- Mar 20, 2017
- 24,010
- 31,476
She’s from LA
**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by licensed to ball,
- Start date
- Feb 29, 2000
- 88,756
- 47,964
- Sep 5, 2010
- 92,711
- 128,940
- Aug 5, 2014
- 2,672
- 2,331
same. Whats goin man
- Aug 5, 2014
- 2,672
- 2,331
got any links man?
- Jan 18, 2006
- 40,355
- 45,101
Just Google search it.
- Jul 16, 2017
- 22,579
- 16,312
Not sure you wanna be caught wearing a dodgers hat with how they playing today lol
aepps20
Supporter
- Feb 8, 2004
- 42,525
- 90,732
Hopefully RDA can finally come home again. He might have been wrong about Kawhi but his compassionate conservative we need in the Lakers fan base.
- Jul 9, 2006
- 7,408
- 3,904
D_eezus
formerly zombifed nach0
- Feb 22, 2013
- 17,413
- 17,141
No way I believe it could happen, but Beal with Bron/AD is just
I'd ****ing cry.
Seen this on twitter and i’d be down if you could send Russ to GSW & Harden to NY
(Would have to be after summer 2021, if we don’t get a top guy)
but don’t think rockets would give GSW harden
Curry/Klay/Harden would be nuts if harden plays off ball so **** that they gonna SHOOT YOU BACK TO ORACLE
- Jan 8, 2006
- 30,559
- 33,906
Don't think Beal gets moved yet. Have a feeling Washington runs one more with Wall and him.
Every max player gets a house in LA so don't think that rumor has legs like that.
Wish Bertans was in the budget
Every max player gets a house in LA so don't think that rumor has legs like that.
Wish Bertans was in the budget
- Jul 24, 2012
- 9,303
- 23,782
Still can’t believe AD averaged 25/10 on 50/40/90 shooting in his first finals 
- Oct 28, 2013
- 42,713
- 178,478
- Oct 28, 2013
- 42,713
- 178,478
- Feb 29, 2000
- 88,756
- 47,964
lakers should have traded kuzma for bjelica when they had a chance.
although 32 years old he does everything better than kuzma and comes off the books in 2021
although 32 years old he does everything better than kuzma and comes off the books in 2021
- Sep 5, 2010
- 92,711
- 128,940
Leroux’s Cap Preview: Opportunities, options and risks for the Lakers
With the NBA playoffs just completed, the 2020 offseason is rapidly approaching for many teams with significant decisions to make for their present and future. CBA expert Danny Leroux breaks down the major opportunities, options and risks for the Lakers in The Athletic’s 2020 Offseason Preview series.
After missing the playoffs and Magic Johnson’s shocking resignation in April, general manager Rob Pelinka had a lot on his plate last offseason. It began with replacing Luke Walton with Frank Vogel then finally consummating the Anthony Davis megadeal that failed to materialize at the trade deadline. Moving up in the lottery to the fourth pick gave the Lakers another valuable trade chip and the overall haul was stunning: Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, No. 4, two additional firsts and a pick swap for Davis. Eventually, Pelinka expanded the trade to add the Wizards, giving up Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, Jermerrio Jones and a second to clear cap space.
Pelinka used that cap space for a few signings: Danny Green (two years, $30 million), DeMarcus Cousins (one year, $3.5 million) and Quinn Cook (two years, $6 million), then Avery Bradley with the Room exception (two years, $9.8 million with a second season player option). He also retained Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo on two-year contracts with second season player options and two-way guard Alex Caruso for $5.5 million over two years. From there, Pelinka filled out the roster with veterans Jared Dudley, Dwight Howard and Troy Daniels plus second-round pick Talen Horton-Tucker.
The Lakers were the best team in the Western Conference during the regular season and added Markieff Morris and Dion Waiters in-season before bringing in JR Smith as a bubble substitute when Avery Bradley opted out. Los Angeles finished with a 52-19 record and the No. 1 seed in the West as LeBron James and Davis became the first teammates selected for the All-NBA first-team since Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire in 2007. They ran through the Western Conference taking no more than five games in any single series then defeated the Miami Heat in six games to win their first NBA championship since 2010. While it appears there are not any major moves for Pelinka and the champs this fall, he still has some big negotiations that will affect the future of the franchise.
