1. $32 million to spend on free agents, but Rob Pelinka doesn’t land a superstar
Starters:
- PG: Malcolm Brogdon
- SG: Danny Green
- SF: LeBron James
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: Al Horford
Bench:
- Rajon Rondo
- Seth Curry
- Kyle Kuzma
- Kenneth Faried
- JaVale McGee
Here’s how the money works.
- Malcolm Brogdon:
Malcolm Brogdon earned $1.5 million last year for the Milwaukee Bucks, making him the most underpaid player in the NBA. He’s a restricted free agent this summer and the Bucks would love to keep him, but Khris Middleton is also a free agent this offseason and considering he’s their 2nd All-Star, he’s the Bucks’ biggest priority. If Milwaukee wants to keep Khris they’re going to have to give him a max contract or he’ll sign with another team.
Nikola Mirotic and Brook Lopez are free agents as well and they’re also more important to the Bucks than Brogdon because of the tremendous outside shooting they supply from the frontcourt.
Additionally, Milwaukee is already dishing out $15 million a year to Eric Bledsoe, a player who suits up at point guard, which is the same position as Brogdon.
If Milwaukee wants to have a similar roster as last season’s (one that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals) they’re going to have to go into the luxury tax and that’s before they even think about re-signing Malcolm Brogdon.
There’s a good chance the Lakers can land Brogdon if they offer him a 4-year, $48 million contract, because $12 million per season would launch the small market Bucks deep into the luxury tax, which is a place they don’t want to go.
Malcolm Brogdon’s a good player. He just shot his way to a 50-40-90 season, but he’s not a traditional point guard. He only averaged three assists per game last season and instead of setting up his teammates like most PG’s, he was more of a spot shooter (70% of his shots were assisted last season).
Not many teams will be willing to pay $12 million per season for a point guard who can’t run their offense, but he’s perfect for the Lakers because the Purple and Gold want LeBron James to have the ball in his hands and initiate the offense. Therefore, there’s a good chance the Lakers can land Malcolm Brogdon this offseason without spending too much cash.
- Danny Green:
In the first lineup option, I suggested the Lakers sign Danny Green to a 3-year, $30 million contract, but in this scenario, LA won’t have enough cap space to pay Green $10 million per season. Instead, the Lakers should offer Danny Green a 4-year, $32 million contract, which means he’d only make $8 million per season, but in total, he’d earn more. (For more info about Danny Green look to option #1).
- Al Horford:
Al Horford elected to opt out of his player option with the Celtics and is reportedly looking outside of Boston for a 4-year deal. Most teams in the NBA are going to feel nervous about giving Horford an extended contract considering he’s going to be 33 years old next season.
The Lakers shouldn’t worry about his age, though, because he’s never suffered a major injury and his game isn’t predicated on speed.
Horford is a perfect fit next to Anthony Davis and LeBron James because he’s a career 37% 3-point shooter, which would help spread the floor for AD and LBJ to run pick and rolls and he’s also a great passing center (he averaged four APG last season). Furthermore, he’s a great defender, who willingly bodies up to the opposing team’s center. Horford’s presence would mean that AD could shift down to the power forward spot, which would help preserve his body.
If the Lakers sign Malcolm Brogdon at $12 million per year and Danny Green at $8 million per year, that means that LA would have $12 million left to spend on Al Horford. The Lakers should offer Al Horford every penny they have left, which means he’d get a 4-year, $48 million contract.
- JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, and Kenneth Faried:
The Lakers should then sign JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, and Kenneth Faried to 1-year veteran minimum contracts to help fill out the roster.
- Seth Curry:
LA should use the room exception to lock up Seth Curry as the backup shooting guard.
As the Toronto Raptors marched through the playoffs and won their first title, they showed the rest of the league that 3-point shooting, defense, and depth are three very important keys to winning it all.
This lineup would also feature great team defense, great 3-point shooting, and incredible depth.
Malcolm Brogdon, Danny Green, and Al Horford are all known for their great defense.
- Brogdon: 108 DEFRTG last season
- Green: 108 DEFRTG last season
- Horford: 107 DEFRTG last season
All three are above average 3-point shooters as well.
- Brogdon: 41% career 3-point shooter
- Green: 40% career 3-point shooter
- Horford:37% career 3-point shooter
This starting lineup would be the best in the league. They would force opposing teams to make an impossible choice on defense; either guard LeBron James and Anthony Davis one-on-one and let them score at will or send help and leave a great 3-point shooter open beyond the arc.
There would also be no holes for opposing teams to take advantage of on defense because all five starters are excellent defenders.
The Lakers would also be able to sub in high-quality role players off the bench that are all more than capable of allowing the starters to get extended breaks, which will pay dividends in the playoffs.
This is by far the Lakers best roster option for next season and if the Lakers manage to put together this 10-man lineup over the offseason this group of players could certainly form a dynasty in LA.