Training camp opens in less than one week for the 2010-2011 NBA Season. The back-to-back defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, will make a push for their second three-peat during the Kobe/Phil/Fish era.
As a potential lockout looms after the upcoming season, the Lakers have the highest payroll in the NBA at close to $95 million owed in player salaries, not to mention another $30 million or so which will be owed due to surpassing the luxury tax threshold. Let’s take a look at the salaries for each player on the Lakers, and how that may affect their play this upcoming season.
Next: The Young Guns and Cheap Veterans
Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter were both second round picks selected in the previous NBA draft by the Lakers. Since they are second round picks, their contracts, as dictated by the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), are one year agreements (assuming they make the team) with a team option to keep them for another year.
For Ebanks and Caracter, they will both make the rookie minimum which is ~$400,000 for their first year and ~$700,000 for their second seasons. Since both of these guys are considered low-risk, high-reward players, they will probably both be guaranteed spots on the Lakers’ roster, and will likely be brought back the following season unless they totally bust or do something stupid.
They will be playing for a chance at NBA glory with their futures at stake, so they will both bring their A games whenever they get the chance.
Theo Ratliff signed with the Lakers for the veteran’s minimum of roughly $1.35 million. Ratliff has bounced around the league in his twilight years and has been on seven teams in the past five seasons. His contract is for one year only. I think the message is pretty clear—he wants to win a championship before his career is over (this will be his 16th season and probably his last).
The Lakers need him for one reason and one reason only. Ratliff is a defensive specialist with a career average of 2.5 blocks per game and only 25 minutes. He even managed to accumulate 1.5 swats per game last season as a 36 year old veteran playing 20 minutes per contest. Ratliff is the Lakers’ insurance policy in case either Bynum or Gasol gets hurt, and he will provide a solid defensive presence as a backup center or even power forward.
Offensively he’s about as adept as Kwame Brown, but that’s obviously not his role. He likely won’t get much playing time unless somebody gets injured, but as the team’s oldest player he’ll contribute when called upon. Theo’s looking to contribute to a championship team, and with the Lakers he will have the opportunity to finish his career with a ring.
As a defensive big man who protects the rim, Ratliff has been on the receiving end of some pretty nasty posters. *Let’s hope we don’t see too many plays like the ones in the video below.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRma32mBA4U
Matt Barnes is joining the Lakers this season and this will be his eighth team in his eighth year in the league. Matt signed a contract with the Lakers for $1.7 million for the upcoming season with a player option for $1.9 million for the subsequent season. I’m not the biggest Matt Barnes fan, but my gut feeling says that this is a bargain for a player of his caliber.
Barnes will be used as an energy spark off the bench, and he’ll play the role of defensive pest. He can hit open jumpers and slash to the basket. The player option on his second season will probably be dependent on how content he feels on the Lakers team. He will make a decent amount of money and play on a championship caliber team, but it’s also possible that another team would give him a more lucrative offer if he produces.
I expect Matt Barnes to bring the energy every game hoping to attract suitors, but I think he’ll realize home is where the heart’s at and stay with the Lakers both seasons.
Shannon Brown re-signed with the Lakers for a very reasonable $2.2 million this year and a player option for $2.4 million the year after. This is a great deal for a player of his ability. Although Shannon is most definitely a bench player, his energy and athleticism can change the momentum of a ball game. He has many shortfalls (decision-making, ball-handling, consistent shooting, passing, and mid-range game), but he has the potential to be a very valuable player to the Lakers.
Since he’s still young (25 in 2 months), Shannon will be playing to secure a long-term contract with the Lakers or any other team. I expect Brown to have similar production to last year and continue to impress us with his jumping ability and improved all-around game.
Next: Role Players
Derek Fisher is the prototypical point guard role player. His regular season production is not as important as the leadership and experience that he provides for the team. His playoff clutch performances alone are worthy of his $3.7 million salary. With only two seasons guaranteed (third season as a player option), D-Fish will be depended on to help lead the Lakers to another title at a very reasonable price. Fish even voiced his displeasure at his contract situation, but he nevertheless re-signed with the Lakers this past off season for less money than many people felt he deserves.
