25, 2008 at 01:52 AM
I say we should get back Janero Pargo who hasn't yet signed with the hornets. He's looking or a little more over three years than the Lakers are offering Sasha. You can't sign all these role players to max money when players like Bynum are looking to max out as well. That's why the Spurs are always in it. They seem to find "team first players" and never seem to have moneyissues while staying competitive. Guys like Ronny and Sasha will crash and burn with other teams, because neither one can get their own shots. Sasha would just jack up shots without having Kobe and the triangle to give him room. Same for Luke and Vlad. The Lakers have too many players who cannot create which makes them ineffective when the outside shot isn't falling.
Posted by: Doc4Da LakeShow | July 25, 2008 at 04:54 AM
AK / BK,
I read in another article the Lakers are bringing in two players to work out today to possibly replace Sasha in case he decides to leave. Any idea who these two players are? I hope Sasha stays but if he gets offered the same kind of money Childress did, he will leave LA. Thanks.
Posted by: MOLaker | July 25, 2008 at 06:14 AM
Jerry Buss,
Pay some luxury tax to bring Sasha back. He's a Laker. Through thick and thin.
Do not let him go to Europe.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | July 25, 2008 at 06:38 AM
Put me on the "Pay Sasha" bandwagon.
Posted by: Laker Kev | July 25, 2008 at 06:57 AM
I say , let Sasha go , take his money and re-distribute it between Vlad and Phil so they could do their jobs better.
Posted by: novolakers | July 25, 2008 at 07:16 AM
Mike T, sorry to say this but you are a damn fool. You have spent the last week arguing that the Lakers should pay Kwame Brown $3 million a year, and now you say the Lakers should not up their offer to Sasha?
Your rationale about Sasha not getting other offers obviously applies in Kwame's case, but unlike Kwame Brown, Sasha has shown heart, passion, the ability to work on his game to improve, and the ability to actually show up in games.
Your opinion at this point appears to be a joke.
Posted by: Leo | July 25, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Humanomaly
Thanks, I posted that about Let's Go C's. I know what it's like when you have the burden of a secret. Like a school yard romance he's splashing mud on that which he loves most...the Lakers.
Really, who could blame him, they're cool, they win, they have the best player in the game.
But I see a more serious issue looming here:
My man Sasha. I've never been in a contract negotiation before, but I can imagine how frustrating it must be. You see yourself as being worth X, they say you're only worth Y. How do you bridge the gap?
I don't know, and I can understand where each side is coming from. The Lakers are over the Luxury tax limit. They want to lock up Bynum...maybe. So they need flexibility. Sasha sees this as one of two, maybe three, opportunities to make his bank. No problem there.
But he's the funniest guy on the court. His funny lil face and all that hair flapping everywhere...man he's hilarious. Teamed up with Gasol, Farmar, Vlad Rad and Walton and you have the all white team.
He proved that he has the ability this year. We've all watched that slick, quick release jumper that he's got. But I really think it's his defence that we'll miss more than anything else.
My Christmas wish is that the Lakers sign Sasha Vujacic to a 4 year/16 million deal by 2 PM today.
GO MITCH!!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | July 25, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Here are some movements so people here would not be quoting names who have been signed with other teams. Evans was signed by the Warriors, Azubuike was also matched and Monta Ellis was resigned for a total of 66M. Hinrich might move to Suns, Biedrins to Europe and maybe together with Sasha.
OK, Turiaf is gone and Sasha may not be re-signed - the question paused to the F/O who are the replacements? You can't leave those positions open. This is a bummer we are getting back to the guessing game of what Cupcake is made of: pure sugar or plain wheat. They are again sitting on their a**es w/o any movements except rumors here and rumors there. C'mon Mitch ACTION, ACTION, ACTION! Don't sit on your laurels just b/c you got Gasol and went to the finals, got to be AGGRESSIVE and SHOW SOME FIRE!!!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 25, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Why is is that every summer our FO finds a way to **** everything up? Do they know something that we don't? Ronny? Gone. Sasha? Possibly. Defensive free agent? Nope. WTF?
I see no reason why they're lowballing a man who basically won us a game in the Finals, a man who is still in the very early stages of his career, someone who took a massive leap this year, both in offense and definitely in defense, and has the potential to be a starter for a number of teams, including ours in the future. I don't get it.
In my eyes, aside from AB and JF, he's the most important piece in the future of this organization, maybe even more than JF. Nobody showed more fire on the court than Sasha and Kobe, just look at when Ray-Ray drove past him in the Finals. How do you replace that? Evans? **** that, there's a reason we shipped his @$$ out.
