Welcome to the Machine
No, the Lakers didn't sign Roger Waters or David Gilmour (although that would make for some killer postgame jam sessions in the locker room after wins). Instead, according to the Press-Enterprise, they have retained Sasha Vujacic, allowing the "Machine" era to carry on another three seasons to the tune of $15 million, a yearly salary that's something of a compromise between parties. Not sure if Team Vujacic coming down in price led to fewer years than originally requested (so he wouldn't be locked in as many years) or if Team Buss coming up in price meant committing shorter term. But either way, Lakers fans won't have to say "wish you were here" to Sasha.
More thoughts later, but just wanted to keep everyone in the loop.
(UPDATE: More from the L.A. Times)
AK
right decision
Posted by: theDude | July 25, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Good move.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | July 25, 2008 at 04:34 PM
OOOOWWWWHHHH!
the machine is fierce.
Posted by: ninotchka | July 25, 2008 at 04:36 PM
3 years isn't bad.
So this adds another 2.4 million to the luxuary tax. That means the Lakers are around 6 million into the luxuary tax. It'll be interesting to see what the Lakers do next. There has got to be a trade in the works.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 04:38 PM
AK,
Great news. Fair Deal. Not only that Sasha re-signed but also that is was only for 3 years, something that we all now wish had been done with Luke and Vlade. That now makes 11 players under contract. Look for the Lakers to sign Sun Yue to a contract and probably bring back Mbenga and Karl. Now all we need to do is to replace Ronny. God, I hope it is not with Kwame. LOL
CE: Bynum Mihm (Mbenga)
PF: Gasol Odom (Free Agent)
SF: Ariza Radmanovic Walton
SG: Bryant Vujacic (Karl)
PG: Fisher Farmar (Yue)
Welcome back, Sasha. We were worried that Faith might pull a Mike T. if you signed with somebody else. Thanks for keeping all the female Lakers fans in ecstasy. LOL
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 25, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Finally some good news.
Now we can figure out our little SF problem.
We buy out Vlad, pick up a serviceable PF backup and I'll be as happy as the day they got rid of Brian Cook.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 25, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Great news! I love Sasha, but didn't want to give him too much money. This sounds just about right.
Posted by: Luke | July 25, 2008 at 04:40 PM
I was about to start demanding some good news. Basketball gods know we needed some.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 25, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Happy Vujacic Day!
Posted by: Charles | July 25, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Good move signing Sasha, Lakers brass. Now lets get one more inside player and get training camp going! Can't wait!
Posted by: MOLaker | July 25, 2008 at 04:44 PM
They wanted 6
We wanted pay 4
Compromised to 5
Good deal. Go Sasha! Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | July 25, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Yes! Good job Mitchell.
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | July 25, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Go Lakers!
Machine!
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | July 25, 2008 at 04:49 PM
I love Mitch...for now. lol.
Posted by: Melissa | July 25, 2008 at 04:51 PM
The Sasha era continues....
Lamar = Laker for Life
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | July 25, 2008 at 04:54 PM
viva la machina!
Posted by: j L.A. | July 25, 2008 at 04:56 PM
Finally!!!
Posted by: TrueLakerFan | July 25, 2008 at 04:56 PM
3 years, great deal. Glad he accepted a shorter contract, it definitely shows some commitment to the Lakers on his part.
Now go work on your game!!!
Posted by: #4 | July 25, 2008 at 04:57 PM
my friends we made deal with sascha. i say two days ago that a three years deal was going to happen. i could not contact los angeles lakers mitch k but may be he read our los angeles times lakers blogs. great day today. this is good news. ok friends lets celebrt.
ding how in prattville
Posted by: ding how in prattville | July 25, 2008 at 04:57 PM
i'm happy he is still a Laker!!! He is a very important player to the team...now get to work Machine!
Posted by: hyns | July 25, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Right number of years. Fair salary. What took so long?
Posted by: giantsquid | July 25, 2008 at 05:04 PM
pfunk36,
LOL! I agree with you about Walton. That Walton contract is going to haught the Lakers for the duration of the contract. And I'm with you on the point that because of the Walton error the Lakers feel the need to play him to justify the signing, even though it cost other players the opportunity to show what they can do. (I mean the numbers Walton put up were based on over 30 minutes of playing time per game. I want to see Rad play for 30 minutes and not average 12-13 points.)
The Walton error just makes me think that this was more about race than basketball.
If you'll remember during the time, how almost all of the Southern California sports writers were acting like Walton was the reason the Lakers were winning. But it had nothing to do with Kwame Brown sealing the paint. Even though from the time Shaq was traded the only time the Lakers won was when Kwame Brown became the starting center.
Boston proved that with a center who can seal the lane you have a winner on your hands. That's exactly what the Lakers had on their hands when they started winning and took Phoenix to 7 games that year. And we lost because PJ rode Smush Parker even though he was being killed by Nash.
The next season the Lakers started winning and Walton did well for a couple of months. Then he got injured. Then he had a terrible 2nd half of the season and playoffs, too. But he got a 30 million dollar contract? Then this season you saw the Lakers winning but no one was giving Walton any credit even though he played exactly the same way he played for the 2nd half of the season the year before.
