LA Lakers Hire Mike D'Antoni

[wuck]

RonG is right, and yes the language is complicated. Lakers will swap with the Cavs pick (whichever is least favorable--likely the Heat) if the Lakers make the playoffs. If the Lakers don't make the playoffs, then Phoenix gets the pick (and the Cavs right to swap expires). Nothing carries over to next year.

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For Phoenix:

2013 first round draft pick from L.A. Lakers
The L.A. Lakers will send the least favorable of their own 1st round pick (top-14 protected), Cleveland's own 2013 1st round pick, Sacramento's own 1st round pick (top-13 protected) and Miami's 2013 1st round pick to Phoenix. If the L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick is within the top-14 selections, Phoenix will automatically receive the L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick. [L.A. Lakers-Phoenix, 7/11/2012]

[Jack Brickman]

I guess we can at least enjoy the irony of the Lakers making the lottery for the first time in decades and not having a draft pick to show for it.

[RTrees]

Haha wow.. sorry for wasting a few minutes of your time on that one..

What a tease of a situation for fans of the Suns.. or the Cavs.. but not both.

[Mdog1]

Haha wow.. sorry for wasting a few minutes of your time on that one..

What a tease of a situation for fans of the Suns.. or the Cavs.. but not both.

It's going to be fantastic for us if they get the 8th seed. Going from the 28th-30th pick in the draft to the 16th is a massive jump, and for Pheonix they'd be freaking out thinking one more freaking loss (or two), and the Suns have another lotto pick.

[bigfoot5415]

RonG is right, and yes the language is complicated. Lakers will swap with the Cavs pick (whichever is least favorable--likely the Heat) if the Lakers make the playoffs. If the Lakers don't make the playoffs, then Phoenix gets the pick (and the Cavs right to swap expires). Nothing carries over to next year.

----
For Phoenix:

2013 first round draft pick from L.A. Lakers
The L.A. Lakers will send the least favorable of their own 1st round pick (top-14 protected), Cleveland's own 2013 1st round pick, Sacramento's own 1st round pick (top-13 protected) and Miami's 2013 1st round pick to Phoenix. If the L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick is within the top-14 selections, Phoenix will automatically receive the L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick. [L.A. Lakers-Phoenix, 7/11/2012]

Yea, but my issue with this is that the lotto protection did not come into question until the PHX trade. Ive never been confused by the language, just the fact it wasnt an issue until a 2nd trade was made. Grant never acknowledged protection in the original press conference. Amico has the same line of thought. If you think the Lakers org isnt arrogant enough to not protect a pick, you are crazy. Only time will tell. I wonder why Grant has not come forward since this has come up.

[Tank God]

If the Lakers end up not making the playoffs, I hope to God that everyone who said that the Lakers' swap is protected is wrong. I mean, how sick would it be if the Lakers' pick made it into the 9-12 range, and then somehow won the lottery? haha I'm scurred now though. Leave it to Dwight and Kobe to mess up a team.

[billmac91]

Dwight might be the most hated guy in the league amongst players....I don't even think it is debatable.

[bigfoot5415]

....and there goes Hill for atleast a week. Jamison will get all the minutes his little heart desires.

[Numbers Guy]

The Lakers are 3.5 games out of the playoffs and it seems like it may only get worse. 40% into the season and they haven't even won half their games. I'm starting to doubt we get this pick barring some massive run.

The Lakers, at 15-18 after four losses in the last five games, are on pace for 37 wins.

L..A. has 49 games remaining against 27 opponents with a combined winning percentage of .497 heading into Monday’s games. It needs to go 30-19 (.612) to get to 45 wins, 33-16 (.673) to reach 48 and 35-14 (.714) for what seems like the impossible dream of seeing 50, especially now, with more injury problems and the schedule turning ugly.

[randymoss1881]

The Lakers are 3.5 games out of the playoffs and it seems like it may only get worse. 40% into the season and they haven't even won half their games. I'm starting to doubt we get this pick barring some massive run.

Come to think of it maybe we should be ok with LA flamming out. That would give the suns 2 lottery pick but with there cheap ass owner we probably could get there pick (5-10) by taking on channing fry's contract (2yrs. 13mill)

[CleveRocks]

The Lakers are 3.5 games out of the playoffs and it seems like it may only get worse. 40% into the season and they haven't even won half their games. I'm starting to doubt we get this pick barring some massive run.

This will be made harder because the road schedule is brutal. But I still see them making the playoffs...

[bigfoot5415]

From CavsDan and the Cavs:


Rep this whore

[oasis05]

Looked like Shannon brown tried to break Dwight Howard's arm. Dwight to locker room.

[Numbers Guy]

The Lakers defense is so bad.. they've made Beasley look like Carmelo.

[Numbers Guy]

I give up. The Lakers aren't making the playoffs and the Heat aren't gonna lose too many more games.. the pick will be 26-30.