Here are three key storylines to watch for the Lakers this offseason:
Anthony Davis: At this point, it appears the intrigue for Davis is not whether he returns to the Lakers but instead what kind of contract he signs this offseason. As detailed previously, the first-team All-NBA player will have a variety of choices, each one with their potential benefits and downsides. In my eyes, the two most likely are a “1+1” which does not tie Davis long-term to 2020-21’s lower than expected cap and a “2+1” which gives Davis the ability to become an unrestricted free agent the moment he hits 10 years of NBA experience, opening up the 35 percent max.
In January, I expected Davis to sign a 2+1 like Kawhi Leonard did last summer but that has shifted with COVID-19 lowering next season’s salary cap. The 2+1 is still a serious contender but a 1+1 gives Davis more control, squares up his option decision with James’ and gives him the ability to get 30 percent of a higher salary cap in 2021 before securing a 35 percent max deal in 2022. That shift does not mean Davis will leave the Lakers any time soon, instead it reflects the Collective Bargaining Agreement’s rules since that path makes the most financial and logistical sense for his purposes and the front office would absolutely offer it because Davis had earned the right to choose his contract terms even before his excellent playoff performance.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: The most challenging negotiation on Pelinka’s 2020 docket does not involve his star free agent, but rather one of the more unusual free-agent situations in the entire league. Caldwell-Pope joined the Lakers in 2017 on a one-year deal and has since re-signed two more times, giving him three years with the organization and thus full Bird rights this offseason. That means Pelinka has the ability to pay Caldwell-Pope any amount up to his maximum for up to five seasons without using another exception.
The combination of full Bird rights and significant other salary obligations preventing the Lakers from properly replacing him absolutely gives the Klutch Sports client significant leverage, especially as arguably the third-best player on the NBA champions. However, Caldwell-Pope really only has internal leverage in this specific negotiation because the surrounding market is incredibly weak. Only five teams will be able to spend more than the ~$9 million Mid-Level exception and they may not have interest in a 27-year old shooting guard looking for a big payday. It is entirely possible that one team plays along enough to drive up the price for the Lakers but expect these negotiations to have a ton of hollow posturing, which leads to massive variation in the eventual contract even though it feels like the two sides will eventually come to an agreement.
Other Player Options: Beyond those two, the Lakers have three other players in the rotation with player options this offseason.
JaVale McGee started 68 of 71 regular-season games this season but faces an absolutely brutal market for big men if he opts out, making it more likely the 32-year old journeyman sticks around for another season. The Lakers need quality minutes from centers even if Davis slides over regularly so there will be time for McGee in the rotation. While it would be possible to opt-out and try to return on more favorable terms, a lack of leverage even with Early Bird rights makes that a very, very risky play.
Rajon Rondo had a somewhat disappointing regular season but then became a key contributor in the playoffs, averaging 9 points and 6.6 assists in 25 minutes per game with the best defense he has played in years, including some significant minutes on James Harden in the second round. That combined with a smaller $2.7 million option and Early Bird rights should give the 34-year old Rondo the ammunition to opt-out for a larger deal either in Los Angeles or elsewhere, especially with an exceptionally weak point guard class.
Avery Bradley has been less prominent in recent months after opting out of the bubble but started 44 times before the hiatus with a clear place in the perimeter rotation. That said, it would be more difficult for Bradley to get a significant raise if he wants to stay with the Lakers because non-Bird rights only allow for a 20 percent bump, which would be $715,050 more than his player option amount.
Since the Lakers presumably will not have the full Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level exception to work with, Bradley’s agent will have to calibrate the Lakers’ willingness to pay and what his client can get on the open market while Bradley determines how to prioritize short-term salary, role, team quality and risk before deciding his player option and then as a free agent if he opts out. Bradley’s decision feels like a coin flip right now, depending on how the market looks and his own comfort with risk.
Potential Free Agents: Anthony Davis ($28.8 million Player Option), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($8.5 million Player Option), Dwight Howard (Unrestricted), Rajon Rondo ($2.7 million Player Option), Avery Bradley ($5 million Player Option), JaVale McGee ($4.2 million Player Option), Markieff Morris (Unrestricted), Dion Waiters (Unrestricted), Jared Dudley (Unrestricted)
Likely Summer of 2020 Cap Space: None
Realistic Maximum Summer of 2020 Cap Space (using $115M estimate): None, unless Davis opts out and leaves
2020 Draft Assets: Own first (No. 2
. Owe their second to the 76ers.
