Lakers Costing Themselves Title Contention

Lakers Costing Themselves Title Contention

Why the Lakers are Making a Huge Mistake NOT Using Their Mini Mid-Level Exception

  

The Lakers are a very cash-strapped team, despite having a 95 million dollar payroll. Their only two option of signing a Free Agent is through a Veteran’s Minimum Contracts, or a mini Mid-Level Exception worth $3 million dollars. The team of Tinsel town have upgraded tremendously with the acquisition of Steve Nash, Antwan Jamison for Veteran’s minimum, and re-signing Jordan Hill. While having a vastly improved bench, and starting Point Guard, the Lakers still lack the depth that will bring them to a title. Their youngest starter on opening night will be a 25 year old center (Andrew Bynum) entering his eight year with knee injuries that make Patrick Ewing cringe.  Steve Nash is 38, Kobe 34, entering season number 17, Metta World Peace 32,  is coming off his worst season, Pau Gasol 32, is beginning to see a decline in his efficiency.

This begs the question: Can they actually run with the young guys in OKC? The answer is better than they could last year, but not enough to take a series. Last season the Lakers were the worst bench in the league scoring 20.5ppg, and giving up double digit leads on a nightly basis. Antwan Jamison, 36, who averaged 17.2ppg in 33.1mpg with the Cavaliers will definitely be a boost to the bench, but with his sub-par defense, and likely decrease in scoring in LA, is not enough to put the Lakers over the top. 

The Lakers can sign anyone they want at a Veteran’s Minimum, but very few players have actually indicated they’d sign for a minimum. For example, the Lakers have been linked to 3point gunner Jodie Meeks for a month, and yesterday his agent said "We're happy to talk, but we're not talking minimum for a guy like Jodie," Bauman told The Times in a phone interview on Monday. "He'll get more than the minimum wherever he signs."  Former Clipper, Kenyon Martin who is another target of the Lakers, has publicly refused to accept a veteran’s minimum. In the past few days, his reluctance has dwindled because many of his peers have taken league minimum, and his leverage has been hurt by this. Kenyon Martin's energy, and rebounding would be a great fit for a team looking for depth, as would Meeks' ability to hit the long ball.

With very few options that have been willing to accept a league minimum contract, the Lakers have recent worked out Rashad McCants, Patrick Beverley, and Vernon Macklin. I don’t have to explain that none of those guys are any better than one current Laker including recently drafted Darius Johnson-Odom, and Robert Sacre. 

This brings us to the discussion about the Mini Mid-Level Exception worth $3million. General Manager Mitch Kupchak has stated “We look to add value. We have a mini mid-level still available but I think it’s unlikely we’d use it unless there’s an incredible value out there.” The reason a team that makes $200million a year on their new TV deal with Time Warner is baffling. The reason that Mitch Kupchak says it is unlikely that they use the $3million exception is because of the new luxury tax. If they use the $3million on someone, it will cost an additional $3million in luxury tax. Essentially it is signing someone for $6million.

This is the Lakers, not the Charlotte Bobcats. This team has wiped their ass with millions of dollars for years. Now they are worried about $3million? 1.5% of their annual TV revenue, and that's the low end estimation of how much their new TV deal inks. It is evident that the reason they will not use it, is because of the luxury tax. Last year, career Role Player Josh McRoberts (or as I refer to him McBobaRambis, due to his Kurt Rambis like demeanor) was signed for the same $3mil exception that Lakers front office wizards refuse to use.

Another theory came about when the Lakers targeted Delonte West, ESPN reported “West's signing is not considered imminent as L.A.is wary about locking up its remaining open roster spots while a Dwight Howarddeal -- that will surely be multi-player or even multi-team when eventuallycompleted -- is still on the table.” I don’t buy into this story much because; 1. When is he going to be traded? Seriously, When? Orlando is killing me. 2. The Lakers had to be goaded into taking back Jason Richardson, so it is unlikely the Lakers take back more than 1 player with Dwight. The way it logistically is laid out, Lakers would be sending out multiple player, so roster spots are not a concern. Also there are a number of lesser role players that can be let go without worries.

