Comments on: Fast Break Thoughts http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/ A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers). Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:18:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kurt http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576830 Kurt Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:00:31 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576830 Interesting discussion on Odom. New post up finally dealing with the three, particularly the favorite of many in Ron Artest. I think what to do about the three (if Posey fits in, what about LO beyond this year) is by far the toughest issue Mitch faces. Interesting discussion on Odom. New post up finally dealing with the three, particularly the favorite of many in Ron Artest. I think what to do about the three (if Posey fits in, what about LO beyond this year) is by far the toughest issue Mitch faces.

]]> By: anoni http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576828 anoni Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:16:26 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576828 227 - You mean Odom? I'm not suggesting we trade Odom, I'm just saying that's almost half of the allotted salary cap on inconsistent forwards. That's not how Buss rolls. 227 – You mean Odom? I’m not suggesting we trade Odom, I’m just saying that’s almost half of the allotted salary cap on inconsistent forwards. That’s not how Buss rolls.

]]> By: the other Stephen http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576827 the other Stephen Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:50:57 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576827 SUMMMMERRR DOOLLDRUUUUMMSSSS SUMMMMERRR DOOLLDRUUUUMMSSSS

]]> By: drrayeye http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576826 drrayeye Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:55:23 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576826 (231) exhelodryr, I'm with you, but I suspect that the coaches are already "there" too. That is a very likely scenario if the Lakers continue to be unable to trade Lamar for someone(s) who can respond to the deficiencies you mention. (231) exhelodryr,

I’m with you, but I suspect that the coaches are already “there” too. That is a very likely scenario if the Lakers continue to be unable to trade Lamar for someone(s) who can respond to the deficiencies you mention.

]]> By: exhelodrvr http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576825 exhelodrvr Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:28:39 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576825 226) Lamar's strongest points - rebounding and an inside offensive game - are now provided by others. He is not strong in two of the Lakers weakest areas (outside shooting from SF/PF/C and perimeter defense). Can they address those areas and still keep Lamar? I'm not sure they can. (Perimeter defense would seem to be addressed by Ariza, but you can't play him very much if you're playing Lamar.) Is it better to take a chance on this roster, or should they try to address their specific weaknesses? (Note that my personal preference would be a three-man rotation of Gasol/Bynum/Odom for the C and PF positions, but I doubt that the coaching staff will do that.) 226)
Lamar’s strongest points – rebounding and an inside offensive game – are now provided by others. He is not strong in two of the Lakers weakest areas (outside shooting from SF/PF/C and perimeter defense). Can they address those areas and still keep Lamar? I’m not sure they can. (Perimeter defense would seem to be addressed by Ariza, but you can’t play him very much if you’re playing Lamar.)

Is it better to take a chance on this roster, or should they try to address their specific weaknesses?

(Note that my personal preference would be a three-man rotation of Gasol/Bynum/Odom for the C and PF positions, but I doubt that the coaching staff will do that.)

]]> By: sT http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576820 sT Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:09:20 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576820 drrayeye, I had not noticed that, but yes half the team's contracts are up next year. I read here in an earlier thread about why teams should not have all of their contracts expiring in the same year. Here we are now with many expiring next year. Well unless there are trades of some kind, the Lakers are staying the way they are currently, it would seem. drrayeye, I had not noticed that, but yes half the team’s contracts are up next year. I read here in an earlier thread about why teams should not have all of their contracts expiring in the same year. Here we are now with many expiring next year. Well unless there are trades of some kind, the Lakers are staying the way they are currently, it would seem.

]]> By: UCR Mike http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576819 UCR Mike Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:02:52 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576819 Happy Fourth everyone. Happy Fourth everyone.

]]> By: drrayeye http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576818 drrayeye Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:01:01 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576818 Some inconvenient truths Without Sasha or Ronny signed, the Lakers are alredy almost $17 million over the salary cap at almost $76 million. With Sasha and Ronny, we can suppose $81million (13 players). Sun Yue might make it $82 million (14 players). So, the Lakers might be $24+ million over the salary cap THIS YEAR. If the luxury tax threshold is $71 million, the luxury tax could be $11+ million THIS YEAR without signing any mid level exception. Even supposing that the Lakers get some of that luxury tax money back, the team is already in a financially vulnerable position even before the difficult negotiations of 2009. Most teams in the NBA have a similar version to what the Lakers are facing in the next few years--and it leads them to do crazy things if they are not sufficiently disciplined in the timing of their contracts. Few of them have had as much success in putting together a balanced roster of players. The Lakers have 6 expiring contracts this year (half their team) and they might want to keep all the players for 2009. Four of them might sign contracts that would make them core players. One of them currently earns $3 million more than the other five combined. Given that the Lakers are already well into the luxury tax this year, and that players with multiyear salaries will get pay increases for 2009, where is the additional contract money going to come from to sign these key players and give them sufficiently attractive salaries to keep them for 2009? This is a question all of us must ponder as we recommend acquisitions and trades. Some inconvenient truths

Without Sasha or Ronny signed, the Lakers are alredy almost $17 million over the salary cap at almost $76 million. With Sasha and Ronny, we can suppose $81million (13 players). Sun Yue might make it $82 million (14 players). So, the Lakers might be $24+ million over the salary cap THIS YEAR. If the luxury tax threshold is $71 million, the luxury tax could be $11+ million THIS YEAR without signing any mid level exception. Even supposing that the Lakers get some of that luxury tax money back, the team is already in a financially vulnerable position even before the difficult negotiations of 2009.

Most teams in the NBA have a similar version to what the Lakers are facing in the next few years–and it leads them to do crazy things if they are not sufficiently disciplined in the timing of their contracts. Few of them have had as much success in putting together a balanced roster of players.

The Lakers have 6 expiring contracts this year (half their team) and they might want to keep all the players for 2009. Four of them might sign contracts that would make them core players. One of them currently earns $3 million more than the other five combined.

Given that the Lakers are already well into the luxury tax this year, and that players with multiyear salaries will get pay increases for 2009, where is the additional contract money going to come from to sign these key players and give them sufficiently attractive salaries to keep them for 2009?

This is a question all of us must ponder as we recommend acquisitions and trades.

]]> By: sT http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576817 sT Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:48:55 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576817 Probably one of the important moves a year from now will be signing Sun Yue for the 09/10 season. The 'Club Lakers' link has some video of him. Probably one of the important moves a year from now will be signing Sun Yue for the 09/10 season. The ‘Club Lakers’ link has some video of him.

]]> By: TCO http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/07/01/fast-break-thoughts-33/comment-page-5/#comment-576816 TCO Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:21:45 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1290#comment-576816 225 - And its not dangerous remove a core player from a NBA Finalist whose future looks promising? 225 – And its not dangerous remove a core player from a NBA Finalist whose future looks promising?

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