The Lakers are expected to offer

[DJ Fieri]

Goran Dragic a 4 year deal worth 80 million this summer.

YIKES!!!!

 

[trojanfan12]

Do it!!

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Better option than Rondo.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Do it!!

20 mill per? I don't think he's worth it.

Max I'd pay him personally (if I was a GM and had it?) would be 13-14 million per season.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

You'd give Rondo the max but not Dragic?

 

[Retroram52]

That's way too much money this guy. I don't know why the Lakers think they have to go looking for max contracts to give out. It makes little sense.

 

[DJ Fieri]

You'd give Rondo the max but not Dragic?

Nope. Neither.

The most I'd offer either is 13-14 million per season.

 

[Retroram52]

I know Dr. Buss if he was still alive wouldn't be giving Dragic that much money. When Dr. Buss was alive and Shaq asked for more money, he traded him.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Nope. Neither.

The most I'd offer either is 13-14 million per season.

 

[trojanfan12]

I know Dr. Buss if he was still alive wouldn't be giving Dragic that much money. When Dr. Buss was alive and Shaq asked for more money, he traded him.

He traded him because Shaq was on the decline and Dr. Buss wasn't going to give a max deal to a 32 year old player whose skills had already started to decline and who was famous for showing up to training camp out of shape.

Even with that, Dr. Buss would likely have worked out something possibly close to a max deal for Shaq, but when he dunked in that exhibition game and then yelled "You gonna pay me now?" at him, it was the last straw.

If Shaq had been 29 or 30 (like Dragic) and/or had shown any inclination to stay in shape in the off-season, Dr. Buss would have given him his money (and people wouldn't be blaming Kobe for Shaq leaving).

 

[trojanfan12]

20 mill per? I don't think he's worth it.

Max I'd pay him personally (if I was a GM and had it?) would be 13-14 million per season.

I disagree. Getting Dragic now would be like getting Nash in his prime. The Lakers will have in excess of $30 million in cap space. If they give Dragic a max, they can still pick up another good FA in the $10-12 million per year range. Add that to Randle, Kobe, whoever they get with the top 5 pick (hopefully) plus whatever other picks they get and some of the guys from the current roster that will be back and you've got a nice team.

Then in 2016, when Kobe's contract comes off the books, they can another max guy and if Kobe wants to play one more year, they can go over the cap to pay him if they want.

 

[trojanfan12]

It's looking like the Suns may try to trade Isaiah Thomas in an attempt to keep Dragic. This could be interesting for the Lakers.

As I posted on the main boards, he might be worth trading for. He will improve the team, but not likely by enough to cost them that top 5 pick. He's also cheaper than Dragic will be which will give the Lakers more money for other FA's and still give them the best point guard they've had since Van Exel.

Otherwise, don't do anything until Dragic hits FA, offer him that max deal and see if the Suns blink.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I'll take either. We need a reliable PG on the team.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

It's looking like the Suns may try to trade Isaiah Thomas in an attempt to keep Dragic. This could be interesting for the Lakers.

As I posted on the main boards, he might be worth trading for. He will improve the team, but not likely by enough to cost them that top 5 pick. He's also cheaper than Dragic will be which will give the Lakers more money for other FA's and still give them the best point guard they've had since Van Exel.

Otherwise, don't do anything until Dragic hits FA, offer him that max deal and see if the Suns blink.

Thomas is also under team control for a couple of years. Would be great if we could get him on the cheap.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I know Dr. Buss if he was still alive wouldn't be giving Dragic that much money. When Dr. Buss was alive and Shaq asked for more money, he traded him.

Shaq was declining as a player, showed up to training camp out of physical shape and had injuries that kept him from performing at his potential and also demonstrated that he had little interest in winning more championships.

 

[Black Adam]

Nope. Neither.

The most I'd offer either is 13-14 million per season.

i'm with you here. neither guy imo is worth 20 mil a season. 13-14...maybe 15 is as far as i'd go...

 

[True Lakers Fan]

He's not worth a maximum contract and what you see is what he is worth - He has already reached the best numbers that he is ever going to post per game in my opinion. I agree that he's not worth a max contract and was hoping that the Lakers would be more judicious with the contracts they offer, but realistically speaking - they will most likely have to over-pay in order to put themselves in the position of landing the players they need to become contenders again.

 

[Retroram52]

I disagree TLF. The Lakers do not have to overpay just to be contenders. I think the Yankees have adequately proven that over-spending for players does not "usually" get you a championship. In fact it often doesn't. What get's you championships is The Logo's model.

Draft very wisely, develop the kids, add vet pieces to fill all of the rest of the holes, and keep salaries down a bit. Dragic is not worth that level of max contract but if the Buss family is dumb enough to believe that he is, then they are going to lose money and in all likelihood will not get a championship out of it.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I disagree TLF. The Lakers do not have to overpay just to be contenders. I think the Yankees have adequately proven that over-spending for players does not "usually" get you a championship. In fact it often doesn't. What get's you championships is The Logo's model.

Draft very wisely, develop the kids, add vet pieces to fill all of the rest of the holes, and keep salaries down a bit. Dragic is not worth that level of max contract but if the Buss family is dumb enough to believe that he is, then they are going to lose money and in all likelihood will not get a championship out of it.

Perhaps, but most players want to go to a winning team which is going to make signing a challenge - throw enough money at them and they will hear the Lakers message. That is what the Lakers did with Kwame Brown, Luke Walton, Sasha Vucevic and Jordan Farmar and it worked

 

[Retroram52]

And what did they get from those four you mentioned TLF besides getting their attention? Walton was on the last championship as a role player. Everyone else was just money spent.