Whatever, maybe the plan is to see how far we can push Kobe by leting the future walk out and go to other teams. It wouldn't surprise me if they took the same tactic with AB as well. The FO has to be careful here, they're playing a dangerous game, and as passionate Lakers fan said, Kobe staying isn't a guaranteed thing.
Re-sign him guys, I'm begging you.
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | July 25, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Lakers will be stupid to offer Sasha more than 3M a year for 3 years...It's starting to look like the NBA team owners are beggining to understand that you need to make sure to keep your players accountable and not overpay role players such as Sasha... I mean I love Sahsa, but let's be realistic he played well for only 6 months out of his 4 year career...
Posted by: Gino | July 25, 2008 at 08:08 AM
In any battlefield, there are ups and downs you lose men but you gain strategic fronts and acquire territories. Same with the Lakers, if your fans have regained their faith and confidence with the team, don't take it for granted. Show some fire from your belly especially you lost the PR battle when Roland Lazenby released a snapshots of what's going with the Buss family, the Coach and their fascination of players. If Jerry Buss says he has no confidence with Farmar, why not trade him together with the expiring contract of LO with Hinrich and Nacione or Gordon - do something quick than letting other teams beat you on the race. If you wish to go for Artest and don't like Thomas, then make it happen with another player.
What makes it frustrating is that we are fighting against two fronts and eventually three. The first one, every NBA teams are watching the Laker moves and they compete on whatever their choices, eventually we lose the bidding war b/c we're over the luxury cap; The second front, the Euro teams are purchasing second rate players with their powerful Euros and less games played; And the third front will be the maintenance of our marquee players next year LO, Kobe and Mihm may be their last year, we can afford to lose two but not Kobe. I hope the Buss family realize these options. Non Action is just complete hopeless stance, it doesn't do anything but open newer fronts of competition.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 25, 2008 at 08:12 AM
An Open Letter to Dr. Jerry Buss:
Dr. Buss,
Here are my suggestions as to how you can improve this team for next year.
1. Resign Sasha
2. Sign Quinton Ross
3. Resign Kwame Brown
4. Retain Coby Karl
5. Improve the training staff.
Spend the money!
Dr. Buss, you can't continue to raise prices like you have and not spend the money! It could be argued that we lost Game Five in the Finals because ticket prices were SO fricken high that there weren't enough True Laker fans at the games to give support to our team. Instead there were a bunch of celebrities and socialites who don't even know who Vladamir Radmonovich and Derek Fisher are.
We will be satisfied with NOTHING but a Championship next year. That's it.
Fulfill your legacy. Get it done.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 25, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Bringing back Sasha is a must. However, I'm pretty sure he's just bluffing. He loves playing in Los Angeles for the Lakers and doesn't want to leave. He just wants to get paid too. He's trying to get every extra penny out of the Lakers and deservedly so. I hope the Lakers just pony up the extra few mill. They're raising the ticket prices again next year so that should cover it haha.
What would happen if we were to lose Sasha? Would we sign someone else or go with someone within to organization? I'm assuming Sun Yue will be a Laker next year but would he get a significant amount of minutes with Sasha gone? Hard to say. Hopefully Lakers take care of business and re-sign Sasha.
Lamar = Laker for Life
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | July 25, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Doc4Da LakeShow
I'm with you on Pargo, but PJ like big guards and Pargo doesn't fit that bill. Kobe Carl does though, so maybe you get the best of both worlds. The NBA is becoming a Moneyball type of sport, where you can have only a couple of superstars and need everyone else on the team to be paid at a bargain according to their value. Hence you have either young players that have good talent and raw ability with little polish, or you have veterans lacking that youthful athleticism but have a polished game, and come at a bargain.
I can't get over the constant state of fear and anxiety around here. I blew up at LakerTom earlier in the week because he's been lacking any new material lately, but at least his outlook is always good. Some of you cats have got to stop freaking out about role players like Sasha Vujacic. The Lakers will be fine.
Chill out.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | July 25, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Good morning CRUE!
I can't believe Cupcake (yes I called him that) hasn't locked Sasha up - even for a year (of course I believe it needs to be much longer). Cupcake - pay the man - we need him. Then maybe I'll stop calling you Cupcake again. How does Fruitcake sound? (With all this cake talk do you think Kwame - or the Kwaminus - are listening & taking notes? LOL!)
Posted by: justanothermambafan | July 25, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Sasha's camp is saying the Lakers best offer is 12 mil over 3 years.
They will bolt if the Lakers don't come to 5 mil per year.
