New Season Thread Made, Move on Over :)

[mrdieselfuel09]

That's funny...all sources have been saying this week was that Nash was going to head to Toronto or New York...

At the end of the day they're all sources, until Mitch comes out and says that the Lakers off season is done, I won't believe anything.

 

[essential1]

Here's your chance to make your roster... Everyone we can make a play for.

We'll assume.... Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant are the 3 definite for the roster. Everyone else could be traded..

List of Lakers
Darius Morris $937K
Steve Blake $4.00
Darius Johnson-Odom - ??
Metta World Peace - $7.258
Pau Gasol - $19.00
Andrew Bynum - $16.473
Josh McRoberts - $3.125
Robert Sacre - ??


List of Lakers free Agents:
Devin Ebanks ($900K-$1.3mil I've Heard)
Andrew Goudlock ($937K Team Option)
Matt Barnes (I've Heard Absolutely nothing about in the market, so his take is cheap)
Troy Murphy (so help me god if one of you pick him

)
Ramon Sessions (we have full bird rights. So you can offer him whatever)
Jordan Hill (can only offer a max of $3.5mil range)

Free Agents:

Point Guard
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)
Aaron Brooks, Phoenix Suns – $2.0 million – Restricted ($3.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Kirk Hinrich, Atlanta Hawks – $8.0 million – Unrestricted
Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks – $8.6 million – Unrestricted
Chauncey Billups, L.A. Clippers – $2.0 million – Unrestricted
Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic – $7.8 million – Player Option ($7.8 million)
Jordan Farmar, Brooklyn Nets – $4.0 million – Player Option ($4.3 million)
Derek Fisher, Oklahoma City Thunder – $3.4 million – Unrestricted
Keyon Dooling, Boston Celtics – $2.2 million – Unrestricted
Baron Davis, New York Knicks – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Royal Ivey, Oklahoma City Thunder – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
John Lucas, Chicago Bulls – $0.9 million – Unrestricted
Gilbert Arenas, Memphis Grizzlies – $0.4 million – Unrestricted
Jannero Pargo, Atlanta Hawks – $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Delonte West, Dallas Mavericks – $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Walker Russell, Jr., Detroit Pistons – $0.4 million – Unrestricted*
Courtney Fortson, Houston Rockets – $0.2 million – Unrestricted*
Ben Uzoh, Toronto Raptors – $0.2 million – Unrestricted*
Earl Boykins, Houston Rockets – $0.2 million – Unrestricted

Shooting Guard
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)
Carlos Delfino, Milwaukee Bucks – $3.5 million – Unrestricted
Nick Young, L.A. Clippers – $3.7 million – Unrestricted
Jamal Crawford, Portland Trail Blazers – $5.0 million – Player Option ($5.2 million)
J.R Smith, New York Knicks – $1.4 million – Player Option ($2.6 million)
Mickael Pietrus, Boston Celtics – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Courtney Lee, Houston Rockets – $2.2 million – Restricted ($3.2 million Qualifying Offer)
Shannon Brown, Phoenix Suns – $3.5 million – Unrestricted
Josh Howard, Utah Jazz – $2.2 million – Unrestricted
Terrence Williams, Sacramento Kings – $2.4 million – Unrestricted
Marco Belinelli, New Orleans Hornets – $3.4 million – Unrestricted
Brandon Rush, Golden State Warriors – $3.0 million – Restricted ($4.1 million Qualifying Offer)
Tracy McGrady, Atlanta Hawks – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Jerry Stackhouse, Atlanta Hawks – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Willie Green, Atlanta Hawks – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Marquis Daniels, Boston Celtics – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Michael Redd, Phoenix Suns – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Mo Evans, Washington Wizards – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Kelenna Azubuike, Dallas Mavericks – $0.4 million – Unrestricted
Von Wafer, Orlando Magic – $1.0 million – Unrestricted


Small Forward
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)
Sam Young, Philadelphia 76ers – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Andres Nocioni, Philadelphia 76ers – $6.7 million – Unrestricted
Anthony Tolliver, Minnesota Timberwolves – $2.1 million – Unrestricted
Donte’ Greene, Sacramento Kings – $2.0 million – Restricted ($3.0 million Qualifying Offer)
Bill Walker, New York Knicks – $0.9 million – Unrestricted
Derrick Brown, Charlotte Bobcats – $0.9 million – Unrestricted*
Damien Wilkins, Detroit Pistons – $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Rasual Butler, Toronto Raptors – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Jamario Moon, Charlotte Bobcats – $0.1 million – Unrestricted


