2 questions:

How about Francisco Elson to replace Ronny? He not the energy player ronny was but he does have a decent jump shot and controls the paint pretty well

Can't the lakers front load the contract for sasha the way the warrios did with ronny? Give sasha 4.5 the first year and have it drop off after that, 4.2,4.1....

But I understand what the lakers are doing they are trying the let other teams set the market price for him and just match the offer. The lakers know that most of all the big money in the league had dried up (except in Memphis...but they need another guard there like they need another hole in the head) but sasha and his agent also knows that so the likelyhood that he would sign an offer sheet thats below his preceived value will not likely happen.

And like it not those owners in Europe are throwing big money at players, second teir players at that. Childress getting 10 Mill????? You gotta be kidding me they could have mode those type of offers to guys like Baron, Josh Smith. Okerfer. The NBA has a serious problem on their hands and they better try to nip it in the bud before guys like lebron, wade and anthony are offered crazy A-Rod type money overseas and cash in

Mike T.

I've been thinking the same thing regarding some of the contracts that are being offered and the true WORTH of the players.
The entire league is clogged up with average players making more money than they should. Then there's kids like Sasha and Delonte West who can't even get a decent offer because teams aren't willing to pay (with the luxury tax) DOUBLE.

I'd blame some of it on mismanagement of payroll and GMs and Owners overpaying for talent, but it seems to be league wide. BAD teams everywhere have no money to spend. That doesn't seem right... But, think about the MLE. If we built an entire team with players making the MLE, our team would be over the cap, paying luxury tax and be nothing but AVERAGE.

I think the Salary cap and luxury tax have to be reviewed. Players are only worth what teams are paying. But, now with the Euro Effect, players worthes are being shot through the roof.
How can NBA owners, who have to pay dollar for dollar in tax, match (or even compete with) what some of these European teams are offering?

I don't want to bankrupt teams and owners, but we have to find a way so teams can loosen up check books without Such harsh penalty.

>>>qualifying offers DO count against the salary cap.

Against the salary cap yes, but not against the luxury tax.

And the Lakers are so far over the salary cap that the 2.6 million
taken up by continually making a qualifying offer to Sasha won't
get them under the cap any time soon.

Long Time,

You could say the same thing about Kobe, LO, Fish and essentially the whole team in the Finals. Like everyone else on our team, Sasha was suffocated by the Celtics defense.

Mitch, please just pay Sasha. Please. We already lost Turiaf, don't let Sasha go. Please.

LTLF,

I completely agree that Coby Karl would be the stand in for Sasha should he leave. People remember Sasha for the strides he made this year (post Ariza deal) and can't seem to remember how horribly he sucked the rest of the time he was here.

I like Sasha, a lot, and would be sad to see him go, but Coby Karl is a better passer, as good of a shooter (give him some PT), is stronger, and is just as quick footed (check out his lane agility scores from the draft camp, he beat some impressive people). He's also shown an incredible work ethic and I he could be had for about $5 million less a year.

I think the roster still has holes, and some major questions to be answered financially going forward, but I'm not saying losing Sasha to Europe would take us out of the running for the title.

Turiaf= Can't afford.
Vujacic = Must afford.

Long Time Laker Fan,
I see you about Coby. Let's hope for the best.

Laker Tom - Dave M,
I do believe Ding How is a racial pundit. But how do you deal with it on this blog? I have fun with it.

Everybody!
Who was the person who brought up the Deng Gordon Trade? I know it wasn't the Heinrich (spelling) inclusion. It was for the two bulls. Would you guys work out a trade for Deng-Gordon for 2 laker players? If so who do you think are the prospects with the Purple and Gold?

Let the speculation begin!

STOP THE MADNESS! Bringing Kwame Brown back would be an act of insanity. Same thing with Mo Evans, J-Crit, and any other former Laker.

Going backwards in time for any reason interferes with the team's ability to move forward. STOP THE MADNESS!

I think some of it is simply owners facing economic reality. The fall out from the real estate fiasco will most likely affect attendance next year. The Lakers will probably be fine but other teams should see a dropoff as people simply won't have the funny money they used to have from the insane refinancing binge everyone has been on the last few years. The interesting thing is if the Euro continues to go up and... I'll leave politics to the side here but... I'm not encouraged... put it that way... but if you look 2-3 years down the road with some real, high profile free agents coming up and one of those guys might actually jump to the Euro league... imagine Dwayne Wade going to the Euro league. Don't think it can happen?

The NBA has some hard choices to make in the next few years and it's looking like one very real possibility is cutting payroll here in the US as we enter a severe recession while at the same time trying to expand to eventually have a team in Europe as more stars jump over there at much better offers than they can get here in the states. Scheduling would be a nightmare, especially for West Coast teams and the Euro team...

LTLF -

You're crazy! Karl isn't ready to step into Sasha's role. You can't go from being a D-Leaguer to a huge contributer (the 6th man, in fact) in one season. It rarely happens over the course of a D-Leaguer's career. Mikki Moore, Birdman, Matt Carroll, Matt Barnes, Rafer Alston, Chuck Hayes, Ime Udoka, and Jamario Moon are exceptions, but even for them it took years of slaving away in the D-League or years of rotting on the bench before making it in the L.

