• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

LA Sports Today

Los Angeles Sports News continuously updated

  • Football
    • Chargers
    • Rams
    • Wildcats
  • Baseball
    • Angels
    • Dodgers
  • Basketball
    • Clippers
    • Lakers
    • Sparks
  • Hockey
    • Ducks
    • Kings
  • Soccer
    • Angel City FC
    • Galaxy
    • Galaxy 2
    • LA FC
    • Orange County FC
  • College
    • UCLA
    • USC

Lakers face tough decisions at start of free agency

August 2, 2021 by Los Angeles Daily News Leave a Comment

The headliner is in: While free agency will make the NBA move and shake, for the Lakers, there’s no bigger deal ahead than the one they swung just before Thursday’s draft. Russell Westbrook arriving via trade from the Washington Wizards will be the move that defines their season.

And yet it might just be the moves in the margins that truly push the Lakers over the top, extracting the maximum amount of value for the least amount of money when the free agency frenzy begins Monday at 3 p.m. PT.

There are a number of tough decisions for the Lakers ahead, as well as tight recruitment battles that bring urgency to roster decisions that might not seem so important but will define the depth of a very light roster going forward. With the Lakers now at just four guaranteed contracts for next season, it’s up to the team to add the shooting, defense and experience they’ll need around Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis from a limited number of resources against the salary cap.

Here are the key free agents the Lakers need to re-sign or deal, and the salary tools they’ll have available at their disposal in building out next year’s team:

Dennis Schröder (15.4 ppg, 5.8 apg) – After a lot of talk from both the Lakers and the 27-year-old of how he hoped to be with the organization for a long time, it now looks like a one-year marriage. But the challenge for the Lakers will be getting value for Schröder’s exit, after giving up Danny Green and a first-round pick a year ago.

The easiest thing for Schröder would be to find a team with cap space and sign with them. Bleacher Report reported that the New York Knicks have interest in Schröder, sporting an obvious hole at point guard. Many believe the first point guards to fall in free agency will be Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball. Spencer Dinwiddie is likely in the mix, being rumored to arrange a sign-and-trade to Washington.

The Lakers’ best case is if teams with cap space seize upon other players and Schröder is iced out of that market. At that point, he and a team without cap space would likely have to come to the Lakers to arrange a sign-and-trade, at which point the Lakers could receive players or draft assets: They’re in need of both. But it’s the less likely scenario for now.

Alex Caruso (6.4 ppg, 2.8 apg) – One of the Lakers’ sturdiest defenders and reliable bench players, Caruso is facing perhaps his best chance of cashing in during a market that will value his 3-point shooting (40.1%) and versatility on defense. The Wall Street Journal called the 27-year-old “The LeBron of Playing With LeBron” which underscores how well he has played next to James during his tenure (plus-17.1 net rating in 387 minutes last season).

The last time around, the Lakers were the highest bidder, giving him a two-year, $5 million contract, but now Caruso has proven that he’s a quality rotation player on a contender. While his counting statistics don’t demonstrate his true value, multiple media outlets have reported that he should be a sought-after free agent. The Lakers have done wonders for his career after he was an undrafted free agent, and the promise of title contention should help. But it will be more competitive (and more expensive) to pin down Caruso this time, especially if a team is willing to bid into eight figures.

Talen Horton-Tucker (9.0 ppg, 2.8 apg) – From the moment the Lakers balked on a deal for Kyle Lowry because of Horton-Tucker, it put great expectations and pressure upon the 20-year-old’s shoulders. The Lakers can’t afford to lose him for nothing, and in an ideal world, he becomes ingrained in the rotation enough to matter during the postseason. Still just 20, he has incredible talent at scoring off the dribble, but unfortunately for him, so do a bunch of his superstar teammates. Horton-Tucker necessarily needs to become a better 3-point shooter and defender.

Still, his development is one of the few organic pathways the Lakers have to getting better internally on what will be a very old roster. The Lakers will be hard-pressed to match if offers above $10 million roll in. It’s possible those would include some from rival executives who might be out to extract their pound of flesh by offering contracts just to make the Lakers pay more. But it’s a clear priority for the Lakers to keep retain a talented young player who made them eschew a big trade last season.

The mid-level exception – The Lakers’ biggest salary tool to bring in a free agent is the taxpayer mid-level exception, which is worth up to $5.9 million. That will be shy of the kind of wings who will be high-impact by shooting 3-pointers or playing good defense like Will Barton or bringing back Danny Green. But it might be enough to lure players such as Andre Iguodala, Trevor Ariza, Rudy Gay or Patty Mills. They’re all older, but at that dollar figure, it’s hard to get players in their primes. Looking younger, the Lakers might try to go after more flawed players: Would Otto Porter Jr., injured throughout his career, be worth a gamble? Could the Lakers pry Alec Burks away from the Knicks? Is Reggie Bullock interested in returning after a less-than-happy 2018-19 campaign?

It’s worth mentioning that Bleacher Report has linked the Lakers to DeMar DeRozan, an L.A. native and four-time All-Star who is about to turn 32. But after averaging 21.6 points, 6.8 assists and earning $27.7 million last season, it would be a precipitous drop-off on a chance for one of his last big contracts. A hometown return might be enticing for DeRozan, but he would have to take a big pay cut in his prime years.

