Los Angeles Lakers can’t pay players like they used to
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered through a 27-55 season thanks to the loss of center Dwight Howard to the Houston Rockets in free agency and a rash of injuries, including injuries that cost guards Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash most of their seasons.
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They had high hopes in the offseason and landed a meeting with both New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony and Miami Heat forward LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, but Anthony re-signed with the Knicks and James decided to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Instead, they re-signed swingman Nick Young, big man Jordan Hill and added point guard Jeremy Lin through a trade with the Houston Rockets, won the amnesty claim for Chicago Bulls’ power forward Carlos Boozer and signed Memphis Grizzlies’ big man Ed Davis.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders points out the Lakers can’t over pay players like they use to.
"The problem for the Lakers is they can’t over pay someone anymore. They used to be able to attract players because they could spend more. Now that they are under the cap its going to be harder to do that. They are going to have to grow some assets. Prospect a little more and get the cupboard restocked.The one thing about LA is its a huge opportunity for someone. The established guys don’t need the Lakers spotlight like it used to be, but there will be young guys that are lost somewhere that need what LA can offer them — think about Nick Young. Those are the kinds of guys the Lakers can get to leave other situations."
The Lakers are likely going to suffer through another lottery season, but adding young talent to power forward Julius Randle certainly isn’t a bad idea.