Mark Heisler of the LA Times reports Faced with a new dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, Laker owner Jerry Buss is determined to hold the line at the threshold, which will be around $55 million. This leaves General Manager Mitch Kupchak a $2.5-million budget to fund replacements for Horace Grant and Tyronn Lue, who are expected to leave a team that was already thin before Derek Fisher and Mark Madsen underwent surgery.

League sources say the Lakers have received an oral commitment from the 36-year-old Richmond, a six-time All-Star. The deal is believed to be for one year, at the veteran's minimum salary of $1 million.

The Lakers reportedly don't want to spend more than $1.25 million on Walker. However, Walker, bought out for $600,000 to free money for David Robinson and Derek Anderson, is seeking the best offer. If he gets one for $2 million, the Lakers may not match it, because that would mean tiptoeing over the threshold.

Meanwhile, the attempts to stay under the luxury tax limit could affect Brian Shaw. Shaw is due to make $2.5 million next season, but his contract is not guaranteed until Dec. 1, which means the Lakers can renounce his rights and knock that amount off their salary-cap total.
If Shaw is amenable, the Lakers could then re-sign him for about $1 million.