If the Lakers front office is smart, they will go for a complete rebuild including trading Dwight, Nash, Gasol, and possibly even Kobe depending on what's offered for him. They have the assets to get a lot of draft picks and young players back and make it a fast Denver style rebuilding effort, but only if they bite the bullet now instead of waiting until everybody is another year older and another year crappier.
They wish. Those teams all own their 2013 picks.* The Suns own the Lakers 2013 and 2015 first round picks from the Steve Nash trade. The Lakers could very well end up being a lottery team with no lottery pick. * (The Cats/ pick has generous protections via Chicago. The Lakers' picks are all unprotected.)
Here's what Real GM has to say about it 2013 1st rd pick to Phoenix The L.A. Lakers will send the least favorable of their own 1st round pick (top-14 protected), Cleveland's own 2013 1st round pick, Sacramento's own 1st round pick (top-13 protected) and Miami's 2013 1st round pick to Phoenix. If the L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick is within the top-14 selections, Phoenix will automatically receive the L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick. [L.A. Lakers-Phoenix, 7/11/2012] 2013 1st rd pick to Cleveland Cleveland has the right to swap the least favorable of their own 2013 1st round pick, Miami's own 2013 1st round pick (top-10 protected) and Sacramento's own 2013 1st round pick (top-13 protected) with the L.A. Lakers own 2013 first round pick (top-14 protected). If the L.A. Lakers own 2013 first round pick is #1-#14, then the L.A. Lakers' obligation to Cleveland shall be extinguished. [Cleveland-L.A. Lakers, 3/15/2012]
It's not, at least not this year. If LA makes the playoffs then the Cavs get their pick. If LA misses the playoffs then the Suns get their pick.
does not matter much..... they don't play their rookies anyway they find a way to amass useless veterans
Correct. They have no picks. And there is a complicated pick swap mechanism in place via the traded Cavaliers pick for (lol) Luke Walton that basically guarantees the Lakers get the pointy end of the stick no matter what happens. (source: http://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Lakers.htm) Those Lakers fans are kidding themselves, or else were so overcome with excitement in getting Nash that they didn't understand a pick situation that seemed irrelevant at the start of the season. Between the Sessions trade, the Jordan Hill trade, and now the Nash trade, they've had and will have no picks, followed by no good picks. There will be no dawn for men.
Giving Kobe 30 million, plus 19 for Gasol, and whatever they're giving Artest, and trying to sign Dwight, their cap is busted... If Dwight leaves, they're really screwed... Phil or no Phil. Kobe has a no trade clause and is really the biggest hold up in their cap.
they still haven't used the amnesty clause right? if worse comes to worse, I see Gasol being amnestied
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How are they imploding? I really don't get it. Kobe wants it. They have Nash, who is an absolute team player. Gasol's a tad of a follower but he's nowhere a headcase. Artest isn't a headcase when it comes to actually competing, although, it does seem like the fire with him's burned out. Is Dwight really that much of a cancer?
