However, with a solid core, the reigning two-time NBA champions do not need very much.
While the dog days of summer have finally hit Los Angeles, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak needs to remain cool and collected as he dials around the league to see who is and is not available.
At the very top of his docket is the need to sign Shannon Brown to a two-year, $4.2 million contract (two years at $2.1 million/year). This is essentially the contract that Brown opted from earlier this month.
However, Brown hasn’t found that much interest around the league as he has been damaged by a spotty performance in the playoffs. Nevertheless, Brown is a hard-working player with a good deal of upside and a positive work ethic. He could prove to be a valuable asset to a lot of teams if the price is right.
Another hard-working player, who like Brown has been spotty at times, is Sasha Vujacic. He has one year remaining on his three-year $15 million contract.
Kupchak can package these two and offer them to the Lakers’ main rival, the Boston Celtics, in return for Nate Robinson. The Celtics have just re-signed Robinson to a two-year, $8 million contract.
The math is pretty close: the Celtics are eight million for Robinson and the Lakers $9.2 million for Vujacic and Brown. The Celtics will be able to take Vujacic’s $5 million off the books at the end of the season.
Or the Lakers could sign Brown for one year at $2.5 million. That would give the Celtics $7.5 million coming off the books next June.
The Lakers have also expressed an interest in the Pacers’ Earl Watson. If the Celtics turn down the Vujacic and Brown for Robinson trade, Kupchak can see if he can work out a deal for Watson.
The Pacers would have to sign their f...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
