That he will be joining the Lakers along with Karl Malone. Who knew they were such pals. They are willing to go together somewhere as a package to go and try to win a ring, Portland and Miami are reputed to also be in the mix.
In a way doesn't this kind of help the Spurs chances of landing one of the big 3?
I mean it isn't gonna be any easier for those guys to win a le against that Laker monster if they stay with their own teams. They have a much better chance if they come to SA.
Hopefully the spurs can get better. A Spurs/Lakers super rivalry might just be what the leauge needs.
If this move goes down, I will be very satisfied with our off-season production. The only thing that would make me happier would be to switch Malone for PJ Brown. But as I've said before, beggars can't be choosy.
notice how they just threw this first part in there?
yeah..this is a done deal:
www.charleston.net/storie...kers.shtml
Payton has given no indication he would accept the mid-level exception as a starting point on a multi-year deal, considered below market value for a player who made $12.6 million last season and is playing as if in the prime of his career.
But if the Lakers were to come to an agreement with Payton -- free agents may not sign contracts until July 16 -- he would represent the final piece of what would be the Lakers' most productive off-season since 1996, the summer Jerry West signed O'Neal and traded for Kobe Bryant.
Payton still wants his $$ and what would LA have to send the Bucks that would equal salary and that the Bucks would want?
Everything is speculation, until it actually happens, SpursRock. Just sit back and enjoy it!
GP agent is wanting the bucks to do a sign and trade. GP WANTS THE MONEY!!!! Who would the lakers send back? Picks? Shaq LOL
His agent was the money and the comission, who knows what GP is willing to do.
Sign and trade? Payton is homeless and not really drawing big $$$. He will be lucky to make 5 mill a year.
I would be very surprised to see Payton give up $4+ mil per season.
Agent: Payton won't be returning to Milwaukee
The agent for Gary Payton said Sunday that the All-Star guard has narrowed his list of prospective employers for next season to three teams, headlined by the Los Angeles Lakers.
It's a list that does not include the Milwaukee Bucks, according to agent Aaron Goodwin, even though the Bucks can outbid anyone for the 34-year-old free agent.
Amid ongoing talks with Lakers officials, who are limited to offering Payton a starting salary of just under $5 million, Goodwin told ESPN.com that the recently dethroned champions are "absolutely" Payton's preference. The only other teams Payton will consider, according to Goodwin, are Portland and Miami.
The Lakers also are said to be the first choice of Utah forward Karl Malone, who is reportedly waiting to see if L.A. lands Payton before agreeing to sign for a mere $1.5 million next season. That's the most the over-the-cap Lakers can offer Malone if they use their $4.9 million salary-cap exception on Payton.
"Gary is looking at teams he can excel with," said Goodwin, who expects a firm decision from Payton within the next day or two.
Asked specifically about Milwaukee, Goodwin said: "He won't be back, no."
No team can sign a free agent until July 16, but committing to join the Lakers would enable Payton -- in Goodwin's words -- "to be the first guy to put his money where his mouth is and take less to play for a championship."
In Payton's case, signing with the Lakers would represent a pay cut of more than $7 million from his $12.6 million salary earned last season with Seattle and Milwaukee.
Malone would then be looking at a pay cut of nearly $18 million if he elects to leave the Jazz for Hollywood -- from $19.3 million last season to the $1.5 million figure.
Malone's willingness to accept such a drastic reduction, however, would be more understandable if Utah is only offering him a starting salary of $5-$6 million to stay, as some insiders suggest. It's unlikely Malone would be willing to return to the Jazz for less than the $8 million earned by John Stockton in his final season.
Payton turns 35 on July 23; Malone turns 40 the following day. Although the idea that both could fit into the Lakers' limited budget sounds like a long shot, the upside to playing in L.A. at drastically reduced rates is that both would have a shot at the championship ring neither has won … along with the shared opportunity to help restore the Lakers to glory.
Two teams on Payton's list -- the Lakers and Miami -- put the Bucks at risk for losing Payton without compensation, after Milwaukee acquired the nine-time All-Star at mid-season in a stunning trade for franchise pillar Ray Allen.
