Gilbert Arenas recently discussed how Klay Thompson and Dan Hurley used the Lakers’ name to secure lucrative contracts elsewhere on his show, ‘Gil’s Arena’. Arenas dismissed rumors that the Lakers had offered substantial contracts to both Thompson and Hurley, suggesting that both used the Lakers’ brand to boost their market value. During the podcast, Arenas emphatically denied reports of an $80 million offer to Thompson and a $70 million offer to Hurley.
“We didn’t offer nobody no 80 million, dog. Stop listening to Woj and them. We didn’t offer him no 80 million. We didn’t offer that damn coach no 70 million, man. Y’all crazy. This is crazy talk.”
“We, the Lakers, man, you use our name to get famous. That’s what they use. They use the Laker brand to boost up their financial status and other teams. We did not offer these people that kind of money. Are you crazy?”
“We cheat. We cheat, baby. We got Zach LaVine.”
"We [Lakers] didn't offer no $80 million dawg. Stop listening to Woj and them. We didn't offer him [Klay] $80, we didn't offer that coach no $70 million. Y'all crazy, crazy talk. We the Lakers, you use our name to get famous…to boost their financial status with other teams."… pic.twitter.com/9JfZcEf6Zu
— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) July 8, 2024
Arenas’ comments highlight the potential leverage Thompson and Hurley gained by associating with the Lakers, despite no concrete offers being made. This tactic of using a high-profile team to increase one’s market value is not uncommon in professional sports.
Dan Hurley, the head coach of UConn, reportedly received a six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers but opted to stay with the Huskies. Similarly, Klay Thompson chose to sign with the Dallas Mavericks despite a rumored four-year, $80 million offer from the Lakers. However, Arenas believes these offers were never on the table and were instead used to enhance their negotiation positions with their respective teams.
This maneuvering has led to significant reputation damage for the Lakers. The perception that they failed to land key targets like Hurley and Thompson can impact their standing in the league and among fans. LeBron James and the Lakers front office now face the challenge of addressing these perceived failures while building a competitive roster for the upcoming season.
Interestingly, Arenas hinted at the possibility of Zach LaVine coming to the Lakers. However, reports suggest that no such deal is currently in the works. LaVine is in the third year of his $215 million contract, and no team reportedly wants him due to his massive salary and injury history. Even if the Bulls include a first-round pick in a potential deal, teams are unlikely to take on LaVine under the current circumstances.
In the broader context of NBA negotiations, Arenas’ comments shed light on the complexities and strategies behind contract discussions. While leveraging a high-profile team’s interest can be an effective negotiation tactic, it also carries the risk of damaging relationships and reputations. For the Lakers, the task now is to move forward, rebuild trust, and focus on their roster’s future.
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