Serious Question. How will you fix the Laker mess?

[StrengthAndHonor]

Facts

Kobe has NTC so you can't trade him. Obviously no one will trade for him too.
Nash has 2 more years, will be 40 next year and will be a step slower.
Dwight may sign his extension with the Lakers. So what. Its the same roster.
MWP may have value. Or not.
Gasol is a huge expiring. He's the only player that can bring some sort of value. But for $19,000.000. Lakers are guaranteed to get some shitty contracts too.
MDA will be their coach till next season. Buss family will not piss another millions to hire another coach at this point.

Their plan was to win NOW. Obviously that's not going to happen. They're not going to win next year too unless a miracle swap happens before the deadline or summer next season.


How will you fix this mess?

[baseline bum]

Facts

Kobe has NTC so you can't trade him. Obviously no one will trade for him too.
Nash has 2 more years, will be 40 next year and will be a step slower.
Dwight may sign his extension with the Lakers. So what. Its the same roster.
MWP may have value. Or not.
Gasol is a huge expiring. He's the only player that can bring some sort of value. But for $19,000.000. Lakers are guaranteed to get some shitty contracts too.

Their plan was to win NOW. Obviously that's not going to happen. They're not going to win next year too unless a miracle swap happens before the deadline or summer next season.


How will you fix this mess?

More nonconsenting white women at the hotel. Stern would surely give them a salary cap exception if the snitch is doing 20.

[HI-FI]

More nonconsenting white women at the hotel. Stern would surely give them a salary cap exception if the snitch is doing 20.

:lol
but seriously, this is the best option for LA at this moment
http://gifs.gifbin.com/062010/1277899829_termionator-2-bomb.gif

[lefty]

Keep MWP

http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Elbow+strikes+again+.+lol_1a5a52_4165298.jpg

[NRHector]

you don't, blow the whole fucking team

[Splits]

Sell the team and move them to Sacramento. Only acceptable outcome from this season.

[SpursIndonesia]

More nonconsenting white women at the hotel. Stern would surely give them a salary cap exception if the snitch is doing 20.

ROFLMAO, Spurstalk vet is just legendary. :lol

[Reck]

you don't, blow the whole fucking team

Just remove Kobe.

Pay your dues and move forward.

Its pretty shocking to me they would get rid of the likes of Shaq, mistreat Gasol after making them relevant and giving them 2 extra rings but yet refuse to do something about the main cancer of the team.

LA deserves this and more. Fuck them. Let them keep Kobe. It benefits the NBA.

Also I think teams around the NBA are realizing how they've been helping this babied franchise to what it is today and are finally cutting ties with it and not making stupid, one sided deals anymore.

[Clipper Nation]

Contract them...

[timvp]

They'll eventually steal another franchise player and turn things around. It's what always happens, tbh. And it's what always will happen.

[Clipper Nation]

They'll eventually steal another franchise player and turn things around. It's what always happens, tbh. And it's what always will happen.
That shit used to work when they were the only warm-weather destination team in the league, but now they're going to have competition from Miami and LAC for just about every half-decent player... good luck with that, Lakers :lol

[Jumi]

Tell Kobe to run the offense
Tell Dwight to run the defense
Tell Pringles to shut the fuck up

[InRareForm]

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/losangeles/play

lol

[StrengthAndHonor]

you don't, blow the whole fucking team

I'd agree except by doing this, you essentially rebuildaround Kobebecause he's the only one you can't move.



If I'm Mitch. I'd trade Dwight. He'll get you tons of draft picks and solid players. Glue guys, defenders, spot up shooters. The whole 9 yards.

Summer comes, you trade Gasol too for another set of assets. You milk Kobe's last year because he's your cash cow and hope the Lakers miss another postseason for a lottery pick.

With solid role players in place, a lottery pick and Earl Clark in the house. You use that massive Salary Cap and sign/trade for Kevin Love and Danny Granger.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Just remove Kobe.

Pay your dues and move forward.