A costly mistake by Miami guard Anthony Carter early last week has apparently given Miami an estimated $11 million in salary-cap room to pursue free agents, instead of an expected $7 million. Carter and his representatives failed to notify the Heat by June 30 that he would invoke the final year left on his contract, at a salary of $4.1 million.
It remains to be seen, however, whether Heat coach Pat Riley would pursue a veteran like Payton or focus on the best young prospects on the open market, such as Golden State point guard Gilbert Arenas or Los Angeles Clippers center Michael Olowokandi. It's believed that the Heat is trying to infuse their roster with youth and athleticism. That's why center Alonzo Mourning, in another comeback attempt from his longstanding kidney problesm, is expected is sign with Dallas or another le contender.
The Bucks would undoubtedly prefer to strike a sign-and-trade arrangement with Payton rather than lose him for nothing, but the Lakers have no discernible assets to offer in a trade outside stars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Portland, by contrast, has plenty of assets to interest Milwaukee or any team -- Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells and Zach Randolph, to name three -- but Payton would have to reach an agreement to sign with the Trail Blazers and work with the Bucks to construct a trade that satisfies both parties.
yeesh
It sucks how the Lakers can attract bluechippers like Kobe Bryant or superstar free agents like Shaq or perennial All-Stars like Payton and Malone, yet the Spurs are not a lock to sign a star with max money available coming off a championship.
Oh, well. We'll see what happens.
I think it ed that the One Year the Spurs have the money to add significant talent to an already great team, that LA can potentiall add as good, or better talent, for Less than the NBA Average Salary.
It's ed.
Quote: "I think it ed that the One Year the Spurs have the money to add significant talent to an already great team, that LA can potentiall add as good, or better talent, for Less than the NBA Average Salary.
It's ed. "
It's tough, but the Lakers are a high profile team, and therefore will have an advantage in a situation like this. Sort of like the Yankees in baseball, or Real Madrid in soccer (Spain)
Unfortunatly that's the way it is.
But we have a salary cap in basketball to prevent these sorts of thing..
At least, thats what i thought it was for.
(Spanish League and MLB have no Salary Cap's i think, not sure?)
You're correct M121. What I am referring to though, is that players will always want to join a team that has more pedigree, more tradition. For example, besides the fact that the Yankees have money out the wahoo to spend on players, playing for the Yankees also happens to be a lot of big league players childhood dreams.
Although not to the same extent, playing for the Lakers in the NBA has somewhat of the same effect. Of course, money always comes into play, but I remember a quote by Kendall Gill, when the Lakers were pursuing him a couple of years ago. A reporter asked him about his thoughts on playing for LA, and he responded "Of course! It's the Lakers! That's something that you HAVE to consider!" or something to that effect. Not entirely fair, but that's how life in sports is sometimes.
What now is Ghost complaining about? Oh, the Spurs can't lure stud free agents such as Samaki Walker like LA can?
Archie, don't be a dumb @ss.
The Lakers have lured plyers like Shaq O'Neal to their stable. The Spurs have lured Danny Ferry to theirs.
Next.
The best free agent they've brought in during their recent le run has been...Samaki Walker.
The Spurs have gotten TD to re-sign twice.
Of course, wtf are you complaining about this when you don't want them to pursue certain superstars because of 'needs'?
Who cares if they haven't gotten the big free agents to sign during their le run?
They were winning les weren't they?
Now that they didn't win, we hear Payton and Malone are going to LA.
Please remind me of the latest and greatest Spurs free agent acquisition.
<sound of crickets>
How about Bruce Bowen?
So now this rumor of Payton giving up $5 mil a season is fact?
Funny how we hear about the Spurs using their max cap flexibility to make a run at a superstar like Jason Kidd...and you complain. Find some consistency, 'fool'.
The consistency is thta I never wanted the Holt-ing Pattern, I always wanted Payton over Kidd, and I defintely want a big man to replace Robinson.
Oh and I always told you that cap space does not guarantee superstar signings, champ.
Fans of teams that sign Samaki Walker probably shouldn't laugh at our 2 time 2nd Team All NBA defense, league 3 point leading shooter, Adidas.How about Bruce Bowen?
Your house is glass.
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