NBA Salary Cap Chat With Larry Coon 4/6/12

1. bruce bowenstarrrrrrr

   Hi larry now that its known that the magics almost traded dwith if he didnt signed a consent that he was headed to the lakers for blake ebanks n bynum. But dh12 made it clear to them that he only want to play with the nets.coming summer time im guessing the lakers wont take him no more because of his drama. Do u think the magics trade him to the nets?

   • Larry Coon

     The Lakers were hesitant all along to move Bynum for Hoard, because Howard told them he would opt-out and test free agency if he was traded to LA. It was no secret that New Jersey was his first choice. The Lakers face the same issues if they trade for him this summer — and the way Bynum has been playing lately, I think they’re less eager to make a move.

     Both are signed through next season only (Bynum with a team option that will definitely be picked-up), so whether they keep him or trade him for Howard they’ll definitely risk losing their starting center in 2013. But I think it’s a lot more likely that Bynum re-ups with the Lakers than Howard would.

2. penny hardaway-ish

   What happened to the magics? Aint this one of the worst things in the nba? If u were the owner,how wouldbu fix this?

   • Larry Coon

     How big a picture do you want?

     The answer to your question always goes back to Dwight Howard, and the team’s fear of losing him as a free agent. They tried to re-tool the team that got them to the Finals on the fly, and that didn’t work. So then they gambled on Arenas and re-acquiring Hedo, and that didn’t work either. So that left them with a team completely capped-out, and with Dwight itchier than ever. Everything they’ve done over the last three years — and especially this year — has been done with keeping Dwight vs. losing Dwight firmly in their minds.

3. Sean

   Do the Lakers still make a move this summer with Gasol? Pretty sure they should since he, Kobe and Bynum make $58 million next year. Do they trade him to the Rockets or maybe a new team? Thanks Larry, keep up the great work.

   • Larry Coon

     I don’t think they move Gasol just to move him. For example, I don’t think they do it just for financial reasons.

     The main consideration here is that the Lakers have a narrow window of opportunity with Kobe — maybe two more years to really compete for a title with him. They’ll want to maximize those two years — and that means keeping Gasol.

     That said, he’s their principal trade chip should they find a deal that improves the team. The vetoed move for Chris Paul made sense (even if it brought a whole new meaning to “basketball reasons”). A deal at the trade deadline (before they got Ramon Sessions) could have made sense if it had brought significant help at one or three, and a replacement at four. They would move Gasol, but only if they thought it made them better able to compete for a title while Kobe is still here.

4. Michel

   Do the lakers have space to add Rashad McCants for the playoffs? Will they consider him?

   • Larry Coon

     The Lakers have one available spot, but I doubt they make an addition like McCants at this time.

5. Laker Fan

   Bynum+future pick for Howard possible in summer?

   • Larry Coon

     Let’s start with the story that just came out — with the Magic telling Howard, “void your ETO or you’ll be a Laker by the end of the day.” That story is here, if you haven’t read it:

     I didn’t hear this specifically at the time, but it does jibe with what I did hear — that Howard’s preferred team was always the Nets, that he also listed the Lakers & Mavs because the Magic insisted he give them a list of three teams, and that Howard told the Lakers he’d test free agency if he was traded to LA. In other words — I heard all along that LA wasn’t Howard’s preferred destination, so it’s parsimonious with them saying he needed to void his ETO otherwise he’d be traded to the Lakers.

     So, with all that said, let’s get to your question — is a Bynum-Howard trade this summer possible? Yes, it is. But is it likely? I don’t think so.

6. Jess

   Why do NBA teams buy-out players? Why don’t they just suspend – without pay – players who refuse to play (i.e.: do their jobs)? Where’s the sense in paying someone to go away?

   • Larry Coon

     If the player refuses to play, the team CAN suspend him. That’s not what typically happens — players don’t refuse.

     A buyout happens when BOTH sides are ready for a divorce — or at least, the player wants one and the team is willing to accommodate him. It’s more of a quid-pro-quo, with the player getting his release in exchange for cutting the team a break on the price. But when the player wants to get out and hasn’t worked out a buyout, it’s not the case that he refuses to play — usually he keeps playing and sulks.

7. Amaan Pirani

   Is there any way that the Los Angeles Lakers can make a deal with either Deron Williams or Dwight Howard. Which one is more likely? Can they get both?

   • Larry Coon

     With either one? You mean directly? Deron Williams may (and probably will) be a free agent this summer, but unless he wants the Lakers’ taxpayer mid-level exception ($3 million), there’s no way he’s signing with them. Howard is now signed through the 2012-13 season, so if they want to make a deal with him, they’ll have to wait until NEXT summer. But the same issues will apply — the Lakers will have their cap room committed to Kobe, Pau and Bynum, and will have no room to offer Dwight.

     So that leaves dealing with the TEAMS, and not the players. Depending on who you listen to, the Lakers may have been close to a deal for Dwight at the trade deadline, and could resurrect talks this summer. But I think the Nets are all-in with Deron — either they’re re-signing him long term, or he’s leaving this summer as a free agent. And if he leaves as a free agent, it won’t be to the Lakers.

8. Zach

   Where do you see Dwight Howard playing next season? And do you think Deron Williams stays in New Jersey?

   • Larry Coon

     The Magic didn’t get a one-year commitment from Dwight so they’d be in the exact same situation at next season’s trade deadline. They got it so they could take a full offseason to work out a deal, without the pressure of a looming deadline. I think he gets traded in the offseason, and I think New Jersey continues to be the frontrunner. And if Dwight comes, I think Deron stays.

9. Dre

   Hey Larry,

   Know I’ve been pinging you on this lately, but do you know if there is a good source for an explanation of how the NBA splits playoff revenue between teams?

   • Larry Coon

     No, a lot of stuff like that is shrouded in mystery. I do know that playoff teams send a little more than half of their playoff revenue to the league. I don’t have any information on where it goes from there.

10. jt

    Why did the Lakers give up a first round pick to trade Fisher? Why couldnt they just buy him out themselves? If we were gonna use a first round pick to get rid of a contract, why not get rid of Blake, who is worse, longer contract, and makes more?

    • Larry Coon

      Part of it was salary savings, doubled with the luxury tax. It amounts to selling a late first round pick for about $7 million, which is a pretty good price.

11. jw

    Good day Larry,
    While Griffin’s dunks over Gasol were both nasty, I think they could both be called fouls, the first over the back and the second Griffin cleared him out with his left forearm…or am I misinterpreting the rules?
    Opinion?

    • Larry Coon

      No I think both were fouls by the rules — but you know as well as I do that officials rarely call offensive fouls in that situation.