Potential Targets: Unusually, there is a distinct chance the Lakers need to use their Mid-Level exception to retain their own players. Both Howard and Morris are playing on minimum contracts this season, so the only way Pelinka can bring them back for more than a slight raise is by using some or all of the ~$6 million Taxpayer MLE. Caldwell-Pope, Rondo and McGee could get larger raises off their player option using Bird rights but that path is not available for Howard and Morris.
If Pelinka has the MLE available, there are a few different types of players worth considering. The most glaring need even with Rondo’s playoff success is someone who can capably run pick-and-rolls but also shoot reliably, allowing them to both replace and play with James. DJ Augustin may be the best fit in that price range but Raul Neto and long-ago James target Shabazz Napier are lower-cost options.
The front office could also prioritize a wing with Glenn Robinson III, Justin Holiday, Wes Matthews, Maurice Harkless and Alec Burks making some sense or another true center for the rotation like Aron Baynes, Hassan Whiteside or Nerlens Noel. It would also not be shocking to see DeMarcus Cousins return considering he maintained a positive relationship with the franchise through his injury recovery.
Pressure Scale: 8. This may be the most difficult team to calibrate because while it looks like their superstar free agent will come back and they have the capacity to retain just about all of their key contributors from this season, any missteps matter so much more with a cornerstone who turns 36 during the offseason. James is still truly incredible in his mid-30s but the window will always be shaky and that ratchets up the pressure for Pelinka.
In some ways, the most telling reflection of that pressure will not be with Davis’ negotiations but Caldwell-Pope’s. The Lakers have full Bird rights so there is not a question of whether they can re-sign him but whether there is a true stopping point. The larger his deal ends up, the more pressure Pelinka felt this fall. Fortunately for the front office, they likely will not feel the same financial pressure as other organizations, especially after winning the title.
Outside of that, making the right decision with the MLE dramatically affects the 2020-21 Lakers and either choosing the best prospect or including the 28th pick in the most favorable possible trade moves the needle now and down the line as well. A vast majority of front offices have more flexibility and variability this offseason but few do so with unmistakable championship potential.
The other pressure-packed situation for Pelinka is figuring out what to do with Kyle Kuzma. The 25-year old forward is extension-eligible but also proved to be a strange, challenging fit with James and Davis. That dynamic makes this offseason a great time to trade Kuzma, but the logistics get challenging because he only makes $3.6 million next season and that makes it hard to match salaries if Pelinka is looking for a more immediate contributor. One solution would be combining Kuzma and Green to get someone making up to $23 million and he could use the #28 pick as an additional sweetener to get an even better player ready to play a key role on the defending champs.
State of the Franchise: Maintaining. Having a series of potential free agents with player options and a mid-thirties MVP candidate puts the Lakers in a distinctly different place than most franchises, though different mostly means better in this case. It absolutely will be difficult for Pelinka to improve this championship roster but he has the ability to keep it together, assuming ownership is willing to pay as expected.
A huge advantage for their front office this offseason is timing. While the combination of lower than expected revenues and few cap space teams presumably makes the 2020-21 Lakers more expensive due to a higher luxury tax bill, it takes away competitors for their free agents, which could prove especially relevant for Caldwell-Pope. That reality could also make a talented free agent turn their way because more players will be looking for one-year deals to get back on the market in 2021 and the Lakers’ potential MLE offer is not far off the Non-Taxpayer MLE that some other teams will put on the table. Do not be shocked to see someone take significantly less to come aboard this offseason with more potential additions on the buyout market later in the season.
While those potential newcomers bring a level of intrigue, especially if Pelinka moves Kuzma and does not use his MLE to retain their own players like Morris or Howard, the bigger drama will be the terms on new contracts for Davis and Caldwell-Pope. Both should be Lakers for years to come but their deals will be key indicators for the future of the franchise, especially with James having a player option for 2021-22. We know the championship window is open in Los Angeles and this offseason will tell the league even more about how long to expect it to stay open.
After missing the playoffs and Magic Johnson’s shocking resignation in April, general manager Rob Pelinka had a lot on his plate last offseason. It began with replacing Luke Walton with Frank Vogel then finally consummating the Anthony Davis megadeal that failed to materialize at the trade deadline. Moving up in the lottery to the fourth pick gave the Lakers another valuable trade chip and the overall haul was stunning: Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, No. 4, two additional firsts and a pick swap for Davis. Eventually, Pelinka expanded the trade to add the Wizards, giving up Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, Jermerrio Jones and a second to clear cap space.
