State of the Lakers discussion thread

[kobeunderbite]

Steve Nash left the game with nerve irritation again last night. Reports surfaced on Tuesday that Nash is planning to retire after this NBA season. Nash's retirement would relieve his $9.7m 2014-2015 salary from the books for the Lakers and leave them with the following in salary commitments for next season:

Bryant $23,500,000
Swaggy $1,227,985
Marshall $915,243
Sacre $915,243
Total: = $25,643,338

The current salary cap is $58,679,000. The Lakers will have roughly $33,000,000 (depending on the exact figure of next years salary cap) in free salary for the upcoming season, or room to add two max contracts to the roster.

Additionally, after last night's loss, the Lakers are in sole possession of the 5th-worst record in the NBA. Their next game is Thursday vs. OKC.

[kobeunderbite]

I demand that the Lakers be discussed.

[Robceltsfan]

They're in shambles, and I'm loving it.

End of discussion.

[kobeunderbite]

Based on their projected draft pick, cap room, and ability to attract FA talent, it would seem that they're in pretty decent shape for the future.

[Deez]

Lakers 2015 Finals Champions

[Robceltsfan]

Steve Nash left the game with nerve irritation again last night. Reports surfaced on Tuesday that Nash is planning to retire after this NBA season. Nash's retirement would relieve his $9.7m 2014-2015 salary from the books for the Lakers and leave them with the following in salary commitments for next season:

Bryant $23,500,000
Swaggy $1,227,985
Marshall $915,243
Sacre $915,243
Total: = $25,643,338

The current salary cap is $58,679,000. The Lakers will have roughly $33,000,000 (depending on the exact figure of next years salary cap) in free salary for the upcoming season, or room to add two max contracts to the roster.

Additionally, after last night's loss, the Lakers are in sole possession of the 5th-worst record in the NBA. Their next game is Thursday vs. OKC.

I really don't see how they can add two max players. Are they going to have a roster of 8 guys? Is it going to be Kobe, two max players.........and a bunch of bench riders?

[kobeunderbite]

For the record, I don't think they'll sign two max players. I think that this offseason they'll sign a Lowry/Bledsoe/Stephenson/ZBo type ($12-$14m salary), plus a MLE guy (Ariza/Frye), and then try to sign Love in a year from now (all in addition to whoever the top-5 pick ends up being).

Theoretically they could definitely afford two max players, though. For arguments sake, let's say they signed Melo and Love and drafted Embiid. A lineup of

Marhsall
Bryant
Anthony
Love
Embiid

With Young, whoever they sign for the mini MLE off the bench, and vets min salary guys - could compete for the title.

[Sudanese Sensation]

Steve Nash left the game with nerve irritation again last night. Reports surfaced on Tuesday that Nash is planning to retire after this NBA season. Nash's retirement would relieve his $9.7m 2014-2015 salary from the books for the Lakers and leave them with the following in salary commitments for next season:

Bryant $23,500,000
Swaggy $1,227,985
Marshall $915,243
Sacre $915,243
Total: = $25,643,338

The current salary cap is $58,679,000. The Lakers will have roughly $33,000,000 (depending on the exact figure of next years salary cap) in free salary for the upcoming season, or room to add two max contracts to the roster.

Additionally, after last night's loss, the Lakers are in sole possession of the 5th-worst record in the NBA. Their next game is Thursday vs. OKC.

I really don't see how they can add two max players. Are they going to have a roster of 8 guys? Is it going to be Kobe, two max players.........and a bunch of bench riders?

Unless it's a medical retirement approved by a league appointed physician Nash still counts against the 014 cap. There are also other requirements to be met. It's discussed here:


http://articles.latimes.com/2013/nov/12 ... y-20131112" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kobeunderbite]

Wiseguy, you seem powerfully confused.

The reports referenced in the OP are referring to a voluntary retirement from Nash. Are you attempting to suggest that the Lakers would still be on the hook for Nash's salary if he retires of his own free will ?

[Sudanese Sensation]

Wiseguy, you seem powerfully confused.

The reports referenced in the OP are referring to a voluntary retirement from Nash. Are you attempting to suggest that the Lakers would still be on the hook for Nash's salary if he retires of his own free will ?

Res ipsa loquitur:


Any money paid to a player is included in team salary, even if the player is no longer playing or has retired.

There is one exception whereby a player can continue to receive his salary, but the salary is excluded from team salary. This is when a player suffers a career-ending injury or illness. The team must waive the player, and can apply for this salary exclusion following a waiting period. Only the player's team at the time the injury or illness was discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered) can apply for this salary exclusion.

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q62" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kobeunderbite]

Do you understand that if Nash retires, his salary will not count against the cap ?

[Sudanese Sensation]

Do you understand that if Nash retires, his salary will not count against the cap ?

Steve Nash's salary will not count against the salary cap after next season after he retires and after his contract has been completed. There are two exceptions where his salary or all of it won't be included in next year's salary cap. That is if he is granted a medical retirement or the Lakers use the "stretch" provision on him.

[Robceltsfan]

62. What are the rules for retired players? What if the player suffers a career-ending injury?

There's nothing binding about a player announcing his retirement. The player can still sign a new contract and continue playing (if he's not under contract), or return to his team (if he is still under contract) and resume his career.