Power Forward
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)
Kenyon Martin, L.A. Clippers – $2.5 million – Unrestricted
Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers – $17.1 million – Early Termination Option ($18.2 million)
Antawn Jamison, Cleveland Cavaliers – $15.1 million – Unrestricted
Renaldo Balkman, New York Knicks – $1.7 million – Unrestricted
Ronny Turiaf, Miami HEAT – $4.4 million – Unrestricted
Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs – $9.0 million – Unrestricted
Chris Wilcox, Boston Celtics – $3.0 million – Unrestricted
Ian Mahinmi, Dallas Mavericks – $0.9 million – Unrestricted
Earl Clark, Orlando Magic – $1.2 million – Player Option ($1.2 million)
Brian Cardinal, Dallas Mavericks – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Yi Jianlian, Dallas Mavericks – $0.8 million – Unrestricted
Shelden Williams, Brooklyn Nets – $1.0 million – Unrestricted
Jared Jeffries, New York Knicks – $1.2 million – Unrestricted



Center
(name, team – 2011-12 salary – status)
Marcus Camby, Houston Rockets – $12.9 million – Unrestricted
Jermaine O’Neal, Boston Celtics – $6.2 million – Unrestricted
Nazr Mohammed, Oklahoma City Thunder – $3.8 million – Unrestricted
Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons – $2.2 million – Unrestricted
Hamed Haddadi, Memphis Grizzlies – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Mehmet Okur, Portland Trail Blazers – $10.9 million – Unrestricted
Daniel Orton, Orlando Magic – $1.1 million – Unrestricted
Ryan Hollins, Boston Celtics – $0.3 million – Unrestricted
Eddy Curry, Miami HEAT – $1.2 million – Unrestricted
Tony Battie, Philadelphia 76ers – $1.3 million – Unrestricted
Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers – $1.5 million – Unrestricted
Jamaal Magloire, Toronto Raptors – $1.3 million – Unrestricted



Players we could get from trade (These are teams we have gotten furthest with for trade talk, and the players available):

PG:
Jeff Teague $2.433
Luke Ridenour - $4.00


SG:
Kevin Martin - $12.939
Jason Richardson - $5.799


SF:
Andre Iguodala - $14.718
Hedo- $11.4
Martell Webster - $5.712


PF:
Josh Smith $13.2
Luis Scola $9.408
Derrick Williams - $4.947
Patrick Patterson $2.096


C:
Dwight Howard $19.261
Zaza Pachulia $5.248



Remember all we have is a mini-MLE to sign someone (ONLY 1).. Everyone else would have to a Veteran Minimum. Or Acquired through trade.

Have Fun

 

[mjgreatxii]

So if we have Sessions bird rights, and Mitch and Jim Buss have been quoted saying they want him as a Laker, why the hell don't we just offer him what he wants. Give him his 4 year 24 million.

With Nash sessions and a combo of shannon brown, and pietrus. a nice back up center,

Trade Bynum for Dwight, and keep Pau. We got a squad.

 

[elchapulincolorado]

I'm such in a high right now. If we sign brandon Roy. And if we get grant hill. And if we trade for HowardMan o man.

 

[sohi 23]

Anything you pay Sessions would be doubled b/c of luxary tax. Why pay more than 10 mil a year for Sessions to come off the bench.
Makes no business sense.

 

[senorroboto2k5]

STEVE NASH IS A LAKER.

Think about how amazing that is! Think about those 06-07 playoff games, those MVP trophies, him crying heartbroken after the Lakers eliminated the Suns in '10, his awesome season with the Suns making a playoff push...

I don't care about his age. It's not exactly like he's over the hill or completely past his prime. It's not like when the Lakers signed Mitch Richmond and I'm saying "MITCH RICHMOND IS A LAKER." Nash isn't even near Jason Kidd levels yet. He was a leader on a bad team that nearly made the playoffs this year; I'm excited to see how he fits in LA.

 

[essential1]

Originally Posted by MJGREATXII

So if we have Sessions bird rights, and Mitch and Jim Buss have been quoted saying they want him as a Laker, why the hell don't we just offer him what he wants. Give him his 4 year 24 million.

With Nash sessions and a combo of shannon brown, and pietrus. a nice back up center,

Trade Bynum for Dwight, and keep Pau. We got a squad.

Sessions wants a starting role.. To be honest.. I'm not sure how many teams need a Starter...  I think Raptors keep Calderon if Lin is no go.
Knicks, Pacers, Magic, Hawks, Mavs, Blazers...  That's the list of teams that Sessions could go to..

