Only 4 teams paid luxury tax in 2019-20. 10 will pay taxes this season, headed by the Warriors $149M, Nets $59M, and Sixers $24M. Lakers can afford $100M since their market value, like the Warriors, is over $4B. The question is will they pay that much? If the Laker win this season, there’s no way Jeanie is going to not put up the money for a possible threepeat.
Other thing to remember is the luxury tax for this year and next is tied to BRI, which is expected to drop 30% so all the figures in Eric’ column are likely to be 30% lower than what they would have been last year to account for the uncertain financial landscape in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. So $100M will only be $70M. Luxury tax sale!
Maybe a young player like Christian Wood might prefer to sign with the Lakers for the MLE, win a ring, and increase his earning potential for next offseason when more teams will have cap space rather than signing a long term deal for a losing team for less than he could get a year from now. Windy is right. Lakers are in great position to reap benefits from free agency.
One other thing to remember is whomever they sign as a free agent will become tradeable before the trade deadline. If Lakers can’t trade for the player they covet this offseason, they can improve their chances to get that player at the trade deadline by adding a key trading chip this offseason.
Don’t know much about Wood/ Is he really THAT good?
Yes. He’s unproven but can do it all. Shoot and defend at all three levels. A poor man’s clone of AD.