The moratorium has been lifted and free agents are able to sign the contracts they verbally agreed to during the dead period of July 1st through the 8th. If you’re logged onto twitter, expect to see a lot of team accounts posting pictures of players putting pen to paper, making the deals official. We’ve already seen some of that with Anthony Davis’ extension, Ed Davis going to Portland, and DeAndre Jordan going back to the Clippers.
Speaking of Jordan, his drama filled situation kept everyone plugged into the final hours of the moratorium in a way not quite ever seen and sets us up perfectly for our fast break thoughts. Let’s get to it…
- If you want a great read on the fallout of Jordan’s last minute change of heart, Zach Lowe has you covered. For another good summary, CBS’ Ken Berger offers a fine take as well.
- One idea I brought up when it was becoming clear Jordan might actually spurn the Mavs and go back to the Clippers was how it might affect the Roy Hibbert trade between the Lakers and the Pacers. The potential domino effect was clear: after losing out on Jordan, the Mavs could easily try to engage the Pacers in a trade for Hibbert just as the Lakers had done. And, with Monta Ellis leaving the Mavs for the Pacers in free agency, a natural sign and trade deal could potentially come together quickly. Further, even though the Pacers had reportedly told Hibbert he was heading to Los Angeles, there were reports that the inclusion ancillary assets was still up for discussion. Add it all up and the question had to be asked: was the Lakers trade of Hibbert in trouble?
- There were not any clear answers on this Wednesday night, but things are looking more clear this morning:
Roy Hibbert to Lakers trade expected to go through today. Lakers plan on sending future second-rounder, cash to Pacers, I've been told.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) July 9, 2015
And if you were worried about the Mavs still trying to swoop in, there is this:
Don't look for Mavs to jump into Enes Kanter bidding now. All indications are they'll take a step back and move patiently
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 9, 2015
- I know Stein mentions Kanter, but the Mavs taking a patient approach should also apply to any other moves as well, including trying to outflank the Lakers for Hibbert.
- With less concern about whether or not the Laker will grab Hibbert, let’s talk some numbers. Per Basketball Insiders’ salary page, the Lakers, including Hibbert, Lou Williams (but not Brandon Bass — more on him in a second), the cap holds for rookies D’Angelo Russell and Larry Nance Jr., and non-guaranteed contracts, have roughly $68.3 million committed in payroll. Yesterday, it was reported that the league has set the salary cap for the 2015-16 at $70 million. This leaves the Lakers with about $1.7 million in actual cap space (for now — notice I did not include rookie Anthony Brown who will likely make around 800K next year).
- But now we get to Brandon Bass. Bass’ salary is not yet listed because it is not yet known. The Lakers still have their “room” exception and could sign Bass directly using that as the base of a contract starting at roughly $2.8 million per season. If they want to pay him more than that, they need to clear salary cap space in a trade with Nick Young ($5.2 million) and Ryan Kelly ($1.7 million) the players most likely looked at as expendable.
- Simply dumping Kelly without any salary coming back would give the Lakers about $3 million in cap space. Dumping Young without any salary coming back would give them almost $7 million. My guess is that both are on the block as the Lakers would like a bit more room, both to offer Bass more money than the room exception allows and to potentially chase a wing who can defend.
- Another variable in all these moving parts is roster size. Typically the Lakers like to carry 14 players. Currently, with all the off-season moves made to this point the Lakers have 13 players under contract. Adding Anthony Brown (who will get signed eventually) makes it 14. Add Robert Upshaw (who may or may not get signed, but lets add him for now) and you have 15 players. In other words, when you consider the want of more cap space, some roster redundancy, and the size of their ideal roster, a trade may be in the works.
- Back at the top, I mentioned Ed Davis leaving for Portland, but he’s not the only free agent to depart the team. Wesley Johnson will be a Clipper and, on Wednesday night, Jeremy Lin announced via twitter he would be joining the Hornets. On the heels of that announcement, it is also being reported Wayne Ellington will sign with the Nets. At this point, it seems only Jordan Hill remains on the market. On the right team, I think Hill can be a nice contributor.
