It's Lottery Day!

[lakersrule]

Not really, cap space isn't going to be much of an issue. They can throw a max offer at, for example, Butler and still have enough to sign another mid-level player or 2 if they want. Hill has value as a backup/spot starter at center and power forward. He also has value if one of the bigs gets hurt.

He is also one of the few from last season who has actual trade value.

It gets a little tighter signing a max guy with Hill's contract/cap hold. Plus the cap hold for the #2 pick.

 

[lakersrule]

There spending power the next couple of summers should be huge too. Especially next summer. Interesting times.

 

[wildturkey]

I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year "prove yourself" deal. Worst case, if he doesn't work out, cut him loose after the season, slide Clarkson over to point and then make a run at Westbrook right about the time Kobe retires and the cap goes up.

The Lakers should be able to get him fairly cheap, he's pretty much played and pouted himself out of anything close to max money.

The money figure is fine in that range. I just don't think he's worth the headache. He's just one of these players that may play well for a brief stretch to keep you hopeful but he's always gonna do something that makes you pull your hair out more times than not.

 

[trojanfan12]

The money figure is fine in that range. I just don't think he's worth the headache. He's just one of these players that may play well for a brief stretch to keep you hopeful but he's always gonna do something that makes you pull your hair out more times than not.

You're probably right. I just think there is something to be said for a guy getting to play in a place that he wants to be. As much as I think we all dislike Dwight for the way he acted when he was with the Lakers, outside of some health issues, he's done well in Houston. A place he chose to be.

As I said, if the Lakers are going after a guard, I'd prefer Dragic over Rondo by a lot, but I don't see him leaving Miami. Perhaps a better FA plan would be to go after Butler and/or some veteran role players this off-season and chase Westbrook in the next FA when Kobe retires and the cap gets bigger.

Also kind of sad that if they got Rondo and he played anything at all like the Rondo of a few years ago, he'd be the best PG we've had since Van Exel (and I'm saying that as a HUGE D-Fish fan.

All of this guard talk assumes, of course, that the Lakers go after a big in the draft rather than Russell or Mudiay.

 

[trojanfan12]

It gets a little tighter signing a max guy with Hill's contract/cap hold. Plus the cap hold for the #2 pick.

True. But you can't just get rid of guys who have value to chase guys you may not get. According to Mitch, they will have plenty of cap flexibility. I assume that means with Hill on the roster.

The Lakers need to keep the bench in mind during this re-build. Don't want them getting to the playoffs and find out they're built like the Clippers.

 

[DJ]

I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year "prove yourself" deal. Worst case, if he doesn't work out, cut him loose after the season, slide Clarkson over to point and then make a run at Westbrook right about the time Kobe retires and the cap goes up.

The Lakers should be able to get him fairly cheap, he's pretty much played and pouted himself out of anything close to max money.

Clarkson and Westbrook would be a sick 1-2 punch.

 

[DJ]

It gets a little tighter signing a max guy with Hill's contract/cap hold. Plus the cap hold for the #2 pick.

+1

 

[DJ]

True. But you can't just get rid of guys who have value to chase guys you may not get. According to Mitch, they will have plenty of cap flexibility. I assume that means with Hill on the roster.

The Lakers need to keep the bench in mind during this re-build. Don't want them getting to the playoffs and find out they're built like the Clippers.

We have 4 players under contract and 4 draft picks, that's 8 players right there. We'd have a bunch of cash to spend on 6 players to fill out a pretty good squad.

 

[trojanfan12]

Clarkson and Westbrook would be a sick 1-2 punch.

 

[DJ]

I think I'm finally going to give in and try the El Diablo burger at Carl's today or Thursday.

My ass has been sufficiently warned.

 

[trojanfan12]

We have 4 players under contract and 4 draft picks, that's 8 players right there. We'd have a bunch of cash to spend on 6 players to fill out a pretty good squad.

Yeah, they have Kobe, Swaggy, Randle and Kelly under contract at $35,075,569. They have team options on Hill, Sacre, Clarkson and Jabari Brown at $11,671,476. Ed Davis has a player option at $1,100,602 and a qualifying offer for Vander Blue at $1,147,276.

If all of those guys are brought back (which I doubt) they'd be at $48,994,923. The 2015-16 cap is $67.1 million and the luxury tax threshold is $81.6 million. So, if I'm correct on this, the Lakers should have between $18,105,077 and $32,605,077 to fill out the rest of the roster without hitting the luxury tax.

Then, going into 2016-17, they drop Kobe's $25 million and the cap is expected to go to $89 million with a $108 million luxury tax threshold.

Then, it looks like the cap will go to $108 million with luxury tax at $127 million for 2017-18.

I think they will be just fine if they choose to keep Hill.

 

[trojanfan12]

I think I'm finally going to give in and try the El Diablo burger at Carl's today or Thursday.

My ass has been sufficiently warned.

It's a great burger. It will also clean your colon for you.

Win/win!!

 

[DJ]

Yeah, they have Kobe, Swaggy, Randle and Kelly under contract at $35,075,569. They have team options on Hill, Sacre, Clarkson and Jabari Brown at $11,671,476. Ed Davis has a player option at $1,100,602 and a qualifying offer for Vander Blue at $1,147,276.

