Los Angeles Lakers: Avery Bradley is out for Orlando, J.R. Smith in?
By Ronald Agers
Los Angeles Lakers replacement for Avery? This just in, nobody knows!
The overused cliche of the millennium that Tom Thibodeau should have copyrighted is the phrase “next man up”. It means all of the great teams somehow find a way to roll right along when a key player is out. The Los Angeles Lakers “Next man up” fashion show will consist of Alex Caruso, Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and newly acquired Dion Waiters.
Lake Show Life will be working to break down the games of each player over the next few days to see who is best qualified to fill the void in Bradley’s absence. Let the debates begin until July 30th when the season resumes. But for the time being, the articles listed below will shine the light of opinions of some of the players.
Some go back as far as the preseason but some of these pieces do break down the players’ games over the course of the season. All solid reads.
- Los Angeles Lakers: Are Markieff Morris and Dion Waiters ready?
- Los Angeles Lakers: How to divvy up the playoff minutes!
- Lakers Rumors: 4 Reasons why the Lakers should not have signed Dion Waiters!
- Los Angeles Lakers: How Rajon Rondo will kill any NBA Finals chances!
- Los Angeles Lakers guide to understanding the Alex Caruso hype!
- Los Angeles Lakers: Are we all setting Alex Caruso up for disappointment?
Hopefully, Caruso-mania won’t be crazy enough that fans believe he is the undisputed player who is best equipped to fill Bradley’s shoes in the postseason, but time (And Frank Vogel) will tell how the rotation shakes out.
Lake Show Life will be your number one source for Los Angeles Lakers news leading up to the playoffs. Before we finish up, let’s discuss the rules of Avery Bradley and his contract plus his roster spot. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus answers questions thoroughly.
What happens to Avery? Will he be waived?
"Players who decline to play in Orlando will not be cut (teams can elect to cut anyone, but independent of that). If the Lakers chose to waive Avery, his player option would lock in for the next season (I have no expectation they waive him)"
This will be very interesting going forward. Not waiving Bradley allows some flexibility with a salary cap that will do a bungee jump next season.
When can the Lakers sign J.R. Smith? Assuming the reports are true?
"Lakers can replace him but not until July 1, when the rosters are submitted to the NBA (with Avery listed as out, and why, etc). From there they can sign a player for the rest of the season"
Believe it or not, Avery Bradley can change his mind under the rules if here wanted to, but don’t look for that to happen under the circumstances laid out.
Keep it locked for updates on this fluid situation.