Its pretty shocking to me they would get rid of the likes of Shaq, mistreat Gasol after making them relevant and giving them 2 extra rings but yet refuse to do something about the main cancer of the team.

LA deserves this and more. Fuck them. Let them keep Kobe. It benefits the NBA.

Also I think teams around the NBA are realizing how they've been helping this babied franchise to what it is today and are finally cutting ties with it and not making stupid, one sided deals anymore.

They cant remove him even if they try. He has a No Trade clause. He's owed 30 million and to be honest, he's still the biggest draw in LA. He'll be there for another year regardless of what happen this year.

[Latarian Milton]

lakers are still pretty strong in the paint with likes of DH, pau and that nigga clark who's full of energy. the problem with this team is they don't have no legit shooters to space the floor. just trade some old shits (like MWP) for some clutch shooters and this team will make the playoffs at least imho

[ElNono]

Should start by getting rid of D'Antoni... just let Bickerstaff run the team until the season ends and meanwhile they can start looking for a decent coach....

Trade Pau and Metta for some younger legs. They'll get 50 or 75 cents on the dollar, but they're contracts that are big enough to get some decent guys.

Cut the obvious old trash... Duhon should be cut and Jamison too. Let Meeks and the other kid play.

[Mal]

Should start by getting rid of D'Antoni... just let Bickerstaff run the team until the season ends and meanwhile they can start looking for a decent coach....

Trade Pau and Metta for some younger legs. They'll get 50 or 75 cents on the dollar, but they're contracts that are big enough to get some decent guys.

Cut the obvious old trash... Duhon should be cut and Jamison too. Let Meeks and the other kid play.

They wont do that. They stay as mediocre till the end of the year, pretending they still have shot for something. And Kobe`ll keep shooting

[baseline bum]

They'll eventually steal another franchise player and turn things around. It's what always happens, tbh. And it's what always will happen.

Even with Jim Buss at the helm? I used to think the same thing about Boston until the 90s happened.

[Man In Black]

Japanese side of beef could still be amnestied right?

LAL has Al Davis Rayduh syndrome. The owner has too much.

Hey Bean....how's that Kobe 8 system working out for you?
You've just lost 6 road games in a row, and your team is closer to 16 than 8.
#kobescurrentteamsdontgetit

[Fergie The Florists]

= just trade some old shits (like MWP) for some clutch shooters and this team will make the playoffs at least imho

Sounds easy enough huh you little bitch

[D12]

You can't fix a fucking trainwreck. The season is over.

[hater]

Believe me nobody will want to face d lakers in round one as shitty as they are. They get rollin n could b dabgerous

[Mal]

Believe me nobody will want to face d lakers in round one as shitty as they are. They get rollin n could b dabgerous

Kobe, Nash & company will be very fresh having to play 42+ minutes in each of remaining games. Doesnt matter, they wont make playoffs, unless too many teams would start some heavy tanking. 7 team are a lock for playoffs. I am not so sure if Houston, T-Wolves, Dallas and Portland start tanking.

[Rummpd]

Believe me nobody will want to face d lakers in round one as shitty as they are. They get rollin n could b dabgerous

This is true sadly and of the four other teams in the playoff hunt not sure any have any staying power if the LAL get a or 24-17 to 25-16 second half of the season they could plausibly sneak in with a few as 41-42 wins.
Also LAL will make a trade not sure they can unload Gasol for enough to get fair return but they might be able to pull a miracle with some sucker again.

[Captivus]

The Lakers could be in big trouble.
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/9711/lakersroster.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/39/lakersroster.png/)

They have already $78mm next year. They need to trade Gasol specially if they are not playing him, but those $19mm are huge. Its not like the contract expires this year, like Jax.
Clark is a keeper...hurry up Lakers.
The more I look at this chart, Kobe's $30mm are poison.
I wanted to write a smart (?) analysis...but I dont have many answers.

[DMC]

How do we fix the Bobcats? Just as important imo.