Chobe Bryant says
Boozer is still on the market as well.
RE: Upshaw – it seems that all indications point to him making the team. I’ve read interviews with Upshaw and he seems fairly confident he’ll make this roster. As far as the Laker forums go, he’s basically already on the team. Should we temper our expectations for now?
I’m really concerned about the wing position, hopefully we can add someone legit. Kobe for 82 games is a big question mark.
Anonymous says
Personally, I would exercise caution with Upshaw, until he has proven what he says. He appeared very emotional in the interview with him, which tells me a few things. Also, he readily admitted that he could be in better shape. So, while i’m super excited he’s on the summer league roster, I can’t get too high on him until the risks associated with him are mitigated a little bit more.
Biggie Smalls Ford says
I like Upshaw’s upside.
Who is gonna play the “3”?
Brown would put 3 rookies on the floor.
Bass & Randle may not be fast enough, defensively for Harrison Barnes types.
tankyou says
Deandre Jordan seriously is not an adult. He bloody well could have called the Mavs, returned a call at the very least. This whole spectacle just makes the NBA look bad, premaddonna garbage. Anyway it will be fun to watch the Clippers lose in the playoffs again next year…sorry Chris Paul you can join Charles Barkley and John Stockton in the great but no ring club.
Good luck to Davis trying to take on a bigger role. Jeremy Lin hopefully won’t be stuck with big expectations anymore in a small market with a joke of a contract from the hornets. Plus Kemba Walker is basically a less talented Allen Ivreson type player, so they need someone who knows how to pass the ball not just jack up bad shots on that club.
I’ll miss Wayne Ellington, I thought he was a great roleplayer off the bench on a nice cheap contract–and he actually played decent defense–there goes our best wing defender.
Really surprised J. Hill hasn’t been snatched up yet, dude was killing it the first part of the season, back when we all wanted to see him traded when his value was sky high and he was averaging 20pts and 10+ boards a game. Keeping him the whole year helped us absolultely not at all, seems like we are good at holding onto guys and getting nothing in return.
Robert Fisher says
Upshaw says he is not in good enough condition and it will take a while, but it does look like he will make the team and be effective further into the season.
I keep hearing we need another wing. Yet we are looking at running Clarkson and Russell in the starting backcourt, so who is going to be the backup PG? Dwight Buycks is on the Summer League team and may make the roster, but is that enough? Per Darius Soriano, Williams is not a PG, so who?
As far as the wing is concerned, Kobe will start at SF with the R/C backcourt, Anthony Brown should get some time there to develop, and I don’t see any reason Randle or Nance can’t spend some time at the 3.
Assuming Hibbert, Bass, and Williams actually put ink on paper with the Lakers, the 2 NGs J Brown and Tarik Black stay, and Buycks, A Brown, and Upshaw make the team that puts the roster at 16. You add a veteran PG, and at 17 it means a minimum of 2 have to go, so the redundancy kicks in and that leaves Kelly and Young swinging in the wind.
I am not sure about losing Sacre at tis point with only Hibbert and the still out of condition Upshaw as the other true Centers. I know Tarik Black can cover Center, but he is really a PF.
With Kelly gone you have depth at PF of Bass, Randle, Black, and Nance, so I suppose Black cold spend some time at Center, which would open up Sacre’s spot for another wing or simply get it down to 14.
Prob says
First thing I would like to say is get rid of the Vander Blues and Jabari Browns. PLEASE… Those roster spots should be for key contributors which they are both not.
Now, let’s move on to the rest of FA, and the moves we’ve made and could potentially make. I think it is important to evaluate summer league especially Robert Upshaw. I think he deserves a spot on final roster more than some because of the simple fact you can’t teach height or shot blocking you either have it or you don’t..
