ORLANDO -- Phil Jackson might not be around to see this through – how about Pat Riley for his replacement? – but it looks like the Lakers are well positioned to become the first team to successfully defend an NBA title since they made it three in a row earlier this decade.All the key guys will be back next season. Mark it down. Winning will make it happen.
Whenever the Lakers win this 2009 title – Game 5, 6 or 7, take your choice -- they will go into the summer prepared to start talking about a repeat.
Free agency doesn't scare them. Not when you're one of the richest franchises in the league, determined to keep this title run going. Not when they saw what happened to the Celtics, who let role-playing James Posey leave in free agency after they won a championship, only to regret his absence all season.
Yes, Kobe Bryant can opt out of the final two years of his contract, paying him $23 and $24 million, but even if he does, he won't go anywhere else. More likely, he will just sign an extension when owner Jerry Buss lets him fill in the numbers.
Forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are both free agents, but neither is expected to command huge money, actually costing the Lakers no more combined next year than they did this year.
Despite some speculation to the contrary, the Lakers are not looking at an either/or signing.
"I don't think that's the case at all,'' said Jackson. "That's not set in stone, that there will have to be a decision made between those two. Players will have decisions to make in free agency.''
The Lakers already were paying the luxury tax this season with a payroll of $75 million. To get Odom and Ariza re-signed, coupled with the obscene $12.5 million Andrew Bynum will make with his new deal, their payroll will rise close to $90. They still hope to be able to dump the salaries of either Sasha Vujacic or Luke Walton.
Odom, the highest-paid sixth man in the league at $12 million, already has said he expects to take a significant pay cut to get a new multi-year deal. Ariza, who made just $3.1 million this season, may reach the $5.8 million mid-level range. Ariza essentially will get what they take away from Odom, and everyone will be happy.
Even the guy who signs the checks will be happy. That's what winning will do.
"I'm a home right now (in LA),'' Odom said. "I have a chance to be on one of the best teams in history. What's not to like? Right now I can't think about this summer. The business side of basketball will take care of itself. Free agency, you go where you want to go.''
Ariza is having his finest run as an NBA player at the perfect time. He didn't become a regular starter until March, but he has excelled in the role, shooting better than he ever has. And his playoff run has only helped his value.
"Yes, it (free agency) will be exciting for me, but I can't think about it now,'' he said. "We're trying to win a championship right now. The other stuff will come later.''
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-14-2009 @ 10:54PM
Steve said...
way to go, Lakers! way to go, Kobe & Fisher & the entire team! time to stop calling Kobe a ball hog, and allow him to shine!
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6-14-2009 @ 11:19PM
magic1263 said...
Kobe has the team now to showcase his multi talented basketball skills. Congratulations Lakers!
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6-15-2009 @ 12:43AM
Andi said...
Did anybody "Really" think the Magic were going to win the series? Just look at the rosters of both teams and that tells the story. I still say let the Coach coach and the players play. What if all five players wanted to coach on the floor at the same time? Who do you listen to? Kobe should retire and go into coaching. Maybe he will do better than Magic and Curt or Scott. Naw, maybe Cooper or Alcindor. How in the world is Shaq and Bron-Bron going to co-exist on the same team? The NBA will need extra camera crews to cover these two media grabbers. The league has young centers. Is it worth it to bring in a half court center who only dunks. Let me see, destroyed the Lakers, the Heat, the Magic and the Suns. Why bring this guy to your team? Let me see, knocked Kobe, DWade and Nash, Bosh and Howard. Why bring this guy to your team? Again, the Cavs will not be in the finals, EVER. You think Kobe should ask Shaq to tell him how his Butt crack taste and smells now?
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6-15-2009 @ 5:56PM
quinda said...
I am so proud of the Lakers right now. There were some nay sayers and some hators going on. Kobe,Fish,Odom,Gasol,Ariza,Bynum and the rest did a great job of finishing Orlando on their home turf. It was a bitter-sweet moment for the Lakers. I wish that they could have won here at home @Staples center. Anyhow a win is a win and they did it. I hope they will re-sign Ariza. He is what the lakers need. He needs someone like Kobe and Fisher to help mold him into a star player. He could very well be the next Kobe Bryant. Good Job Men. LAKERS NBA CHAMPIONS 2008-2009
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6-27-2009 @ 3:37AM
sselva9 said...
Lakers got one step closer to resigning both guys by selling their draft pick to the Knicks. Smart move since the Lake show is so deep.
http://www.madduxsports.com
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6-27-2009 @ 3:40AM
sselva9 said...
Lakers got one step closer to signing these guys by dealing their pick for cash. Shows how smart the Lake show is since they are so deep.
http://www.madduxsports.com
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7-05-2009 @ 4:03PM
r0bl0w said...
Well, so much for that theory LOL... Odom most likely wont be resigned either... Lakers are 10 mil over the cap and Odom will put them another 10 mil over. Buss doesnt want to pay the luxury tax and they already used the MLE for Artest... Add those factors to the possibility of Portland driving Odoms value through the roof as they are 9 mil under the cap = 1 thing.... BYE BYE ODOM lmfao
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7-12-2009 @ 8:56PM
marylulu325 said...
I believe the Laker team will stay together and adding Ron Artest will just make them better for a repeat win in the finals. This will definitely
be the team to beat. Not even adding Shaq to Cleveland will they beat the Lakers. What a team
going into the new season. Cant wait.....
And after a career as a Laker, like Magic Johnson I would like to see Kobe be an announcer and spokesperson for the game as well as maybe a coach for the Lakers. Love you Kobe.....
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