1. Knicks only have $3.5mil. And if they keep Lin. Sessions is out.
2. Magic $3.5 mil
3. Hawks he'd compete with Teague & I give edge to Teague because he's been there
4. Mavs possible
5. Blazers drafted Lillard so nope
6. Pacers not sure


  

 

[essential1]

Originally Posted by SoHi 23

Anything you pay Sessions would be doubled b/c of luxary tax. Why pay more than 10 mil a year for Sessions to come off the bench.
Makes no business sense.

We just gave $28mil over 3 years to a 38 year old. If we really gave a damn about Luxury tax. We wouldn't have Steve Nash.

 

[mjgreatxii]

Originally Posted by Essential1

Originally Posted by SoHi 23

Anything you pay Sessions would be doubled b/c of luxary tax. Why pay more than 10 mil a year for Sessions to come off the bench.
Makes no business sense.

We just gave $28mil over 3 years to a 38 year old. If we really gave a damn about Luxury tax. We wouldn't have Steve Nash.

I think somebody convinced Jim Buss that we need to win now, and worry about money later

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Just wanted to say congratulations on landing Nash. Really thought the Knicks were gonna get him, but you guys came in during the last min and nabbed him away from us. Kudos to Mitch and the Lakers FO for doing what they needed to do. You guys needed a PG to move the offense along and take the ball away from Kobe sometimes, so he doesn't try to jack up shots and play hero ball every game.

With this move, you guys def improved. Although, I still think you're one or two pieces away from contending again lets see what Nash does with the core for now. If anything, you guys can move Pau by the trade deadline next year.

You guys have a small window to make some noise, but pieces will be needed. I say you guys get rid of Pau and bring in another perimeter player to help spread the ball and benefit Bynum. I noticed when you guys have Bynum going, the Lakers look their best. There's ball movement and everyone gets involved.

When Bynum disappears and Kobe tries to bail you guys out, you see guys just standing there waiting for him to do magic. Nash will solve this problem.

Good job and good luck next season.

 

[senorroboto2k5]

The Mamba remembers

January, 11, 2012

By J.A. Adande
ESPN.com

This is personal.

It has to be. Even though the number of people Kobe Bryant would love to shut up this season (including every voting member of the ESPN.com NBA rankings panel) would probably exceed the total number of Facebook users, I’m convinced the 48 points Kobe dropped Tuesday night were directed at one person in particular: Steve Nash.

Kobe keeps saying how much he hates the Phoenix Suns.

But there’s almost nothing left from the Suns teams that knocked the Lakers out of the first round of the playoffs in 2006 and 2007. The coach is gone, the general manager is gone, every other player is gone ... there’s even a different guy doing tricks in the gorilla suit. The only one who remains is Steve Nash. The same Steve Nash who won the Most Valuable Player award over Bryant in 2005 and 2006.

So really, whom else is Kobe supposed to hate? Channing Frye? Hakim Warrick? He sure doesn’t hate Shannon Brown, his former teammate whom he embraced in a tight hug right after the buzzer sounded.

It’s gotta be Nash.

Those 48 points Kobe scored during the Lakers’ 99-83 victory were his most scored since March 22, 2011 -- against the Phoenix Suns. *And as Dave McMenamin pointed out, the last time Kobe scored more than 48 was when he put up 49 on March 1, 2009 -- against the Phoenix Suns. This can’t be a coincidence. Kobe is too cold and calculating for this to be coincidence.

“I don’t like them,

 

[th0mas cr0wn]

I still can't believe we got Steve %+$@+%@ Nash.

Wow

LA will welcome him with open arms.   We're going to show him a TON of love.  I just keep imagining opening night at Staples, calling Steve Nash's name at PG

it's gonna be beautiful.

Another reason why this move is as significant as it is, is that Steve Nash(even at his age) will definitely be able to recruit players to come to LA.  Everyone knows Nash makes everyone around him better.  I hated him for years because of how good he was

But it was always respect.

This just proves that nobody should ever doubt the Lakers organization (even though Jim is ******ed).  LA always lands on their feet, one way or another. 

 

[pmatic]

Nash's winning dash to Lakers

It's a testament to Steve Nash's amazing efficiency that, at the age of 38, five teams were fighting for the right to give him a multiyear contract for several million dollars a season.

