I believe its more to do with insurance coverage towards the remainder of a contract. That's guaranteed money heading towards the player so in case of injury, there won't be a net loss heading back to the player since insurance will only cover the team for the amount remaining on a player's contract. Kobe for example got his entire final contract in a pre-season lumpsum format. So even when he experienced his Achilles' injury, the Lakers as a team couldn't recover any costs on Kobe's contract for that particular season. Recall that KCP played through an injury that occurred roughly around the all-star break. Any other year, I'm sure he takes an extended seat and gets back right, but not in a contract year...and especially not when he was aiming to get a max type deal. He had played exceptionally well before the injury and wanted to play through the injury hoping to get that big payday. As a result it hurt his overall production and maybe that is what made teams shy away from that max type of deal. We will never know what other teams were offering, but I still think its unbelievable the Lakers closed that deal up so quick with potential buyers (Nets, Bulls, Atlanta, Phoenix) still on the market. I actually like to think that once Washington matched on Porter, they sent out feelers to KCP and they must have gotten nothing back from his camp which led to them making the Carroll trade. KCP is looking to start and wants to showcase what he can do to get that longterm lucrative deal. That's how Rondo was lost to the Pelicans cause I'm sure he wanted to start too. KCP just makes much more sense since, he doesn't need the ball on O and can shoot the ball at a good clip. But most exciting is the D, cause he gets to spare Zo from guarding the best backcourt player on any given night which allows Zo to have much more of an impact on O. As we've seen with Zo's conditioning, KCP will be a godsend for us. Also, with Zo's length and ability to disturb passing lanes and with KCP's on ball defense, the amount of times we fast break should drastically improve....and that is where Zo really shines. Great signing and I honestly hope we can retain this guy moving forward cause I'm confident he's going to ball out this season. With the news of Bron being discouraged by the Cavs offseason and how his team-up pedigree has enabled him to take less in contract money (while he lives off that billie Nike deal), I'm sure there will be money to keep PaPa George happy as well as have enough to feed his Klutch counterpart in KCP. The trick will be to have enough K for Lopez as well. Still its a good problem to have if Lopez and KCP ball out so that we would want them to return. I feel like we will be able to figure out the money if the chance of a title is legit...which it will, if Bron and George decide to pair up with this Lakers team.
^^i want all of those things and am a criminal. thank you for providing the info, carl. i would like two belgiums and a france, plz.
I like Thomas. It was mentioned that he led the Big12 in shooting. Did his damage without Ball. Caruso reminds me of Jon Barry. Shows effort at least.
First row of KCP press conference, others where there too on the side, but apparently the team bus just got back in the morning.
They looked about as exited as KCP sounded. Thank goodness Magic is around instead of Mitch or this would have been boring as hell. Magic had to save the thing from the reporters and their boring a** standard questions.
"I'm KCP...I'm getting paid more money this season to play basketball than all of you will make combined this year. Things could be better, but I'm doing OK I guess."
Yeah that was a bad press conference all around. KCP's not very articulate, most of the questions were weak, and Magic had a few cringeworthy jokes. But I'm going to read too much into two parts of the press conference. Magic dropped the "God is good" line again at the beginning. I know that's a generic saying but I think he brought it up while talking about the future of the team. I think it would be hilarious if that actually is a code that Magic and PG13 are using to signal their interest to each other without tampering. And then Pelinka name dropped Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. Even specifically mentioned how he talked to Rich about their patience in spending cap room until next summer.
Heard the "God is good" line too and wanted to rewind to hear it again. Coincidence? Probably..... or not?!
Deng response, "Ha, still make less than me and will probably have to play a crap ton of minute, I laughed at you son, learn from the master"
So that's KCP, Ball, PG... so far All coming to the Lakers first or declaring that they want to be Lakers specifically Never had that under Mitch and Jim
OMG hahaha I'm at work so didn't listen but that is hilarious!! PG13 tweeted God is Good last night right after the Lakers won SL. Magic and Pelinka really messing with the league now!