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Magic center Dwight Howard, driving against Knicks center Tyson Chandler earlier this season, is a potential target for the Lakers. (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press) |
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The Lakers cleaned out their lockers after another early playoff ricochet, but I'm still working.
My editor wanted five moves that would help the Lakers, wouldn't be ridiculed by opposing general managers and would be allowed under the NBA's complicated transaction guidelines.
Keep in mind that the Lakers have extremely limited purchasing power for free agents and are an old team with a bloated payroll. Put it this way: Nobody is calling General Manager Mitch Kupchak at 3 a.m., begging him to part with Metta World Peace for two first-rounders.
Without further delay…
1) Send a future second-round pick and the $8.9-million traded-player exception (from the Lamar Odom deal) to Denver for forward Al Harrington
The Nuggets face some tough decisions. Not on the court, where they took the Lakers to seven games in the first round, but financially.
They might have to open the bank vault to sign young center JaVale McGee to an extension this summer and will definitely do it in bigger style next summer with rising point guard Ty Lawson. If they're looking to shed some money, the Lakers could help.
Harrington makes $21.4 million over the next three seasons, pretty steep for a 32-year-old in a league with an average salary of $5.3 million.
But Harrington averaged 14.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 27.5 minutes in the regular season. He could be the scoring punch the Lakers desperately needed on their bench.
2) Send Andrew Bynum and a future first-round draft pick to Orlando for Dwight Howard
Here we go again.
Pau Gasol's the 7-footer the Lakers want to trade, but let's face it: His value dropped steeply the last six months. And let's end all the Gasol-for-Deron Williams talk right now. The Nets aren't that silly …are they?
Anyway, Bynum for Howard helps two teams put completely different looks in their frontcourt without a steep drop-off either way.
Orlando's taking the bigger gamble because Bynum's a one-time All-Star and Howard's a gazillion-time All-Star, so the Magic gets a first-round pick as well.
There's also the question of whose body parts are the bigger risk — Bynum's knees or Howard's back?
3) Sign free-agent point guard Raymond Felton to a "mini" midlevel contract
Leap-of-faith warning: Felton made $7.6 million last season with Portland. I'm proposing he signs with the Lakers for $3 million, the most they can spend on a free agent because they're so far over the luxury-tax threshold.
I'm sure Felton hates this idea. So does his agent.
But the Trail Blazers weren't exactly in love with him this season. He averaged a career-low 11.4 points and briefly lost his starting job. In fact, 91% of readers who answered an online poll in the Oregonian said Felton should leave Portland.
My editor wanted five moves that would help the Lakers, wouldn't be ridiculed by opposing general managers and would be allowed under the NBA's complicated transaction guidelines.
Keep in mind that the Lakers have extremely limited purchasing power for free agents and are an old team with a bloated payroll. Put it this way: Nobody is calling General Manager Mitch Kupchak at 3 a.m., begging him to part with Metta World Peace for two first-rounders.
Without further delay…
1) Send a future second-round pick and the $8.9-million traded-player exception (from the Lamar Odom deal) to Denver for forward Al Harrington
The Nuggets face some tough decisions. Not on the court, where they took the Lakers to seven games in the first round, but financially.
They might have to open the bank vault to sign young center JaVale McGee to an extension this summer and will definitely do it in bigger style next summer with rising point guard Ty Lawson. If they're looking to shed some money, the Lakers could help.
Harrington makes $21.4 million over the next three seasons, pretty steep for a 32-year-old in a league with an average salary of $5.3 million.
But Harrington averaged 14.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 27.5 minutes in the regular season. He could be the scoring punch the Lakers desperately needed on their bench.
2) Send Andrew Bynum and a future first-round draft pick to Orlando for Dwight Howard
Here we go again.
Pau Gasol's the 7-footer the Lakers want to trade, but let's face it: His value dropped steeply the last six months. And let's end all the Gasol-for-Deron Williams talk right now. The Nets aren't that silly …are they?
Anyway, Bynum for Howard helps two teams put completely different looks in their frontcourt without a steep drop-off either way.
Orlando's taking the bigger gamble because Bynum's a one-time All-Star and Howard's a gazillion-time All-Star, so the Magic gets a first-round pick as well.
There's also the question of whose body parts are the bigger risk — Bynum's knees or Howard's back?
3) Sign free-agent point guard Raymond Felton to a "mini" midlevel contract
Leap-of-faith warning: Felton made $7.6 million last season with Portland. I'm proposing he signs with the Lakers for $3 million, the most they can spend on a free agent because they're so far over the luxury-tax threshold.
I'm sure Felton hates this idea. So does his agent.
But the Trail Blazers weren't exactly in love with him this season. He averaged a career-low 11.4 points and briefly lost his starting job. In fact, 91% of readers who answered an online poll in the Oregonian said Felton should leave Portland.
L.A. for less than the price of sunblock. 
