The Lakers have an opportunity right now to build a new team. Unfortunately, many younger players won’t take the bait when it comes to accepting a one year contract with L.A. knowing full well the team will undergo a facelift when Kobe’s contract expires. But trying to buy cheap with bench players who can’t provide what the Lakers need for relief is also causing problems. Further, it doesn’t make much sense to go after veterans with minimum contracts.
Pau Gasol offers trade value, and could easily be moved to make way for some cap relief. The issue here is his remaining contract salary of $19 million, which may prove cumbersome for teams who don’t want to pay such a hefty price for 32 year old. Sure, he comes with experience, but as Lakers fans saw, Pau suffered a number of injuries this season.
Whether or not Dwight stays, the Lakers will still have a star-studded team with equally as high pre-season expectations. Los Angeles fans demand a quality season. Kobe Bryant is yet to be determined with his Achilles injury. Although many predict he will come back to the team as strong, Bryant may not. Steve Nash hopefully comes hungry next season, spending the summer working on his body and injuries.
Mitch Kupchak needs to make a tough decision; he can either be seamstress and try to patch up what the team has now, or admittedly make player moves that don’t prove for a successful 2013-2014 season, but in the long run, are better for the future of the Lakers. Being one of the smartest GMs in the league, Mitch will more than likely have the guidance to make a solid decision. Lakers fans just hope it’s the right one.
The decisions the front office needs to make this off-season couldn’t be more crucial and complicated.
Devin Ebanks will not be returning to the Lakers for next season, despite being drafted to the team in 2010. He didn’t see the floor in 63 regular season games and all four postseason games against the Spurs this 2012-2013 season.
Metta World Peace, once again, took time out of his off-season to help fight for awareness on mental health. He will continue to be a strong figure in this cause, with a new and exciting project coming up:
Starting Monday, World Peace and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health will partner in May for Mental Health Awareness Month. World Peace’s “Talk It Out” campaign will be on display on Metropolitan Transportation Authority shelters, depots, buses and trains in both English and Spanish.
Lakers Nation News
Lakers Nation Reacts: Who Returns – Dwight Howard or Chris Paul?
NBA News: Brooklyn Nets Eye Brian Shaw For Coaching Vacancy
Heisler: Why the Lakers Are Slowing Down – and Why They’re Right
Lakers Rumors: Would Kyle Korver Make Sense For Lakers Next Season?
Lakers News: Metta World Peace Presents New Mental Health Campaign
Lakers Rumors: Devin Ebanks Not Returning to Lakers Next Season
Lakers Rumors & News Recap: Phil Jackson To The Nets?
Lakers News: Lakers Nation Chooses A Western Conference Champion
Lakers News
Silver Screen & Roundtable: Was This the Worst Season in Franchise History? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Free Agency Discussion: Earl Clark [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe Bryant Finishes 5th in MVP Voting [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Must Maintain Their Future Cap Space this Summer [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Can’t Get a Big Name Free Agent [Forum Blue and Gold]
Jamison Season Wrap Up [Lakers Blog]
Lakers Need to Improve, A Lot, but Their Options are Limited [LA Times]
Should the Lakers Trade Pau Gasol? [ESPN Hot Button]
James Harden Thinks Houston Rockets Could ‘Possibly’ Lure Dwight Howard [Bleacher Report]
2012-13 Lakers Report Card: Bench Frontcourt [Lakers Index]
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Thinks LeBron Can Break His MVP Record [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe Bryant, Mom in Court Battle [ESPN]
Metta World Peace Promotes Mental Health With New Campaign [LA Times]
Lakers Offseason 2013: 10 Questions that Need Answers Before Next Season [Yahoo Sports]
Lakers Rumors: Lakers Plan to Re-Sign Dwight Howard AND Keep Pau Gasol? [Lakerholicz.com]
A Great Video Tribute to Kobe Bryant [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Season Wrap: Brief but Magical Season for Andrew Goudelock [LA Times]
Lakers Season Wrap: Devin Ebanks the Forgotten Man [LA Times]
Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Mother Involved in Legal Dispute Over Auction of Memorabilia [The Point Forward]
Lakers News: Earl Clark Says He’ll Turn Down More Money and a Bigger Role to Stay with the Lakers [Lakerholicz.com]
2012-13 Lakers Report Card: Bench Backcourt [Lakers Index]
Kobe: The Movie, Director’s Cut [ESPN]
NBA News
NBA Playoffs 2013: Predicting Winners for Monday’s Round 2 Games [Bleacher Report]
Ball Don’t Lie’s 2012-13 Playoff Previews: San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors [Ball Don’t Lie]
LeBron James Named 2013 NBA Most Valuable Player [Bleacher Report]
New York Knicks Target Game 3 for Amar’e Stoudemire’s Return [ESPN New York]
Bulls Demonstrate Leadership Nets’ Riches Could Not Buy [SI.com]
2013 NBA Playoffs: Best Post Players of Second Round [USA Today]
Source: Bulls’ Luol Deng Released From Hospital After Spinal Tap Complications [Yahoo! Sports]
2013 NBA Playoff Ballers Outplaying Their Current Contract [Bleacher Report]
Oklahoma City Thunder get by Houston Rockets [ESPN]
Jason Collins, Michelle Obama to Headline Fundraiser [USA Today]
Turnovers Pressing Issue For Warriors [Hang Time Blog]
Knicks, Pacers Struggling with Isolation [ESPN]
David Lee Says There’s ‘zero’ Chance That He Could Play a Significant Role for Warriors Against Spurs [ProBasketballTalk]
Kevin Durant’s Clutch Late Jumper Pushes Thunder Past Grizzlies for Game 1 Win (Video) [Ball Don’t Lie]
What We’ve Learned About NBA’s Top Superstars in Playoffs [Bleacher Report]
San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors Preview [SI.com]
Trash Talk, Bad Blood Reign in NBA Playoffs [Yahoo! Sports]
Durant Wins It, But Not Without Help [Hang Time Blog]
Bulls’ Marco Belinelli Fined $15K for ‘Obscene Gesture’ During Game 7 Win Over Nets (Video) [Ball Don’t Lie]
Los Angeles Clippers Will Evaluate Season Before Deciding Status of Coach Vinny Del Negro [ESPNLA]
Hawks Will Rebuild From Scratch [Hang Time Blog]
Pacers’ Jeff Pendergraph First to be Fined $5K for Flopping in the Playoffs [ProBasktballTalk]
17 Reasons LeBron was More Valuable than Carmelo [For The Win]
NBA Draft 2013: Rookies Who Will Be Difference Makers Next Season [Bleacher Report]
Chandler Practically Invisible in Game 1 [ESPN New York]