Within two years the Lakers will be the better team in LA

[Mecca]

Well that isn't too high of a bar to set.

I said the same thing.

Arguing who is the tallest midget.

 

[Krispy Treat]

If the Basketball Gods grant them Ben Simmons, then I'll believe.

 

[trojanfan12]

How? The Clippers won't have any cap space to sign anyone of significance in quite a while.

The main reason the Lakers haven't signed a top FA in a while is because they didn't have cap space in years and didn't have any young talent either. And due to Kobe's persistent injuries they haven't been able to contend either.

So unless you have a magic ball and know what's going to happen in June, not a single person on this earth knows if LA is a favourable destination anymore.

Here's the thing about playing in L.A. It is still a "destination" for players. However, it isn't the destination that it used to be.

It used to be that if you were an NBA player who wanted to have a lot of marketing opportunities and "build a brand," you had to go to places like LA and NY. Players today know that if they are good enough, endorsements, etc. will come no matter where they play. It's just requires less travel if they are already in LA. Even the weather isn't quite the factor that it used to be, because players these days can afford homes in the city they play in and pretty much anywhere else in the world they may want to live in the off-season.

LA is still a destination city and even with the last few years, the Lakers are still the destination franchise in LA. The fact that the Clips will have limited cap space helps as well.

While LA is still a destination and the Lakers are still a destination franchise, the FA negotiations with Aldridge look to have taught the Lakers a valuable lesson. They can no longer just walk into an FA interview with a few Hollywood luminaries and say "We're the Lakers, look at all of the endorsements, etc. here's the contract...sign here" and expect to land someone. That stuff helps and still matters, but today's players are more interested in the basketball and how they are going to win.

 

[Nick Dymez]

2 years might be a little soon. The Lakers still have a ton of work to do. But I do think the Clippers window may be starting to close a bit. I don't think they will ever be as bad as they used to be again, but I think they will slip back to more of a mid-level team.

Sort of agree here. But I have a feeling that they make a HUGE splash this offseason, ala the Shaq signing.

 

[trojanfan12]

Sort of agree here. But I have a feeling that they make a HUGE splash this offseason, ala the Shaq signing.

That's the interesting thing with the Lakers, there are a lot of different possibilities. A huge FA splash definitely moves up the timeline on when they will be "back."

The right signing(s)/trade(s) can turn things around over night. We just saw the Cavs go from the lottery to the finals that way.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Well in less than 24 hours we will discussing either what might have been or what is

 

[Mecca]

Anyone who still believes market doesn't matter anymore, I'll just leave this here for you to ponder....

Ben Simmons' shoe deal reportedly hinges on whether Lakers score No. 1 pick

 

[lakersrule]

Anyone who still believes market doesn't matter anymore, I'll just leave this here for you to ponder....

Ben Simmons' shoe deal reportedly hinges on whether Lakers score No. 1 pick

There's still a financial advantage of being on the Lakers versus others teams. Not what is was, but still some. I think I also read somewhere that Derozan's shoe deal could be worth more if he signs with the Lakers.

The problem with the Lakers recently has not been marketability but the roster they had to sell to prospective free agents. That looks better going into this summer but still not great. At least they no longer have a coach that will turn free agents off.

 

[trojanfan12]

The problem with the Lakers recently has not been marketability but the roster they had to sell to prospective free agents. That looks better going into this summer but still not great. At least they no longer have a coach that will turn free agents off.

Exactly. As I posted earlier, the Lakers are still a destination franchise. The difference though is that now they have to discuss actual basketball and how they plan on winning rather than just dazzle potential FA's with Hollywood luminaries and endorsements.

Mitch made a pretty good point about FA as well. When asked about the Lakers ability to entice FA's by allowing them to have input on other FA's, he said:

Free agents may look at us and say, 'Well, I like the group you have and who else are you going to get this summer with me?' We have the ability to do that. So we could quickly go from a team that's young to a team that's young and has some veterans and hopefully can win a bunch of games. But that's going to take some luck and a lot of hard work.

 

[lakersrule]

Exactly. As I posted earlier, the Lakers are still a destination franchise. The difference though is that now they have to discuss actual basketball and how they plan on winning rather than just dazzle potential FA's with Hollywood luminaries and endorsements.

Mitch made a pretty good point about FA as well. When asked about the Lakers ability to entice FA's by allowing them to have input on other FA's, he said:

I don't how much this matters, but they also have a state-of-the-art training facility under construction in El Segundo to add to the pitch. The current facility is severely lacking.

 

[trojanfan12]

I don't how much this matters, but they also have a state-of-the-art training facility under construction in El Segundo to add to the pitch. The current facility is severely lacking.

It won't hurt, that's for sure. The Lakers have always been an organization that believes in taking care of the players. But I think when it came to certain things, they got a little lazy and rested on their laurels for awhile. From some of the recent changes, it's starting to look like they have figured that out and are making the right adjustments on how they do things.

They still have a lot of work to do, but at least the light at the end of the tunnel doesn't appear to be a train anymore.

 

[Nick Dymez]

That's the interesting thing with the Lakers, there are a lot of different possibilities. A huge FA splash definitely moves up the timeline on when they will be "back."

The right signing(s)/trade(s) can turn things around over night. We just saw the Cavs go from the lottery to the finals that way.

Yep. Same with the Celtics when they first signed the big 3. So it could definitely happen. We will know mostly everything we need to know tonight.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Make up your mind. Is it that Showtime is history? Is it that players don't care about Hollywood anymore? Is it what Russell did? Bottom line, you're just hoping no one comes to the Lakers.