Related Articles


  • Analysis: Lakers face a tricky, expensive path to build around their Big Three


  • Will Russell Westbrook fit with LeBron, A.D. and the Lakers?


  • Whicker: Westbrook is the quickest fix in the NBA, but Lakers still depend on Davis’ health


  • Lakers acquiring Russell Westbrook from Wizards in blockbuster trade


  • NBA Draft 2021 live updates: Cavs draft USC’s Evan Mobley with 3rd overall pick

This is also a spot to talk about Andre Drummond, who the Lakers acquired last season on the buyout market but never found the right fit. While Drummond and the Lakers hinted at a long-term future, the most the team can offer him is this mid-level exception figure, which they’ll likely try to spend on a shooting wing. That likely means that Drummond is done in L.A. – his market is likely higher than the team can afford.

Minimum salaries – This is both the least sexy and possibly most important part of the Lakers’ offseason: Can they find contributors among the players making some of the lowest salaries in the league? To win a championship, the answer has to be “yes.” The Lakers probably have strong incentive to bring back some of the contributors for last year’s team, such as Markieff Morris and Wesley Matthews. While neither had an ideal season, offering a year of stability and title contention while hoping a normal season helps restore some balance might be a reasonable bet.

The Lakers have already been linked to high-profile veterans, including Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony (one of James’ best friends). A person with knowledge of the team’s offseason targets acknowledged center Dwight Howard might be in the mix to return. Should the Lakers get in the mix for Avery Bradley, who signed two years ago for the mid-level, it would probably have to be at a minimum salary this time around.

Filed Under: Lakers

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Bulls outplay Lakers, spoil LeBron James’ return from injury
  • These 3 Angels pitchers shined in Classic
  • Lakers fall to Bulls, and below .500 again, in LeBron James’ return to play
  • For Ducks’ Mason McTavish, playing in World Championships is tough call
  • ‘Push play’ and other rule modifications to be examined at NFL annual meetings

Categories

Archives

Our Partners

All Sports

  • 247 Sports
  • Bleacher Report
  • LA Sports Hub
  • Los Angeles Daily News
  • Los Angeles Times
  • Los Angeles Sports Nation
  • Orange County Register
  • OurSports Central
  • The Sports Daily
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • The Spun
  • USA Today

Baseball

  • MLB.com - Dodgers
  • MLB.com - Angels
  • Dodger Blue
  • Dodger Insider
  • Dodgers Nation
  • Dodgers Way
  • Halo Hangout
  • Halos Heaven
  • Last Word On Baseball - Angels
  • Last Word On Baseball - Dodgers
  • MLB Trade Rumors - Angels
  • MLB Trade Rumors - Dodgers
  • Think Blue LA
  • Think Blue PC
  • True Blue LA

Basketball

  • NBA.com - Clippers
  • NBA.com - Lakers
  • Amico Hoops - Clippers
  • Amico Hoops - Lakers
  • 213 Hoops
  • Clipperholics
  • Clips Nation
  • Forum Blue And Gold
  • High Post Hoops
  • Hoops Hype - Clippers
  • Hoops Hype - Lakers
  • Hoops Rumors - Clippers
  • Hoops Rumors - Lakers
  • Lake Show Life
  • Lakers Nation
  • Lakers Outsiders
  • Lakerholics.net
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball - Clippers
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball - Lakers
  • Pro Basketball Talk - Clippers
  • Pro Basketball Talk - Lakers
  • Real GM - Clippers
  • Real GM - Lakers
  • Silver Screen And Roll

Football

  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Bolt Beat
  • Bolts From The Blue
  • Chargers Gab
  • Chargers Wire
  • Last Word On Pro Football - Chargers
  • Last Word On Pro Football - Rams
  • NFL Trade Rumors - Chargers
  • NFL Trade Rumors - Rams
  • Our Turf Football - Chargers
  • Our Turf Football - Rams
  • Pro Football Focus - Chargers
  • Pro Football Focus - Rams
  • Pro Football Rumors - Chargers
  • Pro Football Rumors - Rams
  • Pro Football Talk - Chargers
  • Pro Football Talk - Rams
  • Ramblin Fan
  • Rams Gab
  • Rams Nation
  • Rams Wire
  • Turf Show Times

Hockey

  • Anaheim Calling
  • Elite Prospects - Ducks
  • Elite Prospects - Kings
  • Jewels From The Crown
  • Last Word On Hockey - Ducks
  • Last Word On Hockey - Kings
  • My NHL Trade Rumors - Anaheim Ducks
  • My NHL Trade Rumors - LA Kings
  • Pro Hockey Rumors - Ducks
  • Pro Hockey Rumors - Kings
  • Pro Hockey Talk - Ducks
  • Pro Hockey Talk - Kings
  • Pucks Of A Feather
  • Rink Royalty
  • The Hockey Writers - Ducks
  • The Hockey Writers - Kings

Soccer

  • Angels On Parade
  • LAG Confidential
  • Last Word On Soccer - LA Galaxy
  • Last Word On Soccer - Los Angeles FC
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • Bruins Nation
  • Busting Brackets
  • College Football News
  • College Sports Madness
  • Conquest Chronicles
  • Go Joe Bruin
  • Last Word On College Football - UCLA
  • Last Word On College Football - USC
  • Reign Of Troy
  • Saturday Blitz
  • Zags Blog

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in