Sneezing is the characteristic of the Lakers! Give up Caruso and Tyron Lue because of their salary!

Sources said that the Lakers are still operating a profitable business in recent years as the salary cap grows exponentially. The Lakers have spent more than $1.5 billion in wages and taxes since Jeanie Buss became governor in 2013, ranking eighth in the league in the same period and won their 17th overall championship in 2020, according to ESPN NBA front desk insider Bobby Marks. The only team that won more championships since Jerry Buss left the team to his kids are the Golden State Warriors and their four-game winning streak. In 2019, negotiations with Tyron Lue as the next head coach were deadlocked by funding, Tyron Lue sought an annual salary of $7 million in five years — aligned with other coaches with championship experience in the league at the time. Los Angeles offers a three-year annual salary of $6 million.

In 2021, negotiations with free agent defender Alex Caruso also broke down due to money. Sources said the Lakers offered a $21 million three-year contract on the grounds of luxury tax. Caruso signed with the Chicago Bulls for four years and was worth $37 million. He is now a key member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, signing a four-year, $81 million contract extension with the team last year.

An assistant coach was not approved to live in the same hotel as the player he traveled to work out during the offseason because the rooms were too expensive.

• Former assistant general manager Ronnie Lester's contract was not renewed during the 2011 NBA suspension, a financial decision and one of many decisions to lay off employees or not renew.

Walter's reputation as the owner is exactly the opposite. Once he buys a minority stake in the Lakers in 2021, the sale is possible, if not inevitable. "A guy as big as Mark Walter is coming in," said a league source, "at some point, it could be a foregone conclusion. The Dodgers are a success!