The Expiring Contracts
Two other Lakers with expiring contracts, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brook Lopez, have also been mentioned as possible trade bait. Since they will each be free agents come July, it is uncertain just what trade value either would have.
The Lakers backcourt is already thin, so they would likely need to get a guard in return for KCP. Since they are reluctant to take on salary beyond the end of this season, what’s really to be gained by trading him? Unless, of course, some team covets him enough to make them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
By all accounts, Lopez has been a great veteran presence, something a young team needs. The motivation for trading him would seem to be clearing court time for young centers Ivica Zubac and Bryant to assess whether the team can count on either of them next season.
On the other hand, the Lakers may want to re-sign Lopez, if his salary demands are reasonable, because of his experience and his versatile offensive game.