Los Angeles Lakers will likely continue to be conservative this summer
The Los Angeles Lakers have continued to be fairly quiet this summer. Fans should not expect that posture to change anytime soon.
The NBA’s free agency period has lasted only a little more than a week. However, many teams throughout the league have been rather active during that span. The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the few anomalies up to this point. Granted the team has been associated with many rumors, nothing substantial has transpired.
The problem is not due to a lack of cap space. The 16-time world champs currently have well over $17 million available prior to exceeding the cap limit. That is more than enough capital to acquire a solid asset or two.
Suffice to say, the proper piece has just not come along yet. It could take a little while longer to determine who the said piece is, to be honest.
Based on what The Orange County Register’s Mark Medina shared recently, this trend will most likely remain steady.
"Though things remain fluid, the Lakers do not sense any imminent deals, according to league sources familiar with the situation. As of Friday evening, the Lakers also did not have any meetings scheduled with any free agents."
Medina’s points imply that the Lakers are approaching this summer much differently than was the case 12 months ago. A year ago the ball club committed too many years and dollars to free agents.
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In a way, it is fair to argue that the team could be taking things too cautiously. The purple-and-gold desperately need additional ammunition in their backcourt.
After trading D’Angelo Russell earlier this summer, Nick Young signed a one-year pact with the world champion Golden State Warriors. These transactions certainly explain the urgency to fill those gaps.
While that cannot be refuted, it is quite clear that the team’s front office does not want a rerun of past mistakes.
Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation exhibits that the team has made noble efforts this summer to address those gaps. For example, Dion Waiters was reportedly offered a lucrative $17 million offer, but Miami bestowed Waiters with a multi-year contract. This is the type of territory the Lakers are not eager to travel into.
Albeit the Lakers are unwilling to commit to long-term deals, it does not suggest that nobody will be gotten. It is merely a matter of when at this stage.
Bleacher Report writer Alex Ballentine indicates that the Lakers are still looking at multiple players. Tyler Ennis continues to be under consideration in terms of re-signing with the organization. As the season progressed, Ennis showed potential on the offensive side of the floor.
Another name the Lakers have been linked with is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. In spite of the team’s desire to only ink one-year deals, Caldwell-Pope is a very feasible option.
Drew Garrison of SB Nation explains why a player such as Caldwell-Pope would be a good fit in Los Angeles.
"The former No. 8 pick lacks the kind of well-rounded offensive game that would make him an easy signing to focus on for the Lakers. He is a an elite backcourt defender, though, which is one of the needs both Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson have outlined as paramount numerous times this summer."
The Lakers have been one of the worst teams in the NBA on defense over the last few seasons. Consequently, a signing along these lines would make plenty of sense for the young roster.
Players like Ennis and Caldwell-Pope are by no means franchise-altering talents. Nevertheless, each player would grant the Lakers with further depth.
The Lakers will undoubtedly look elsewhere as well to tackle the leftover cracks in the roster. As has been the theme spread throughout the summer, though, they are not expected to do anything monumental.
The target continues to be 2018. This signifies that the Lakers may not be a whole lot better in 2017-2018, but it suggests that things will not be utterly bleak forever.
Next: 5 Under The Radar Free Agents For Lakers
The methodical pace at which things are going in free agency may indeed seem strange. Many Lakers lovers are tired of the squad being in the deep pit they’re in. Despite that being the case, the patience could very well pay off.