[UZER]

How do we fix the Bobcats? Just as important imo.

this is on point...media is always crying help la help la help Kobe...yet the guys are always crying when are the spurs just gonna go away already...with their back handed compliments.

[Richie]

The Lakers could be in big trouble.
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/9711/lakersroster.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/39/lakersroster.png/)

They have already $78mm next year. They need to trade Gasol specially if they are not playing him, but those $19mm are huge. Its not like the contract expires this year, like Jax.
Clark is a keeper...hurry up Lakers.
The more I look at this chart, Kobe's $30mm are poison.
I wanted to write a smart (?) analysis...but I dont have many answers.

If they don't dump Paus contract and Howard stays, they will be looking at a monumental tax bill. Ear Clark will demand at least MLE money in free agency and they won't want to lose him considering how well he has played. $20m for Howard + Clark and they will have to resign at least a couple of their others.

Looking at $110m+ to keep this roster together. Pau has to go. Maybe they would be open to the trade I put forward (somewhat jokingly) based around Jackson and Bonner. Will save them a lot of tax money.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Nobody will ever give a flying fuck about the LolCats unless MJ suits up for the lulz.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Kobe, Nash & company will be very fresh having to play 42+ minutes in each of remaining games. Doesnt matter, they wont make playoffs, unless too many teams would start some heavy tanking. 7 team are a lock for playoffs. I am not so sure if Houston, T-Wolves, Dallas and Portland start tanking.
Truth. Even if they make it, the old timers will have no legs in Apri especially against monkey ball and ref ball.

[Raven]

imho they should dump nash for some overpaid defender at the pg position. Maybe trade Artest for Ariza. Then go full half court offense with the slowest pace in the league.. Still winning nothing, but should be play offs..

[Richie]

If the Lakers keep Pau, give Howard a max and re-sign Clark at MLE level and fill the rest of their squad with minimum players they would have a wage bill around $110m

That would give them a tax bill of $135m. Paus $19m contract will be costing them about $90m in tax.

Put simply if they want to keep Howard, they need to dump Pau for expiring deals.

[StrengthAndHonor]

That's why I suggested trading Howard and Gasol this season. Howard's probably going to walk. The way things are going in LA and with the looming thoughts of playing with Kobe for 2 more years anf being unable to handle the pressure in LA, its safe to get something from him since no other player can net you better package.. The plan simply didnt work, clear some cap space, milk Kobe's star power for another year acquire assets from trading Howard and wait for the 2014 and 2015 FA class.

[Richie]

That's why I suggested trading Howard and Gasol this season. Howard's probably going to walk. The way things are going in LA and with the looming thoughts of playing with Kobe for 2 more years anf being unable to handle the pressure in LA, its safe to get something from him since no other player can net you better package.. The plan simply didnt work, clear some cap space, milk Kobe's star power for another year acquire assets from trading Howard and wait for the 2014 and 2015 FA class.

I suppose if they want to get some quality back, they will have to trade both Pau and Howard. However I don't see them trading both, they will make a decision and one of them will be staying next year.

If they don't think Howard will re sign, I don't see why they would even bother trading him. They need to get their tax situation under control. Maybe Buss is willing to pay $135m in tax, but probably not. Even if they could get Love for Howard, they would still have the tax problem next year.

I think they roll the dice on Howard regardless. Keep him in the summer and hope he re signs. That means they need to dump Pau for expiring contracts soon, and hopefully get a player who has quality and is on a cheap contract. Those kind of players don't get traded often.

[TheChillFactor]

cant fix it just let it burn lol

[StrengthAndHonor]

I suppose if they want to get some quality back, they will have to trade both Pau and Howard. However I don't see them trading both, they will make a decision and one of them will be staying next year.

If they don't think Howard will re sign, I don't see why they would even bother trading him. They need to get their tax situation under control. Maybe Buss is willing to pay $135m in tax, but probably not. Even if they could get Love for Howard, they would still have the tax problem next year.

