It’s rare for a team that finished 41 games out of the top spot in its conference to have an air of optimism surrounding the organization. One of the league’s storied franchises has hit hard times lately but the Los Angeles Lakers headed into the offseason with some real hope for a turnaround.
They got lucky in the lottery, securing the No. 2 pick and putting off the first-round debt they owe to the Sixers for another season. They have a new front office direction, thanks to the in-season shakeup which saw Lakers legend Magic Johnson and former agent Rob Pelinka become the franchise’s top two executives. They already hired a coveted young coach prior to last season in Luke Walton.
There’s also a reasonable chance they can attract a top-level free agent or use some of their assets to trade for an All-Star level player.
George’s desire to play for the Lakers is an open secret. He would give Johnson the star he covets, and Magic has no bones that he’ll be shopping for a superstar.
Whether George fits that category is debatable but he’s undeniably one of the top forwards in the league. In a perfect world, the Lakers could sit back and wait for George to sign the dotted line next summer.
If the Lakers really want him, a preemptive strike might be necessary. They would probably have to move the No. 2 overall pick and a couple of young players to entice the Pacers to trade George prior to his walk year. Magic apparently views last June’s lottery pick, Brandon Ingram, as his only untouchable.
It’s expected the the Celtics will select Markelle Fultz, though GM Danny Ainge is notoriously secretive about his intentions on draft day. Ball would make sense on a lot of fronts. He wants to play there — or at least his meddling dad is trying to steer him in that direction.
Johnson has said that Ball’s spotlight-seeking father will not be a factor in whether he selects the UCLA playmaker. Ball’s flashy playmaking would be a natural fit for a team that finished 26th in assists per possession. If Ball goes No. 1, Fultz would be hard to pass up.
3. If the Lakers draft a point guard, what should they do with D’Angelo Russell?
Several teams are reportedly interested in Russell if the Lakers shop him. Russell, who was the No. 2 pick in 2015, has been a bit of a disappointment in his first two seasons. While no one would label him a bust, he hasn’t provided the impact a franchise would anticipate from someone drafted that high.
However, there’s a school of thought that Russell might thrive as on off-guard. He’s an aggressive scorer who wants to take the big shot. Ball’s pass-first mentality might mesh well with Russell’s game.
If they wind up with Fultz, who’s more of a scorer, it may be tougher to pair him up with Russell. In that scenario, trading Russell would be almost inevitable.
4. What should the Lakers do on the free agent market?
Proceed cautiously. The previous regime overspent on a couple of veterans last summer, Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng, and now they’re stuck with a couple of bad contracts.
They do have a decent amount of cap space, given that they have approximately $78MM in salary commitments. They could go after a top-level free agent by trying to open up more space via trades.
A dynamic power forward to pair up with Ingram would be the logical route, given that the free agent crop of centers and shooting guards is unremarkable.
Blake Griffin stands out in that regard. Griffin could stay put in Los Angeles, while his recent injury and offcourt issues could shrink the amount of teams willing to shell out the big bucks on him.
Serge Ibaka would be a lower-cost alternative, a productive starter who would provide a solid veteran presence on an otherwise green starting unit. Chris Bosh would also be intriguing once he hits the free agent market — Pelinka is his former agent, and he could teach the young group what it takes to be a winner.
5. The Lakers have another first-round pick at No. 28. What should they do with it?
Johnson received this pick in the Lou Williams deadline trade with the Rockets, giving the club another asset.
They’ve got plenty of youth on the roster and it’s unlikely they’ll want to have another rookie on their bench. Most likely, they’ll look to trade this pick for future considerations or a veteran player who can provide immediate help. If they can’t move it, a draft-and-stash prospect would be the desired route.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Lakers financially:
Guaranteed Salary
- Luol Deng ($17,190,000)
- Timofey Mozgov ($15,280,000)
- Jordan Clarkson ($11,562,500)
- Corey Brewer ($7,579,366)
- D’Angelo Russell ($5,562,360)
- Brandon Ingram ($5,519,400)
- Julius Randle ($4,149,242)
- Larry Nance Jr. ($1,471,382)
- Ivica Zubac ($1,312,611)
- Total: $69,626,861
Player Options
Team Options
Non-Guaranteed Salary
Restricted Free Agents
Cap Holds
- Nick Young ($10,343,444) — If player option is declined
- No. 2 overall pick ($6,286,560)
- Tyler Ennis ($2,666,707)
- Thomas Robinson ($1,471,382)
- Metta World Peace ($1,471,382)
- No. 28 overall pick ($1,414,920)
- Total: $23,654,395
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $22,856,044
- With nine guaranteed contracts, two cap holds for first-round picks, and one cap charge for an empty roster slot, the Lakers would have $78,143,956 on their books. That would give the team a sizable chunk of cap room, albeit not quite enough for a maximum salary player. The Lakers aren’t likely to sign anyone to a max contract this summer, but if they wanted to, they’d need to move guaranteed contracts and/or draft picks to create space.
Footnotes:
- Black’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 4.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
