The two-year, $21.6MM commitment the Clippers made to Reggie Jackson, including a $10.38MM cap hit next season, will have major tax implications for the team, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. After accounting for new contracts for Jackson and Kawhi Leonard, who is expected to sign for the maximum, the Clippers’ tax bill is projected to be $95MM. Taking into account both salaries and tax penalties, the cost of the roster will be $265MM, says Marks.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- In a separate tweet, Marks provides the specific details on Chris Paul‘s new four-year, $120MM contract with the Suns, confirming a report that the deal includes $75MM in guaranteed money. It will start at $30MM before dipping in year two and increasing again in the third year, which is partially guaranteed for $15.8MM. The structure will allow Phoenix to stay out of the tax in 2021/22 and ensures the deal’s cap hit will be lowest in ’22/23, when potential new contracts for Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges go into effect.
- Trevor Ariza, who has signed a one-year deal with the Lakers, said that Russell Westbrook recruited him, Mark Medina of USA Today tweets. Westbrook called Ariza approximately 20 minutes after Westbrook was traded to the Lakers, the veteran forward said. He also said his children urged him to sign with the Lakers.
- The Lakers may be stockpiling aging veterans like Ariza, Carmelo Anthony, Wayne Ellington and Dwight Howard to help LeBron James and Anthony Davis win another title, but Howard said there won’t be a lack of energy or enthusiasm, Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes. “I think we have new life, all of us coming together and playing,” he said of the Lakers’ vets. “I think it’s going to provide new life being able to see who we have on our roster, who’s going to be playing alongside of us each and every day. I think we’ll have so much energy it will be hard to contain.”
An aging roster is certainly known for its energy over the course of an 82 game season, not to mention assured health and zero egos colliding…lakers will go 82-0
The only ego if any would be Russ. Melo did very well with dame and cj
And even then I think Russ will be okay. He’ll be 33 soon so I think he has it figured out he can’t do everything himself and win a ring. I think the Lakers will be fine in the ego Department.
Gary – I think Russ will have a lot of fun this year and engage in styles of play that might be classified as atypical for him
He’s never had a good scoring big – Ibaka and Adams were bruisers in Okc / Hou was void/as was Wiz last year in this regards – And he’s buddies w AD….Im pumped to see them together and the possible re-energizing it could possibly do to one another (Lord only knows AD needs something after last year)
Honestly, Lebron should watch A LOT of late Magic this offseason …He should run the point off the block like Magic did late career w his great height , passing and vision …He should be the 3rd highest scorer on the team not that numbers matter or shouldn’t (They do) I doubt he fully buys it but those Magic tapes could really yield fruits as he ages imo.
LeBron should {Selfishly} suck every ounce of juice outta Westbrook the next 2 years for his own good…stats may suffer but his career/legacy gets a boast if he can look past the numbers…I have doubts but it could happen
* The best version of the Lakers Imo has
– LeBron the 3rd highest scorer/ leads team in assts/Improved post play
-Westbrook – 2nd highest scorer/ assts down/ expands game to be a cutter (*even) more
-AD- Defensive anchor, highest scorer @ 26 per only , gets 3 back to 20’levels not 21 (he’s never bangin on the block) Smile/have fun this {Should} really be YOUR team; act the part!
Howard is a fossil with hands of stone all around the rim and paint. This team will be a walking infirmary out of gas by the 4th lebron leading the walking wounded.
You got to love haters go Lakers baby!!
Then we will have to hear LeBron complain about the short season and no rest and whatever the fat ego of his has to complain about. This team is old and if anyone thinks Westbrook being older will change needs to have their head examined.
So much Lakers envy I can smell it
Can’t be worse than butter fingers Drummond. Dude couldn’t hold on to anything. One drop after another, followed by one missed lay up after the other. smh
Based on Paul’s contract structure it’s obvious the final year is a non-guaranteed season, no team option
Offseason
The biggest disappointment for me is that Lakers did not acquire two 37 years old Chris Paul and Iguodala.
Friendship.
Oh no, Steve Balmer will run out of money. Lol
256M is a lot of money to get bounced in round 1 or round 2.
are they even gonna make the playoffs with kawhi out?
Was thinking the same thing. If Paul George has another mental health breakdown they might not even be in the running for the playoffs. Once Kawhi recovers totally different story
Looking up and down the Lakers roster I think they need to add one more centre and one more combo forward.
At centre they have Gasol and Howard both about 15 min per game players and AD will obviously play minutes there too but could do with an extra.
As the forward spots behind Bron and AD they have the likes of Bazemore (more of a 2), Melo, Ariza and Dudley. Which is a very old bunch, think they just need a back up that’s like 6’8/6’9 and still reasonably young.
Maybe JaKarr Sampson or James Ennis and Donta Hall.
1. Russ. Nunn. THT
2. Bazemore. Ellington. Monk
3. Bron. Ariza. Sampson/Ennis
4. AD. Melo. Dudley
5. Gasol. Howard. Hall
Even as a Philly fan, would love to see Melo and Russ get a ring each and Bron get to 5. Melo deserves it after everything he’s done and been through in his career. Bron getting his 5th at 37 years old would be amazing too.
Hey maybe the Bulls have found their sucker to take Lauri Markannen? Just would have to get a 3rd team involved so the Bulls get a player they can actually use back in the deal.