Now all of sudden Walton didn't live up to expectations?
He lived up to everything he did from the year before in the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs.
And now it's what happened to Walton? Nothing!
He played exactly the way he played in the 2nd half of his contract year. He got paid 30 million because the L.A. Times writer were pushing him as if though a slow footed SF was the reason why the Lakers were winning.
Gee, I guess what Boston did to the Lakers in the finals finally opened the eyes of these writers because now they're saying Gasol is soft as a marshmellow (Oh, wait, I'm the one who called Gasol a marshmellow) and now they understand that the Lakers need muscle in the post. And winning is never based on a slow footed SF, ever!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 05:11 PM
There now. Everybody feeling better?
Posted by: dave m | July 25, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Fantastic! Three years...three rings. This team, with Bynum and Ariza back, is going to cream the league and take back the title. And I don't even think the Celts will make it next year. This is going to be the next dynasty.
Posted by: CornerJ | July 25, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Thank goodness.
I was having trouble keeping up the facade that they'd be just
as good with Coby Karl taking up his minutes. :-)
Lakers pony up
Sasha gets to stay in town
now he's cash Machine
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 25, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 09:02 PM:
>>>>>There's no way the Lakers are upping their offer. Mitch said the market is
>>>>>dictating what's going on. The Lakers, I don't think, will offer more than 3 million.
>>>>>Sasha might look at that as an insult. But really, the Lakers aren't in position
>>>>>to offer more than that without damaging what they intend to do.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 09:37 PM:
>>>>>The market isn't dictating that Sasha is going to get 5 million from anyone
>>>>>and now the Lakers are supposed to pay him that much?
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 09:48 PM:
>>>>>No, the Lakers can't afford what Sasha does and still address their
>>>>>defensive needs.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 09:55 PM:
>>>>>After 2 years, I think, the Lakers are going to Rad for their outside shooting
>>>>>and let Sasha walk. The Lakers can't keep Mihm, Walton, Rad and Sasha.
>>>>>Two are slow footed and two can shoot. Or is that: 4 are slow footed and
>>>>>two can shoot.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 08:53 AM:
>>>>> And the Lakers won't pay Sasha 5 million a year not even for 3 years.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 11:53 AM:
>>>>>If you can't see that...explaining stuff like this to you is kind of like paying
>>>>>Sasha 5 million a year when one no else in the NBA is offering that type
>>>>>of money. It just doesn't make sense.
Posted by: LakerTom | July 25, 2008 at 12:26 PM:
>>>>> Just watch Sasha get re-signed. If he doesn’t, I will be wrong, for once (that was just for you, LOL), and will be man enough to admit it. But what are you going to say when Sasha re-signs for $5M?
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 04:38 PM:
>>>> 3 years isn't bad.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 25, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Anyone notice how Broderick Turner of The Press-Enterprise in Riverside is beating a lot of people to signing? He even got the Mo Evans signing with the Warriors so quick that Evan even had time to back out of the deal and sign with Atlanta.
Don't be surprised to see Turner on ESPN one day.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 05:27 PM
After 3 or 4 years on the job covering the Lakers when are AK and BK going to get some kind of scoop? They have the perfect format to break news but...what's the problem?
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Im wondering if Sasha sends Childress a thank you card? seemed to move quick once he started talking about Europe -
Its amazing to think that this guy was headed out of the league not so long ago...nobody believed in him
credit the lakers with sticking with him through the rough times
Posted by: Kiwi | July 25, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Ever notice how Laker Tom alway bring my name up?
I've been noticing it for a while now. I think I know why. He post a lot and gets responses for a lot of bloggers. Those responses are like pats on the back to him. Like as if you're telling him...good job Laker Tom.
When I came back to the blog he started adddressing me in some friendly way. I ignored him but I don't think much of his writing. But he keeps coming back with mike t. this and mike t. that.
Here's the deal. Remember when Vlade Divac made a shot against the Bulls in the finals back in '91? He ran to Magic Johnson and bowed his head waiting for Magic to give him his approval.
That's what Laker Tom is doing to me. He wants my approval. But I'll I'm saying to him is: "Get the hell out of my face, kid!"
He doesn't get my approval and that upsets him so now he can't just post about what he thinks. He has to bring my name into it because he's frustrated with me because I have a low regard for his writing. LOL!
Notice how he saves my posts for later use? LOL!
GET THE HELL OUT MY FACE, KID!
LOL!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Ding How in Prattville,
>>>>> great day today. this is good news. ok friends lets celebrt.
Drinks and free lunch on you, Ding How? If so, we will all come to Prattville. What do you say? Thanks.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 25, 2008 at 05:40 PM
I'm mike t. sucka...Just be glad you're able to mention my name in your posts.
LOL!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 05:41 PM
That's really good news to hear. Sasha is an important defensively as well.
I'm almost certain that the rest of the players in the league isn't happy that annoying little
6 arm-like defender is back in the NBA and didn't head for the league overseas.