Pelinka used that cap space for a few signings: Danny Green (two years, $30 million), DeMarcus Cousins (one year, $3.5 million) and Quinn Cook (two years, $6 million), then Avery Bradley with the Room exception (two years, $9.8 million with a second season player option). He also retained Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo on two-year contracts with second season player options and two-way guard Alex Caruso for $5.5 million over two years. From there, Pelinka filled out the roster with veterans Jared Dudley, Dwight Howard and Troy Daniels plus second-round pick Talen Horton-Tucker.
The Lakers were the best team in the Western Conference during the regular season and added Markieff Morris and Dion Waiters in-season before bringing in JR Smith as a bubble substitute when Avery Bradley opted out. Los Angeles finished with a 52-19 record and the No. 1 seed in the West as LeBron James and Davis became the first teammates selected for the All-NBA first-team since Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire in 2007. They ran through the Western Conference taking no more than five games in any single series then defeated the Miami Heat in six games to win their first NBA championship since 2010. While it appears there are not any major moves for Pelinka and the champs this fall, he still has some big negotiations that will affect the future of the franchise.
Here are three key storylines to watch for the Lakers this offseason:
Anthony Davis: At this point, it appears the intrigue for Davis is not whether he returns to the Lakers but instead what kind of contract he signs this offseason. As detailed previously, the first-team All-NBA player will have a variety of choices, each one with their potential benefits and downsides. In my eyes, the two most likely are a “1+1” which does not tie Davis long-term to 2020-21’s lower than expected cap and a “2+1” which gives Davis the ability to become an unrestricted free agent the moment he hits 10 years of NBA experience, opening up the 35 percent max.
In January, I expected Davis to sign a 2+1 like Kawhi Leonard did last summer but that has shifted with COVID-19 lowering next season’s salary cap. The 2+1 is still a serious contender but a 1+1 gives Davis more control, squares up his option decision with James’ and gives him the ability to get 30 percent of a higher salary cap in 2021 before securing a 35 percent max deal in 2022. That shift does not mean Davis will leave the Lakers any time soon, instead it reflects the Collective Bargaining Agreement’s rules since that path makes the most financial and logistical sense for his purposes and the front office would absolutely offer it because Davis had earned the right to choose his contract terms even before his excellent playoff performance.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: The most challenging negotiation on Pelinka’s 2020 docket does not involve his star free agent, but rather one of the more unusual free-agent situations in the entire league. Caldwell-Pope joined the Lakers in 2017 on a one-year deal and has since re-signed two more times, giving him three years with the organization and thus full Bird rights this offseason. That means Pelinka has the ability to pay Caldwell-Pope any amount up to his maximum for up to five seasons without using another exception.
The combination of full Bird rights and significant other salary obligations preventing the Lakers from properly replacing him absolutely gives the Klutch Sports client significant leverage, especially as arguably the third-best player on the NBA champions. However, Caldwell-Pope really only has internal leverage in this specific negotiation because the surrounding market is incredibly weak. Only five teams will be able to spend more than the ~$9 million Mid-Level exception and they may not have interest in a 27-year old shooting guard looking for a big payday. It is entirely possible that one team plays along enough to drive up the price for the Lakers but expect these negotiations to have a ton of hollow posturing, which leads to massive variation in the eventual contract even though it feels like the two sides will eventually come to an agreement.
Other Player Options: Beyond those two, the Lakers have three other players in the rotation with player options this offseason.
JaVale McGee started 68 of 71 regular-season games this season but faces an absolutely brutal market for big men if he opts out, making it more likely the 32-year old journeyman sticks around for another season. The Lakers need quality minutes from centers even if Davis slides over regularly so there will be time for McGee in the rotation. While it would be possible to opt-out and try to return on more favorable terms, a lack of leverage even with Early Bird rights makes that a very, very risky play.
Rajon Rondo had a somewhat disappointing regular season but then became a key contributor in the playoffs, averaging 9 points and 6.6 assists in 25 minutes per game with the best defense he has played in years, including some significant minutes on James Harden in the second round. That combined with a smaller $2.7 million option and Early Bird rights should give the 34-year old Rondo the ammunition to opt-out for a larger deal either in Los Angeles or elsewhere, especially with an exceptionally weak point guard class.
Avery Bradley has been less prominent in recent months after opting out of the bubble but started 44 times before the hiatus with a clear place in the perimeter rotation. That said, it would be more difficult for Bradley to get a significant raise if he wants to stay with the Lakers because non-Bird rights only allow for a 20 percent bump, which would be $715,050 more than his player option amount.
