That logic doesn't really work to me. Leonard is very good, Davis is great, he's a game-changer and franchise player. He averaged 24, 10, and 3 blocks last season. That said, I agree with realdeal, didn't know you even COULD give a guy 29 mil a year that early. It's overpaying, but they did what they had to. The Spurs are different, they won't overpay if they don't have to, and Duncan has set a great example for other guys there in taking less to be competitive. But again, it's not disrespectful or underpaying Leonard, any more than paying Curry twice as much as Iggy would be. Iggy was Finals MVP, but Curry is the franchise.
I'm shocked....we just had the 4th worst record in the league, and the WORST record we've ever had as a franchise. Who cares if we brought the kitchen sink in for the pitch - it says nothing of our "stock" if LMA doesn't sign, but speaks more to our talent. We are a s*** team and you cannot argue that. Just because we setup a good sales pitch and that doesn't work, has no bearing on the Lakers stock as an iconic franchise with history and tradition. It has to do with what we are now. A s*** team. Would you want to work for a company where you bust your a** day in and day out, only to not succeed as an organization? It has little to do with reputation and more to do with our place in the league today. And minus the TWC execs, who is to say we didn't load the room up with heads when we pitched to Shaq?
I don't like guys taking less all the time personally. It sets a precedent among the public that they should and then fans will feel like their players are obligated to do it. Case in point: Kobe. Kobe is worth every penny of his deal even now but people will always talk about how he should have taken less. I don't think he should have taken any less than what the Lakers were willing to pay.
I think having Jeanie there is a big plus, she has that commanding presence yet motherly feel about her. I don't think she was involved last year right?
Its the derrick rose rule..fairly new Something about fulfilling yoir rookie contract and being an all star lets you take 30% of the cap instead of 25% Yea i get your point if it works for the spurs good for them but i just dont think they can lure free agents by selling them on taking less. Guys like tim duncan are different but idk we'll have to see. Most everyone is about the money
Kobe can take less next year like duncan im just not a fan of younger players taking less when the owners are making 10x the amount
Just want to remind you all that we were (in the end) glad that Dwight Howard did not re-sign with the Lakers because we "want people who want to be here." If we have thrown all these resources at a player and they ultimately choose this isn't the best situation for him, then so long. Hopefully we get to sign Aldridge but we want guys who truly want to be a part of the Lakers. This goes for any FA, not just Aldridge.
Yes but at what point do we admit maybe there's just fewer of those guys? Our brand is still strong but it's not what it used to be. I really hope this summer we can get back on track.
@therealdeal was going to ask you the same....you're not being the resident optimist we pay you to be
Well, I don't know about that as the Spurs are rumored to be the frontrunner for Aldridge and offering him max, not asking him to take less. If they can lure him they're doing something right. And let's not go overboard here, 18 mil a year for Leonard is not underpaying the guy for what he averages and brings to the team. Davis just got kinda OVERpaid so maybe it looks worse. Aldridge is worth 20 mil, in my universe a guy like Leonard is worth 15 (the insane Wes Matthews is worth 8 to 10 tops), and a guy like Davis, 22-25, but the cap is going up and the landscape is changing. You could see LeBron making 40 mil per in 2 seasons, things are about to get crazy.
If I was on payroll I'd be a hell of a lot more cheery! I'm just jaded after two horrible summers... Really three or four horrible summers and three horrible seasons...
Meeting could still be going, although Jeanie sent out a tweet a while ago asking fans to use #LAtoLA...could have just been taking a short break though.
Understandable....I think it takes a decade to deteriorate our reputation to that level. I mean the Knicks somehow pulled Carmelo and even arranged for meetings with DJ & Monroe. We're at least 5 years removed from being as s*** as them. Keep your head up, we'll be back
Jeanie didn't stay the whole time last year. I think they address him in waves. First high level Laker personnel and players. Then business people. Then Mitch and Jim with official offers and ideas on how to build around him. Not in that order but something like that is what they did last year. Or maybe she just tweeted that so Laker fans would send out tweets and she could tell LA "see how many fans we have and how quickly they respond? "
I think that theyre high on the list because he gets to play close to home. They just paid kawhi they still have to shed salary to even offer him the max. If they offer him less than the max i think he stands up and walks away i dont care how close u are from home this is prob his last BIG contract he wants ro get paid As for kawhi i think that is underpaid for a young guy that already has a ring and finals mvp. Especially with the cap increase his 18 mil is gonna be a STEAL.
