In a conversation on the HoopsHype podcast about the Lakers‘ free agency situation, Jovan Buha of The Athletic tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that he still believes a new deal with Los Angeles is the most likely outcome for D’Angelo Russell, though if it’s far from a lock.
A previous report stated that Russell was hoping for a four-year, $100MM contract before being traded from Minnesota to L.A. Given that he had an up-and-down postseason and there aren’t a ton of obvious suitors for his services this offseason, Russell may be hard-pressed to get four years or $25MM annually, Buha observes, suggesting that a two- or three-year deal, perhaps around $20MM per year, might be more realistic.
While the Lakers may also explore the sign-and-trade market for Russell, neither Buha nor Scotto views Kyrie Irving as a serious option for the club, even though Scotto has heard there’s no truth to the idea that Irving and the Mavericks have a “handshake” deal in place. Buha suggests it’s hard to imagine the Lakers making a compelling offer for Irving that Dallas would accept.
Elsewhere on the free agency front, Buha and Scotto agree that Lonnie Walker could get offers in the $4-7MM range and might seek a larger role with a new team.
As for Austin Reaves, Buha continues to hear that the Lakers will match any offer sheet for the guard, but he names the Spurs as a possible “dark horse” suitor for Reaves, while Scotto identifies the Rockets and Magic as two other cap-room teams who could have interest in testing the Lakers’ limits.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- In a mailbag for The Athletic, Buha says that Shaquille Harrison is expected to be waived this offseason and adds there are doubts about whether Malik Beasley ($16.5MM team option) and Mohamed Bamba ($10.3MM) will be retained. Beasley and Bamba would be on expiring deals and might be useful salary-matching pieces in trades, but they’re not bargains on their current contracts and could be cut loose to help accommodate new deals for free agents like Reaves, Russell, and Rui Hachimura.
- The Lakers are more likely than not to hang onto the No. 17 pick in this year’s draft, sources tell Buha within that same mailbag. That might change if the team is able to use the pick as part of a trade package to land a starting-caliber player, Buha notes.
- None are likely to receive consideration as early as No. 17, but the Lakers hosted six prospects for a pre-draft workout on Friday, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link): Nadir Hifi (France), Jalen Wilson (Kansas), Morris Udeze (New Mexico), Cameron Shelton (Loyola Marymount), Terquavion Smith (NC State), and Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky).
Trading for Irving hard caps the team, that has to be mentioned before anything …… not happening
Mavs do not want Russel so that is not happening. Unless they trade AD is only way it works. They could sign their best 2 free agents and go from there and still have a team that can compete with a few low price signings.
There’s that too! But……the article was geared towards the Lakers perspective and it’s important to know (imperative really) taking in a S&T hard caps you
And hard capping is even more of a death sentence today than yesterday. But its hoopshype at the end of the day and they are not really concerned with viability on any end, kinda shocked Jovan is involved with that website tbh
Its like when I read trade rumors about the Warriors knowing their hands are tied and there is about 0 they can do. The future of NBA is less max deals given out to players.
LeBron, AD and Kyrie all but guarantees one more chip for them. Worth it
Trading for Kyrie would be a massive mistake for the Lakers, and it definitely wouldn’t bring a title to LA. They’d run into the same problems they had with Westbrook when he was there…
Kyrie is a distraction.
Even if Kyrie is on his best behavior, you still need 70 games out of Lebron and AD. That’s unlikely.
Finally, if Lebron and AD miss extended time simultaneously, you have no depth.
They won’t be paying Reaves more than about $12MM and don’t necessarily have to keep Bamba or Beasley, so they could theoretically navigate a hard cap, but it would require Kyrie taking less than the max.
Reeves is limited by arenas rule but can be back loaded and or matched as he a restricted agent. The timing of his signing matters.
The lakers can get ki but he has commuted off record to mavs. Mavs in best position to retain for sure.
It is possible for ki to take less. Some players do things like that.
The lakers could actually trade rui. He wants more then he is really worth but trade him to the bulls. Get both Zack and Demar.
Send three picks!
How? Get the jazz involved.
