1. Alex Caruso
Considering the Lakers’ limited cap space available, Alex Caruso is arguably the answer at backup point guard.
The Lakers have reportedly extended the qualifying offer to Caruso.
The Lakers are extending qualifying offers to Alex Caruso and Johnathan Williams. Williams becomes a two-way player if he accepts.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 26, 2019
But there are a few implications salary cap-wise on the timing and mode of his re-signing.
Some detail on Caruso qualifying offer. Takes up $1.6 mil in space (but removes $900k roster fee) . If revoked, cap hold drops to $1.4 mil. If he agrees to sign at min, they can revoke, renounce and he's off their cap. Then when over, sign him at min. Rights restore in 2020
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) June 26, 2019
He made a strong showing at the end of the season when LA shut down almost every player on the roster, leading his team fearlessly as if he had spent his whole career playing big NBA minutes. He ended up averaging 12.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds over 18 games.
As a player nurtured by the Lakers organization since his Summer League debut, when he was signed undrafted, he will definitely come back in purple and gold. It just remains to see how.
He could sign once again as a two-way player and then be converted for the rest of the season to an NBA contract once he reaches the limit of games allowed, or be signed to a minimum contract from the beginning.