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 Planning to Steal LeBron James from the Heat in 2014?

NBA Rumors: Are the Lakers Planning to Steal LeBron James from the Heat in 2014?

Are the Los Angeles Lakers planning to lure LeBron James away from the Miami Heat in 2014? The idea isn’t as farfetched as it sounds.

Nobody thought that the Lakers would be able to acquire both Steve Nash and Dwight Howard this summer. There were some rumblings over the past six months that Howard could end up in L.A. There was some baseless gossip about Steve Nash perhaps coming to town at various points. However, nobody, absolutely nobody, predicted that the Lakers would be able to get both.

Could Mitch Kupchak and Co. pull off a similar checkmate-like maneuver in 2014? According to a fascinating new report by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst – yes.

In his most recent article, Windhorst correctly notes that a series of events that are all scheduled to occur in 2014 may end up giving LeBron the perfect opportunity to jump head first into Laker Land.

Those events? Well, there is the fact that LeBron can opt out and become a free agent in 2014. Then there is Kobe Bryant repeatedly indicating that he is tentatively planning to call it quits in two years. And then there is the little-discussed fact that, even though the Lakers’ payroll is extremely bloated in 2013-14, it gets much lighter in 2014-15 when Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Steve Blake and Jordan Hill all come off the books. Essentially it will just be Howard (presuming he re-signs) and a whole lot of room for another superstar.

"It's not a mistake that all those deals end the same year Kobe's does. They have probably been planning for their next phase for a while," one general manager told Windhorst. "The Busses and [Lakers GM] Mitch [Kupchak] are always thinking about the next big deal."

The idea of LeBron adorned in purple and gold admittedly sounds a little crazy right now – but so did the prospect of him leaving Cleveland three years ago. His No. 1 goal isn’t to be the most loyal guy in the history of professional sports, it’s to be successful. If he feels at some point as though the Heat are no longer his best chance at a title, he will leave. Plain and simple.

"Even if the Heat win the next two titles there's a feeling that LeBron is going to become a free agent in two years no matter what," a league executive told Windhorst.

Obviously we are still a long ways away from 2014, and clearly a lot of stars need to align in order for us to see LeBron in a purple and gold. That said, when you have a team with a proven track record of doing the impossible, and a player with a proven track record of doing what nobody thinks he has the guts to do – never say never.

(Kudos ESPN)  

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Video: Cheryl Reeve Gets Mad, Throws Her Jacket at an Assistant During Lynx vs. Fever

Everyone’s idea of watchable and unwatchable sports is obviously different, but the WNBA generally falls into the unwatchable pile for most people. Sure the league has its core fans, however, for the most part, women’s basketball happenings don’t move the meter as it pertains to national sports news.

Now, let’s pause and give credit where credit is due. According to the Star Tribune, WNBA season ticket renewals are on the rise and playoff ratings are up 13 percent. So the league is definitely growing. That said, when you start off with a miniscule amount of interest, any growth will be deemed substantial.

On Wednesday night, we got yet another example of what WNBA players and coaches need to do to gain any measure of national attention. (Hint: it’s not something good.) Check it out:



We’d love to provide some context for that, however, we didn’t watch the game. Everything we know about that we -- just like you -- gleaned from watching the video.

For what it’s worth, according to a quick Google search, the Lynx (the team coached by the lady who threw her jacket) won 83-71 to tie up the WNBA Finals.

Congrats?

(Kudos @cjzero, The Big Lead, Star Tribune)

Photo Credit: This person's Tumbr.

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Video: Jeremy Evans Destroys Ronny Turiaf During During Jazz vs. Clippers

Ronny Turiaf always has been and always will be one of the biggest fan favorites in the NBA. His constant exuberance and undying dedication to being an uplifting guy is enough to earn the love of absolutely every heart-having basketball watcher ever born.

That said, when a guy gets destroyed, there is no getting around that. It’s a matter of fact that isn’t in any way impacted by your personal feelings towards that specific guy.

On Wednesday night, Turiaf got absolutely, positively destroyed by Jeremy Evans. Check it out:



Brutal.

On the bright side, Turiaf’s Clippers wound up beating the Jazz in this pointless preseason game 96-94. On the not-so-bright side, that sequence will probably be replayed all year long.