Jazz move gay and or jones and take on beesley and mo
They can flip Mo to bullls too and send pick to bulls while keeping laker 17th and sending their 28th to bulls. They send over 2025 protect and lakers send 2029
All works!
I like the Lakers idea to use MLE non tax payer
Assume that Rockets sign Reaves. Reaves is Rockets
Lakers sign DLo $20mm per year and Rui $20mm per
Lakers exceed salary cap and not able to use MLE
What happens next
DLo and Rui get 30% pay cut
Exceed the salary cap? You mean become a tax paying team… Well I hope so, if not why are we here
They would still have the TPMLE and BAE at their disposal. Not the greatest MLE market anyways this year if we are being honest
Sorry,
This is the rule (tax apron, this year at $130MM?)
The non-taxpayer mid-level exception can be used by any team operating above the salary cap, but must be wielded with caution, as any team that does use it is hard-capped at the apron.
The Lakers (and mostly all teams) are not hitting Apron 2 ….hell Jeanie already said it so no worry on a hard cap there
That apron is at 179 currently (Will prolly go up to like 180.5 when the New Nba year goes into affect July 1
If your running numbers for hard cap purposes 180 is your number to dip below. The Lakers are nowhere near that line even if you add in Rui Reaves and Dlo
Summation – It’s not a realistic fear you present here
Lakers are not picking DLo over Reaves
I know if it comes down to reeves or D’Lo they will pick Reeves. D’lo might come back to Lakers on a cheap 1 year deal.
Reaves is not signing with the rockets lol
Reeves will get paid and is a restricted agent as is rui.
It will cost the lakers but here is how to avoid that. Make sure he doesn’t agree to an offer or lakers must make trades and accept within 24hrs now.
Sign reeves after those trades and he gets exceptional to cap. Etc
How about the lakers send all their junk back to the jazz and also get a pick swap out of it 17 for 28?
Jazz get beesley bamba dlo.
Jazz willing to help lakers get their finances under control. Massive cap available for other deals like ki or reid…
Jazz send over jones at 2.5m save more money and get a good young backup that’s been a laker.
What you think?
Short answer- I think Lakers would just tell Beasley Mo and Dlo to kick rocks and keep 17
They have zero financial obligations to any of them in the first place
True but the contract value is useful for certain teams. Teams like the jazz don’t have to free up cap but can park the player in their cap jist like the lakers have done. Problem is when lakers need their cap and want to avoid new cba super tax issues.
Lakers should pursue Clarkson.
Moving mo beesley dlo to jazz only work of dlo agrees to a discount. Jazz aren’t going to add him in free agency and must sign min 3yr on sign and trade.
Dlo best interest to work with lakers and jazz if he want to get paid.
Getting jones and gay are good placeholders and backups.
Worth swapping picks with the jazz or even giving them a pick if they include Clarkson.
Clarkson is way good! Better then developing a rookie
Think clarkson wants his bag
A s&t hard caps Lakers in order for clarkson to get that bag – Like the player but not schematically feasible unless Clarkson develops an allergy to money
Not necessarily!
Lakers could sandt or use free agency.
The jazz would be nuts to offer him max years and max pay just like the lakers. Same with dlo. Lakers should time and structure the trade so that it works for both sides and so shouldn’t the players.
Imo dlo actually helped the lakers but had some bad games at the wrong time. Oops for him but he will get a contract say at 18m for 4 years. Jazz likely slap a team option on that …
Clarkson shouldn’t get more then 18mm
Imo 15-18m
Swap the player and picks.
Jazz get 9 16 17
Lakers get 28 and Clarkson gay jones. Nice!
Always cut a player but why? Need backups
Go get naz reid in fee agency etc
Lakers have no free agency, they have exceptions ( not enough for Clarkson )
They could create around 15 mill ( that’s being lenient ) if they operate under the cap but that would mean renouncing there rights on about 3-5 quality players ( not happening )
They will operate over the cap and that means no Jc
Again Clarkson can not be s& t to lakers without it killing them via hard cap , it’s not happening
Lakers can get jc whether over or under. The key is so the lakers know how to persuade the jazz. It simple, send beesley and mo to jazz.
Jazz send gay and jones and Clarkson.
