Damn Lakers

L.A. reclaims dominance with Payton, Malone signings

It was the pre-game introductions for baseball’s All-Star Game, and the crowd at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago was on its feet Tuesday night. Despite an audience heavily tilted with White Sox fans, most of the rival American League stars were getting a warm ovation.

Then came the Yankees.

Roger Clemens. "Booo!"

Jason Giambi. "Hiss!"

Jorge Posada. "Go home!"

Hearing those scattered boos and catcalls (and seeing Tim Hardaway and Scottie Pippen in attendance), I couldn’t help but think about Wednesday’s opening of the NBA free-agent signing period.

With the news that the Lakers had officially inked future Hall of Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton, the NBA now has its own version of the Damn Yankees.

"They got the guys they wanted," Magic GM John Gabriel said. "They had a plan and they executed it."

And somewhere David Stern is loving it.

Make no mistake, this Lakers coup is being welcomed in the league offices in New York City.

Forget parity. As Stern knows, nothing generates fan interest more than a single dominant team. Rather than turn off the public, NBA dynasties such as the old Showtime Lakers, the Celtics and the Bulls have kept America riveted to its TV screens.

The Spurs and Nets? It’s just not quite the same.

With the retooling of the Lakers, the NBA once again has a clear-cut top dog. In a large market. With a controversial star in Shaquille O’Neal (such a bully!) and a smug coach in Phil Jackson (he just sits there!) and two new stars in Payton and Malone who took less money to play for a championship (how unfair!).

Like the Yankees, the Lakers are becoming one of those teams people either love or hate. And that’s good for business.

But NBA fans needn’t get their shorts all tied up in knots over L.A.’s hegemony. Unlike the Bronx Bombers, the Lakers will not be able to keep buying up All-Stars every year. The NBA’s salary cap and luxury tax make it all but impossible, and there just aren’t many veteran stars out there willing to take less money to play for a ring.

This year, in other words, was an aberration.

Last year the Lakers had to stand pat because they didn’t have money under the cap and owner Jerry Buss didn’t want to pay the luxury tax. In the end their aging cast of role players broke down and they failed to win the championship.

Meanwhile, the defending champ Spurs nearly went out and created their own dynasty this summer by signing Jason Kidd and Jermaine O’Neal. It didn’t happen, but it could have. Next year the Spurs -- or some other team -- might get so lucky.

In some ways, in fact, signing Payton and Malone has cost L.A. some flexibility in the future. The Lakers are now looking at a payroll over $60 million next season with no prospects of cap relief next summer. If it doesn’t work out, it won’t be easy for GM Mitch Kupchak to do a Steinbrenner-like quick fix.

Besides, even if the Lakers win the title next season, there’s no guarantee they could string together another threepeat. Soon Shaq will be too old to dominate like he once did, and Kobe Bryant will get the itch for a new challenge. Jackson will go back to his Montana retreat. The Lakers will be replaced by a new dominant team, and the NBA will move on.

Many baseball fans wish they could say the same thing about the Yankees.

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for SI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.

 

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