Why do you keep saying $20M+ in luxury taxes? I have ALWAYS stated that IF they do the SnT, they WILL HAVE TO move or amnesty Pau. Take that as your base assumption. Obviously they aren't going to keep Pau AND get Barnes + Bogut. And if they amnesty Pau, it is only $7-8M in repeater tax, NOT $20M. Keep in mind that they are, right now, before doing any move, actually paying MORE luxury tax already (But of course this is before using the amnesty). And how pray tell will LAL SnT for stars in 2014 when they DON'T HAVE ASSETS. They literally ONLY have Nash on the books, and if you say they should amnesty Nash instead...they have no one. What are they 'trading' in this SnT? So no, they'll be signing for both, or keeping Nash to SnT for another, but that gets you no more than a $15M player, max. If they use up all their cap room, the only exception they have left is the Room MLE at $2.62M. Everyone else will have to be at vet min or even young player mins or foreign players. So like I said, threat of repeater tax not that huge and they should not get deep into the luxury tax in 2014 unless they really try. There are two assumptions we have to make clear here: 1) Who will LAL amnesty if they let Dwight walk for free? Is it Metta/Nash, or Pau? 2) If they do this SnT for Barnes/Bogut...then they will have to move/amnesty Pau. 2a) If they were going to amnesty Pau anyways, then yes, this makes their team a bit better and makes their 2014 pick a bit worse. In exchange, they get Barnes + a low first rounder in 2014. I think that is a very reasonable deal, esp. since the 'loss' is based entirely on guesses and some chance. 2b) If they were NOT going to amnesty Pau anyways, but Nash or Metta instead, then doing this SnT actually makes them WORSE, as Barnes + Bogut < Pau Gasol.
I am hoping the Rockets will land DH and will be tracking his twitter page like a hawk tomorrow. If the decision comes down tomorrow and he really is going to leave the Lakers, then I assume one of the first things that his handlers will do in advance of any announcement or leak of a decision is to edit out all the Laker images/graphics from his official twitter account at https://twitter.com/DwightHoward.
None of this GS chatter is real, if it is, they'd be left literally telling their whole starting lineup except one guy "man we don't really want you", you don't leak something like that unless it is happening, and since there's been no indication the lakers will budge it's beyond ridiculous. Look @ how much sulking went on over basketball reasons, that's why you don't push it into the press.
ESPN message boards are closing expect an INFLUX of new posters to clutchfans.. they really are terrible over there..
Oh yeah? And who is the second best player on your team? 55 yr old Nash? Or 75 yr old Pau? Screw that. Tell me who is THE best player on your team? 37 yr old post-Injury Kobe? Yeah I'm sure Dwight is laughing at our roster.
I can maybe help with part of this. I don't think the Lakers can Amnesty Nash. According to the Coon FAQ he had to be on their Roster as of July 1, 2011. He did not join them until July 11, 2012.
You still haven't really addressed my Barnes + Bogut trade scenario though. I even summarized it w/ the points people raised w/ counter points and everything 2 pages ago!
We really don't need pissing contests with fans of other teams nor late night garbage photos in this thread. Let's keep it to Dwight Howard news and discussion.
Thanks. So he's off the list. Thankfully, it doesn't change my argument at all except that now replace "amnesty Nash or Metta vs Pau" w/ "amnesty Metta vs Pau" haha.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Where we stand heading into what MIGHT finally be Decision Day for Dwight Howard. ESPN link w/<a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne">@ramonashelburne</a>: <a href="http://t.co/RmdNM91hhw">http://t.co/RmdNM91hhw</a></p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/353016602851160064">July 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Forgive me for quoting this as I'm pretty much 30 odd pages back - so haven't read any new rumours. Why are people so concerned with this 1st round draft pick from GSW? They do realise it will be basically a second round pick since the Warriors will have a good record?
