Because many are assuming that Dwight prefers playing w/ CP3 rather than w/ Harden and Parsons. That may or may not be true, and I think is something people need to consider as an extra factor.
It's like the Clippers fear the threat of losing Paul to Houston is very real, so they are working with a division rival to stop that. How? They fear this will happen: -Rockets trade robinson to have the cap space to sign Dwight outright. -Then they talk to Paul who agrees to sign if they clear the space. -Howard tells the lakers he will sign outright with Houston if they don't take Asik and Lin in a sign and trade. They get scared and realize Asik is worth every penny and the Asian market in LA is #1 in the country, so they cave. -Then we sign Paul without even calling Sterling. Paul Harden Parsons Jones Howard What I fear is the clippers would be willing to trade Griffin to the Lakers just to keep Paul with Howard in LA.
Bolded is the problem. That is not necessarily true at all. Lots of reports showing LAL might simply prefer the cap space and would rather have the extra $20M or so freed up in 2014, have a crap team to get a nice pick, etc. And if they really, really wanted to use up $20M in cap room, like I said, I would rather take Bledsoe/Griffin over Lin/Asik any day.
I'd like to see Kobe take a pay cut, lol More importantly, if I'm Howard, I ask for Kobe to commit to a paycut NOW. Who the F would take the risk that Kobe puts aside his ego and accepts a paycut? Sorry. I don't believe it. I know he's not worth that much on the basketball court, but if Kobe wants $30m, he'll get $30m from the Lakers. He is too synonymous with the Lakers for them to risk alienating him.
The Lakers are better off letting Howard walk for nothing than accepting Asik/Lin in a sign-n-trade. If they take in Asik/Lin, they will have a $100M pay roll and set the record for the highest amount of luxury tax ever paid in NBA history. I don't think they're willing to do that for a 45-win treadmill team featuring Asik/Lin. They're better off letting Dwight walk for nothing and start from scratch. Everyone on their roster (except Nash) comes off the books next summer. Having Asik/Lin on their payroll for 2 years would ruin that.
Lin and Asik >>> Blake and Bledsoe. Reason being is worst case scenario Asik and Lin become trade assets after this season with their expiring contract. Or you clear up caproom by letting them walk. Plus how good is Bledsoe really? He's gonna get 8-10M a year when he signs his contract this offseason.
Seriously? Can you show me one player in the last two decades of the nba who got a multi-yr max money contract starting at the age of 36? In the history of the nba? Jordan is the only player EVER to have made over $30M in one season, and that was when he was 34 (and I'm not even talking about the START of a new contract). There's just no precedence for this odd fear. No one is paid supermax money 35+ yrs of age on a new contract.
Of course the Lakers are saying that. They know they will not get anywhere near fair value for Howard if their hand is forced into doing a sign and trade. True, they want cap space because of LT issues, but this is the Lakers we are talking about. Losing Howard for nothing after getting swept in the playoffs would turn many fans away. Getting Asik and Lin, who will bring an entirely new fan base to their market, and has already played like a star under Dantoni would be too much for them to pass up. Add the fact that they would still be saving over $10 million, and they will do it. Lin Kobe Clark Gasol Asik Nash I think they would roll out that team and make the playoffs with the goal of winning a series or two. The question is what do the Clippers value more, Blake Griffin pr Paul and Howard? I'm not asking which is better.
Griffin is not my favorite player, but he's an all star easily. Bledsoe is highly touted, but obviously Griffin is the important one here. So a good center but not the best vs. an average ish PG, albeit w/ potential, is better than a PG that has at least as much potential (more probably, at least Bledsoe is more coveted around the league) AND a potential franchise player in his prime on a rookie extension contract? um...
Blake is a star, and Bledsoe at worst is an average point guard getting paid 8m (Same as Jeremy). And Bledsoe has a higher upside than Jeremy
You're just assuming things though. I don't agree much at all. If I were the Lakers, I would rather go big in 2014 and shoot for the stars than waste cap space that carries over into next summer on players that aren't stars. Keep in mind, letting Dwight walk for free saves them a LOT of money. If I am just going to not be great in a year as LAL, I would rather tank and save tens and tens of millions than snag some low seed in the west. Losing Howard for free won't make that many fans upset. They know 2014 is the big year, and a LOT of people in LA right now hate Howard haha. And you know who else played like a star under D'antoni? Nash. How'd that work out? Before you say Nash is old, my point is a coach teaming up w/ some player does not mean great stuff happens. D'antoni isn't even running his system in LA anymore, and still can't next season if Gasol remains a contributor. I'm not saying LAL for SURE won't take Lin/Asik...I think your homerism is just making you think it is that great of an option. I wouldn't really like it much at all, and would prefer Bledsoe/Griffin over that package all day err day. LAL has many options and alternatives...which they choose, who knows, but the point is, you can't try to PRESSURE them into choosing one over the other that easily because they have so many VIABLE alternatives.
