dmontzsta
06-30-2006, 06:57 AM
Banks' agent, Mike Higgins, said the 24-year-old wants the full mid-level exception for five years, for a total of $29 million.
Higgins, aware that the Lakers were unable to sign Antonio Daniels for the mid-level last year because they offered just two years, said Banks will have Minnesota and several other teams vying for him this summer.
"If somebody offers the mid-level for five years to Marcus and the Lakers offer two, it's going to be tough for the Lakers no matter how much Marcus likes the Lakers," Higgins said by phone.
[Bobby]Jackson has told friends he'd love to play for the Lakers. But the Lakers question the 33-year-old's durability: He has often been injured in his nine-year career, and he's only once played as many as 81 games in a regular season.
"I would think that they would want a veteran guard who has playoff experience, and Bobby has that," Jackson's agent, Andy Miller, said by phone.
Cassell has said he wants to return to the Clippers and is willing to accept a one-year deal for $7.5 million with incentives. He would take a two-year deal for $10 million from the Lakers. But they are hesitant to sign Cassell because he'll be 37 next season.
The Lakers also have their biannual exception of about $1.65 million; they could break up the mid-level and use it on several players.
"A mid-level, at five years earning 10 percent (more) a year, is a good number," Kupchak said. "And there are a lot of players out there that would be enticed by that type of number. We have the ability to do that.
"Are there players out there that deserve the mid-level? Yeah, there's a couple of guys. But I don't know if we'll end up using it."
Higgins, aware that the Lakers were unable to sign Antonio Daniels for the mid-level last year because they offered just two years, said Banks will have Minnesota and several other teams vying for him this summer.
"If somebody offers the mid-level for five years to Marcus and the Lakers offer two, it's going to be tough for the Lakers no matter how much Marcus likes the Lakers," Higgins said by phone.
[Bobby]Jackson has told friends he'd love to play for the Lakers. But the Lakers question the 33-year-old's durability: He has often been injured in his nine-year career, and he's only once played as many as 81 games in a regular season.
"I would think that they would want a veteran guard who has playoff experience, and Bobby has that," Jackson's agent, Andy Miller, said by phone.
Cassell has said he wants to return to the Clippers and is willing to accept a one-year deal for $7.5 million with incentives. He would take a two-year deal for $10 million from the Lakers. But they are hesitant to sign Cassell because he'll be 37 next season.
The Lakers also have their biannual exception of about $1.65 million; they could break up the mid-level and use it on several players.
"A mid-level, at five years earning 10 percent (more) a year, is a good number," Kupchak said. "And there are a lot of players out there that would be enticed by that type of number. We have the ability to do that.
"Are there players out there that deserve the mid-level? Yeah, there's a couple of guys. But I don't know if we'll end up using it."