Steve Nash's, Kobe Bryant's and Pau Gasol's grim futures have pinned the Lakers to an immediate outlook that is almost beyond their control—but only almost.
General manager Mitch Kupchak and Co. still have power in determining which direction this season goes, and they have even more say in how they further their rebuilding efforts. And trading rebounding aficionado Jordan Hill would be an exhibition of the power and control that has eluded them this season.
According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers did indeed engage the Brooklyn Nets in trade talks:
Since then, the Los Angeles Daily News' Mark Medina has indicated a deal won't happen, courtesy of Brooklyn's Steve-Carrell-chest-waxing-session unsightly luxury-tax bill:
Although the Lakers engaged in preliminary talks about a trade that would send Jordan Hill to the Brooklyn Nets, the deal likely will not happen, according to a league source familiar with the situation.
The main reason: Brooklyn would absorb a $17 million luxury tax penalty for acquiring Hill’s remaining $3.5 million on his expiring contract. Brooklyn has some flexibility considering its $5.25 million disabled player exception could be used to absorb Hill’s contract. But that doesn’t erase the luxury tax implications. The Nets would then have shelled out around $190 million in combined payroll and luxury tax.
Most trade discussions are fated to break down when doing business with the Nets. Their financial outlook, again, isn't pretty.
But unlike the Nets, there will be teams out there willing and able to acquire Hill, and the Lakers, with their season beyond saving, have reached a point where trading him is one of the few things that actually makes sense.
It's Mike D'Antoni's World
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
