MVN - Most Valuable Network

Laker vacation plans

As the Lakers plan for the off season, Mitch Kupchak has already come out and said that he wants everyone back by virtue of this comment, “If we did nothing,” Kupchak said, “and brought back the players that are our existing free agents, just by virtue of this team aging one more year and getting Trevor (Ariza) and Andrew back, I think we’re right back in the hunt.”

Although that might be true, many Laker fans are looking for Mitch to make a big splash and bring in a Ron Artest or maybe Tayshaun Prince to add the grit many think the Lakers need.  The soft tag has been a put on this team unfairly, and although I doubt the Lakers do anything, it is some thing where everyone has a suggestion.  If the Lakers are so soft how did they eliminate the gritty Utah Jazz?  What about the Spurs; how did they fall to the soft Lakers?  Bottom line is this, had the referees called game two correctly, the series probably would have gone seven games, and the Lakers would not have laid an egg two games in a row.

One of the goals of Mitch Kupchak is to re-sign both Sasha Vujacic and Rony Turiaf.  Both are free agents and its unknown what type of dollars they would command on the open market.  Kobe and Sasha have worked out in the off-season the last two years together and have grown close.  Kobe added this when asked about Sasha, `With Shi-shi (Sasha). He should do what’s obviously best for himself and his family. Obviously as a big brother, that’s the best advice I could give him,” Bryant said. “I would love to keep him around for selfish reasons, because of his defense, his passion, and his shooting was obviously something that was invaluable to us this year, so for my own selfish reasons, I would love to keep him here, but as a big brother, he has to do what’s best for him and his family.”

I think the Lakers are prepared to pay reasonable dollars to retain both players, but there are no guarantees.  Should they lose the services of Sasha it would be imperative that they add a similar type guard.  In order to do that, they would either have to trade another player in the rotation, draft somebody or sign a player with their MLE.  It makes the most sense to offer Sasha a reasonable contract the first day of free agency, and get him off the market as quickly as possible.  Five years and 35 million would be fair for both parties.  It is a substantial amount of money or the common man, but about the average in the NBA.  This amount should eliminate the better teams from acquiring him as they are all over the cap.  The few teams with cap space will be targeting higher profile players initially, and if turned down, could make a guy like Sasha a much bigger offer.  That’s what Mitch needs to prevent.

In regards to Rony Turiaf, I think he wants to stay in LA so bad we may be able to get him at a discount.  It would probably work out to be fair market value for Rony, as he doesn’t have a strong reputation nationally, but is beloved locally.  I really respect his game, and think he is a player that must be re-signed.  I would go three years for 12 million for him.  By keeping the years shorter you lower the risk for the Lakers, but could have to pay a lot more in the end if Rony becomes a starter.  It’s a reasonable deal for both parties.

Two other Laker players that are free agents include DJ Mbenga and Coby Karl, and they should be resigned as well.  I thought DJ had a difficult time initially with the triangle, but got better as time went on.  I also thought that the coaching staff did a great job of utilizing his strengths and hiding his weaknesses, as they realized what he could and couldn’t do.  I’d like to see him get a one year deal with a team option for year two, money wise, a million for the first year, and one and a half for year two, if the Lakers exercise the option.

Coby Karl is a shooter who will inevitably take a few years to develop.  Guys like this are usually signed to the NBA minimum, and unless another team offers him more, I would stick with that.  He’s probably not going to get enough minutes to improve on that number, and I’m pretty sure he wants to be here.  If he gets into the rotation and produces; he’ll be paid accordingly.

If there are no trades and all of the above is accomplished the Lakers will have 14 players on their roster.  I don’t believe that Ira Newble will be back, as I see another team giving him a chance to play.  The Lakers next move should be to add someone via the draft that can be developed by Dan Panaggio, and their NBDL affiliate LA Defenders.  That player should be Joey Dorsey.  The Lakers could package their second rounder (58th), with the Memphis second rounder acquired in the Gasol deal, plus a million in cash to move up to draft him.  Most draftniks have Dorsey going anywhere from 35-45, so it’s reasonable that deal like this could happen.

Dorsey is a proven defensive stopper at the college level, and could provide the blood, sweat and tears the Lakers will need in their future NBA wars.  Plus as the 15th guy, he’ll have time to develop his trade as the Lakers won’t need him contribute right away.  I prefer the promoting from within approach the Lakers have used to build their team and hope it continues.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at 11:42 am and is filed under Los Angeles Lakers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.