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djsunyc
Posts: 44929
Alba Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #536
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Still No Point, Or Is There?
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By Eric Pincus
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Jul 31, 2005, 23:08
On Tuesday at 9:00 AM Pacific, the league-wide moratorium on player movement finally comes to an end. The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has been ratified with the salary cap being set at $49.5 million. Other announced numbers include the luxury tax threshold at $61.7 million, the mid-level exception (MLE) at $5 million and the lower-level exception (LLE) at $1.672 million.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, their pending trade of Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins to the Washington Wizards for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit will be executed. Profit signed a three-year deal with the first fully guaranteed. The Lakers can still waive him, but he's entitled to full compensation. Luke Walton will also re-sign with LA on a two-year deal.
The Atkins trade brings the burning question to the surface. Will the Lakers actually have a point guard on opening night?
After a flirtation with Antonio Daniels, the well of free agents has seemingly dried up. Daniels was said to be extremely disappointed when the Lakers refused to give him a three-year contract but was assuaged by the Wizards five-year offer. The Lakers are committed to attaining cap space for 2007 and Daniels was not considered a player worth putting that goal in jeopardy.
I've been told that the Lakers are open to acquiring players whose contracts run past 2007, but only for high quality players at a reasonable salary. The thought being that quality players can always be moved if needed. Daniels apparently did not fit the mold.
Jason Williams?
With that in mind, Sam Amico of Pro Basketball News is reporting that the Lakers may be "actively pursuing a trade for Memphis point guard Jason Williams." The need LA has for a one is undeniable and Williams may be the best available at that position. His salary runs through 2008, making nearly $9 million in his final season.
Would that be a risk the Lakers are willing to take?
Numerous sources say it is, though there is no consensus that Amico's report is correct. Contacts through the Grizzlies have told me that the Lakers have expressed interest in Williams along with Earl Watson and Lorenzen Wright. Watson is considered extremely unlikely since he's looking for a five-year deal and that is beyond the scope the Lakers would consider.
Although the details of Grizzlies' rumor are unclear, some have suggested it's a three team trade sending Wright to the Miami Heat with pieces (Michael Doleac, Devean George and others) to Memphis. A number of conflicting reports, including one from HOOPSWORLD.com, say that Williams is indeed leaving Memphis as part of a three-team trade but to the Boston Celtics.
If the cost for LA are players like George, Slava Medvedenko and/or Vlade Divac, Williams would be a a solid acquisition, though the Lakers would need to have a defensive stopper off the bench at the point. Laker Coach Phil Jackson would have a yet another player with a questionable reputation (along with Kwame Brown), but if the franchise is willing to take on the challenge, then it could be another bold move to improve a team coming off a 34-win season.
Other Point Guards
My inbox has been filled with a barrage of questions regarding the Lakers and their point guard position. From what I've heard, Jeff McInnis offered to come to the Lakers on a two-year deal. LA wasn't interested. Gary Payton and Damon Stoudamire expressed interest as well. With Payton, the answer was thanks, but no thanks. Stoudamire and Juan Dixon were considered on some level, but ultimately neither was considered a priority.
The Lakers would have loved to have gotten Joe Johnson, Larry Hughes or Ray Allen, but were never in the running due to salary cap limitations. Jason Hart is rumored to be on the block from the Charlotte Bobcats (to the Sacramento Kings), but the Lakers are looking for a more established player.
With TJ Ford healthy, Mo Williams is on the Laker radar, but it's not clear if the Milwaukee Bucks are willing to move their primary back up until Ford is proven sound on the court (or the Bucks can acquire another point behind Ford).
Speaking of the Bucks, here's an idea . . . Desmond Mason and filler (possibly Mo Williams) to the Utah Jazz for Carlos Boozer. Just speculating . . .
From the Cavaliers, Eric Snow's contract runs too long. He's an ideal fit for the triangle despite his lack of a three-point shot.
Marcus Banks made sense last year and LA could use his defensive spark off the bench, but he's not a obvious triangle fit.
Marko Jaric is looking for too many years, he's out of the running. Dan Dickau is still a possibility, though I haven't gotten a feel for the Lakers' take on Dickau yet.
If the Lakers could acquire Jamal Crawford from the New York Knicks, they'd likely jump at the opportunity. Never count the Knicks out of any trade . . . they seem to make counter-intuitive personnel decisions.