Posted by: Johnson | July 25, 2008 at 05:42 PM
THE LEGEND BEHIND THE LAKERS
by Preetom Bhattacharya for HoopsWorld.com
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9557
There is no doubt that Tex Winter deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 25, 2008 at 05:50 PM
just saw Sasha the the red onion - did not know he had agreed on the deal...
a good signing - nice work to both camps
Posted by: thomas | July 25, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Sasha took a pay cut to stay in the NBA and with the Lakers.
Good for him and the Lakers for ponying up.
My calcs have the Lakers team salary at 80 mil and rising.
Dr. Buss's wallet got a little thinner today and LA fans got a little happier.
Thanks Dr Buss
Posted by: Fatty | July 25, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Mike,
>>>>> I'm mike t. sucka...Just be glad you're able to mention my name in your posts.
LOL. You’re just another troll who with crazy ideas who thinks he is a star and doesn’t realize that he’s really just a joke. Here’s some news for you: those people you think are laughing with you – they’re really laughing AT you. Not WITH you but AT you!
You are right that when you first came back to the blog, I did go out of my way to try and be courteous and respectful of you but it wasn’t because I needed your sorry approval. It was more out of pity for how badly you had embarrassed yourself before you ran away and hid in exile. I was trying to give you an easy way to get back some self-respect. But we all know how that worked out, don’t we?
I’m sorry you were wrong about Sasha, Mike. Just keeping diverting attention and the hurt and disappointment will go away. Just like you when we don’t re-sign Kwame. Have a good day, Mike.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 25, 2008 at 06:01 PM
What a great deal for both the Lakers and Sasha...
Short Contract for the Lakers and...
Sasha deserves 5M unlike some players we have.
Sasha a Laker for Life! ...Great Day in LakerLand!
BD
Posted by: BD | July 25, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Macheeen now happy.
Macheeen win nice ring next year.
All hail da Macheeen.
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | July 25, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Ray Allen go down.
Next year Macheen gurantee.
Macheen dominate.
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | July 25, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Happy is Macheeen.
Laker fan joy for Macheeeen.
Macheeen hug Gasol.
Posted by: SASHA | July 25, 2008 at 06:14 PM
What is a "troll"? Someone who doesn't agree with you?
Old man...just quit trying to get my attention and you'll be a happier person. I'll never pat you on the back for your writing. I think it's terrible.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Mike,
>>>>> I'm mike t. sucka...Just be glad you're able to mention my name in your posts.
LOL. You’re just another troll who with crazy ideas who thinks he is a star and doesn’t realize that he’s really just a joke. Here’s some news for you: those people you think are laughing with you – they’re really laughing AT you. Not WITH you but AT you!
You are right that when you first came back to the blog, I did go out of my way to try and be courteous and respectful of you but it wasn’t because I needed your sorry approval. It was more out of pity for how badly you had embarrassed yourself before you ran away and hid in exile. I was trying to give you an easy way to get back some self-respect. But we all know how that worked out, don’t we?
I’m sorry you were wrong about Sasha, Mike. Just keeping diverting attention and the hurt and disappointment will go away. Just like you when we don’t re-sign Kwame. Have a good day, Mike.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 25, 2008 at 06:01 PM
I am laughing at this troll with zero credibility. I also remember the "Jackson Journal" that would go on and on (and on) about how bad Jackson was, then idiot boy would give Jackson a thumbs up at the end of the post! This is a guy who took his ball (singular) and ran home when Kwame Brown was traded for Pau freakin' Gasol! Then the supposed Laker fan shows up about one second after they lose the NBA Finals to gloat. What a load. Go back to writing poetry about doing time. Or just go back to doing time. Hope you get locked up with KL (or Butler or Let's Go C's or whatever she is calling herself now) with no computer privileges. How close are you to Three Strikes, anyway?
Posted by: Jman449 | July 25, 2008 at 06:16 PM
BLOG CRUE
We finally signed Vujacic. Really cool.
Tim-4-Show
I guess I'll continue to wear his jersey for the next three years at Pepsi Center. I've never seen anyone else with his jersey over there. The funny thing is he remembers my son and I. I'll ask him to swap one of my jerseys for his game jersey. If it happens, you all will know.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | July 25, 2008 at 06:20 PM
SASHAAAAAAAAA!!! WAHOOO!!!!
Posted by: bobie | July 25, 2008 at 06:23 PM
mike t. you are so lame! what a douce bag!
Posted by: hyns | July 25, 2008 at 06:25 PM
Great post, LakerTom.
Mike says one thing than a few days later he says another. Just like when he wrote a Jackson Journal for a whole season and now he's Phil's biggest fan because Phil, like we all knew except for Mike T, had some strange fondness for Kwame.
Posted by: Xodus | July 25, 2008 at 06:26 PM
The Lakers stay soft
The title get closer, and
Sasha gets richer
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 25, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Now that Machineeee
Is 3 year Laker
time for Tayshaun
haha. I love Tayshaun. Come to LA Prince!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | July 25, 2008 at 06:27 PM
At least I don't go around saving post from someone I say has no credibility.
Think about it.
All Laker Tom want is my approval.
Never!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 25, 2008 at 06:28 PM