Which brings us to Tarik Black, because of his height he cannot/should not play the Center postion. And because we are extremely heavy stacked at the 4 postion I think he should be on the block for a wing player possibly.
As much much as i dislike Swaggy P, I still think Nick Young can help us out next season with more scoring on the wing and just having that extra piece off the bench for insurance doesn’t hurt a team that struggled as bad as we did last season. So keeping him while still executing the Hibbert trade would be a win for the Lake Show.
So, to some up everything I’ve just said Jabari, Vander, Tarik Black all gone.
This gives us enough room to add wings like Dorrell Wright which I think can help the lakers a lot at the 3 and even the 4 when its time to go small with Randle at the 5.
Doing this or something similar, I think we have a shot at a successful season.
Brian P. says
I tried posting a similar post already so sorry if this becomes a duplicate.
I think some of the commenters need to taper their expectations of Upshaw. I would love for him to pan out and be Laker, but there hasn’t been a single Summer League game played and we have very little true insight on his mental health. I think there is less than 50% chance that he makes the team right now. That can change quickly if he has some solid games and the Lakers staff gets a good feel for his mental state.
As for starting our young guys, I think there is a more than likely chance Randle and Russell may come off the bench. If I remember correctly Randle wasn’t even slated to start last year. Boozer was ahead of him. Scott I believe will prefer to rely on his vets than start his young guys. I bet there is a strong chance for Scott to start Clarkson, Williams, Hibbert, Kobe and Bass.
I don’t agree with that, and I think we should play our young guys, but in my opinion Scott is more likely to lean toward starting the Vets. This also will change over the course of the season, but to start I can see Russell and Randle coming off the bench.
Anon says
I know a lot of frequent posters here are very critical of the FO. Sometimes the criticism is right on point, other times it seems a little off. But one constant theme I keep seeing here is this perception that the FO is incompetent based on its inability to sign FOs. Some (rr comes to mind) suggest its partly as a failure to follow modern approaches to management/analytic, while others (Robert) suggest its Jim’s inability to portray the image that he knows what he is doing, while others suggest its Kobe’s fault.
Well, I look at the Mavs today and find a team that has also failed, spectacularly, to sign any marquee free agents for the past 4-5 years. Thing is, the Mavs are, by the standards that some of you suggest, the anti-Lakers: they buy into analytics, have a respected coach, state of the art facilities, an owner that cares and seems to be the polar opposite of Jim Buss, and have a guy leading the franchise that is by all accounts a really nice guy and good teammate. And yet, year after year, they fail to attract the Lebrons, Dwights, Carmelos, Deandres of the World.
So, perhaps, things are not quite as easy to figure out as we all thought. Just food for thought.
Asher says
There are probably better point guards out there but i wouldnt mind to see Ronnie Price back.
I admired his effort and hustle. Defense is average. A solid veteran PG.
Lakafan says
Scott’s boy wonder price was signed by suns yesterday. Jordan, rivers, ballmer and clippers all deserve each other… Bunch of clowns!!!
LegendInMyMind says
Anyone else thinking the Lakers will essentially roll out 3 guards in their starting five with Kobe getting starter’s minutes at the 3? I think that looks likely, and it makes Nick Young expendable given Lou Williams and Anthony Brown, who’s a 3 and D type of forward. So excited to see Randle back on the court, and I think he’d be a great frontcourt pairing with Hibbert. Hope that deal gets done.
Craig W. says
Brian P.,
I too feel a prime need is to develop our young players. However, I disagree with you that they should start – unless they simply blow away the competition in summer league and training camp. For rookies it is critical they get some confidence and establish a rhythm in the NBA – travel, eating, workout schedule, and playing against far tougher competition. There is a reason rookies often start on the bench and work their way into the starting lineup, like Jordan Clarkson last year. By the time they are thrown into the fire they don’t have to think about the off-court stuff and they have played against some pretty good competition.