There is plenty to attract other players to the Lakers. They just hired arguably the hottest young coach in the league, they have a solid core of young players who look like they'll be good for awhile, they are set to have over $60 million in cap space which means they can add 2 top players and there is no longer the prospect of having to drag what's left of Kobe through a season.

What happened with Russell is unlikely to have much, if any, effect on the Lakers in FA. He handled the aftermath appropriately by saying the right things and continuing to play well. I'd guess that some FA's may want to have a conversation with him to get their own sense of who he is as a person, but end of the day, the only place they have to trust him is on the court.

Any coach could have a great record with the roster Golden State. has. We'll find out just how good of a coach Walton is this season.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

History has shown that's not true - the Lakers haven't ever had problems with attracting free agents because the Lakers kick in extra money to cover the extra state taxes. They have that ability being in a big market. The only reason they haven't done that in the last few years is because Kobe was dragging the team down with his huge contract and injuries. In the next two years the Lakers will be able to bring in fresh blood - WORD

We'll see. Every team in the league is going to have cap space. There will be a lot of competition for the top guys.

 

[trojanfan12]

Any coach could have a great record with the roster Golden State. has. We'll find out just how good of a coach Walton is this season.

True, but it's not as if Luke was just a substitute teacher taking over the gifted kids class. Everyone in the organization gives him a lot of credit for what the Warriors have become over the past 2 years.

But, just like any assistant, he is unproven as a head coach. The pressure on an NBA head coach can be overwhelming and not every assistant coach can handle it, no matter how good they are.

 

[trojanfan12]

We'll see. Every team in the league is going to have cap space. There will be a lot of competition for the top guys.

Not every team will have cap space to go after top guys and I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone else is expected to have $60 million in cap space like the Lakers.

 

[Mecca]

Not every team will have cap space to go after top guys and I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone else is expected to have $60 million in cap space like the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers – $65.6 million
Philadelphia 76ers – $61.2 million
Dallas Mavericks – $59.2 million
Boston Celtics – $56,4 million
Orlando Magic – $53.4 million
Houston Rockets – $44.2 million
Washington Wizards – $43.1million
Charlotte Hornets – $42.8 million
Portland Trail Blazers -$42.2 million
Brooklyn Nets – $42.1 million
Memphis Grizzlies – $41.0 million
Miami Heat – $39.4 million
Atlanta Hawks – $38.1 million
Phoenix Suns – $36.7 million
Toronto Raptors – $35.4 million
Utah Jazz – $34.9 million
Denver Nuggets – $34.8 million
New York Knicks – $33.3 million
Indiana Pacers – $33.1 million
Minnesota Timberwolves – $30 million
Sacramento Kings – $28.5 million
Milwaukee Bucks – $28.2 million
Chicago Bulls – $26.1 million
Oklahoma City Thunder – $25 million
New Orleans Hornets – $24.8 million
Detroit Pistons – $24.7 million
San Antonio Spurs – $18.3 million
Golden State Warriors – $15.7 million
Cleveland Cavaliers – $13.6 million
Los Angeles Clippers – $11 million

 

[trojanfan12]

Los Angeles Lakers – $65.6 million
Philadelphia 76ers – $61.2 million
Dallas Mavericks – $59.2 million
Boston Celtics – $56,4 million
Orlando Magic – $53.4 million
Houston Rockets – $44.2 million
Washington Wizards – $43.1million
Charlotte Hornets – $42.8 million
Portland Trail Blazers -$42.2 million
Brooklyn Nets – $42.1 million
Memphis Grizzlies – $41.0 million
Miami Heat – $39.4 million
Atlanta Hawks – $38.1 million
Phoenix Suns – $36.7 million
Toronto Raptors – $35.4 million
Utah Jazz – $34.9 million
Denver Nuggets – $34.8 million
New York Knicks – $33.3 million
Indiana Pacers – $33.1 million
Minnesota Timberwolves – $30 million
Sacramento Kings – $28.5 million
Milwaukee Bucks – $28.2 million
Chicago Bulls – $26.1 million
Oklahoma City Thunder – $25 million
New Orleans Hornets – $24.8 million
Detroit Pistons – $24.7 million
San Antonio Spurs – $18.3 million
Golden State Warriors – $15.7 million
Cleveland Cavaliers – $13.6 million
Los Angeles Clippers – $11 million

DAYUM!! That's a lot of money in that list.

Thanks for listing that. Looks like there are about 3-4 teams in the $60 million range and a few more in the $40-$50 million range.

I wonder when was the last time the Lakers went into the off-season with the most cap space in the league? Or if they ever have?

 

[Mecca]

DAYUM!! That's a lot of money in that list.

Thanks for listing that. Looks like there are about 3-4 teams in the $60 million range and a few more in the $40-$50 million range.

I wonder when was the last time the Lakers went into the off-season with the most cap space in the league? Or if they ever have?

The Lakers?

Probably not since their 1st year of existence...lol

Of the Teams on that list, the Blazers, , Celtics, Wolves, Jazz and Lakers have the most talent currently under contract, and a decent amount of cap to spend.

Washington and Dallas have money...But, how much will go to Beal, for the Wiz and Parsons/ Dirk for Dallas?

Same with Raptors if the give DeMar a max and try to keep.Biyombo.

 

[Mecca]

Ohhhhhh, didn't realize the Blazers have to pay Crabbe, Harkless, Amino and Myers Leanord.....

So long, cap space...lol