Our dog, Bailey, woke me up early on Wednesday. Normally, I fall back asleep pretty easily. Of course, I have to check my phone first for anything pressing.
Props to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne for breaking the huge story that Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have agreed to purchase the majority stake in the Lakers from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion.
It’s a remarkable turn of events, given the sale to Walter just went through less than a year ago from the Buss family. I’m going to save the theories for a later date, but will at least state that I don’t know what happens next.
Specifically, governor Jeanie Buss made sure to get a five-year window locked into her sales agreement with Walter in the initial sale. Say if you buy an apartment complex, the existing leases transfer and aren’t voided because the building was sold. Similarly, the agreement with Walter should hold—and that’s something I was relatively adamant about, giving Buss an over/under of 3.5 years (with me taking the over; metaphorically, as I don’t gamble).
Now? I “assume” that holds, but do I know that it does? Absolutely not. I’ll cite my former LA Times colleague Melissa Rohlin, from the California Post Sports article (written by Khobi Price):
Not that Iger is under oath, and people in this world seem to break their word more often than I’m comfortable with, but that’s a relatively ambiguous statement in my eyes.
“Every intention” and “If things change, they’ll change”—not exactly firm language here.
Regardless, it’ll take several months for the NBA to approve the transaction. I’d assume by All-Star, though perhaps before January. I don’t anticipate the Lakers changing direction with the roster, as the change with Walter’s purchase had Buss with top basketball executive Rob Pelinka still making the basketball decisions.
After a few podcasts/radio shows, I did drop back off to sleep for a bit before restarting my day properly.
Here’s what I originally wrote on Tuesday night for Substack publication on Wednesday:
I don’t actually recommend the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Jonathan Kuminga, though he’d be an upgrade over starting the season as is at power forward. I’ve already written that, if the Lakers can pry him away from the forward-heavy Dallas Mavericks, PJ Washington is a better fit as a role player:
Still, one of my roles at Bleacher Report is to think through the “how,” and the Lakers are in the mix for Kuminga, who appears to be their top target: How a 4-Team Blockbuster NBA Trade Can Land Jonathan Kuminga with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Atlanta Hawks don’t pay luxury taxes, at least historically. I would need significant intel to suggest otherwise. Besides, the team already has beyond a full roster, and acquired Lu Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder as a key defensive wing. A direct sign-and-trade with the Lakers doesn’t work—the Hawks aren’t likely to venture into the tax just to gift Kuminga a contract with Los Angeles.
That’s why other franchises come into play, with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls landing “expendable” Lakers like Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy. L.A. also includes most of its remaining draft compensation, the first-round pick swap and two of its three available second-rounders.
Do I love it? No, but the team has sparse assets. The swap is only “a lot,” because it’s all the Lakers have left. Seconds are disposable.
Washington is a more willing role player; Kuminga is younger and has greater upside. Both are superior to what the Lakers currently have penciled in at starting forward, unless Sandro Mamukelashvili impressively steps into a role he hasn’t had yet in the league as a full-time starter.
Regardless, L.A. needs forward depth. This concept achieves it. Whether the Hawks, Nets, Bulls and Lakers agree is a different question.
Complicating matters, Kuminga’s projected contract is for four years at $77.4 million (player option on final season), below the $20+ million average he’s seeking. How he gets to that number is a quandary, unless a surprise team suddenly has a massive amount of cap space (talking LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, etc.).
Kuminga may want a one-year deal at a much lower number to explore free agency next year, but does he have any guarantees that the market will be favorable? That’s a significant gamble.
I think we’d all like to see resolution, as the Kuminga saga has been a topic for three straight offseasons. The Lakers’ concept isn’t perfect, but it’s absolutely arguable.
Neither Los Angeles team is featured on opening night (Lakers or Clippers), which is more of an oddity re: the former. While Luka Dončić remains one of the NBA’s top stars, LeBron James is still higher on that list, despite his age. James, with the Philadelphia 76ers, will visit the New York Knicks on ring night, October 20.
The Western Conference rematch between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder was predictable and should be fun. Tip is earlier than we’re used to, at noon Pacific, with the Boston Celtics visiting the Detroit Pistons.
Dončić and the Lakers start the next day at home, hosting Steph Curry (still one of the NBA’s top-top-top stars) and the Golden State Warriors. No word yet on when the Clippers will start.
As far as Christmas, James will visit Los Angeles and the Lakers. We’ll also get the Spurs/Knicks rematch. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat play in Boston, the team believed to be second in the chase for the former MVP.
Also on tap, the Minnesota Timberwolves draw the Thunder; the Warriors host Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. While not entirely true, the holiday schedule represents the league’s view on top contenders and/or star/draw power.
The rest of the schedule will come out shortly, and then, hopefully, the NBA will wrap up the Kawhi/Clippers/Aspiration/Daktronics(?), etc. saga.
Also worth noting, based on the just-announced Emirates NBA Cup national games (group play), which teams the networks view as priorities:
Lakers, Knicks, 76ers, and Spurs make three appearances each
Portland Trail Blazers, Warriors, Heat, and Nuggets get two apiece
One for the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Celtics, Pistons, Thunder, Mavericks, and Wolves
Curry on the second tier is interesting, as is Deni Avdija and the Blazers. The combination of No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis lands the Wizards a premier slot.
Obviously, the networks (Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and ESPN) value the dozen franchises left off the 15-game national broadcast schedule, but not more than a second or third showing for the bigger draws.
Congrats to Russell Westbrook, calling it a career. He’ll quickly earn a Hall of Fame nod.
Rest in Peace to Don Nelson, a legendary NBA pioneer.