Since the Lakers presumably will not have the full Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level exception to work with, Bradley’s agent will have to calibrate the Lakers’ willingness to pay and what his client can get on the open market while Bradley determines how to prioritize short-term salary, role, team quality and risk before deciding his player option and then as a free agent if he opts out. Bradley’s decision feels like a coin flip right now, depending on how the market looks and his own comfort with risk.
Potential Free Agents: Anthony Davis ($28.8 million Player Option), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($8.5 million Player Option), Dwight Howard (Unrestricted), Rajon Rondo ($2.7 million Player Option), Avery Bradley ($5 million Player Option), JaVale McGee ($4.2 million Player Option), Markieff Morris (Unrestricted), Dion Waiters (Unrestricted), Jared Dudley (Unrestricted)
Likely Summer of 2020 Cap Space: None
Realistic Maximum Summer of 2020 Cap Space (using $115M estimate): None, unless Davis opts out and leaves
2020 Draft Assets: Own first (No. 2
. Owe their second to the 76ers.Potential Targets: Unusually, there is a distinct chance the Lakers need to use their Mid-Level exception to retain their own players. Both Howard and Morris are playing on minimum contracts this season, so the only way Pelinka can bring them back for more than a slight raise is by using some or all of the ~$6 million Taxpayer MLE. Caldwell-Pope, Rondo and McGee could get larger raises off their player option using Bird rights but that path is not available for Howard and Morris.
If Pelinka has the MLE available, there are a few different types of players worth considering. The most glaring need even with Rondo’s playoff success is someone who can capably run pick-and-rolls but also shoot reliably, allowing them to both replace and play with James. DJ Augustin may be the best fit in that price range but Raul Neto and long-ago James target Shabazz Napier are lower-cost options.
The front office could also prioritize a wing with Glenn Robinson III, Justin Holiday, Wes Matthews, Maurice Harkless and Alec Burks making some sense or another true center for the rotation like Aron Baynes, Hassan Whiteside or Nerlens Noel. It would also not be shocking to see DeMarcus Cousins return considering he maintained a positive relationship with the franchise through his injury recovery.
Pressure Scale: 8. This may be the most difficult team to calibrate because while it looks like their superstar free agent will come back and they have the capacity to retain just about all of their key contributors from this season, any missteps matter so much more with a cornerstone who turns 36 during the offseason. James is still truly incredible in his mid-30s but the window will always be shaky and that ratchets up the pressure for Pelinka.
In some ways, the most telling reflection of that pressure will not be with Davis’ negotiations but Caldwell-Pope’s. The Lakers have full Bird rights so there is not a question of whether they can re-sign him but whether there is a true stopping point. The larger his deal ends up, the more pressure Pelinka felt this fall. Fortunately for the front office, they likely will not feel the same financial pressure as other organizations, especially after winning the title.
Outside of that, making the right decision with the MLE dramatically affects the 2020-21 Lakers and either choosing the best prospect or including the 28th pick in the most favorable possible trade moves the needle now and down the line as well. A vast majority of front offices have more flexibility and variability this offseason but few do so with unmistakable championship potential.
The other pressure-packed situation for Pelinka is figuring out what to do with Kyle Kuzma. The 25-year old forward is extension-eligible but also proved to be a strange, challenging fit with James and Davis. That dynamic makes this offseason a great time to trade Kuzma, but the logistics get challenging because he only makes $3.6 million next season and that makes it hard to match salaries if Pelinka is looking for a more immediate contributor. One solution would be combining Kuzma and Green to get someone making up to $23 million and he could use the #28 pick as an additional sweetener to get an even better player ready to play a key role on the defending champs.
State of the Franchise: Maintaining. Having a series of potential free agents with player options and a mid-thirties MVP candidate puts the Lakers in a distinctly different place than most franchises, though different mostly means better in this case. It absolutely will be difficult for Pelinka to improve this championship roster but he has the ability to keep it together, assuming ownership is willing to pay as expected.
A huge advantage for their front office this offseason is timing. While the combination of lower than expected revenues and few cap space teams presumably makes the 2020-21 Lakers more expensive due to a higher luxury tax bill, it takes away competitors for their free agents, which could prove especially relevant for Caldwell-Pope. That reality could also make a talented free agent turn their way because more players will be looking for one-year deals to get back on the market in 2021 and the Lakers’ potential MLE offer is not far off the Non-Taxpayer MLE that some other teams will put on the table. Do not be shocked to see someone take significantly less to come aboard this offseason with more potential additions on the buyout market later in the season.
