If my calculations are correct, assuming the Lakers’ payroll stays at $83 million (i know there are some salaries coming off the books, but kobe, gasol and bynum will be on the books through 2013/14) and the luxury tax line stays around $70 millon, that amounts to them being $13 million over the limit. As of now, they are paying a dollar for dollar tax, meaning they pay a $13 million penalty for having an $83 million payroll.

Starting in 2013, at the same numbers, that penalty will jump to about $26 million. (Let me know if my calculations are incorrect…). If the Lakers are to be considered repeat offenders, the penalty would jump to almost $37 million.

I do agree that the Lakers have an ability to absorb luxury tax fines more than other teams, but you can’t tell me that Lakers ownership is going to toss away an additional $20 million for nothing.

This is why the Lakers are going to be desperate to move Pau Gasol midway through the season, especially if the Lakers aren’t finishing in the top-3 of the conference. And the Lakers won’t get much for Gasol, b/c everyone knows they will be desperate. Houston is smart to bide its time here.

They aren’t allowed to give Nash more than the $3 million exception anyways, since they are above the salary cap.

Kobe does his own thing on the basketball court. Always has and always will. His game will not change much if Nash was on the Lakers, besides that he’d probably take fewer shots. To coexist with Kobe, it’s more about a mental thing than what you physically do on the court. Basically just pass him the ball when he wants it.

But what Nash would do for Gasol and Bynum?? That’s a different story. Those would be unstoppable pick and rolls. It would be lethal.

We all know that the Lakers’ biggest weakness is the flow of their offense…Too often, the ball doesn’t get to their bigs in the right places, Kobe then tries to take over, and the offense becomes stagnant. They have difficulty scoring, Gasol starts to slouch and doesn’t really get within the flow, and Bynum starts to pout.

However, when Nash is on your team, the offense is never stagnant. If it is, just give him the ball, and run some pick and rolls with Gasol or Bynum. He would constantly keep them involved. Honestly, the Lakers would be front-runners for an NBA championship with a healthy Nash.

Steve Nash – #13 Phoenix Suns
Position: G
Born: 02/07/1974
Height: 6-3/1,91
Weight: 178 lbs./80,7 kg
College: Santa Clara

38 yrs old by my math.

It’s crazy to think that when Bynum is re-signed, the Lakers could have $70 million tied up in 3 players for 2013/14..how crazy is that?