Euro offers are real and considerably better than the Lakers. If the Lakers don't match, Sasha will be gone. Then the Lakers, I assume will look in the FA market for a replacement, since Coby Karl is not ready to take over Sasha's role.
Glancing at the list of available FA's Kareem Rush's name popped up. Has he signed yet? PJ liked him, he knows the triangle, and is a very good 3 pt shooter. Defense, not so good. But if you don't want to pay up , you can't expect to get everything.
Posted by: Fatty | July 25, 2008 at 08:25 AM
LakerTom,
I completely agree with your observations on Ding How. Here is the problem, if you make comedic remarks on the blog and some people respond by entertaining everyone, it should not be interpreted in another way. Jokes and light banters should not be classified as racial attacks. If we do then it is just handcuffing free exchanges of comments and opinions. If there are pranksters among us by taking advanatage of our anonymity which is natural, then we should also follow the common courtesy of sportsmanship in our dealings. If you are a serious blogger but have handicaps in written communication, nothing wrong about that, just be frank and let everyone know about those handicaps. Our objective here is to communicate not to produce a literary piece. However, If you play the blog with a joke, then don't be surprised if other bloggers reciprocate you with another joke. That's the life of every Clown.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 25, 2008 at 08:31 AM
lakers playing hardball with sasha.
i like it.
sucks for sasha that the lakers got burned by luuuuke last season, or else he probably would have been offered 4-5 million per year.
but props to kupchak for not giving an outside shooter a bunch of money, when we are already paying another outside shooter 6 million per (radmanovic).
this summer, i would try out a different starting lineup. it's outside the box, but hear me out.
lamar (ballhandler)
kobe (scorer and driver)
vlad rad (outside threat)
gasol (big man distributor)
bynum (muscle down low)
this applies only lamar is still hanging around come september...
i think this lineup would cause some serious mismatches for the rest of the league.
anyhow...
i agree with mike t, it appears the lakers want players with defensive skills.
with the game and finals on the line, an elderly ray allen simply cruised by sasha for an easy layup to clinch the game and ultimately, the title.
don't get me wrong, sasha can heat up from outside...but sometimes he turns cold.
and just because he is active/hyper on the defensive end doesn't mean he's any good.
call sasha's bluff, if he wants to chase euros in europe - that is his perogative. the fact that nobody in the nba tried to match the lakers offer says a lot...probably not what sasha and pelinka wanted to hear...
lakers want him back, but on the lakers terms, not sasha's.
i guess we'll see how this plays out...
Posted by: tha show | July 25, 2008 at 08:35 AM
There's going to be a lot of freaking out if we lose Sasha and Ronny, but we bring Kwame Brown back.
It's important to keep this team together.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 25, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Pig,
You're right, he is a role player, but just look at the impact that role players on Boston had this year, and considering that he's probably our best player coming off the bench, I could see how some people are freaking out about his current situation.
Who knows, he could be getting ready to sign as we type all this stuff, or maybe the Lakers are working on bringing someone else in, all I know is that he was a big part of our success this year and it only looks like he's getting better.
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | July 25, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Faith,
Though I like Luke Walton, the "generosity" of his contract I think really did unrealistically raise the expectations of other players' agents.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 25, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Javaris Crittenton is again available, Magic are trying to get him due to overload of PG's with Grizz' why not move into that direction.
Jennero Pargo is also available, he is fast and a 3 pt shooter as well, why not snatch him for lower price than Sasha.
JR Smith is also available, another shooting guard who is fast and good 3 pt shooter.
Luol Deng is completely frustrated with Bulls offer.
Ron-Bill Artest is edgy to move out of the Kings
I am mere blogger, a frustrated fan yet I was able to enumerate five players as possible substitute of our losses or possible trades. Our F/O is made of shrinking iceberg from Antartica, HOPELESS w/o any response, no action and waiting for another Kobe Volcano to erupt. Kobe already made some sarcastic remarks and still the Buss family and Mitch Cupcake don't get it.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | July 25, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Why Europe deals are attractive to mid-range NBA players?
One article brought out some really nice things Euro's offer that the NBA prohibits teams from doing. Made me think of the time when Mark Cuban offered his guest house to Rodman and the NBA had a total fit. "You can't do that!"
Free lavish city apartment and a country home, including maintainance.
Luxury cars for him and family, including drivers.
Private schools for children
Free 1st class plane tickets for visiting family from states.
Will pay taxes
Will pay agents fees
So when a player gets paid, he keeps everything.
As an example:
Childress salary is 10,000,000
Kobe is 20,000,000
Euro League schedule is only 25 games including playoffs
Last year for Kobe including playoffs over 100.