And it's a testament to the creativity of the Suns and Lakers that we got a surprise winner. Phoenix realized it had the ability to get assets back in a sign-and-trade deal when Nash unexpectedly developed a yen for the Lakers, partially redeeming the Suns after the scathing criticism the franchise took over the past year for not trading Nash before he hit free agency.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, gets a major upgrade and a few questions that go with it. On the one hand, Nash is far better than any predecessor at point guard in the Kobe-Shaq era. Also, Laker point guards spot up as much as anyone in the league, and nobody is a deadlier shooter than Nash. And if Nash plays anywhere near his level of recent seasons, the contract is a great value.

On the other hand, they're wasting a lot of Nash's talents if all they do is spot him up on the weak side. Nash is a brilliant pick-and-roll operator with the ball in his hands, but his game is an odd fit with the ball-stopping isos that Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum prefer. (Speaking of which, the first time Kobe yells at Nash should be a hoot.) Additionally, this doesn't exactly solve the glaring athleticism deficit L.A. faced in losing to Oklahoma City in the second round a year ago.

Nonetheless, we can safely say that the Lakers look dramatically better than they did 24 hours ago. Their biggest weakness, point guard, is now a strength. I'm not sure it has the Thunder quaking in their boots, but we can probably pencil in L.A. alongside San Antonio as Oklahoma City's strongest contender for Western supremacy.

So there's the Captain Obvious stuff.

But let's probe a little deeper. I have three major questions following this move that I think are still under the radar. Let's bring them out into the light.




Will the Lakers actually keep the payroll this high?

This is a question one has to ask given all the shedding of salary the Lakers have done over the past two years. Is the deal for Nash, using the trade exception from last year's Lamar Odom deal, a sign that L.A. has made a U-turn in its financial philosophy and will open the floodgates again?

Or is it a prelude to other moves that will reduce payroll by an offsetting amount, using the cover of an upgrade at point guard to offload the more burdensome contracts of Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace?

Gasol in particular is a nagging problem; he will make $19 million each of the next two seasons but it is underutilized as a floor-spacing 4 so that Andrew Bynum can dominate in the paint. It's hard to justify paying him that much money as a third option, let alone as a fourth with Nash on the floor. It's fair to wonder if L.A. will look again at trading him, perhaps for a power forward who is less expensive and fits better with the pieces already in place.

Of course, it's possible they could both trade Gasol and upgrade the roster; in particular, a trade of Gasol and Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu would accomplish that. I remain skeptical that Orlando would consider a Bynum deal when he could put the Magic through the same circus they've been dealing with -- Bynum, like Howard, has one year left on his contract. And on the other side, Howard has stated his reluctance to go to L.A. Nonetheless, one must at least broach the possibility.

More likely, one suspects that the Lakers will use the amnesty provision on World Peace and sign longtime Nash cohort Grant Hill to play small forward. If Hill were to sign for the taxpayer midlevel exception, it would save the Lakers more than $10 million in salary and luxury tax each of the next two seasons, which would offset about half the financial hit to the Lakers from Nash's deal.

It remains to be seen what team the Lakers will be putting on the floor when they open the season this fall. But the team they have on paper right now looks very, very good.

Where does Phoenix go from here?

The Suns have kept things interesting, agreeing on a max contract offer sheet with Eric Gordon and reaching a three-year, $18 million agreement with Michael Beasley. They also appear to have obtained a free-agent point guard, former Sun Goran Dragic, with four years and $34 million.

The Suns can't do all three of these things simultaneously without both amnestying Josh Childress and renouncing the rights to free agents Robin Lopez, Shannon Brown, Aaron Brooks and Grant Hill. It doesn't necessarily mean all these things will ultimately happen, though, as Phoenix can time the events sequentially so that Beasley and Dragic don't sign until after the Hornets make a decision on matching Gordon.

If that happens, the Suns have enough room to "un-renounce" Lopez and either Brooks or Brown if the Hornets match the offer sheet to Gordon (you can do this for an offer sheet). But if the Hornets don't match, it appears Childress will have to earn his first post-lockout free throws in some other uniform.

The Gordon decision is defensible; you knew it was going to take a big offer to pry him away from the Hornets, and he's by far the best scoring wing the Suns could obtain in this market. If you're going to gamble this way as a rebuilding team, gamble on young talent who can still get better. Phoenix is doing that, and the max contract for a fifth-year player isn't that outrageous price-wise.

As for the Beasley decision, I'd like that a lot better if he were playing the 4, but it appears Phoenix signed him to play the 3. He's played much better at the 4 his entire career but the Suns already have Channing Frye, Markieff Morris and Hakim Warrick at that position. Additionally, I'm not sure this is the environment where he can get his head on straight.

How do you get egg out of dinosaur hide?