I think they roll the dice on Howard regardless. Keep him in the summer and hope he re signs. That means they need to dump Pau for expiring contracts soon, and hopefully get a player who has quality and is on a cheap contract. Those kind of players don't get traded often.

I agree. I think they'll definitely roll the dice. The thing with this is if Howard doesn't resign, they'll have zero assests. Gasol will not get them draft picks, and not a lot of teams will invest in Gasol without trading some of their trash in return. I guess Artest can still give them a mid 20 pick from those contending teams trying to beef up their defense. They're in this mess tbh because of the stipulation in Kobe's contract. No one else. You can't move him without his consent and he has a huge price tag, and I think with him still on the team, Dwight's chances of staying is slim.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Mitch should call Brooklyn.. Ask for Brook Lopez and some draft picks via a 3 team trade or maybe ship Dwight to Houston for Asik, Lin and Parsons, fire pringles and hire Steve Van Gundy. It works financially.

[Richie]

Mitch should call Brooklyn.. Ask for Brook Lopez and some draft picks via a 3 team trade or maybe ship Dwight to Houston for Asik, Lin and Parsons, fire pringles and hire Steve Van Gundy. It works financially.

But the problem of tax is still there. If they trade Howard for pieces and get non expiring contracts back, they will still need to trade Pau or be left with the monster tax bill.

Even if they could trade Lopez for Howard straight up (which they can't, Lakers would need to take back more salary), they would have $90m committed to 8 players. Assuming Clark gets at least MLE money and the rest are minimum players, that's a $100m salary again and with the new tax rules they end up with an $85m tax bill. That makes Pau an $80m player.

Maybe they will have another monster salary next year, but it will cost them a lot and considering how bad they've been this year I don't think the front office would do it again. In fact, they would be morons to do it again.

Dump Pau for expiring deals, a cheap role player (i.e. Mills) and maybe a pick, hope Howard re signs and play next year with Howard/Kobe/Nash big 3 with Clark and Metta finishing off the team, $80m salary (which is still $15m+ in tax) and hope for the best.

Jackson, Bonner, Blair, Mills and a pick or two for Pau would save them $17m of salary next year. We get the best front line in basketball.

Doubt we'll be willing to go in to the tax for it though.

[ambchang]

Tell Kobe to play teamball or bench him.

Let Nash and Gasol run the offense, let Dwight man the middle on defense.

They still have too much talent to suck this bad this year. Problem is, coaches and players learned in 2004 that if you mess with Kobe, you will be shipped out.

[BigTex342006]

They are going to have to build back the team like the majority of franchises have to. They do their homework, pay their dues, develop and build.... they can't just rely on throwing money at players and then count on hollywood and so-cal to attract the rest... I also hope other teams quit bending over for them...

Come on Cupcheck, draft and develop a euro... Find a Splitter, Green, or a Neal...

Laker fans are so entitled... they feel as so Stern and other teams should "help them out"


Luck the Fakers!!

[wanggi]

By Gasol's grace, they had already won 2 extra titles in the past. What more they can ask?

[Brazil]

Should start by getting rid of D'Antoni... just let Bickerstaff run the team until the season ends and meanwhile they can start looking for a decent coach....

Trade Pau and Metta for some younger legs. They'll get 50 or 75 cents on the dollar, but they're contracts that are big enough to get some decent guys.

Cut the obvious old trash... Duhon should be cut and Jamison too. Let Meeks and the other kid play.

agree on _antoni part but why getting rid of Pau if you change the coach ? I do believe that a decent coach will know how to use him. Besides Pau value has maybe took a hit now that he is playing as 3 pts spot up shooter.

agree on Nash, dude is too old and jamison. I'll add MWP on the list, he has some value left. Do what you can to keep Howard and make him happy despite Kobe.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Tell Kobe to play teamball or bench him.

Let Nash and Gasol run the offense, let Dwight man the middle on defense.