The only exception to this is when a player is still under contract, wants to quit, and his team doesn't want to let him out of his contract. Under these circumstances the player can file for retirement with the league. The player is placed on the league's Voluntarily Retired list (see question number 78), forgoes his remaining salary, and cannot return to the league for one year. The latter requirement prevents players from using retirement as an underhanded way to change teams, and can be overridden with unanimous approval from all 30 teams. For example, guard Jason Williams signed with the LA Clippers in August 2008, then changed his mind the following month, announcing his retirement. He applied for reinstatement in early 2009, but his request was denied by a vote of 24-6. Williams later signed with the Orlando Magic once the one-year anniversary of his retirement announcement had passed.

Any money paid to a player is included in team salary, even if the player is no longer playing or has retired.

There is one exception whereby a player can continue to receive his salary, but the salary is excluded from team salary. This is when a player suffers a career-ending injury or illness. The team must waive the player, and can apply for this salary exclusion following a waiting period. Only the player's team at the time the injury or illness was discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered) can apply for this salary exclusion.

The waiting period depends on the number games in which the player played in the season:1

If the player played 10 or more games in a season, the team can apply on the one-year anniversary of the player's last game.
If the player played fewer than 10 in a season, the team can apply 60 days after his last game, or the one-year anniversary of his last game in the previous season, whichever is later.
The determination as to whether an injury or illness is career ending is made by a physician jointly selected by the league and players association. The determination is based on whether the injury or illness will prevent the player from playing for the remainder of his career, or if it is severe enough that continuing to play constitutes a medically unacceptable risk.

If the injury exclusion is granted, the player's salary is removed from the team salary immediately.

If the player later "proves the doctors wrong" and resumes his career, then his salary is returned to the team salary when he plays in his 25th game1 in any one season, for any team. This allows a player to attempt to resume his career without affecting his previous team unless his comeback is ultimately successful. If the 25th game was a playoff game, then the player's salary is returned to the cap effective on the date of the team's last regular season game (i.e., the returned salary counts toward the luxury tax).

There are a few additional nuances to the salary exclusion:

If the player resumes his career and his salary is returned to the team salary, the team can re-apply for the salary exclusion under the same rules (including the rules for the waiting period).
If a player retires, even for medical reasons, his team does not receive a salary cap exception to acquire a replacement player.
A team cannot apply for this salary exclusion if they have applied for a Disabled Player exception (see question number 25) that season, whether the exception was granted or not.
If this salary exclusion is granted, the team cannot re-sign or re-acquire the player at any time.
This salary exclusion can be used when a player dies while under contract.

[Sudanese Sensation]

62. What are the rules for retired players? What if the player suffers a career-ending injury?

There's nothing binding about a player announcing his retirement. The player can still sign a new contract and continue playing (if he's not under contract), or return to his team (if he is still under contract) and resume his career.

The only exception to this is when a player is still under contract, wants to quit, and his team doesn't want to let him out of his contract. Under these circumstances the player can file for retirement with the league. The player is placed on the league's Voluntarily Retired list (see question number 78), forgoes his remaining salary, and cannot return to the league for one year. The latter requirement prevents players from using retirement as an underhanded way to change teams, and can be overridden with unanimous approval from all 30 teams. For example, guard Jason Williams signed with the LA Clippers in August 2008, then changed his mind the following month, announcing his retirement. He applied for reinstatement in early 2009, but his request was denied by a vote of 24-6. Williams later signed with the Orlando Magic once the one-year anniversary of his retirement announcement had passed.

Any money paid to a player is included in team salary, even if the player is no longer playing or has retired.


There is one exception whereby a player can continue to receive his salary, but the salary is excluded from team salary. This is when a player suffers a career-ending injury or illness. The team must waive the player, and can apply for this salary exclusion following a waiting period. Only the player's team at the time the injury or illness was discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered) can apply for this salary exclusion.

The waiting period depends on the number games in which the player played in the season:1

If the player played 10 or more games in a season, the team can apply on the one-year anniversary of the player's last game.
If the player played fewer than 10 in a season, the team can apply 60 days after his last game, or the one-year anniversary of his last game in the previous season, whichever is later.
The determination as to whether an injury or illness is career ending is made by a physician jointly selected by the league and players association. The determination is based on whether the injury or illness will prevent the player from playing for the remainder of his career, or if it is severe enough that continuing to play constitutes a medically unacceptable risk.

If the injury exclusion is granted, the player's salary is removed from the team salary immediately.

If the player later "proves the doctors wrong" and resumes his career, then his salary is returned to the team salary when he plays in his 25th game1 in any one season, for any team. This allows a player to attempt to resume his career without affecting his previous team unless his comeback is ultimately successful. If the 25th game was a playoff game, then the player's salary is returned to the cap effective on the date of the team's last regular season game (i.e., the returned salary counts toward the luxury tax).

There are a few additional nuances to the salary exclusion:

If the player resumes his career and his salary is returned to the team salary, the team can re-apply for the salary exclusion under the same rules (including the rules for the waiting period).
If a player retires, even for medical reasons, his team does not receive a salary cap exception to acquire a replacement player.
A team cannot apply for this salary exclusion if they have applied for a Disabled Player exception (see question number 25) that season, whether the exception was granted or not.
If this salary exclusion is granted, the team cannot re-sign or re-acquire the player at any time.
This salary exclusion can be used when a player dies while under contract.

The controlling language is in bold and in a slightly larger font.