As the Lakers weigh their options for filling out their roster beyond LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Kyle Kuzma, the team is exploring the trade market for possible purchases of second-round draft picks, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks.
Unlike first-round picks, which count against the cap for 120% of the rookie scale amount whether or not the player has actually signed his contract, a second-round pick doesn’t have a cap hold until a player officially signs. Even then, many second-rounders ink minimum-salary deals that would have the same cap hold as an empty roster charge.
In other words, second-round picks could provide the Lakers with a path to acquiring young talent that doesn’t compromise the club’s cap flexibility, as Wojnarowski and Marks point out.
Teams are limited in the amount of cash they can trade in a given league year, but the Lakers still have $3.743MM at their disposal for 2018/19, and their total will reset to about $5.6MM once the new league year begins in a couple weeks. That will give the club some flexibility as it attempts to buy second-rounders and/or to find takers for players like Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, and Jemerrio Jones.
[RELATED: Lakers looking to move additional players in Anthony Davis deal]
As Marks reports in a separate ESPN.com story, the Pelicans are believed to be unwilling to wait until July 30 to complete the Davis trade. Waiting until that date would allow the Lakers to maximize their cap room, since they could use the signed No. 4 pick for salary-matching purposes once his 30-day window of trade ineligibility expires. With New Orleans apparently not on board though, L.A. is exploring ways to maximize its cap room on July 6, when teams can officially begin making moves.
The scenario the Lakers are looking into would involve the team using up about $32MM in cap room on a free agent (or multiple free agents) immediately, then completing the Davis trade as an over-the-cap team. In order for the No. 4 pick to be dealt on July 6, he’d have to remain unsigned, which would mean counting as a $0 player for salary-matching purposes.
As such, the Lakers would have to include some combination of Wagner, Bonga, Jones, and/or a signed-and-traded player to match Davis’ salary. Those players would have to be involved in the same transaction as AD, but could be sent to a team (or multiple teams) besides the Pelicans.
Maybe they can sign and trade Michael Beasley.
Hahaha…
No. Against the rules since he was not in the team at the end of the year.
It was a joke.
I see it difficult for the Lakers to sign free agents like Irvin, Walker, Durant and company … but they can try to make a run on Khris Middleton, now that he is a FA.
Maybe Jones and a 2nd to Charlotte for a heavily protected 2nd and Charlotte waives him
I say go after Russell, Beverly, Green, Reddick, Rondo, Crawford. Some form of 3 of these guys would be a great compliment to LaBron & LaBrow.
Russell, Green and Ariza is the way to go. I’d bring in Ryan Anderson once the Heat buys him out and see if a guy like De’Andre Jordan would come for the Mid level.
From what I have heard the Lakers are targeting Kemba Walker. It seems like they are going to go the same route LeBron did when he was with Miami spending all their money on the big three and then having the rest of the roster minimum signings and second round draft picks.
Maybe they should just sweeten the deal for the Pels to let it go to July 30th. If this deal is actually completed after the draft why can’t the Pels get the 2020 and 2022 draft picks and have the right to switch 2021 and 2023. Or even better have the right to have two of the four and switch two of the four as long as they are not back to back at anytime. Then maybe add that if they don’t get to switch picks since switching likely will not be beneficial, The Lakers could send second rounders in that year when switching was not helpful for the Pels.
Pels are shopping the #4 pick. It would be very difficult to convince any team wanting to trade for #4 pick if they don’t get to have him in camp and summer league just to help out the Lakers. Team want their rookies in Summer League.
the 3 players the Lakers ant to trade has 0 value to any team. So all they can do is trade away their draft picks if a team is desperate enough for a 2nd round pick. Why would the Pels help out the Lakers given how LeBron forced AD to leave.
LeBron forced AD to leave? Amazing
AD played into LeBron’s hands by LeBron telling him to seek a trade. AD quit on his team. He forced the trade. No question Lebron was the #1 influence on AD.
Source
Thats okay, Lebron helped the Navy Seal Team in capturing Osama Binladen, so cut some slack.
Mo Wagner is worth a 2nd round pick to someone easy
We do know this much, the Lakers have 2 of the 5 best players in the league. As far as historically this stat is of interest.
Player efficiency ratings All Time NBA
#1 Michael Jordan
#2 LaBron James
#3 Anthony Davis.
IMO not all the particulars of the Davis trade have been reported. The Facts are they have 2 of the leagues best players & 1 of the leagues young exciting players. They will have anywhere from 27.6 to 38 million in cap room depending how the next 3 weeks shake out. This is going to be fun
I’d offer 25 million to Russell and 10 million for Danny Green.
I hope they make the trades necessary for the second round picks to free up cap space for other Kawhi Leonard, and Kawhi Leonard only or role players like Danny Green, Patrick Beverley and Trevor Ariza.
The Lakers can probably bring back Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee on veteran minimums. I think then they hope to bring in another veteran with their allotted exception.
They need a PG On the Cheap. Korver Lin might Play a cheap Jordan Crawford. They need to spread the money around IMO and let kuzma be the #3. Depth is important