They still have too much talent to suck this bad this year. Problem is, coaches and players learned in 2004 that if you mess with Kobe, you will be shipped out.

They did all that yesterday and it didn't work.

[Bill_Brasky]

Woulda never fired coach potato head imo. They started off rocky but he would have had their record better than what it is and likely in the playoffs.

[Cry Havoc]

If they don't dump Paus contract and Howard stays, they will be looking at a monumental tax bill. Ear Clark will demand at least MLE money in free agency and they won't want to lose him considering how well he has played. $20m for Howard + Clark and they will have to resign at least a couple of their others.

Looking at $110m+ to keep this roster together. Pau has to go. Maybe they would be open to the trade I put forward (somewhat jokingly) based around Jackson and Bonner. Will save them a lot of tax money.

There have been posts circulating that Howard's contract next year, if he resigns, will be = to some team's entire salary when you factor in the penalty tax.

[Richie]

There have been posts circulating that Howard's contract next year, if he resigns, will be = to some team's entire salary when you factor in the penalty tax.

Exactly, they need to dump either Pau or Howard, and being honest it has to be Pau and hope Howard re signs.

To keep this group together (+ Earl Clark) will cost around $110m in salary and a further $135m in tax. $245m for a lottery team.

Dumping Gasol for expiring saves $20m in salary and around $90m in tax. That makes Gasol a $110m/yr player.

[ambchang]

They did all that yesterday and it didn't work.

Kobe didn't play team ball.

Gasol didn't really had the offense run through him, although he did have some stretches. Nash to Dwight pnr plays are still too sparse.

[ElNono]

agree on _antoni part but why getting rid of Pau if you change the coach ? I do believe that a decent coach will know how to use him. Besides Pau value has maybe took a hit now that he is playing as 3 pts spot up shooter.

agree on Nash, dude is too old and jamison. I'll add MWP on the list, he has some value left. Do what you can to keep Howard and make him happy despite Kobe.

Because Pau has a contract that can bring some good pieces. Pau is also a guy that you can tell has a bruised ego. Right now he's 3rd in 'star pecking order' in LA, and he's the kind of guy that wants to be number 1 or number 2...

He's also not all mentally and physically there...

[Richie]

Because Pau has a contract that can bring some good pieces. Pau is also a guy that you can tell has a bruised ego. Right now he's 3rd in 'star pecking order' in LA, and he's the kind of guy that wants to be number 1 or number 2...

He's also not all mentally and physically there...

Assuming Howard re signs a max, any contract they take back will cost them at least 4x that salary in tax.

I know the Lakers are rich, but they aren't that rich. They're going to have to dump his salary for expirings and very cheap players/picks.

[ElNono]

Assuming Howard re signs a max, any contract they take back will cost them at least 4x that salary in tax.

I know the Lakers are rich, but they aren't that rich. They're going to have to dump his salary for expirings and very cheap players/picks.

You can't do that. You have to match salaries (max difference is 20% IIRC). Lakers are paying lux tax on those nearly $20 mill whether Pau is there or some other players are there for him.

[Richie]

You can't do that. You have to match salaries (max difference is 20% IIRC). Lakers are paying lux tax on those nearly $20 mill whether Pau is there or some other players are there for him.

Exactly, but next year the tax goes from $1:$1 (salary:tax) to possibly over $1:$4. That means if Gasol stays or they still have his salary on the books next year, they could be paying over $80m in tax on top of his $20m salary just to keep him.

Over $90m in salary the tax is $3.75 for the first $5m then increases by 0.50 every $5m after that. If Howard re signs then the Lakers salary will be around $90m without Gasol. With him, his contract puts their salary to around the $110m mark which is an additional $80m+ in tax.

This year the Lakers have a $100m salary and pay an additional $30m in tax (the lux threshold is $70m). Next year, $100m in salary will cost them over $85m in tax, and $110m in salary over $135m in tax.

If they dump him for expiring contracts this year, they will still have the tax hit this year of around $30m because the salaries will have to match, but will save over $100m next year.

