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Los Angeles Lakers: Discount free agents that Rob Pelinka should target

By Addam Goldman

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Which free agents should the Los Angeles Lakers try to sign to a bargain deal during the offseason?

First, let’s break down the Los Angeles Lakers roster.

Here is a list of the players who have contracts that go through at least next season and who’ll be back on the Purple and Gold barring a trade or a buyout:

  • LeBron James
  • Danny Green
  • Alex Caruso
  • Kyle Kuzma
  • Talen Horton-Tucker
  • Quinn Cook

Here is a list of Lakers players who have a player option for next season, and who will almost certainly sign on for next year:

Anthony Davis: AD and LBJ love each other, and they’re about to win a title, so it would be a shock if Davis didn’t opt out of the last year of his contract and sign a new multi-year deal with the Lakers.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: He’s due a little over $8 million next season, and it’s hard to see him turning down that type of money and a great chance at another deep playoff run in the hopes of a long term contract with another team.

JaVale McGee: The Purple and Gold owe McGee over $4 million next season, and it’s hard to see the Lakers aging and still quirky starting center getting more money elsewhere.

Rajon Rondo: Rondo’s 34-years-old and he’s made a lot of money throughout his career. There’s probably nothing Rajon wants more than to stay with the Lakers and coast through the regular season before turning it on in the playoffs again as the Purple and Gold march towards another finals appearance.

Here are the players on the Lakers with a player option who will probably opt out:

Avery Bradley: This is a difficult one to read because nobody’s heard a peep from Bradley since he turned down the Lakers invite to compete in the bubble. Here’s what we know, though: Bradley is all about his family. He puts his wife and kids before everything else. Thus, he should chase the money to help secure his family’s future.

Patrick Beverley received a 3-year, $40 million contract last year from the Clippers. Although Beverley talks like he’s the best perimeter defender in the league, Bradley is slightly better. Avery Bradley could opt out of his contract with the Lakers and get a lucrative multi-year deal with another organization.

Here are the current Los Angeles Lakers players who are unrestricted free agents:

JR Smith: There’s almost no chance the 35-year-old Smith will be back next season. The Lakers will have dozens of better options.

Dion Waiters: The Dion Waiters experiment didn’t pan out, and it’s doubtful the Lakers will ink him to a new deal for next season.

Markieff Morris: Morris has been great for the Lakers throughout the playoffs. He’s shooting 43 percent from deep, and he’s been a beast on defense (21 in DEFRTG during the playoffs, minimum 15 MPG). Morris has upped his value so much that it’s unlikely the Lakers will be able to afford him.

Jared Dudley: Dudley was a nice veteran presence for the Lakers, but he almost certainly won’t be back next season, paving the way for Rob Pelinka to bring in a more useful backup forward.

Dwight Howard: “Superman” is the toughest player to predict on the Purple and Gold roster. The Lakers’ biggest western conference rivals—the Clippers, the Warriors, and the Nuggets—would love to sign him. Who knows how things will pan out.

Maybe Howard will sign another cheap deal and run it back with the Lakers, or perhaps he’ll look to sign one last multi-year contract with another contender. Howard has consistently said he loves playing with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. There’s no reason for us to disbelieve him. There’s a good chance he’ll come back to the Lakers on another minimum deal.

Eleven current players should be back next season, but it’s likely the little-used Quinn Cook and Talen Horton-Tucker—some way or another—won’t land on the Lakers 12-man active roster. That means before Rob Pelinka signs free agents during the offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers active roster should look like this:

Starters:

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
  • Kyle Kuzma
  • LeBron James
  • Anthony Davis
  • Dwight Howard

Reserves

  • Rajon Rondo
  • Alex Caruso

End of the Bench

  • Danny Green
  • JaVale McGee

According to my math, Danny Green will lose his spot in the everyday rotation. Frank Vogel will do what’s worked so far this year and go big with Kyle Kuzma in the starting lineup.

It’s not hard to see why Danny Green’s role should decline despite his hefty $15 million per year contract. Danny Green’s 33-years-old and he’s lost more than a step on defense. Plus, he’s shooting a sad 33 percent from deep during the playoffs off mostly wide-open shots.

JaVale McGee has seen his minutes stripped down to under ten per game during the playoffs; this isn’t a one-off. He’ll likely concede his place in the rotation to fresh blood.

The Lakers will need to bring in three players to round out their bench and fill out their active roster.

Up next, we’ll explore the three players who could sign with the Lakers during the offseason on a discount.

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