Estimates Per game:
Childress 400,000
Kobe 200,000
After taxes:
Childress 10,000,000
Kobe 12,000,000
After taxes per game:
Childress 400,000
Kobe 120,000
For players coming off rookie contracts, that is quite an enticement. Not saying big time players will split. Marketing deals are next to nothing in Euro League
Posted by: Fatty | July 25, 2008 at 08:48 AM
enough of the quinton ross takes. the guy is clipper garbage, i do not understand the fascination...
AND CAN WE QUIT ASKING THE LAKERS TO PONY UP THE MONEY FOR ROLE PLAYERS?
kobe $21 mil
lamar $14 mil
gasol $15 mil
bynum $2.7 mil (most likely soon to be at least $10 mil)
vlad $6 mil (erroneously)
luke $4.4 mil (erroneously)
fish $4.7 mil (a bargain!)
ariza $3.1 mil (to be determined)
among those eight players, a total of $70.9 million
we made two mistakes with vlad and luke (a combined 10 million dollar mistake)...but damn we are paying our talented players pretty well.
so quit asking the lakers to pony up more for bench/role players when we are already over the cap.
we can't have it all...
role players on this roster know they will have to take what the lakers are offering if they wanna be a title contender for the next five seasons.
and kobe isn't going anywhere, as long as bynum and gasol are with the lakers. he might be an awkward egomaniac, but he isn't stupid...
Posted by: tha show | July 25, 2008 at 08:49 AM
"Lakers will be stupid to offer Sasha more than 3M a year for 3 years...It's starting to look like the NBA team owners are beggining to understand that you need to make sure to keep your players accountable and not overpay role players such as Sasha... I mean I love Sahsa, but let's be realistic he played well for only 6 months out of his 4 year career..."
Finally someone gets it! These owners are not going to pay full MLE to players like Kapono, Walton and Rad anymore. That's a serious waste of money and has led to having roster problems.
The Lakers would have one hell of a time moving Walton with 5 years left on his contract. I think all that free spending has caught up with NBA teams.
Before it was like if a guy had a strong playoff he was signed to a big deal. Now look at Phoenix with Diaw. Diaw got rewarded for playing in a system that played no defense. They never made the finals. And when the chips were on the line this year against San Antonio the Suns saw the truth.
Diaw was effective when the Suns were running. When Shaq came to town the Suns had to change their style. I watched the games. When Shaq first got to Phoenix the Suns were losing. But when the Suns got used to playing with him they started to win. But the suns had started to slow the game down a bit. Then it was like this: When Shaq was in the game he would do well with rebounding and blocking shot and just clogging the lane and the Suns were very competitive. But when he was out of the game and Diaw and Barbosa were in the game the Suns would revert to run and gun and would get killed.
Now the Suns have changed coaches and intend on going to a more structured brand of basketball. I assume it's defense. Where does that leave Diaw and Barbosa?
I think Barbosa can still be an effective back-up but Diaw? Diaw is owned 9 million for the next 4 seasons. Phoenix is trying to move him but can't get a taker. Why should anyone take Diaw at 9 million a year?
That was one of those contract that was just crazy. Phoenix got stuck. Just like the Lakers are stuck with Walton and Rad to a lesser degree.
These GMs and owners are starting to come to their senses and players like Sasha and Turiaf would be lucky to get contracts starting at 5 million and for a full MLE. That isn't going to happen.
Turiaf got lucky with his Golden State contract. But that tell you that the Lakers weren't willing to pay Turiaf 4 million a year. And the Lakers won't pay Sasha 5 million a year not even for 3 years.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Wow. Butler is now using commas, periods, and capitalizing the first letter of a new sentence.
Posted by: Multi Posting Stormer | July 25, 2008 at 08:53 AM
blog is heating up in late july, lovin it
nothing better than being a laker fan, i wish all the laker haters could experience the laker love/vibe for at least a day...
still got the olympic games in beijing...cannot wait...
Posted by: tha show | July 25, 2008 at 08:53 AM
I think the qualifying one-year deal is a move to put him in check so he can prove that this past season was not a fluke and that he can duplicate or even improve it to show he is worth every penny he is seeking. Although I do think it's a low ball offer for a guy who among others in the team is quite dependable behind the arc than what they estimate his value to be. The luxury tax factor just makes it more challenging to strke a deal and I expect the organization to look at avoiding past mistakes in overpaying guys who emerge during their "contract year."