While those potential newcomers bring a level of intrigue, especially if Pelinka moves Kuzma and does not use his MLE to retain their own players like Morris or Howard, the bigger drama will be the terms on new contracts for Davis and Caldwell-Pope. Both should be Lakers for years to come but their deals will be key indicators for the future of the franchise, especially with James having a player option for 2021-22. We know the championship window is open in Los Angeles and this offseason will tell the league even more about how long to expect it to stay open.
- Aug 6, 2012
- 57,846
- 61,572
I wanna give Kuz one last chance but it’s looking like shopping him is our only shot at landing a true third playerLeroux’s Cap Preview: Opportunities, options and risks for the Lakers
With the NBA playoffs just completed, the 2020 offseason is rapidly approaching for many teams with significant decisions to make for their present and future. CBA expert Danny Leroux breaks down the major opportunities, options and risks for the Lakers in The Athletic’s 2020 Offseason Preview series.
After missing the playoffs and Magic Johnson’s shocking resignation in April, general manager Rob Pelinka had a lot on his plate last offseason. It began with replacing Luke Walton with Frank Vogel then finally consummating the Anthony Davis megadeal that failed to materialize at the trade deadline. Moving up in the lottery to the fourth pick gave the Lakers another valuable trade chip and the overall haul was stunning: Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, No. 4, two additional firsts and a pick swap for Davis. Eventually, Pelinka expanded the trade to add the Wizards, giving up Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, Jermerrio Jones and a second to clear cap space.
Pelinka used that cap space for a few signings: Danny Green (two years, $30 million), DeMarcus Cousins (one year, $3.5 million) and Quinn Cook (two years, $6 million), then Avery Bradley with the Room exception (two years, $9.8 million with a second season player option). He also retained Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo on two-year contracts with second season player options and two-way guard Alex Caruso for $5.5 million over two years. From there, Pelinka filled out the roster with veterans Jared Dudley, Dwight Howard and Troy Daniels plus second-round pick Talen Horton-Tucker.
The Lakers were the best team in the Western Conference during the regular season and added Markieff Morris and Dion Waiters in-season before bringing in JR Smith as a bubble substitute when Avery Bradley opted out. Los Angeles finished with a 52-19 record and the No. 1 seed in the West as LeBron James and Davis became the first teammates selected for the All-NBA first-team since Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire in 2007. They ran through the Western Conference taking no more than five games in any single series then defeated the Miami Heat in six games to win their first NBA championship since 2010. While it appears there are not any major moves for Pelinka and the champs this fall, he still has some big negotiations that will affect the future of the franchise.
Here are three key storylines to watch for the Lakers this offseason:
Anthony Davis: At this point, it appears the intrigue for Davis is not whether he returns to the Lakers but instead what kind of contract he signs this offseason. As detailed previously, the first-team All-NBA player will have a variety of choices, each one with their potential benefits and downsides. In my eyes, the two most likely are a “1+1” which does not tie Davis long-term to 2020-21’s lower than expected cap and a “2+1” which gives Davis the ability to become an unrestricted free agent the moment he hits 10 years of NBA experience, opening up the 35 percent max.
In January, I expected Davis to sign a 2+1 like Kawhi Leonard did last summer but that has shifted with COVID-19 lowering next season’s salary cap. The 2+1 is still a serious contender but a 1+1 gives Davis more control, squares up his option decision with James’ and gives him the ability to get 30 percent of a higher salary cap in 2021 before securing a 35 percent max deal in 2022. That shift does not mean Davis will leave the Lakers any time soon, instead it reflects the Collective Bargaining Agreement’s rules since that path makes the most financial and logistical sense for his purposes and the front office would absolutely offer it because Davis had earned the right to choose his contract terms even before his excellent playoff performance.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: The most challenging negotiation on Pelinka’s 2020 docket does not involve his star free agent, but rather one of the more unusual free-agent situations in the entire league. Caldwell-Pope joined the Lakers in 2017 on a one-year deal and has since re-signed two more times, giving him three years with the organization and thus full Bird rights this offseason. That means Pelinka has the ability to pay Caldwell-Pope any amount up to his maximum for up to five seasons without using another exception.