The Lakers don't want Steve Francis. Before trading Caron Butler, they were said to have gotten two calls from the Orlando Magic offering Francis, but were rebuffed by the Lakers who were looking for size at the time. Although talented, he isn't considered a good fit next to Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom.
Jason Kidd isn't being offered to LA . . . and the Lakers aren't interested in his salary.
With the Indiana Pacers agreeing to terms with Sarunas Jasikevicius, there's a reasonable chance the Lakers consider at Anthony Johnson. His contract runs to 2008 but is just under $3 million. Perhaps as part of a bigger deal (whispers that LA is still on the Jonathan Bender hunt) . . . though he doesn't seem like a player LA risks their 2007 cap position over.
Rafer Alston is reportedly on the block, but he doesn't fit the triangle well and has too many years left on his contract. Mike James from the Rockets would be a great fit, but there doesn't seem to be any reason why Houston makes a deal to help the Lakers.
The one point guard the Lakers do seem likely to land is Tyronn Lue. He'd come on board as the back up point . . . although if LA strikes out in all other pursuits, he could be the starter. The Atlanta Hawks may make a push to keep him, but I'm told that he's the Lakers to refuse.
Finally, don't expect Nick Van Exel to return to LA if waived by the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Amnesty
The "Allan Houston Exception" which provides a one time luxury tax amnesty for a single player has been given a deadline of August 15. Each team can waive a single player, but that contract will still count against the salary cap and the player must be paid. The player must also have been on the team as of June 21, preventing teams from trading for a more candidate to waive.
It is expected that the Lakers will use their amnesty on Brian Grant. Unless LA finds a willing trade partner, which is highly unlikely, Grant will end up a free agent. It does not seem likely that the Lakers keep him on for the year despite their need for size in the front court. It is speculated that Grant will return to one of his former teams (the Blazers or Heat).
Currently the Laker payroll is near $70 million prior to LA spending their MLE. If the club hits $75 million, Grant's waived contract could save $14 million in luxury taxes. Hard to pass up on savings like that . . .
As far as other amnesty victims, it's still not clear how aggressive teams will be to use the exception. Some predict there won't be much of a splash at all. If a team isn't in the luxury tax threshold this year, they may look to trade unwanted players in a year or so, since the amnesty wouldn't provide them any immediate fiscal benefit.
Expect the Celtics to use the exception on Vin Baker's previously bought-out contract. Bakers may be the only player who gets "Houstoned" by more than one team . . . he could be the guy the Rockets shed if they need to save a few million dollars.
The Grizzlies are looking to trade Lorenzen Wright but he could save them a significant amount if waived ($7.7 million). There is no indication out of Memphis that they plan to do so . . . in fact Wright may be traded by week's end. Raul Lopez, recently acquired from the Utah Jazz, is expected to leave the NBA via buy-out and could end up a small amnesty cut for the Grizzlies.
Depending on the rest of their off-season, the Miami Heat are not far enough above the threshold to save enough by waiving Eddie Jones. New York is expected to use the Allan Houston Exception on Allan Houston. Makes sense . . .
The Orlando Magic are expected to cut Doug Christie but it doesn't sound like he'd consider playing for the Lakers (Sacramento or Seattle are rumored to be on his list).
Michael Finley of Dallas Mavericks is on the block, but if he's not traded and gets the cut, there are a number of teams ahead of LA. Finley wouldn't seem like a good fit as the point guard in the triangle anyway, he doesn't possess the ball handing skills needed for the job.
New Jersey may cut a small salary like Ron Mercer. The Pacers are likely to axe Austin Croshere . . . who incidentally may be on the Laker list once he's available. If LA can find suitors for Slava Medvedenko and even Brian Cook in trade, Croshere provides a more experienced shooter backing up the power forward position.
Although LA would love to land Jalen Rose off waivers, the Raptors will use the amnesty on Alonzo Mourning's buy-out. Toronto isn't quite in luxury tax territory anyway, so if LA wants Rose, they'd have to trade for him. Unless the Raptors take Brian Grant and the Lakers take additional bad contracts from Toronto, that's probably a dead-end.
One player the Lakers would aggressively pursue is Chris Webber. On face value, he seems an obvious cut since Philadelphia has a team payroll of near $80 million. Lopping off Webber's $19 million would put the team right at the luxury tax level . . . which would seem like too much money for any team to responsibly pass on.