As far as the Lakers' FO goes, apparently they think this is the MLB... Wake up guys! You don't get draft picks in return when a FA signs with another team!

Losing Sasha would hurt because there is nothing out there, no free agents, that would or could replace him. I hope these are just rumors started by Sasha's agent, and not based in reality.

On a different note, I see after I left yesterday the Kwame debate raged pretty wildly. Sorry I missed it LOL.

LakerTom,

Oh, absolutely agreed, 100% Chinese here...and I guess he is a mystery until the season becomes a wash and then we'll have time to play detective.....have a great day, and all is good.

Leo,

They offer him that amount because they have to in order to hold the right to match another offer. The offer is not binding and the Lakers will continue to hold those rights in perpetuity if Sasha leaves to play in Europe. I would guess that they've made other offers to him above that, but are also measuring his value in the market.

This is business.

Any news on Shaun Livingston? He could be useful pick up.

I think anyone who is predicting that Coby Karl will have break out year and contribute as much as Sasha did last year is deluding themselves.

What are you basing this on? His wind sprints? He didn't wow anyone with his D-league play, or his summer league play and I remeber going to the Long Beach Pyramid and watching Devean George dominate Bonzi Wells in a Summer League game.

I wouldn't touch Devean George with a 10 foot pole now.

It takes years for most players to even start to impact the NBA landscape, this is due to an adjustment in the length of the season, the physical nature of the NBA game and the fact that ref's make calls on a slide ruler (stars get calls, nobodies don't).

Sasha just entered into his "Gets some calls" phase of his NBA career. He has just adjusted to the length and physicallity of the NBA season. This is why Farmar struggled near the end of the year again, it seemed like Phil played him less towards the end of the regular season because he looked pretty wiped out.

That being said, Coby Karl will not have a break out year. I think if he played 10-15 mpg, he'd be lucky to shoot 40%, total. His defence will be a liability. He's never won at any level. Why does this make him a significant contributor to our team, potentially?

Anyone?

Re-sign Sasha and we contend.
Rebuild and watch the drama REALLY unfold next summer.

Imagine this scenario: We lose our free agents this year, finish 3-5th in the WC lose in the first two rounds.

Kobe opts out.
Lamar heads east.
Fish retires.
Farmar signs elsewhere.
Who does that leave us with?
As of now, Pau Gasol, and we saw how well a team built around him did.

Re-sign Sasha so that we stay competitive until we lock Kobe up for his career.

Or next summer wil be disastrous.

Rocky,

The salary cap (generally) does go up after every season based upon team and league revenues and things like that. I'd love to see the cap raised as well, but I doubt Stern has the power to do this on his own.

LakerTom-Charles-DavidWhang-humanomaly ,

Do you find it disturbing that Ding How is posting? I mean this guy is making fun of the chinese culture with his imitations. He doesn't like one of you and is clowning.

Here's something interesting, which may be a reason why the Lakers are dealing with Bynum the way they are:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?hd=
20080725&lc=
NBA#STORY_10733

Pritchard in Trouble Over Miles Comments?

"The Trail Blazers, specifically General Manager Kevin Pritchard, may be in violation of federal regulations in regard to public comments about the medical condition of former player Darius Miles.

Miles underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee and has not played since April 15, 2006. After a long rehabilitation period, the team first ruled him unfit to play and then sought an independent physician’s examination of the knee. That physician ruled Miles’ injury was career ending — which was important to the Blazers on two fronts that have to do with finances.

“Two doctors said Darius had the worst microfracture injury they had ever seen,” Pritchard said on an Oregonlive.com blog this week. “They would never have him play basketball and the odds of having knee replacement surgery is high. I hear that, and as a general manager, I didn’t want it on my conscience – that I had a kid have to go through a knee replacement surgery. That’s a pretty major surgery. They saw (two bones) and replace (the knee). It’s a bad deal.”

The problem for Pritchard and the Blazers is that those statements could be a violation of the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Availability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Since the HIPAA privacy rule went into effect on April 14, 2003, pro and college teams in all sports have been very reluctant to reveal specific details of player injuries without the permission of the player."

Now apply this to the Bynum situation. This HIPAA privacy rule would explain a lot about the Lakers not really saying much. They can't! Most everything we hear is coming from Bynum's agent. But heck, logic would say that all the Lakers need to do is put Bynum through a full work out and that would be the end of the matter. But when I read that Bynum's people are saying there's an open invitation for the Lakers to go down to Atlanta to see for themselves...that sounds fishy to me.

If that's the case...why not a full work out here in Los Angeles?

That seems to be the logical way of going about this matter. But what can the Lakers say? Well, Bynum's injury is a bit more serious than we anticipated. As a matter of fact the knee has this problem and that problem. So this is why we're waiting for camp to open to make decisions on Bynum. Well, with the HIPAA privacy rule that would be illegal.

