The Lakers’ Absurd (But Amusing) Roster Fantasy

As someone who crunches numbers for a living, the recent social media frenzy about the Lakers potentially signing all current MVP candidates struck me as equal parts hilarious and fascinating. The joke stems from reports that Dodgers owner Mark Walter is acquiring majority ownership of the Lakers - prompting fans to wonder if the basketball team might adopt baseball’s more… creative contract structures.

The Dodgers’ Playbook Goes Hardwood

The viral tweet referenced [star player] signing his \(700M deal with 97% deferred payments - essentially pushing most costs decades into future payrolls. Applied to basketball? Fans are suggesting 10-year, \)1B contracts for:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Nikola Jokic
• Luka Dončić
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Anthony Edwards

With payments delayed until 2080 because… why not?

Why This Makes Statisticians Giggle

Let me put my analyst hat on:

1. Salary Cap Math: Even with deferrals, NBA rules cap total compensation value. That $1B would still count against future caps.
2. Player Prime Windows: Most stars peak between ages 27-32. Paying 35-year-olds like MVP candidates? Questionable ROI.
3. The Inflation Factor: $1B in 2080 dollars might buy you a nice practice facility snack budget.

Chart Idea Here: Projected value erosion of deferred $1B over 50 years at 3% inflation.

But Seriously Though…

While this is clearly tongue-in-cheek, it highlights how differently North American sports approach team building. Baseball’s lack of hard salary caps allows for these creative (some say reckless) financial maneuvers that basketball’s system simply can’t replicate - no matter who owns the team.

Would love to hear your thoughts: Should the NBA adopt more flexible financial rules? Or would that just lead to Dodgers-esque chaos? Drop your takes below!