Looking a little more closely at the Sixers roster, Jamal Mashburn is expected to retire with his contract coming off the books during the season. That drops Philly's total salaries to near $70 million. Though they would save a little more by waiving Webber, Aaron McKie gives the team enough of a break with his $6 million salary. They'll still pay some tax, but roughly $3 million.
Don't expect Webber to be cut . . .
Finally, the Portland Trail Blazers are not yet over the tax threshold (assuming they cut Nick Van Exel's non-guaranteed contract). Still, they may add additional salary over with a $5 million trade exception attained via the Shareef Abdur-Rahim trade to New Jersey. Word is the team was close to buying out Derek Anderson last season before any word of the amnesty exception was heard. With the acquisition of Juan Dixon, some say the writing is on the wall and Anderson is a near lock.
Sources say that the Lakers would be the front runner for Anderson's services. He would be a natural fit in the triangle offense at either guard spot and is the fallback plan for starting point guard. Anderson is said to have other suitors including the Houston Rockets, but there is a good chance he ends up a Laker.
Keep in mind that nothing is a lock these days . . . Anderson may not even get the cut.
The remaining teams aren't above the luxury tax threshold and thus aren't expected to use the amnesty. Free agency and trades could change the picture but all must be decided by August 15.
Cap Space in 2007
If the rumors are true, Joe Johnson is indeed on his way to the Atlanta Hawks in trade. The point is . . . free agency is unpredictable. Those disparaging the Lakers for their cap space aspirations in 2007 may be pre-judging the situation.
Potential unrestricted free agents like Yao Ming and Amare Stoudemire may indeed stick with their own clubs, but cap space would give the Lakers many different options beyond the big two.
Here are some unrestricted free agents in 2007 (assuming extensions are not signed):
Desmond Mason, Paul Pierce (player option), Jamaal Magloire, Peja Stojakovic (though he may opt out one year earlier), Mike Bibby (player option), Grant Hill, Dirk Nowitzki (player option), Nene, Vince Carter (player option), Chauncey Billups (player option), Jalen Rose, Mike James, Fred Jones, Chris Webber (player option), Drew Gooden, Chris Wilcox, Tashaun Prince, Mike Dunleavy and even Caron Butler.
With Joe Johnson in mind, there are a number of restricted free agents in 2007 who could be targets:
Kirk Hinrich, TJ Ford, Marcus Banks, Chris Kaman, Josh Smith, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Mike Sweetney, Josh Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Nick Collison, Luke Ridnour, Mickael Pietrus and Jarvis Hayes.
Will the Lakers get under the cap? Can they do it without sacrificing the next two seasons? Any players on that list worth the wait? Looking forward it's not easy to tell but looking backwards it may very well make complete sense.
Cap room can also be used to acquire players in trade. A number of impact players have been moved for less than stellar packages (Baron Davis, Vince Carter, etc). The Lakers seem to have a plan, but there are so many variables . . . just what the result will be is too far in the future to project.
Other Notes
Laker GM Mitch Kupchak mentioned on local radio that he didn't expect Andrew Bynum to play much his first season or two in the league. Some reports had Bynum going to the NBDL, but that is not likely to be the Laker plan. Expect him to be learning, growing and developing with the team.
The Lakers plan to have four assistant coaches next season: Frank Hamblin, Brian Shaw, Kurt Rambis and . . .
What's the hold up on that fourth spot?
Could it be that the Lakers are waiting for Tim Grgurich and the Portland Trail Blazers to resolve their differences?
Ronny Turiaf
After spending time with Turiaf during the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, it was hard not to admire the Lakers' second-round draft pick's enthusiasm. When it became clear that he needed open-hear surgery, it was quite a blow. The good news is that he's gotten past the procedure without needing a heart valve replaced and should be able to fully recover over time.
Basketball becomes secondary in moments like this. If he is ready to play down the road, the Lakers will welcome him back. I will be contributing an article to SWISH Magazine on Turiaf and my experience with him this summer.
Here is a mailing address, should you be inclined to send well wishes to Turiaf:
Gonzaga Men's Basketball
C/O Ronny Turiaf
Gonzaga University
502 E. Boone
Spokane, WA 99258
or email him at ronny@gonzaga.edu
Finally . . .
Regular readers of my column, take note . . . my wife is due to deliver our second daughter on August 19th. The doctor seems to think my wife may go early . . . so if I'm not heard from in a while or have one of my colleagues covering the Lakers for a few weeks . . . you'll know why.
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8/1/2005 12:29 AM