[Seventyniner]

You can't do that. You have to match salaries (max difference is 20% IIRC). Lakers are paying lux tax on those nearly $20 mill whether Pau is there or some other players are there for him.

They could dump him on a team with cap space. Pau will be an expiring contract next season so a team with tons of cap space that whiffs on everybody might take him. Cleveland might do it because it would preserve their 2014 cap space for :cryLeBron:cry.

Of course, the Cavs could put the squeeze on and demand Jordan Hill too. It would be kind of funny to see the Lakers play the part of the desparate party.

[024]

DHO needs better spacing and that means the lakers need an infusion of 3 pt shooters. howard keeps getting stripped on the rare moments he gets the ball in the post. that is because the opposing team aren't worried about pau, metta, or kobe making a 3 pointer so they can easily double off their man. the only player on the lakers that can reliably hit a 3 is steve nash.

their second problem is the luxury tax. that means the lakers need to start getting rid of the dead weight. if they want to keep howard, they have to trade gasol for some 3 point shooters and expiring contracts. something like a package of stephen jackson and matt bonner + maybe another 3 pt shooter from a third team.

[ElNono]

Exactly, but next year the tax goes from $1:$1 (salary:tax) to possibly over $1:$4. That means if Gasol stays or they still have his salary on the books next year, they could be paying over $80m in tax on top of his $20m salary just to keep him.

Over $90m in salary the tax is $3.75 for the first $5m then increases by 0.50 every $5m after that. If Howard re signs then the Lakers salary will be around $90m without Gasol. With him, his contract puts their salary to around the $110m mark which is an additional $80m+ in tax.

This year the Lakers have a $100m salary and pay an additional $30m in tax (the lux threshold is $70m). Next year, $100m in salary will cost them over $85m in tax, and $110m in salary over $135m in tax.

If they dump him for expiring contracts this year, they will still have the tax hit this year of around $30m because the salaries will have to match, but will save over $100m next year.


They could dump him on a team with cap space. Pau will be an expiring contract next season so a team with tons of cap space that whiffs on everybody might take him. Cleveland might do it because it would preserve their 2014 cap space for :cryLeBron:cry.

Of course, the Cavs could put the squeeze on and demand Jordan Hill too. It would be kind of funny to see the Lakers play the part of the desparate party.

To me, Gasol is the guy with the most value to trade for actual pieces instead of expirings. If you want to trade for expirings and shred the same amount of salary (or more), you trade Nash/Metta/Blake, who are set to make almost $22 mill combined next season.

[pad300]

First, acknowledge that this season is a bust. Therefore, start preparing for the future. This means that Kobe doesn't get a voice in decisions from now on. He is not the future. Accept that there is going to be pain for a year or 3. Acknowledge that there is no point in paying lux tax for a shitty team.

Then
Quietly talk to the Nets about trading them Dwight for Lopez. If you can get say
Dwight + Hill + Ebanks for Lopez+Wallace
Do that at the deadline. Amnesty Kobe before the lux tax calculation. That pair of moves get you out of the lux tax this year.

13/14, you start around a core of
Nash
Wallace (as the SG)
MWP
Clark/Jamison
Gasol/Lopez

You have a ton of expirings at the deadline Gasol, MWP, Duhon, Blake.... Try and use them well (although, if I thought Gasol would take a reduced role & salary, I would be tempted to keep him. I suspect that he'd be quite good value at @21-24 $M/3 years). Try and use the famous draw effect of the LAL to get good young FA's.

[Ashy Larry]

How do you fix this mess????

You can't. As long as Bryant is shooting 32% while eating first and the defense continues to suck ass, shit won't change. It's a damn shame when the only bright spot has been MWP early and Earl Clark currently.

[ElNono]

How do you fix this mess????

You can't. As long as Bryant is shooting 32% while eating first and the defense continues to suck ass, shit won't change. It's a damn shame when the only bright spot has been MWP early and Earl Clark currently.