None of this should affect his performance this season though. From a guy as classy as D-Fish, you can definitely expect him to maintain the same level of consistency as his career winds down (he’s 36 already, yikes!) and deliver a few more game-winning shots. *Can’t remember the last time you’ve seen D-Fish dunk? Check out the video below for Fish serving up a facial on The Answer.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IosPPe_fAbs
Steve Blake was signed this offseason to give the Lakers an additional option at point guard. As a 7 year veteran of the league, Blake will earn $4 million a year for the next 4 years. Not exactly a bargain, but he’s a great fit for the Lakers. Blake will split point guard duties with Fisher and basically provide the team with another smart, heady, dependable player.
Now that Blake has secured a long-term contract, he can focus on basketball and help the Lakers win. Worst case scenario: Steve doesn’t fit into the Lakers’ system, he fails to produce when called upon, his defense turns out to be worse than advertised, he clashes with teammates, or he battles injuries during his time with the Lakers. If any of the above happens, his 4 year $16 million dollar contract will become somewhat of a burden.
However, don’t count on Blake to disappoint, you can pretty much depend on Blake to be a solid, but not flashy contributor to the 2011 championship team.
Luke Walton. Aah there’s not a single player on the Laker’s roster that I’ve been more adamant about since day one of his career. Luke Walton is infinitely mediocre. He was praised early in his career for his smart play and ball-passing abilities, but let’s face it, he’s just not that good. He’s an all-around pretty average player who’s pretty good at passing, and decent at a few other things.
He’s a very spotty shooter, and I don’t trust him to create a shot for himself or defend anyone athletic. I liked it when they played the Star Wars music when he came in, and I admit he’s a decent looking fellow. But passing skills aside, Luke is rather overrated. Overrated to the point where he was signed to a lucrative deal which has him under contract with the Lakers for three more seasons at $5.2, $5.7, and $6.1 million. It’s safe to say now that this was one bad contract.
The injury bug has hit him particularly bad recently, and it seems he won’t be healthy at the start of this season. If the Lakers had the chance to move this contract they most definitely would, but I don’t think they’ll find any takers.
The truth is, a healthy Luke is more valuable to the Lakers than most other teams (mostly because of how the triangle really focuses on good passers and versatile players), so they had to overpay him a little to keep him. I hope he can recover and contribute to the team, but it might take awhile. *On a side note, here’s a random video I found of Luke Walton going Costco shopping with Jordan Farmar.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Caaq-qujL84
Sasha Vujacic, “The Machine,” is one player I’m looking forward to seeing next year. Why? Because Sasha is in the last year of a 3-year $15 contract which will pay him $5.5 this upcoming season. The last time Sasha was playing for a new contract he shot over 40% from the three point line and made 1.6 threes per game. Back then, “The Machine” was in—he was hip, he was cool, he was quirky, and he was foreign.
Now, two seasons later, with a huge drop-off in play and injury problems, Sasha has something to prove. Vujacic has to prove he’s more than just an annoying player who shoots blanks. Not only does he have to prove that 2008 wasn’t a fluke and win back some of his fans, but he’s playing for a new contract and more money. If The Machine’s still broken this season and the Lakers are underperforming, look for the Lakers to try to find any takers for his expiring contract and trade for someone new.
On a side note, during that playoff run in 2008 and when The Machine hype was in full bloom, I ran into Sasha at a movie theater in the South Bay. I think he was on his way to watch 88 Minutes. I told him the movie sucked and he laughed. I also took a picture with him where both of us are holding up our arms like we just followed through on a 3-point shot. Too bad I can’t find the picture anywhere or I would show you guys.
Next: The Star Players
Ron Artest is next up on the list (in case you haven’t figured it out I’m going in order of least to highest pay.) Ron is owed merely $6.3 million this season and his contract has up to three more seasons at roughly the same pay if he chooses to pick up his player option after the 2012 season. This is quite a bargain for a former defensive player of the year and All-Star.
Although one could argue he’s past his prime, Ron is still capable of terrorizing opposing players and scoring points in his awkward, yet effective style. At this point in his career it seems like Ron just wants to settle down and play for a winning team. Ron’s intensity and defensive tenacity will be on display once again this year and likely for the next several seasons.
Lamar Odom was once paid like an all-star ($14 million two seasons ago) and he was treated accordingly. However starting last season, Lamar now only makes roughly $8 million per season with two seasons on contract with a third at a team option. This is just about how much he deserves and allows him to keep a lower profile while playing his versatile, good-at-everything style. He’s a great rebounder and passer, he finishes well going to his left, and he can play virtually any position on the court.