Lakafan says
Heat just lost their summer league center willie reed to the nets, hope same thing doesn’t happen to upshaw. Better to give him a minimum guaranteed one year deal now.
Hale says
Asher, Price signed elsewhere already.
fern says
I completely agree with what Anon said Cuban has all those tasty treats and still not fared any better than us in any summer .Still savoring seeing that %&(#@% beloved franchise turn into a smoking crater and no pick next season for some more salt on that gaping wound, i think THE VETO debt is paid in full lol. That being said i really feel for Mavs fans but not that much lol. About Upshaw im not sold on him, he can block shots but i don’t know, being kicked of not one but two programs is a knucklehead milestone, i mean we talking HOF, jersey in the rafters level. Even as a non guarantee rookie contract i would be wary of him, but who knows maybe he straighten himself out, certainly hope so for his sake. I say nay. Getting rid of Kelly won’t matter to me at all. Nick Young would hurt a little because he loves being a Laker but if he needs to go he needs to go. I leave all the analytical stuff to the experts like Darius but it looks like they wont be here for long. Im pretty sure the Lakers are crunching numbers left and right right now
rr says
Anon–
One more time:
1. Jim Buss said in public that he wants to sign two max FAs.
2. Yet the Buss FO made Kobe Bryant the highest-paid player in the NBA for his age 36 and 37 seasons.
3. Mitch has used the term “financial flexibility” in public many times.
4. The FO made a priority of going after Carmelo Anthony and LaMarcus Aldridge.
5. Multiple media types and agent types, including Howard’s camp and Aldridge’s, have suggested that the Lakers lag on analytics and presentation skills.
6. Jim Buss set his own timelines and benchmarks for success in public.
One of the key themes of my posts and other people’s posts has been exactly that–that getting max FAs to come here will not, in fact, be easy. The Lakers could not keep their own max FA–Dwight Howard–and yet the FO has spoken and acted as if max FAs are always in play and are the key to the rebuild. That is one of the big problems, and the fact that Dallas has struck out even with the positives you mention and Nowitzki agreeing to play for 1/3 the $ that Kobe makes just draws a line under it.
So, you shouldn’t be telling me that that this won’t be easy–you should be telling Jim and Mitch.
Ed says
Bass is nice,but we really need a vet SF who can shoot and defend some.If Upshaw can stay clean,he deserves a shot at Fall camp,and go from there.
Anon says
rr – sorry to use your name above. you are one of the posters that gets things rights. my post was more or less targeted toward others who think the fix is as simple as changing one of the following: getting a new coach, having Jim resign, bringing in a new head of analytics, etc. The “fix”, whatever shape it will take will be a very complex fix for the reasons you have so eloquently point out, and will take time to fix – and even if you get all of the pieces right, sometimes you still fall short as there is an element of luck involved as the Mavs just showed us.
Alex Olsen says
There’s a lot of moving parts but is there any way the Lakers can open up the requisite cap space to absorb DJ Augustin and Perry Jones III from OKC? (Whom Zach Lowe suggests they move in a salary dump to match Kanter’s offer sheet: https://grantland.com/the-triangle/sorting-out-the-deandre-jordan-carnival/).
PJIII gives us a big wing with upside who seems ready for a larger role. And Augustin gives us a nice backup PG which will be required if we’re starting Russ and JC.
Michael says
It seems Young doesn’t truly value being a Laker. If he does, then he would be in the gym working on his game instead of hanging out on Hollywood Boulevard rapping with Nic Cannon and taking all those asinine Instagram photos.
R says
Per the LA Times, once the first rounders are signed, the Lakers will be $100,000 over the $70,000,000 salary cap. That’s a lot of money for a team that will be lucky to be mediocre.
Of course, ~ $24,000,000 of the cap – a third of it! – is going to that Bryant kid’s paychecks.