You might not entirely fix it, but you gotta break some eggs to make an omelette... what Mike D is saying right now is, let's move Gasol to the bench and keep playing, eventually we'll get better and win... but that obviously ignores a lot of what's going on in the team (Dwight limited touches, D non-existent, old team trying to run, no bench, etc etc etc)

[Richie]

To me, Gasol is the guy with the most value to trade for actual pieces instead of expirings. If you want to trade for expirings and shred the same amount of salary (or more), you trade Nash/Metta/Blake, who are set to make almost $22 mill combined next season.

Who's gonna take Metta and Blakes contracts? The Grizz just had to give up a future 1st to get rid of $4m, what do the Lakers have to get teams to take Metta and Blake?

As for Nash, he'd get offers but he's actually one of the best value players the Lakers have and if they give up him who is going to get the ball to Dwight and Pau? Kobe gonna be the primary ball hander again? They absolutely can't trade Nash IMO, and I don't know who would want MWP and Steve Blake

[ElNono]

Who's gonna take Metta and Blakes contracts? The Grizz just had to give up a future 1st to get rid of $4m, what do the Lakers have to get teams to take Metta and Blake?

Who would trade Kwame Brown and Critterton for Pau Gasol?
Who would trade Bynum with a completely destroyed knee for Dwight Howard?
Who would trade Kapono and Luke Walton for an expiring, young Ramon Sessions?

you get the gist...

[Jt.ONE]

in all honestly, MDA has been a huge faggotbust.

i admit at first i had thoughts that it might work, but MDA has been way too adamant about certain things and not adapting clean enough to his new situation.
i believe at the bulls game yesterday, he had a subtle line of "we need to run more" in his half-time interview with craig sager. :lol seriously?

[StrengthAndHonor]

Asked about his defensive adjustment against the Bulls MDA screaming on the top of his lungs said "Lets go! Lets go! Lets go!"

[StrengthAndHonor]

But the problem of tax is still there. If they trade Howard for pieces and get non expiring contracts back, they will still need to trade Pau or be left with the monster tax bill. .


Oh yeah no doubt. The Lakers will be imposed with the luxury tax, Dwight or no Dwight. They know this and thats why they have everything expiring after 2014 with the exception of Nash and Blake. The heavy weights (Gasol, Bryant, MWP) will all expire at the same year.


Gasol is a goner after this year anyway. I have reasons to believe that even if Dwight leaves, Lakers will move Gasol in the off season.



Here's the thing. The Lakers must decide if they want to win with Kobe or with Dwight. They can't do both. Obviously, they want to keep Dwight but they need to show Howard they're willing to make drastic changes RIGHT NOW, even if its at the expense of Kobe's legacy. Currently, the way they're constructed simply points out to fit Kobe's timeline and this is why Howard is so upset. He's being used as a pawn to give Kobe a grand and successful exit.

[Ashy Larry]

Because Pau has a contract that can bring some good pieces. Pau is also a guy that you can tell has a bruised ego. Right now he's 3rd in 'star pecking order' in LA, and he's the kind of guy that wants to be number 1 or number 2...

He's also not all mentally and physically there...

moreso a number 2 .... when he was the second fiddle, the Lakers won two titles. But I think what really hurt them was two things: (1) the offense. We knew Pau would be in the post or at the elbows for a free throw line J or he would work his way into the post and (2) Lamar Odom. When they started with Bynum, Pau usually stayed high post and occasionally get on the box. Once Odom came in and when they ran the offense inside-out, he received touches. Now? Dude is like an astronaut in space when he's at the three point line.

Question is, can you move Gasol not even knowing if Howard is coming back???