And then there are the Raptors. Whoa, the poor Raptors. Toronto went for sentiment over logic, prioritized Nash over Dragic and Jeremy Lin and badly misread Nash's desires. Patriotic sentiment was nice and all, but it wasn't going to put Toronto any closer to his kids no matter how much the Raptors offered.

After 48 hours went by and the Raptors couldn't get a yes, they might have gotten a bad feeling about this, but instead they doubled down by offering Landry Fields a ridiculous three-year, $20 million deal. The idea was to blow up any sign-and-trade deals the Knicks could offer Phoenix, with the assumption that the Knicks were the Raptors' main competitor, but New York had another one lined up involving Iman Shumpert anyway. Meanwhile, Toronto never saw the Laker deal coming.

Now, at least, they won't blow a huge pile on Nash, but there's the little matter of the abysmal Fields contract -- presumably the Knicks will be laughing too hard to bother matching -- which will likely require them to lose Jose Calderon (to amnesty) and Jerryd Bayless (by renouncing his rights) to sign any other free agent of consequence.

Nonetheless, this probably saved the Raptors from a costly diversion on their road to rebuilding, and their books are clean enough that Fields' contract won't ruin their equally impressive cap-space hoard for next summer. Toronto can resume the slow, boring process of building a sustainable winner, an area in which it has already made considerable progress. Meanwhile, one hopes this setback will discourage the Raptors from chasing shortcuts so enthusiastically next summer.

 

[freshkrn]

What do you guys think about bringing another Steve to Lakers?


Steve Novak, New York Knicks – $1.0 million – Unrestricted

WE have enough money to sign him right? He will be with nash

 

[jomitm]

Originally Posted by freshKRN

What do you guys think about bringing another Steve to Lakers?


Steve Novak, New York Knicks – $1.0 million – Unrestricted

WE have enough money to sign him right? He will be with nash

Knicks are gonna try to get him back, but if this does happen, it would be nice.
The Lakers need 3 point shooters and strong defensive minded guys in the paint. Novak covers one of those needs and can be a great asset.

 

[ridingonlorenzos]

Mad the Raptors didn't get Nash but happy that Nash will get his ring but mad that the Raptors are not improving but happy Collangelo is being exposed

 

[freshkrn]

Originally Posted by jomitm

Originally Posted by freshKRN

What do you guys think about bringing another Steve to Lakers?





Steve Novak, New York Knicks – $1.0 million – Unrestricted



WE have enough money to sign him right? He will be with nash

Knicks are gonna try to get him back, but if this does happen, it would be nice.
The Lakers need 3 point shooters and strong defensive minded guys in the paint. Novak covers one of those needs and can be a great asset.

If Novak is smart he would sign with the Lakers and trying to put some money on his name for next FO market that hes going to enter

 

[mr j 858]

Originally Posted by freshKRN

What do you guys think about bringing another Steve to Lakers?


Steve Novak, New York Knicks – $1.0 million – Unrestricted

WE have enough money to sign him right? He will be with nash

Not happening for these reasons:
-First he will want a pay raise and will ask for the mini mid level exception. Which will either go to Grant Hill or Jordan Hill.

-Second the Lakers have a glut of backup PG's right now with Steve Blake who nobody except maybe Portland wants him.Then they still have Darius Morris.

If we can somehow include Steve Blake in the trade for Dwight Howard that's the only way I see us getting a defensive minded backup PG like Duhon or maybe Orlando throws in a shooter like JJ Reddick.

 

[foshizzle]

All they need is 1-2 athletic dudes who can defend and hopefully hit a 3 and they are a championship contender. Nash will have a positive impact on Bynum if he doesn't get traded. Nash will play extremely well with Pau IMO. Just gotta get that lockdown perimeter defender and a slasher.

 

[mjgreatxii]

I'm cringing at a possible back court of steve blake and steve nash during games.


Expect teams to go on 10-0 runs till Potato head maybe calls a time out.

 

[foshizzle]

15% off code: VIPBALLER

 

[mjshoefanatic]

Congrats Laker faithful on the Nashty signing

Hope he can play 30+ min for yall and not do this in the 4th qtr

j/p

 

[noblekane]

mike brown gotta go now. son is gonna run kobe, nash, and pau's knees into the ground with the minutes and rotations.....

 

[sohi 23]

lmao we most def. need better rotations next year. Just gotta hope we're healthy for the playoffs and not out of gas...

I still can't believe we got Nash for basically nothing.

 

[bean pie slanga]

Got this in my favorites and watch it all the time for inspiration.