NBA Rumors: Can the Lakers Afford All These Stars?

The Los Angeles Lakers brought in two future Hall of Famers this summer. They already had two on their roster. That sort of talent doesn’t come cheap. Heading into the 2012-13 season, this squad’s payroll stands at about 101 million – highest in the NBA. Presuming Dwight Howard re-signs next summer, that figure will balloon up even more.

Obviously the Lakers are fortunate enough to play in the second biggest media market in America, and clearly they carry a certain notable reputation that other franchises in the league don’t have. That said, even they can’t afford to keep spending money like this, right?

Wrong.

In an interesting new report, the Los Angeles Times points out that the Lakers’ financial situation is actually a lot better than you would think – despite all their expenses. Even though they will pay an exorbitant amount in luxury taxes on top of their salaries, and even though they need to pay almost $50 million revenue-sharing dues, they are still great position thanks to their new TV deal.

The team makes up to $90 million in annual ticket sales and is starting the first year of a TV deal with Time Warner Cable that pays them $120 million more this season.

…

The Lakers received about $60 million total in local broadcasting rights from KCAL and FS West last season, a number that doubled in the first year of the Time Warner deal. Annual raises bring the deal to about $3.6 billion through 20 years, and the Lakers hold an option to extend to 25 years, potentially pushing the total over $5 billion.

Yes, the same TV deal that is currently preventing Lakers fans from watching preseason games. But that’s the tradeoff. For the right to bring in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to play with Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, and for the right to possibly get LeBron James in 2014, fans need to put up with the inconvenient delays that come standard during cable TV wars.

All things considered, it’s a pretty fair swap.

So, to answer the original question: no, despite all of their ridiculous expenditures, the Lakers are not in bad financial position. They’re still in great position, and likely will be for a long, long time.

(Kudos Los Angeles Times)

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NBA Rumors: Are the Lakers Looking to Make Any Trades Right Now?

The Los Angeles Lakers had an interesting summer. Whereas for any other team in the league adding either Steve Nash or Dwight Howard would be a big deal, for Mitch Kupchak and Co., adding two future Hall of Famers is just another offseason. And that’s to say nothing of the Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks signings that figure to at least partially upgrade what was undoubtedly one of the worst reserve units in the NBA.

Given everything he has done over the past few months, it’s understandable that folks are taking Kupchak’s proclamations about not making any more deals this year with a grain of salt. Already the rumor mills are churning out stories of a pending Derek Fisher return and possible trades involving Chris Duhon and Steve Blake. The year hasn’t even started yet. That’s just the preseason gossip.

During a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kupchak was asked about what moves he envisions the Lakers making in the near future. His answers were intriguing, to say the least.

On how the new luxury tax will play into L.A.’s decisions: "Maybe it's more of a concern for us than it is for a lot of other teams right now."

On whether he expects to do any deals any time soon: "This time of year, teams are not looking to make deals. They're evaluating their team and if anything they're going to cut players as they go into the season."

On guys currently on the roster (think: Duhon and Blake) getting traded: "Some guys may not be happy if they're not playing as much as they thought they'd play or their contract's running out and they're concerned about their next contract. It's too early right now. There's a lot of energy and excitement right here. Everybody's pretty happy. So we'll just see how it plays out the next month or two."

All in all, it’s probably a safe bet that the Lakers will stay pat for now. They have too many players signed as it is. Depending how the season progresses, though, it definitely wouldn’t be surprising to see Kupchak make some minor tweaks as he sees fit.

(Kudos Los Angeles Times)

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Video: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz Preseason Highlights

The Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason woes continued on Tuesday night when they fell to the Utah Jazz 114-80.

Despite a 23-point explosion from Kobe Bryant in the third quarter, L.A. could never really work their way back into the game after falling behind early. Steve Nash having something of an off night didn’t really help matters – the Lakers’ floor general finished with two points, one assist and four turnovers. Similarly, Antawn Jamison (who stepped in for Pau Gasol in the starting lineup) struggled, totaling up a mere seven points on 2-of-11 shooting.

For those keeping track at home: Kobe and the gang are still winless in the preseason. Take that for what it’s worth.

Here are the highlights (lowlights if you’re a Lakers fan):




Next up for L.A. – a showdown versus the Sacramento Kings in Staples.

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Kobe Bryant on Difference Between Him and Alex Rodriguez: He Forgets He’s the Best, I Don’t

Kobe Bryant on Difference Between Him and Alex Rodriguez: He Forgets He’s the Best, I Don’t

Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez have a lot in common. At some point over the last five years, both were considered the best players in their respective sports. Both know what it feels like to win a championship. Both are highly-polarizing figures who draw a range of emotions from their fans and detractors alike. And both have been -- and currently are -- very well compensated for their contributions to their respective teams.

On Tuesday night, Kobe was asked about Rodriguez’s struggles as of late. (He was benched for the New York Yankees’ Game 3 ALCS showdown versus the Detroit Tigers.) As you would expect, No. 24's assessment of the situation was great.

"We spoke a couple of days ago," Bryant said (via ESPN) "You can only control what you can control. You go out there and do the best job you can. If they take you out of the lineup, it's really on you to be a good teammate and support the other guys, which he's good about doing."

That’s sound advice, but is it really all that Kobe -- one of the most fierce competitors in NBA history -- offered? Of course not.

"I just say to him, 'You're Alex Rodriguez. You're A-Rod. You're one of the best to ever do it,'" Bryant said. "I think sometimes he kind of forgets that and wants to try to do the right thing all the time. Which is the right team attitude to have. But other times you really have to put your head down and say, 'Hell with it' and just do your thing.

"Hopefully the next game they'll kind of give him a chance, maybe put him back at third and let him respond to the pressure, which I think he'll do."

Kobe’s best quote on the matter, undoubtedly, came when he described the main difference in psyche between him and A-Rod.

"We're different," Bryant said. "But you're talking about, 'He's one of the best to ever play.' I think really the difference is, sometimes he forgets he's the best. ... Where, I don't.”

If ever there was a single quote that encapsulated why Kobe is who he is, and why Rodriguez is who he is – that was it.

(Kudos ESPN)

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