The combination of full Bird rights and significant other salary obligations preventing the Lakers from properly replacing him absolutely gives the Klutch Sports client significant leverage, especially as arguably the third-best player on the NBA champions. However, Caldwell-Pope really only has internal leverage in this specific negotiation because the surrounding market is incredibly weak. Only five teams will be able to spend more than the ~$9 million Mid-Level exception and they may not have interest in a 27-year old shooting guard looking for a big payday. It is entirely possible that one team plays along enough to drive up the price for the Lakers but expect these negotiations to have a ton of hollow posturing, which leads to massive variation in the eventual contract even though it feels like the two sides will eventually come to an agreement.
Other Player Options: Beyond those two, the Lakers have three other players in the rotation with player options this offseason.
JaVale McGee started 68 of 71 regular-season games this season but faces an absolutely brutal market for big men if he opts out, making it more likely the 32-year old journeyman sticks around for another season. The Lakers need quality minutes from centers even if Davis slides over regularly so there will be time for McGee in the rotation. While it would be possible to opt-out and try to return on more favorable terms, a lack of leverage even with Early Bird rights makes that a very, very risky play.
Rajon Rondo had a somewhat disappointing regular season but then became a key contributor in the playoffs, averaging 9 points and 6.6 assists in 25 minutes per game with the best defense he has played in years, including some significant minutes on James Harden in the second round. That combined with a smaller $2.7 million option and Early Bird rights should give the 34-year old Rondo the ammunition to opt-out for a larger deal either in Los Angeles or elsewhere, especially with an exceptionally weak point guard class.
Avery Bradley has been less prominent in recent months after opting out of the bubble but started 44 times before the hiatus with a clear place in the perimeter rotation. That said, it would be more difficult for Bradley to get a significant raise if he wants to stay with the Lakers because non-Bird rights only allow for a 20 percent bump, which would be $715,050 more than his player option amount.
Since the Lakers presumably will not have the full Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level exception to work with, Bradley’s agent will have to calibrate the Lakers’ willingness to pay and what his client can get on the open market while Bradley determines how to prioritize short-term salary, role, team quality and risk before deciding his player option and then as a free agent if he opts out. Bradley’s decision feels like a coin flip right now, depending on how the market looks and his own comfort with risk.
Potential Free Agents: Anthony Davis ($28.8 million Player Option), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($8.5 million Player Option), Dwight Howard (Unrestricted), Rajon Rondo ($2.7 million Player Option), Avery Bradley ($5 million Player Option), JaVale McGee ($4.2 million Player Option), Markieff Morris (Unrestricted), Dion Waiters (Unrestricted), Jared Dudley (Unrestricted)
Likely Summer of 2020 Cap Space: None
Realistic Maximum Summer of 2020 Cap Space (using $115M estimate): None, unless Davis opts out and leaves
2020 Draft Assets: Own first (No. 2
Potential Targets: Unusually, there is a distinct chance the Lakers need to use their Mid-Level exception to retain their own players. Both Howard and Morris are playing on minimum contracts this season, so the only way Pelinka can bring them back for more than a slight raise is by using some or all of the ~$6 million Taxpayer MLE. Caldwell-Pope, Rondo and McGee could get larger raises off their player option using Bird rights but that path is not available for Howard and Morris.
If Pelinka has the MLE available, there are a few different types of players worth considering. The most glaring need even with Rondo’s playoff success is someone who can capably run pick-and-rolls but also shoot reliably, allowing them to both replace and play with James. DJ Augustin may be the best fit in that price range but Raul Neto and long-ago James target Shabazz Napier are lower-cost options.
The front office could also prioritize a wing with Glenn Robinson III, Justin Holiday, Wes Matthews, Maurice Harkless and Alec Burks making some sense or another true center for the rotation like Aron Baynes, Hassan Whiteside or Nerlens Noel. It would also not be shocking to see DeMarcus Cousins return considering he maintained a positive relationship with the franchise through his injury recovery.
Pressure Scale: 8. This may be the most difficult team to calibrate because while it looks like their superstar free agent will come back and they have the capacity to retain just about all of their key contributors from this season, any missteps matter so much more with a cornerstone who turns 36 during the offseason. James is still truly incredible in his mid-30s but the window will always be shaky and that ratchets up the pressure for Pelinka.
In some ways, the most telling reflection of that pressure will not be with Davis’ negotiations but Caldwell-Pope’s. The Lakers have full Bird rights so there is not a question of whether they can re-sign him but whether there is a true stopping point. The larger his deal ends up, the more pressure Pelinka felt this fall. Fortunately for the front office, they likely will not feel the same financial pressure as other organizations, especially after winning the title.
