Could it be the fact the Lakers didn’t want to part with the first-round draft pick the Wolves were requesting in return? Could it be Beasley is better known for being a knucklehead more than anything he has accomplished on the hardwood? Or, it could have been more of a monetary decision than anything else.
Chris Broussard thinks so. Here is what Broussard had to say about the Lakers’ current financial situation following the team’s rejection of the Beasley deal:
With one of the league's highest payrolls at roughly $88 million -- well above the luxury tax threshold of $70 million -- the Lakers are due to pay $18 million in taxes this season. Since there is a dollar-for-dollar penalty for tax-paying teams, taking on Beasley's $6.2 million deal would add another $6.2 million to their tax bill and cost the Lakers a pro-rated shortened-season total of $7.331 million.
Any or none of the reasons I have mentioned above could be why the team turned down the trade. But let’s just be happy they turned it down.
Currently the Los Angeles Lakers are playing arguably their best basketball of this unique, truncated, lockout shortened season, having won eight of their last 11 games, including an impressive 10-point win over the Miami Heat last Sunday afternoon. And while they are still nowhere close to convincing fans they are legitimate title contenders, the team is looking much better than they did to start the season.
Kobe and Co. seem more comfortable running Mike Brown’s new offense (which could have something to do with Bro...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
