Recent Lakers rumors are that the team has decided to shift their focus from the 2018 free agency class to the 2019 class.
As the trade deadline approaches, there has been plenty of Lakers rumors about what the team will be doing. For quite some time now, the Lakers have been planning on creating as much cap space as possible in order to try and sign players like LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins, and Paul George.
However, those plans might be changing. Recently, DeMarcus Cousins suffered a torn achillies, which will certainly have an impact on his free agency status. Recovering from this injury is not easy, and the Lakers would likely be hesitant to give him a max deal coming off a major injury.
On the court, the Lakers have actually been playing some good basketball of late. Players that have been rumored to be dealt like Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson have performed well, and the Lakers might be thinking about keeping these two instead of trading them to take a chance on free agents like LeBron and George.
According to Ramon Shelburne, the Lakers are now thinking about the 2019 free agency class rather than the 2018 class.
Reporting with @ramonashelburne: As trade deadline approaches, Lakers beginning to recalibrate free agency focus to the class of 2019. https://t.co/c3hUTnlINH
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2018
This will also be a talented class, as players like Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, and Jimmy Butler all could be free agents. Switching strategies for the Lakers might upset some people, but it does make sense.
As of now, the Lakers are still a very young team that is still developing. Even though they have a solid core with Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball, these three players aren’t in their primes yet. The Lakers could be best-suited to let them grow as players for another season, and then try to make their big move in free agency.
Just because the Lakers might be looking ahead to 2019 more than 2018 doesn’t mean that they won’t be active at the trade deadline. As a restricted free agent, the Lakers could still move Julius Randle if they don’t believe he is in their future plans.
Also, Clarkson could find himself on the move still, as he is under contract for the next two seasons. However, the Lakers will still likely try to pursue George as a free agent this offseason, but they don’t appear to be as adamant about clearing a cap space for a second max deal.
Next: 5 Takeaways from five-game road trip
With the trade deadline closing in, it will be interesting to see what the Lakers do. By making or not making moves, could be an indication of whats to come for Los Angeles.