Outside of that, making the right decision with the MLE dramatically affects the 2020-21 Lakers and either choosing the best prospect or including the 28th pick in the most favorable possible trade moves the needle now and down the line as well. A vast majority of front offices have more flexibility and variability this offseason but few do so with unmistakable championship potential.
The other pressure-packed situation for Pelinka is figuring out what to do with Kyle Kuzma. The 25-year old forward is extension-eligible but also proved to be a strange, challenging fit with James and Davis. That dynamic makes this offseason a great time to trade Kuzma, but the logistics get challenging because he only makes $3.6 million next season and that makes it hard to match salaries if Pelinka is looking for a more immediate contributor. One solution would be combining Kuzma and Green to get someone making up to $23 million and he could use the #28 pick as an additional sweetener to get an even better player ready to play a key role on the defending champs.
State of the Franchise: Maintaining. Having a series of potential free agents with player options and a mid-thirties MVP candidate puts the Lakers in a distinctly different place than most franchises, though different mostly means better in this case. It absolutely will be difficult for Pelinka to improve this championship roster but he has the ability to keep it together, assuming ownership is willing to pay as expected.
A huge advantage for their front office this offseason is timing. While the combination of lower than expected revenues and few cap space teams presumably makes the 2020-21 Lakers more expensive due to a higher luxury tax bill, it takes away competitors for their free agents, which could prove especially relevant for Caldwell-Pope. That reality could also make a talented free agent turn their way because more players will be looking for one-year deals to get back on the market in 2021 and the Lakers’ potential MLE offer is not far off the Non-Taxpayer MLE that some other teams will put on the table. Do not be shocked to see someone take significantly less to come aboard this offseason with more potential additions on the buyout market later in the season.
While those potential newcomers bring a level of intrigue, especially if Pelinka moves Kuzma and does not use his MLE to retain their own players like Morris or Howard, the bigger drama will be the terms on new contracts for Davis and Caldwell-Pope. Both should be Lakers for years to come but their deals will be key indicators for the future of the franchise, especially with James having a player option for 2021-22. We know the championship window is open in Los Angeles and this offseason will tell the league even more about how long to expect it to stay open.
- Jul 16, 2017
- 22,579
- 16,312
Cp3 for green Kuzma McGee Bradley cook and 1st rounder.
Give grant 4 year 40 millions.
Lebron/rondo/THT
cp3/KCP/AC
Grant/AC/harkless
AD/morris/harkless
howard/tristin/AD
bring back jr and Dudley for the locker room
Lol ain’t happening I know. Lol
on a serious note, IF If IF, cp3 were to want to come to the lakers I pray he realizes he will have to change his game to a degree. Stretches of playing off ball. Letting Bron lead etc. this won’t happen though
Give grant 4 year 40 millions.
Lebron/rondo/THT
cp3/KCP/AC
Grant/AC/harkless
AD/morris/harkless
howard/tristin/AD
bring back jr and Dudley for the locker room
Lol ain’t happening I know. Lol
on a serious note, IF If IF, cp3 were to want to come to the lakers I pray he realizes he will have to change his game to a degree. Stretches of playing off ball. Letting Bron lead etc. this won’t happen though
- Jul 16, 2017
- 22,579
- 16,312
I prefer we not “name chase”. All we need is a good defensive wing and a playoff rondo level pg who can make layups. Is that too much to ask for lol
- May 8, 2005
- 5,560
- 3,503
I think the most important thing to do this offseason is to stay big and tall... its pretty damn annoying to play us when you look at it... a legit big in every line up on the floor, and sometimes 2 at a time... this is a problem for every damn team we faced... MOBILE BIGS to be exact!
1) If we can get another playmaker while lebron sits, good.
2) If we can get better 3 and D people, good.
3) a third EFFICIENT scorer (not a volume shooter) for a bargain would be nice, but if it it sacrifices number 1 and 2, THEN NO
1) If we can get another playmaker while lebron sits, good.
2) If we can get better 3 and D people, good.
3) a third EFFICIENT scorer (not a volume shooter) for a bargain would be nice, but if it it sacrifices number 1 and 2, THEN NO
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- Sep 5, 2010
- 92,711
- 128,940
- Sep 11, 2011
- 20,616
- 10,222
Zhuri is ****in' precious bruh
- Feb 16, 2011
- 8,382
- 8,117
We tried. They didn’t want to move him.
- Jul 24, 2012
- 9,303
- 23,782
is Melo worth a look?
