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.