Interesting!

mike t.

Would Sasha accept a deal similar to Turiaf's? Maybe 4 years, $18.75 million?

News on are old Training Campee: Elton Brown

Link about Kirk to the Suns. Also

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9591
http://tinyurl.com/6pq9go

The Best Big Man Not Under Contract?: If you did not get a chance to read Travis Heath's piece on "The Other Elton", you should. Elton Brown's story is such an interesting tale, much like Jamario Moon's story last year. Elton has been everywhere trying to prove he belongs, and after leading the D-League in rebounding and double doubles and winning a championship in Europe, you'd think a NBA team would want to bring him in. He played strong in Vegas during summer league (13.4 points, 10 rebounds in 24 minutes per game), and it was shocking to us to hear that Denver passed on him, after he played so well. Word is a half dozen NBA teams are looking at him, but it's not like Elton is an unproven guy. Elton could start on some lottery teams and could be that missing big for a playoff team, and it's not like he'll be expensive. League sources say Elton should be signed before training camp, I find it hard to believe he's not signed now.

Elton Brown replacement for Turiaf?

Kwanimus Annemus Hathewaymus

"Now people want to get the same prices and contracts only... that's OVER now so they can either adapt or accept the new reality... if Sasha wants to be here, $4m/season sounds fair to me, obviously NOBODY ELSE is offering Sasha more than $4m/season so... does he want to play in Europe for a little more money or for the Lakers?"

The danger in that philosophy is that the talent will follow the Money.
The NBA became the premier league because of the high level of competition and money. If more money is available elsewhere and the level of competition rises in other leagues... isn't it possible that the Euro leagues become the PREMIER leagues?
Then the NBA becomes 2nd rate.

This blog's getting a wee bit p/c. As far as I'm concerned, Ding's a blogger brother.... and I certainly don't see anybody else jumping up after their busy buffet to call the f.o.. If we resignature Sasha, we can thank our Prattville connection.

you guys are joking about Coby Karl, right? I mean... you couldn't possibly believe what you are posting...

Multi Posting Stormer

I have fun with him. (Ding How from Pratville) I gave the link to his restaurant that day to let the other's know the reference.

That's I replied back like Sacha Baron Cohen's character Borat. One day the inner "Bruno" will come out and I will post to the other posters in that manner. (I have to wait for people to get the Austrian Gay VJ quotes) In the mean I await Tom and Huma's research.

Ding How is "no ish don't think so."
Multi Poster Stormer "definitely vassup!"

check it at the :58 second mark. Oh Bruno
http://tinyurl.com/6pbfhw

Multi-posting stormer,

Yes I find it offensive, however, I look at it as sheer stupidity...and ignorance...sad, just like all racism, all hatred in this world, but the key is to stay above it and to work against it. For instance, here is an invitation by me to Ding How, to tell us more about Prattville and his restaurant. Won't happen well, because he's a phony. I felt the tug on the fishing line, and decided to play it. I'm done. And it looks like were done with Let's go c's as well....hhahahhahhhhhaahaa........now that was a true sicko...

back to basketball....

about the rumor of the Lakers bringing in 2 players to work out, that could be happening regardless of the sasha situation, remember they always take about 18 players to camp...and who is out there available that is worth a darn??? I don't think there is anybody. I say it's the over the cap penalty that costs us Turiaf, and may cost us Sasha, I think if we stay healthy and go with who we have, we are still a contender. Sun Yue will not be Magic Johnson his first year, he will not be physical enough (look at Shaun Livingston for example)...I am of the belief that you make the opponent adjust to you, and that is why I am willing to go with Lamar as our ballhandler, because the mismatch will cause other teams to adjust and if we have to, we still have fish and farmar to fall back on...people berate Kwame, and I am in that pool of people who watched in anguish....I hate to say this but I would probably take him as my 15th man, for minimum, afterall, Rodman played no offense for the Bulls, and they did ok, If we go with who we have, and we stay injury free (impossible), we stand a chance. I havn't looked at the salary chart recently...but I'm sure it's going to put the Lakers in the top 3 of the league, if not the top......

Charles,

>>>Would you guys work out a trade for Deng-Gordon for 2
>>>laker players? If so who do you think are the prospects
>>>with the Purple and Gold?

Okay, let's run with that.

Deng and Gordon are both unsigned and the reason they
haven't signed yet is because they want more than Chicago
wants to pay them. So figure a contract starting at 12 million
for Deng and starting at 10 million for Gordon. That's 22 million.

Not trading Kobe or Gasol, so let's start the offer with Odom.
That's 14.5 million. Assume that for arguably their two best
players Chicago doesn't want Luke or Vlad, or even Mihm
unless its purely for salary matching. They want good
player[s]. More than one. Odom counts. Can't trade Fish.
Ariza is unproven. Vujacic isn't nearly up to the level of
Gordon.
So that leaves Bynum and Farmar.

So there's your deal:

Odom, Bynum, and Farmar

for Deng and Gordon.

That's about what it would take to get Gordon and Deng
away from Chicago. Is that the deal you want?