2012 Team Preview: Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

Starting Lineup

• PG – Steve Nash
• SG – Kobe Bryant
• SF – Ron Artest
• PF/C – Pau Gasol
• C  – Dwight Howard

One of the fiercest starting units in the league. The best center in the league in Dwight Howard. The second best two guard in Kobe Bryant behind Dwayne Wade. A borderline top five PG in Steve Nash. A top five PF or C in Pau Gasol. Four extremely talented players.

Denver Nuggets Salary Situation

Following the signing of Ty Lawson, the Nuggets now have four large multi-year contracts on the books

• Andre Iguodala – $31 million 2 years
• JaVale McGee – $44 million 4 years
• Ty Lawson – $48 million 4 years
• Danilo Gallinari – $42 million 4 years

Note: Wilson Chandler is also on the books for another $6-7 million per annum for the next three years also.

The trio of JaVale McGee, Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari will be earning a combined $34 million a year for the next 4 years. Andre Iguodala has another $15 million a year for two years and will be expecting a contract extension in that price range once it expires which would take the Nuggets up to $50 million in guaranteed salary for the next 4 years.

2012 Contract Extensions

Here are the players given extensions prior to the October 31st deadline

• James Harden – $78.6 million over 5 years
• Ty Lawson – $48 million over 4 years
• Steph Curry – $44 million over 4 years
• Jrue Holiday – $41 million over 4 years
• DeMar DeRozan – $40 million over 4 years
• Taj Gibson – $38 million over 4 years

Analysis

James Harden

A top 5 shooting guard (elite starter) and top 25 player (All-Star caliber player) in the league overall. A very good scorer and playmaker. Exceptionally efficient. A good defender/rebounder.

When you consider that two of the others are in their mid-thirties (Kobe, Manu) and the other two are over 30 (Wade, Joe Johnson), and that, Harden is only 23 years old and by far the best young shooting guard in the league … his value is clear.

Fully deserving of a maximum contract.