The Los Angeles Lakers are known to be one of the richest organizations in sports, paying more than $29 million in luxury tax in 2013, $16 million more than the second highest paying team in the Miami Heat. The large payroll won’t carry over to the 2014-15 season, however, as only two players are under contract that year. Those players? Veteran point guard Steve Nash and center Robert Sacre, who combine for a little more than $10 million in total salary commitment. The highest paid player in the NBA, Kobe Bryant, is on record saying he won’t be interested in taking a pay cut for the team to re-sign him at more feasible numbers. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, another significant piece to the team has joined him. Pau Gasol answered questions on Thursday about wanting to take a pay cut to finish his career as a Laker and it wasn’t the best answer.
In an interview with Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, Gasol gave his answer on the possibility of taking less money after this season:
"Would Gasol be willing to work out a deal for a less money?“Probably not,” he stated. “You have to explore your options, but I would like to continue playing for the Lakers and maybe finish my career here. But you have to see the cards on the table.”"
Pau Gasol will have the spotlight on himself this season, leading a frontcourt next to Chris Kaman. (NBA.com photo)
This news had to hurt Lakers fans quite a bit, considering it’s almost out of the question that Gasol is going to receive the same money in a restructured contract with the Lakers. His 2013-14 salary is set at $19,285,850, which in today’s NBA equals a superstar level talent. Was he once the best big man in the league? Yes, arguably. Is he now? Not at age 34 (his age at the beginning of his next contract).
Gasol’s numbers and production have dropped in his last two seasons, with him having the worst and most injury-plagued year of his career last season. In 2012-13, Gasol dropped his scoring average by 3.7 points from the previous year, his rebounding by 1.8 per game, his field goal percentage to a career low (but still 46.6 percent) and only played 49 games due to injury. Point being, his aging and the increase of more athletic post players are proving that he isn’t quite worth the $19 million anymore for his career. It is a sad thing to say given that Gasol plays the game with the utmost respect and has the largest skill set of any power forward or center in the league. His passing is superb and he has a variety of post moves that he can finish with either hand, left or right. The problem? He just doesn’t have the athletic ability anymore to hang with the younger forwards on the rise.
You have to think that the Lakers would be crazy to give both Bryant and Gasol the figures they want in 2014. (NBA.com photo)
The issue of Kobe Bryant’s contract always comes to play here. With Bryant saying he doesn’t want to take a pay cut, it’s more likely that owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak grant Bryant his wish and move away from Gasol. Bryant has been a Laker for more than half of his life (18 of his 35 years) and brought more success than anyone outside of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on an individual standpoint with five championships.
With that said, if the Lakers gave Gasol and Bryant their desired deals, they would not be able to be a factor in the 2014 free agent market. The pursuit of Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James would not be feasible and that’s not what Buss and Kupchak want. The Lakers indeed want to be the leading voices in the pitches made to the top free agents, meaning being able to offer them what they desire. Having Gasol locked up in another deal worth $16 million to 19 million a year would be out of the question.
It’s understandable that Lakers fans want Gasol to stay (I do, too), but with an attitude that is more focused on getting paid rather than accepting what you are worth today, it may be best to move on. This is something Gasol needs to take into account. This could all go out the window though, if he has a monster upcoming season. Based off last year, that’s just not realistic.