I really enjoyed the Machine's passion and effort this past season - he had more dunks this season alone than his career total, but perhaps his inconsistency in the big stage drew concern with the front office (6-23 in the last three games after dropping 20 on 7-10 in game 3). Also, some mental mistakes in the postseason i.e. the late game Tech for yapping at Korver, the scissor kick to Allen as well as that defensive lapse letting him blow by for an uncontested lay-up in the closing minutes of that disastrous game 4 (but Pau should take half the blame for not collapsing) may have influence in their decisions.
I just hope the two parties will agree to something remotely reasonable soon because I think it would suck to have the team's chemistry compromised at the expense of a small dent to Dr. B''s pocketbook. And I certainly would not like to see Sasha shoot lights out against our team a la Butler, Pargo, Udoka and GSW Fisher.
Posted by: eevee | July 25, 2008 at 08:53 AM
LTLF - yeah, I was including D.J. in the (14) count and obviously the decision hasn't been made whether to bring him back or not.
Posted by: dave m | July 25, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Sasha
Since Sasha played the whole 4th quarter, when it counted, I consider him starter or near-starter quality.
So to pay him the mid level exception seems fair.
It's sickening to think of a couple of other contracts we signed at that level that didn't pan out well, but what are you going to do?
You have to give him 4 or 5 million for 4 or 5 years. Just like Posey wanted. That's why he left the Celtics.
John
Posted by: john_in_houston | July 25, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Jon K.
I agree. Rony was a guy that we couldn't afford to over pay. Sasha is a guy that we HAVE to pay.
You can't take a team to the finals, then let it fall apart. Sasha must be retained.
On another note, i hope both LO and Kobe see how hard it is to keep a team together with the cap where it is. Both guys have an opportunity to spread and share the wealth with their teammates next summer. I'd like to think those two could take a pay cut to facilitate team success.
Don't misquote me... It's not their job to take a paycut. But, if you want good help around you, having money to afford it makes a difference.
Posted by: Benny Blanca | July 25, 2008 at 09:00 AM
The Machine played great last year, but it was his first good year. $5 million is asking a lot.
Still, we need to keep him.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 25, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Edwin - I don't think the f/o is ignoring this one they're deep into negotiations with Perlinka. I'm sure the deal will get done. Each side will give a little.
Posted by: dave m | July 25, 2008 at 09:04 AM
This thread totally makes me laugh.
Last summer I was saying that I thought that Sasha would
have a breakout year and there were at least 4 or 5 bloggers
that were calling me an idiot and saying that VU-JA-WACK
would never amount to anything and the Lakers should just
waive his contract and sign someone else.
Now there's a frenzy that the world will end if Mitch doesn't
overpay him like he overpaid Luke and Rad.
Some of you are saying "Sasha won a game in the finals,
so that ought to be worth 10 million next season".
But you neglect the fact that with Lamar's re-signing and
Bynum's re-signing, it's probably 10 million per year for
the duration of the contract. Do you think Sasha is worth
that?
What you want is guys who win FOUR games in the finals,
not guys who win ONE game in the finals. Did you somehow
forget that Sasha shot 2-for-7 in game 1 (a loss), 1-for-9 in
game 4 (a 6 point loss) , and 2-for-10 in game 5. You could
argue that if Sasha had shot consistently well for the series,
the Lakers would have won it (or conversely that his INconsistency
lost the series).
James Posey, who got the full MLE, strongly helped in all
FOUR Celtic wins. He didn't have one good game and a
bunch of off games. He didn't score a ton of points, but he
played game-changing defense and hit a high percentage
of the shots he took.
Look. Sasha is a good role player, and I think he'll get even
better. But he's not irreplaceable.
Are you ready for this.
Brace yourself.
If Sasha signs in Europe for 5 million per or more, then
Coby Karl will step in and play almost as well as Sasha
did last season. I am 100% serious. He won't be as
harassing a defender, but he won't be as much of a
flopper either... a habit that got Sasha burned several
times in the finals.
You might want to start thinking of a nickname for Coby,
because if Sasha doesn't re-sign you'll pout and call Mitch
"Cup-cake" for awhile and then when Coby is averaging
40% 3-point shooting backing up Kobe, you'll dry your eyes
and adopt him.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 25, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Sasha was the 5th leading laker scorer in the playoffs. 6th during the season behind Jordan. So yes he deserves starter pay.
Still the question of PF/Center remains. If Kwame would sign for the veterans minimum why not sign him?
To go from 9M down to 1M? Even if it costs 2M?
He was a number one pick, and does play a little defense. And we're only talking about him sitting the bench unless someone gets injured.
John
Posted by: john_in_houston | July 25, 2008 at 09:14 AM