Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve potential plans in free agency as the team is confident they can clear the necessary cap space if a max free agent commits.
Los Angeles Lakers rumors haven’t slowed down despite the team agreeing to a trade to acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans. If anything, Lakers rumors have picked up even more since the deal was announced.
There have been a number of Lakers rumors involving free agency plans. There have been a number of players linked to the Lakers, such as Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler and Kemba Walker. All three of those players are likely to demand max money in free agency.
If the trade between the Lakers and Pelicans is completed in its current form, the Lakers will not have enough cap space to sign a max free agent. However, the organization is confident that can change.
According to Bill Oram of The Athletic, the Lakers believe they can get to the approximately $32 million needed for a max contract if they get a commitment from one of the top free agents in this year’s class.
One way the team can acquire that cap space is if they can work with the Atlanta Hawks, who traded for the No. 4 overall pick from the Pelicans on draft night. If the Hawks agree to it, the trade can be made into a 3-team deal so that the Lakers can clear some more cap space.
More from Lake Show Life
- 2 Lakers who would benefit the most from a Kyrie Irving trade
- Victor Oladipo’s Russell Westbrook comments are terrible sign for Lakers
- 4 Free agent fits for the Lakers while they wait on Kyrie Irving
- 3 Most likely positions the Lakers will use for the last roster spot
- Kings signing castoffs from Lakers’ nightmare seasons is strange
The only players on the roster outside LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma and Davis is Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones. All three could be moved if it meant opening up max cap space.
While having another max slot sounds good in theory, it may not be the best course of action for Los Angeles. As we saw in the 2019 NBA Finals, it was the depth of the Toronto Raptors that helped them defeat the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors, who were already thin, suffered multiple injuries that ruin any chance they had at winning the title. The Raptors, on the other hand, could play 10 or 11 players on any given night depending on what gameplan they wanted to use.
Having a third superstar sounds good, but rounding out a team with players on minimum contracts is not a winning formula. The Lakers would be better off building solid depth around James, Davis and Kyle Kuzma instead of adding a third max contract.
Maybe part of the team’s plan is to sign multiple players, so they want as much cap space as possible to do that. We will find out soon what the thinking of Rob Pelinka and the front office truly is, as free agency begins this weekend and deals will become official next week.