No one tell Pau Gasol what the Los Angeles Lakers’ real plans (probably) are after this season.
Why? Because I don’t want to hurt his feelings.
According to the Los Angeles Times’ Mike Bresnahan, the fluffy-haired Spaniard would love the opportunity to re-sign with the Lakers this coming summer:
“It’s nice to be here in the last year of my contract,” Gasol said. “I’d love to continue to play with the Lakers [next year]. We’ve been through so much together. Mostly amazing moments and some hard moments too.
“It’s like a relationship. If you’re still together, it shows improved strength and consistency and how solid the relationship is. Hopefully we’ll see if we can extend it.”
Armed with loads of cap space—Steve Nash and Robert Sacre are the only players under guaranteed contracts in 2014-15—the Lakers will have their sights set on one or two of Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and others, before they even think about bringing back Gasol. That is, if Kobe Bryant lets them.
The Black Mamba’s contract comes off the books after this season too, at which point the Lakers are going to re-sign him. It’s going to happen. He’s not going anywhere else, so get that thought out of your pretty little head if it’s in there.
The problem, of course, is how much money he’ll command annually. Though he’s on record as saying he won’t take a pay cut, we know better there too—he’s going to take a pay cut. I think. Los Angeles can’t offer him a max contract, worth close to $32 million in the first year, can it?
With Kobe pushing 36, that would be dumb no matter how dominant he is after returning from a ruptured Achilles. It would also be kind of selfish on Kobe’s part. If he wants to contend for that sixth ring, and do it as a member of the Lakers, he’ll have to take less.
How much less? Don’t ask, because I honestly have no idea. All I know is that for the Lakers to afford ‘Melo and LeBron on maximum contracts, in addition to Nash, Sacre and the necessary cap holds, Kobe would have to accept a starting salary of roughly $5.3 million, about $25.2 million less than he’s making in 2013-14.
Let me say this now: I’d be more shocked to see Kobe take an 80-plus percent pay cut than I would to see monkeys crawl out of Adam Silver’s nostrils at the 2014 NBA draft. Once again, I’m not saying Kobe won’t take a pay cut; he will. He has to. But I have my doubts as to how much of dip in salary his ego will allow him to take.
Once Kobe’s situation is figured out, the Lakers can see how much money is left over for Anthony, LeBron and friends. If they give the Mamba $32 million-ish, they won’t have enough for either. If they give him $24.8 million, they’ll have enough for just Kobe; $22.3 million and they’ll have enough for only LeBron.
Upon clearing up that situation, then Gasol’s return can be addressed. Unless the Lakers strikeout miserably and/or Kobe command’s a king’s ransom, he’ll have to take an obnoxious pay cut to stay in Los Angeles. Which shouldn’t be out of the question. Playing alongside Kobe and potentially two other superstars could compel him to become the 2014 version of Karl Malone. Or it could inspire him to sign elsewhere, with a team that can promise him more touches.
For now, we don’t know. In less than one year’s time, we will. But I think we can all agree on one thing: it all comes back to Kobe.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