Clarkson will have to agree to xyz. Say 4 yr 15m – 20m add a team option
Send jazz 17th pick
Lakers get 28th pick
The jazz love Clarkson and so do lakers but why not ask?
Jazz can pursue the draft and free agency.
Lakers can resign shroeder and Walker and use their two picks and have a 15 man roster.
Dlo doesn’t have to be sandt as jazz can handle him either way.
It all works!
Lakers can be a little in the tax or just under.
Main thing is avoid the super tax line. Bad news there!
LAL’s main offseason issue is figuring out what they want, and is doable, at PG for next year. Everything else will fall into place because they largely control the players, if not their salaries. Not sure where they go at PG. I don’t see many good options with DLO or DS for different reasons. Trade market maybe.
Who pays 20m a year for an unreliable 6th man?
I guess the Lakers don’t have a lot of choice because they’ll lose the salary slot unless they can find a tanking team to sign and trade for Dlo…
Or a team run by Mark from Cuba…
More like who pays these players to begin with?! Supermax crap like 300m soon mere and more…
Jc wasn’t a 6th man last year as he was a starter. Had his best number to date. The jazz like him but he is still trade able.
Most reasonable teams would look at the age and determine if a larger amount should be given versus more years but less impact on cap initially. If jc sign 4 yr with a team option it must be at 14.25mm per rules with options.
Also min 3 years before to or po….
Rumor is 20-25mm for jc but I wouldn’t pay that imo. More like 15.25….with a million more each year with the 4th as a to….take it or leave it….very few teams with the cap and the rest need a sign and trade.
The lakers can do it either way if they do this m….trade mo, beesley, dlo to the jazz and the 27th pick.
Jazz send back the 28th pick with gay jones. Clarkson can sign as fa or sign and trade.
The jazz can do all this as free agents but why wait for them to be cut?
It is simple because they can improve their pick to 17th…second move bench role players that are tpe and mini but doesn’t matter for jazz. Matters for lakers!
They get veteran gay and jones that is young and former laker just like Clarkson. Smart!
Also get a pick that is cheaper at 28th but locks in the rights. Good talent at 28th
Lakers in the tax but not the super tax.
Barely over but that is debatable. They could be under if they good cheap versus Schroeder or Walker. It’s a matter of preference and cost and whether lakers want to be over or under the initial tax line.
Easily get jc. Not that complicated.
Send jazz mo beesley dlo. Send pick 17
Jazz send back pick 28 with gay jones Clarkson.
Jazz can use free agency on some of these things if they want less then 3 yr like on dlo. I’d sign him long term with a team option on the 4th. Give him 18250000 and the. Add the increase for each max allowable being 8% or 5%
Laker still have a pick and money now to spend. Keep it under the super tax. Be smart!
After these playoffs. Russell is gone. He is the New Poster child for underachieving. All he’s about is “Show me the Money “. I would just “Show him the Door”.
It’s all about Kyrie with Lakers. First off he’s a FA. He can sign for one yr and get paid next yr. No one out there moves the needle for Lakers. Like the basketball player Kyrie does. BronGM knows that. It’s going to happen believe it.
Reaves isn’t going anywhere either. You really think he’s leaving Bron. He is a spunge with Bron. Why do you really think he had his best year. Bron is one of the best team players in the History of the game. Reaves is going to learn all he can.
I think there’s a market out there for Beasley and Bamba. You add that 17th pick. Then you can add a quality player to this roster. Even if it’s a three way trade. Lakers got one more yr with Bron. They will explore every scenario. Every possible way to improve this team. For a last run or two at a title. Unfortunately Nuggets will be better. And the Suns will be better. The West is going to be better next year. Even with Kyrie. I don’t see the Lakers winning it.
I think if the Lakers get Irving they’ll miss the play in…
If they are going to lose their depth to add his salary slot they need a reliable player with AD and Lebron missing the amount of games that they do…
Maybe
Tough to have supers and then find the right role players. Hard to find supers and role players that make a real team but that’s the goal.
Ki likely stays with mavs. Just how the money works but will see if ki uses his own mind to do whatever.
Lol. Lakers aren’t beating the nugs anytime in the near future