Here is my assumption: the lakers will always choose to compete next season over tanking The idea of LeBron leaving Miami or Kevin Love putting them over the top is not something they believe. The Asian market in LA being #1 in the US, Lin already playing well under Dantoni, and Asik being an excellent replacement for Dwight...all facts, not assumptions. Asik and Lin are only owed $16 million each on the cap books which is good for the Lakers who don't want to pay more LT.
There is literally no precedence to Kobe Bryant's career and persona, and the closest one to it is MJ. FYI $30M 10 years ago is not = $30m today. I think you've kind of made my point here. There is absolutely no reason to think Kobe would take a pay cut. You're arguing he's not worth it and no one ever has been. I don't disagree with that. There's still no reason to think he won't demand it.
You missed my point though about MJ. MJ WAS paid $33M that yr...but it was NOT the first yr of a NEW contract. Look, this Kobe had two more yrs on his K, and the last one called for $30M, I don't imagine that would change. But he's signing a NEW contract. No one will pay a 35-36 yr old over $30M. I don't even think he'd ask for it. Of course there is a reason he'd not demand it -- he wants to win. Taking up half the cap as a 36 yr old version of himself on a brand new contract? Not sure how that spells winning...He's been talking about RETIRING at the end of next season for chrissakes lol. You have zero evidence showing he would ask for $30M+ on a new contract at age 35-36. I have history on my side. Burden is sort of on you. And it isn't necessarily a pay cut; it isn't like he's re-negotiating his current contract. It is a brand new contract.
I agree, griffin would be much better for them. You always take the cash cow who is a proven all star, espn highlight reel. Using a 38 year old Nash was a lame argument, but whatever. It is all about what the lakers can do to sell tickets to fans next season. Lin was an all star under Dantoni, and asik is an excellent rebounding center to pair with Gasol who needs more touches.
Do the rockets get the same amount of money as the lakers for each kobe jersey sold? Lin would sell a lot of jerseys in LA.
Lakers will do sign and trade under two scenarios: 1. for nothing but a TPE and future draft picks - if he is going to sign outright with Houston or anyone else for that matter, then they'll be glad to get a TPE and some draft picks. That's cap space plus options. They might even be willing to take on a player or two that has a contract ending in 2014 or possibly a guy on a rookie scale deal. 2. They will sign and trade Dwight if they get back what they consider to be a key cornerstone player. That means a guy like....Kevin Love. I'm sure they would sign and trade Dwight for Kevin Love. Or Lebron. Or possibly Chris Bosh. * What the Lakers won't do is complete a sign and trade with the Clippers where Dwight joins up with Paul on the Clippers and the Clippers have cap space to add another max guy after next season. The Lakers aren't going to help the Clippers get into that spot and then have to compete with the Clippers $20 million of cap space and Howard/Paul with their $50 million of cap space and Steve Nash. IF....somehow the Lakers can complete a sign and trade with the Clippers for Blake that includes Blake and Eric leaving the Clippers with Paul, Howard, and Deandre where the Clippers cap is tied up for 2014 and DeAndre is virtually unmovable.....I think they'll seriously consider doing it. That's why Bledsoe is so important in this equation. Boston wants Bledsoe because of the fact that they know Deandre isn't that good. Bledsoe gives Boston the freedom to trade Rondo along with Garnett and Pierce and rebuild on the fly big time. Clippers know that they need Bledsoe to get the Lakers to even consider a sign and trade for Dwight. Clippers were hoping against hope to be able to get Deandre off the books, have KG for one season, and then have cap space again in 2014 to go after Lebron or Melo for themselves. So, there's the rub in LA. Lakers aren't gonna do a S&T with the Clips unless they can essentially land lock the Clips with Dwight and Paul and DeAndre through next season's free agency. Lakers want the real shot at Lebron or Melo. In my opinion, I think everybody realizes Lebron and Company ain't breaking up after next season. I think the superstar that may become available and ready for a change of scenery could be Melo.
