Laker Linkage – 7/8/09
July 8th, 2009 | by Garrett Wilson |- Oh sweet Jesus! So much for Ron Artest not being crazy. Check out his video “tribute” to Michael Jackson and prepare to weep, not tears of sorrow for Jacko but for the Lakers who clearly know not what they are getting themselves into.
- The Artest and Brown contracts will become official today. This is also likely what the Lakers’ schedule “major announcement” press conference will focus on this afternoon in case any of you thought they had some other free agency bombshell to drop.
- Get ready for a long, drawn out contract negotiation with Lamar Odom. LO has almost no leverage as long as Portland shows no interest in him, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be stubborn about how much of a pay cut he will be willing to take this year.
- The cap figures for the 2009-2010 NBA season are set at $57.7 million for the salary cap and $69.92 million for the luxury tax threshold. This actually isn’t as bad as feared since all teams new the cap was going to come down this year but a $1 million drop isn’t nearly as nightmarish as some had prognosticated. Still, if my math is correct, the Lakers are already at $84 million which is going to be a hefty luxury tax bill even before they re-sign Lamar Odom.
- I would prefer to keep this a Jacko-free zone, but it should be noted that Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson did speak at his memorial service yesterday.
- Some reports still insist that the Trail Blazers do have interest in Lamar Odom. That interest may not matter much since Portland has only about $7 million in cap room which likely won’t be enough to outbid the Lakers.
- Kobe revealed in a recent interview that he used the idea of winning a title without Shaq as motivation this year. Really, Kobe? Nobody would have ever guessed that. We had no idea, I am absolutely floored at this mindblowing revelation.
- The Lakers and Lamar Odom are reported to be a few million apart in contract negotiations. Reportedly, LO wants $10 million per year while the Lakers are offering more in the neighborhood of $8 million.
Tags: Daily Links, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, luxury tax, Magic Johnson, Michael Jackson, Ron Artest, Rumors, Shannon Brown, Shaquille O'Neal
By mort on Jul 8, 2009
With Odom out there and willing to allow time to pass… the lakers could go to New York seeking Lee and Robinson for expiring contracts of a shooting guard and a guard, both former first round draft choices, along with a number one draft choice. They have more to offer… if expiring draft choices are the issue… enabling New York to create space for 2010. Lee is a devastating inside force… which is the quality Odom has brought to his team. Lee is a burst of energy… every possession, which the lakers need during the sleepy times believing they’re too good to lose.
By Garrett Wilson on Jul 8, 2009
A nice idea, mort. I know the Lakers had been checking out Nate Robinson before and Farmar could interest the Knicks in a sign-and-trade. As for Lee, I think they would want quite a bit more than the Lakers could offer. The Knicks want expiring contracts but Lee is too good and too young to let him walk for pocket change like that.
As I posted a little bit ago, I think the Lakers might want to look at swapping Odom for Amare.