It’s time to face facts LakersNation, this team is running out of time, and the Front Office is damaging the team’s chances by worrying about a $3million tax. Leandro Barbosa is not going to receive $5million because most teams are out of cap space, or have their needs at Guard filled. The biggest competition is the Cavs, who are waiting as much as the Lakers for a Dwight Howard trade. In recent proposals, the Cavs would receive Andrew Bynum, this means Cleveland will need to keep a certain amount of cap space open. Barbosa would receive a similar amount of minutes on both teams, the difference is if he wants to play for a contender, or a rising young team. Barbosa is a likely candidate for the Lakers bench. But he will never sign for Veteran’s Minimum because he is an extremely solid bench player. It is time to use the $3million exception on him, and then you can wait for Dwight Howard. Barbosa, Jamison and Hill are an extremely solid bench. They give the Lakers the capability to rest Nash and Kobe for Barbosa, and Steve Blake at a lesser significance from last year. Jamison and Hill can relieve Pau and Bynum, and while defensively they are atrocious, it is the right amount of scoring, and energy that can hold onto leads that were often squandered in the second half. Barbosa scored 11.1ppg in 21.6 mpg for the Raptors and Pacers last season. Of course those points numbers will dip because of how many options the Lakers have, but it will not be a dip of more than 2 points, especially if he receives 20+ mpg. Barbosa is a quick, penetrating combo guard that can score in the paint, and make threes if left open. He also played 7 years with newly acquired Steve Nash in Phoenix, which is good for cementing roles in the rotation. It is clear the Lakers still need a little bit of help, and Barbosa clearly can be the guy that helps the Lakers get passed Oklahoma City.

But all of this worrying about money is absolute nonsense, and I’ll explain why. Entering his 10^th year, Leandro Barbosa would receive $1.352million if he signed a veteran’s minimum contract, multiplied by two that is a total of $2.704million hit to the Lakers including Luxury tax. If we sign him to a $3million deal that is $6million total hit. At a minimum price tag it is 45.06% of what they are extremely afraid to pay at $3million. For me it isn’t too much for me to worry about, but the Buss family has a business to run, I understand.

There are alternate routes. Christian Eyenga, 23, is currently our 4^th SF on our depth chart after Metta, Ebanks, and Jamison who is traditionally a SF. He’s on a 2 year contract, with the 3^rd year as a Restricted Free Agent. In the next 2 years, I don’t think of a scenario where he plays a total of 200 minutes. He’s an athletic freak, and can jump out of the gym, but is a huge project. He needs a few years to better develop his game, and he can’t get that here, especially when he needs playing time to improve. The Lakers can simply trade him. He’s a low risk contract, with potential upside. There are suitors for the kind of player that Eyenga is. Trading Eyenga’s $1.174million contract to a team for a Trade Player Exception would eliminate $2.348million in luxury tax.

Let’s go to math class my friends. Barbosa at $3mil = $6mil with tax.  If $2.704mil would have been spent anyway if he was signed for veteran’s minimum, that means the Lakers are $3.296million over what they want to spend. By trading Eyenga that is $2.348 mil that can be subtracted from the $3.296mil. This leaves $948K over what Lakers want to sign Barbosa for with tax. Divided by 2 = $474K more than they want to pay for Barbosa (equivalent to the contract of a Second Round Pick). What’s even worse is that the Lakers are paying Steve Nash $8.9million, $17.8mil if you factor tax. But suddenly worry about $3.296million extra for Barbosa.

It is nonsense if the Lakers don’t sign Barbosa because they are worried about a few million over a title. This type of penny pinching has killed teams before, and will again. The question is: Are the Lakers smart enough to risk small money for a title?