If all of those guys are brought back (which I doubt) they'd be at $48,994,923. The 2015-16 cap is $67.1 million and the luxury tax threshold is $81.6 million. So, if I'm correct on this, the Lakers should have between $18,105,077 and $32,605,077 to fill out the rest of the roster without hitting the luxury tax.

Then, going into 2016-17, they drop Kobe's $25 million and the cap is expected to go to $89 million with a $108 million luxury tax threshold.

Then, it looks like the cap will go to $108 million with luxury tax at $127 million for 2017-18.

I think they will be just fine if they choose to keep Hill.

Sacre and Davis are as good as gone. And Blue is unlikely to make the team imo.

 

[trojanfan12]

Sacre and Davis are as good as gone. And Blue is unlikely to make the team imo.

Yeah, I don't see the Lakers bringing back Sacre unless it's as a roster filler. Davis probably earned himself a bigger payday. The question for him will be whether the Lakers will match what other teams offer.

If they are looking to clear more cap space for this off-season, then perhaps they can decline their option on Hill and re-sign Davis for less than Hill's $9 million. Maybe drop Hill and sign Davis at around $3-5 million?

 

[DJ]

Yeah, I don't see the Lakers bringing back Sacre unless it's as a roster filler. Davis probably earned himself a bigger payday. The question for him will be whether the Lakers will match what other teams offer.

If they are looking to clear more cap space for this off-season, then perhaps they can decline their option on Hill an re-sign Davis for less than Hill's $9 million. Maybe drop Hill and sign Davis at around $3-5 million?

I think Davis is going to be looking for 6-8 million. And as good as he plays, he's limited pretty offensively. He takes most of his shots within 8 feet of the basket. He's a rebounder and defender and I doubt they want to pay him that much.

Some team will over-pay for him.

 

[Black Adam]

It's a great burger. It will also clean your colon for you.

Win/win!!

too much hot for me, boys. bon apetit, though..

 

[trojanfan12]

I think Davis is going to be looking for 6-8 million. And as good as he plays, he's limited pretty offensively. He takes most of his shots within 8 feet of the basket. He's a rebounder and defender and I doubt they want to pay him that much.

Some team will over-pay for him.

If someone wants to overpay him, more power to them (see Jodie Meeks). If I'm the Lakers, I set my absolute cap for him at $5 million and if he finds someone who will pay him more, he should go for it.

 

[DJ]

If someone wants to overpay him, more power to them (see Jodie Meeks). If I'm the Lakers, I set my absolute cap for him at $5 million and if he finds someone who will pay him more, he should go for it.

I agree.

 

[trojanfan12]

too much hot for me, boys. bon apetit, though..

It ain't for everybody.

A buddy of mine was over on Friday. We picked up some Carl's Jr. for lunch and I got the El Diablo. This guy LOVES him some food (weighs nearly 600 lbs.). First time in the 10+ years that I've known him that he actually stopped eating to watch me eat.

He just shook his head and said "I can't believe you can eat that thing."

 

[shopson67]

Not really, cap space isn't going to be much of an issue. They can throw a max offer at, for example, Butler and still have enough to sign another mid-level player or 2 if they want. Hill has value as a backup/spot starter at center and power forward. He also has value if one of the bigs gets hurt.

He is also one of the few from last season who has actual trade value.

Guaranteed/Non-Guaranteed* Contracts:
Kobe Bryant: $25M
Nick Young: $5.22M
Julius Randle: $3.13M
Ryan Kelly: $1.72M
Robert Sacre: $981K*
Jordan Clarkson: $845K*
Jabari Brown: $845K*
Tarik Black: $845K*
Total: $38,592,184

Team Options:
Jordan Hill: $9M

Cap Holds (need to renounce or sign elsewhere to clear):
Carlos Boozer: $20.6M
Jeremy Lin: $12.6M
Wayne Ellington: $947K
Wesley Johnson: $947K
Ronnie Price: $947K
Total: $36,048,197

Draft Pick salaries (scale, can be 80%-120% of listed amount):
#2: $4,252,600
#27: $963,000
#3: not guaranteed
Total: $5,215,600

Lakers can't sign anyone until the cap holds are cleared, especially Boozer and Lin who should be renounced immediately. Without Hill and including the 2 1st rounders, the Lakers are on the hook for $43,807,784. The cap is projected at $67,100,000, leaving the Lakers with $23,292,216 in cap space without Hill. If they keep Hill, that number is cut to $14,292,216.

Spending money on Rondo, even $7M, seems wasteful. Hill, Boozer, and Lin need to be renounced, leaving the Lakers with approx $20M in active cap space to work with (and to make decisions on Ellington, Wes, and Price). Of course, Lakers could cut guys like Jabari and Sacre, who are not guaranteed (neither are Clarkson or Black, but will be returning) to free up a little more space.

The only way I can see the Lakers picking up Hill's option is if they have a trade lined up for him, perhaps for someone like Batum from the Blazers (rumored to be on the trade block). Such a trade would likely happen at the draft, as the Lakers would need to offer more than just Hill, and the #27 pick is their only other enticing trade asset that might interest the Blazers (unless they want to rescue the Lakers from Swaggy).