Although his shooting is quite unpredictable and he doesn’t always perform well under pressure, Lamar is a key cog in the Lakers’ system. Odom’s contract is stable but not so long that he can get complacent, and it seems he’s found a comfortable niche with the Lakers. Already in his 12th NBA season, Lamar Odom is only 30 and would definitely like to earn one more payday before his career ends.
Andrew Bynum makes the third most on the team with a contract that pays him roughly $14 million this year, $15 million next year, and a team option for $16 million the following season. Andrew was grossly overpaid when he signed the terms for this contract, but the Lakers couldn’t afford to let him walk, and he could very well be worth that much money.
He’s young, big, athletic, and he seems to have a good natural feel for the game. I’m not sure if he’s ever going to be a 20-10 player, but he plays like a true 7-footer and has worked hard to show he can protect the paint and glass. Offensively he’s got a small assortment of moves which I hope will continue to grow. Bynum is one of the best young centers in the league, and with the dearth of big men in the league today he has the potential to be the 2nd best center in the league.
He’s still only 22 years old (23 when the season begins), so he has plenty of time to grow. Andrew will try to stay healthy this year and show that he can be a reliable go-to player. If he impresses the Lakers’ management, there’s a chance they’ll give him a max contract raise when he’s eligible. So far he hasn’t shown the desire to have his own team and have the opportunity to be the go-to player. Andrew Bynum has yet to put together a full season where he plays at an all-star level and with a $14 million salary he needs to show he can be effective for more than half a season.
Pau Gasol is deservedly the second highest paid player on the Lakers. When the Lakers traded for Pau two and a half seasons ago, they were hoping to pair Kobe up with another veteran also in the prime of his career. The result is that Kobe is now paired with the best power forward in the league.
Pau Gasol is 30 years old and is entering his 11th NBA season. He is being paid $17 million next season and his contract lasts until the end of the 2014 with slight pay raises each year. In Memphis, Pau was the go-to player and put up impressive numbers but he was never able to succeed at a higher level. Now that he’s on the Lakers, he’s the ultimate complement to Kobe and they’ve been to the Finals every season he’s been on the Lakers.
Pau is the sixth highest player in the league, so he’s definitely financially stable at this point in his career. Pau has the opportunity to pile up championships and retire as the greatest Laker power forward of all time.
Kobe Bryant is making just about $25 million this season. Kobe’s contract also lasts until the end of the 2014 season, during which he’ll be paid $30 million. Kobe is now 32 years old, and as a 14 year old veteran of the league he’s got many miles on his legs. Although Bryant is known for his amazing workouts and obsession with training, as Kobe gets older he’s going to need to depend more and more on his teammates.
I hope that as the next season begins, Kobe’s assist stats will go up and we’ll see the rest of his teammates pick up the scoring slack. Kobe can remain just as effective as an assassin if he truly embraces the team concept and learns to rely on his team’s strengths. Michael Jordan was paid over $30 million per season for the last two seasons of his career (discounting his Washington Wizards days), and I bet Kobe wants to beat him in that category also.
If he wants, I have no doubt Jerry Buss would give him a few more $30 million seasons, but I hope Kobe decides his main goal is to win a ridiculous amount of championships and settles for around $20-$25 million a season after his current contract runs out so the team has money to spend on complementary players. *Check out the video below for some highlights of Kobe during his high school years.
The Lakers team payroll is $94 million, just about $5 million more than the second highest paid team in the league, the Orlando Magic. For the 2010-2011 NBA season, the salary cap is expected to be around $54 million, which is a slight decrease from recent years (likely due to the economic depression). The luxury tax limit is predicted to be about $65 million, which means for every dollar the Lakers go over the tax limit they must pay an additional dollar to the NBA.
Thus, the Lakers’ are going to be paying an exorbitant amount in luxury taxes for the next couple seasons, but by winning championships it will be worth it. Jerry Buss is building to win as many championships as possible now, and he’s doing everything possible to give his team the longest window of opportunity as possible.
Let’s hope the Lakers don’t disappoint and play up to their badass potential. All the NBA experts predict some form of a lockout for the 2011-2012 season, and with budding dynasties sprouting throughout the league (Miami, Oklahoma City, etc.,) as well as the issues faced by a team full of aging veterans, the Lakers need to take advantage of every opportunity they can get. If they do, we could be in for the greatest era in Lakers history.