[spurraider21]

Deal dwight for Brook Lopez + contract fillers
Play out 1 more season
Let Kobe and Pau expire after next season
Start over

[ElNono]

moreso a number 2 .... when he was the second fiddle, the Lakers won two titles. But I think what really hurt them was two things: (1) the offense. We knew Pau would be in the post or at the elbows for a free throw line J or he would work his way into the post and (2) Lamar Odom. When they started with Bynum, Pau usually stayed high post and occasionally get on the box. Once Odom came in and when they ran the offense inside-out, he received touches. Now? Dude is like an astronaut in space when he's at the three point line.

Question is, can you move Gasol not even knowing if Howard is coming back???

If Dwight leaves, you have to blow it up anyways. After tossing Pau under the bus and basically blaming this entire shit season on him, they're going to turn around and tell him "hmm... Dwight left, can you be our star franchise center?"... I don't think it works like that, tbh...

[Latarian Milton]

a few consistent shooters would surely help better the situation imho, and the _'antoni also needs to drop his fun-and-gun strategy and revert to their old style which won them 2 titles in a row. they were a scary team when they could rain 3's night in and night out but they're now bricking everything from downtown. can't believe the lakers and mavs were NBA champs just 2-3 years ago and they're now both about to miss the playoffs

[Stalin]

a few consistent shooters would surely help better the situation imho, and the _'antoni also needs to drop his fun-and-gun strategy and revert to their old style which won them 2 titles in a row. they were a scary team when they could rain 3's night in and night out but they're now bricking everything from downtown. can't believe the lakers and mavs were NBA champs just 2-3 years ago and they're now both about to miss the playoffs



mavs fluke championship not such a surprise, but the lakers, somewhat shocking

[Riddler]

:lol Dwight bringing a stat sheet around the locker room.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Heat are next tbh. I bet Miami implodes next season. Contenders have this 3 year window and then boom! Implosion. You guys have 2 great seasons on the book, which means this year is your last hurrah.

[Riddler]

Heat are next tbh. I bet Miami implodes next season. Contenders have this 3 year window and then boom! Implosion. You guys have 2 great seasons on the book, which means this year is your last hurrah.

Nope. LeBron actually makes his teammates better.

[Latarian Milton]

lakers at least made the 2nd round twice after their last championship win. it's more like the lakers slide down the ramp while the mavs jump off the board and fall onto the ground face down tbh

[LakeShow]

in all honestly, MDA has been a huge faggotbust.

i admit at first i had thoughts that it might work, but MDA has been way too adamant about certain things and not adapting clean enough to his new situation.
i believe at the bulls game yesterday, he had a subtle line of "we need to run more" in his half-time interview with craig sager. :lol seriously?

This! The Lakers have no identity, you dont know who's going to play game to game. He has no clue on how to run a half court game, which is the only game this lakers team should play with this lineup. We can blame Kobe for shooting too much, Nash for being a little pussy, Gasol for being a big pussy and Dwight Howard for not playing 48 minutes but they have a coach that obviously doesnt know what he's doing. We need to run more???? WTF, take that shit to phoenix, this is LA, we're used to either winning a title or competing for one here.

The Lakers organization has to make a decision. Change the Roster to suit MDA's style of coaching or keep them intact and fire him. I'm for the latter. Let Bernie finish out the season, the lakers played hard and with energy for him. They play with none for MDA.

[maverick1948]

A few suggestions for "fixing" the Lakers. Nothing is really going to help them "win now". As for the salary cap, Gasol is going to cost them a ton of money if he remains with the team. The Lakers can trade him if they can find a partner to move him. Not many teams are going to give much more than expiring contracts and bench players. No one is going to give a star for Pau's contract. If Howard resigns, the solution is obvious for the Lakers. Amnesty Gasol. His salary is off the books even tho they have to pay him the difference of his contract and what he signs for elsewhere. He will likely get about 7 mil a year for 2 or 3 yrs. So it will cost the Lakers about 12 mil but NO luxury tax on his contract. Several teams have the cap space available next season to sign Gasol for around 7 Mil or so. Then you go out and get 3 or 4 minimum vets to fill out the bench. It will take Kobe reducing his bloated contract like Timmy did or forget trying to repair the Lakers.