Lakers' NBA Cup dreams fueled by monetary prize

The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural in-season tournament, which has since been rebranded as the NBA Cup, last year. They defeated the Indiana Pacers, 123-109, in the championship game.

Now in its second year, the tournament is gaining traction as more and more fans jump on board for an event that adds spice to the dead part of the regular-season schedule.

Of course, the Lakers are hoping to build a legacy within the tournament. After winning it last season, they will undoubtedly want to repeat their success under new coach JJ Redick.

When speaking to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times, Rui Hachimura provided a candid response as to the Lakers' motivations.

“We just want the money,” Hachimura said. “I think that’s the one thing ... last year, we were very motivated. We have the big prize.”

Whichever team wins the NBA Cup will see each of its players receive a bonus of $514,970, according to Woike. Over half a million dollars is enough to coax a high-level performance, even for the top guys on a roster. But for those in the middle or at the back of an NBA team's depth chart, that sort of money is enormous and could potentially represent a 50-100% raise for the season.

“I mean, $500,000 is $500,000,” Austin Reaves told Woike.

The NBA knew what it was doing when it implemented the prize structure. There's no better way to ensure a competitive environment than to put money into the equation. And while the Lakers as a franchise will want to establish a legacy of success within the tournament, its players are well within their rights to chase the additional payday. 

Still, NBA fans shouldn't care why they're getting such a competitive level of hoops in mid-November. Instead, they will likely be enjoying another month of basketball where everyone is putting their bodies on the line and playing at close to a playoff level. 

If the result is high-level, compelling programming and a rise in ratings for the league, then everybody is a winner, regardless of their motives.