In today's Lakers rumors and news update, the Los Angeles Lakers will reportedly not use their stretch provision on two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash for the 2014-15 season - hoping that Nash can function as a mentor for young point guards Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson.
According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times (via Dan Duangdao of Lakers Nation), the Los Angeles Lakers have decided to absorb Nash's cap hit in one fell swoop:
And, of course, Nash, might be a reserve. The Lakers would have waived him had they signed Anthony and Gasol, but now they’ll eat the final year of his contract in one $9.7-million chunk instead of spreading it out over three years and taking up precious cap space in the summers of 2015 and 2016.
With the Lakers likely to be done pursuing marquee free agents this offseason, taking Nash's contract head-on this season will open up even more cap space in 2015 and 2016 for the Lakers' pursuit of top names such as the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant.
It is currently unknown if Nash will even be able to play this season. If he can come back, it is likely that he will be slotted into a reserve role.
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