Of course how they leave is important If they have to stretch/waive them instead of trading them for expirings, the savings go from about 31M to like 18M Still pretty good savings, but not great If Clarkson truly did turn down better offers to stay with LAL, then maybe somebody out there will be willing to trade for him, guess we'll see on that Deng, I think can be traded at the trade deadline..maybe some contender starving for an experienced role player is dealing with injuries around that time and they come calling to try and help their chances..harder to say now because there's also the chance that GSW's dominance could make other " contenders " roll over if they start dealing with significant injuries to rotational players. But if they're able to deal Clarkson, Deng could also still prove useful as an experienced role player for LAL if they were able to trade for George and add LeBron ( or any of those other big FAs in 2018) That cap hold/number, one of the biggest reasons they want to trade for George instead of waiting and signing him, squeezing every penny they can All told, even if it's a struggle for them to clear all the possible space, LAL will still more than likely have about a 9M MLE to offer Lopez because they're a non-tax paying team. Now, Lopez could probably fetch double that as an UFA, but then again, playing for LAL does represent a homecoming of sorts for Lopez and if he has the chance to play with a LeBron/George + LAL's young talent and win some games/compete for a title after sucking with Brooklyn for a good while, maybe he'll sign back with the home team for less money. He's gonna have close to 100M in career earnings after this season anyway
That salary dump had to happen. It frees up enough cash for two max FA next year. Plus Russell was a cancer in the club house. That video he leaked did more damage than the Lakers are letting on. Im gald he is gone. Start over with Ball and Hart in the back court with Ingram at the 3. Let the kids run the show for a year then pick up to super stars next year. As well, Lopez starts at the 5.....maybe even at the 4 because of his 3pt shooting and Zubac starts at the 5. I don't see where this bad anywhere????
All four guys look like they are about to marry the worst looking old hag in the world to get her money. But they need to secure an heir first.
Never really been 110% behind the idea of Westbrook joining LAL, but the idea feels better with Lonzo on board to move Westbrook off the ball somewhat If you have Lonzo and George, that could somewhat buffer Westbrook's ballhogging..sort of the setup OKC once had with Harden as the PG or primary ballhandler much of the time and then Durant needing his touches as well. Still probably gonna be harder for Luke to run his system tho We'll see, but it's probably gonna be hard for Westbrook to turn down OKC's 5yr/200M offer, and if he does turn it down he'll probably be traded The league could sort of be turned upside down this summer if Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Westbrook, George, Butler, etc. all move..where would they go?
reminds of when i was a wee street urchin back in the late 70s used to have a buddy that was a middle man (basically the dude who pinched your stash) and he would come walking down the street like that you always knew he had buds or blow or whatever by that walk he had a massive fro and watching him do that monkey walk w it bouncing in the street lights was hysterical was crazy how we used to find each other in the shadows wout cell phones good times
Westbrook now with the Lonzo pick is a recipe for disaster. Westbrook is not going to take anything off the ball. He is the ball in his mind. Don't need that drama. Think about it. Westbrook may have been the key to Durant leaving for GS. Then Westbrook started to turn up his "assists" as the sole show in OKC. Where was that when KD was around? On a young team like the Lakers, that would be death on any development in my estimation.