(Kudos @cjzero, The Big Lead)

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

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

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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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NBA Rumors: Is Derek Fisher Returning to the Lakers Inevitable at this Point?

NBA Rumors: Is Derek Fisher Returning to the Lakers Inevitable at this Point?

A few weeks ago, rumors began to circulate that Derek Fisher might end up returning to the Los Angeles Lakers at some point this year. Because the NBA mandates that players who are traded by a given team not return to that team for a full year or until their contract runs out, it was assumed that if this were to happen, it wouldn’t happen for a few months. And seeing as the Lakers are a championship contender who is looking to get into a certain flow as the season progresses, the likelihood of them holding out a roster spot for Fisher seemed slim.

Well, according to a new report by Marc Stein of ESPN, the prospect of Fisher reuniting with the only team people associate him with anyway may be a lot more realistic than anyone originally anticipated. Via Stein’s report:

The NBA’s new labor agreement stipulates that a player traded and then waived by the team that acquired him can’t re-sign with his original team for one year or until the traded contract runs out -- whichever comes first. But in Fisher’s case, confusion surrounding his player option for the 2012-13 season led to the belief in some league circles that he had picked up the option before the Houston Rockets bought him out. In reality, sources confirm, Fisher – was bought out by Houston before he was eligible to invoke the 2012-13 option, which means that his contract was deemed to have ended June 30, sending Fisher to full-fledged free agency on July 1.

So there you go. A reunion is now definitely going to happen, right? Wrong.

While the idea of Fisher back in purple and gold is great, there are still a lot of loose ends preventing it from actually happening. For one thing, the Lakers are loaded with point guards and don’t really have room their old floor general at the moment. There were some rumors last week about them possibly moving Chris Duhon and/or Steve Blake, but rumors are just that – rumors. The other major dilemma facing this potential marriage is money. The Lakers don’t have any.

Given all that, to say that Fisher and the Lakers reuniting is inevitable is probably a stretch. A lot of things still need to happen. Here is the best way to think about this situation right now: it’s far more likely today than it was a week ago.

(Kudos ESPN)

Video: Don Wiberg, 76, Tries Out for Golden State Warriors’ D-League Affiliate

A lot of people dream about playing in the NBA. Every year, folks of all ages (within reason) try their best to make a pro roster. The desire to ball against the best in the world isn’t limited to just regular people, though. Amateur players from all over the world do whatever they can to play in the NBA. Musicians, actors and an assortment of other well-known personalities have all tried to get on a roster at one time or another, too.

Again, the concept of someone other than a college basketball star trying to make an NBA team (or an NBA team affiliate) isn’t foreign to fans. We’ve seen it enough to be at the point where it no longer surprises us.

Or so we thought until the Santa Cruz Warriors (the Golden State Warriors’ D-League affiliates) held tryouts this weekend.

Meet Don Wiberg, folks. He couldn’t make his high school team. He hadn’t played basketball in 20 years before this weekend. Oh, and he’s 70 years old.




As reported by the Santa Cruz Sentinel (via Yahoo! Sports):

Seventy-six-year-old Don Wiberg hadn't played basketball in 20 years, having traded it in for beach volleyball, when he stepped on the court Sunday. He admits he couldn't make his high school team and that he played one year at Cal Tech before deciding he was better at water polo.

Still, he couldn't resist the S.C. Warriors' claim that it would welcome anyone over 18 who was willing to pay the $100-125 entry fee.

"It's on my bucket list," he said. "You know, what the hell."

 What the hell indeed. He couldn’t have possibly been any worse than Master P.

(Kudos Santa Cruz Sentinel, Yahoo! Sports, Larry Brown Sports)

Video: Lakers vs. Jazz Preseason 2012 Highlights

The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t been having a very good preseason so far. Forget the fact that they are 0-3; the worst thing about this squad’s run is that, because Time Warner has yet to work out a deal with other cable providers, a lot of Laker fans can’t even watch these games. When will his nonsense end? It’s impossible to say – there is no end in sight at the moment.

As far as last night’s outing: take the end result with a grain of salt. Preseason final scores are meaningless – what actually happens during the games is far more important. Here was the good from this one: Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace (again), and Robert Sacre. Here was the bad: Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, and the team’s transition defense.



Next up: a showdown versus the Sacramento Kings on Friday Oct. 19.