Los Angeles Lakers have big offseason decisions to make with backcourt

Without a doubt, the primary focus for the Los Angeles Lakers as of now is to try to win another championship. Despite that, it does not hurt for the team to think ahead to the offseason and the big decisions that await them.

Some of the Lakers’ most pressing decisions will be contingent upon how they decide to handle their backcourt situation in particular. Dennis Schröder and Alex Caruso will be unrestricted free agents this summer, whereas Talen Horton-Tucker will enter restricted free agency.

Earlier this season, Schröder reportedly turned down a lucrative four-year extension from L.A. worth over $80 million. That being said, the purple and gold will inevitably have to up the ante this summer if they want to keep the German native long-term.

Schröder had a solid regular season for the Lakers. Spread across 61 appearances, he averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game for the team. However, his efficiency was not as sharp as it was last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

No one can deny the certain kind of edge Schröder brings to the table. He is a tenacious player that can get it done on both ends of the floor. The most significant obstacle right now, however, is whether Los Angeles will be able to afford his services.

To no surprise, the Los Angeles Lakers already have a lot of cap space to commit to their two stars.

Additionally, forward Kyle Kuzma is slated to receive $13 million next season. Thus, giving Dennis the Menace an annual salary in excess of $21 million per year may be easier said than done.

Notwithstanding Schröder, the Lakers have a couple of key reserve guards worth keeping tabs on as well. The two players in question are gifted youngster Talen-Horton-Tucker and fan-favorite Alex Caruso.

Per Brad Sullivan of Lakers Daily (originally via Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report), Horton-Tucker and Caruso could be in the running for pay increases this offseason.

"“League executives also mentioned Bruce Brown, Alex Caruso, Talen Horton-Tucker and Nerlens Noel as players who could be in for significant raises averaging above $12 million per season.”"

In all sincerity, it is difficult to disagree with what Fischer presents. Granted, Caruso and THT may not get $12 million ultimately, they are definitely worth more than what they are currently earning. Caruso is making $2.75 million at the moment, whereas Horton-Tucker is making about $1.5 million.

With respect to the latter, it is impossible to not talk about how impressive he has been. Granted, Horton-Tucker remains a raw talent, he has played beyond his years for the 17-time champions.

Horton-Tucker is an exceptional rim seeker and finisher and has proven he is capable of setting up teammates for quality looks. He is a smart, deliberate player and the pace in which he plays at makes him a tougher cover for most opposing defenses.

Certainly, THT still has room for improvement. For example, there are certain possessions where the young gun tries to do too much and ends up over-dribbling. There are occasions he has missed assignments on defense as well, but it comes with the territory given his young age.

Overall, Horton-Tucker has shown plenty of promise thus far in his young career. As long as he continues to put in the work, the sky is the limit for him.

On the other hand, one of Los Angeles’ most beloved people (and memes, better yet) deserves some attention as well. That man is none other than the CaruShow, Alex Caruso.

While he is rather Internet famous, indeed, Caruso is honestly one of the Lakers’ most valuable weapons. Even though his box score results may not always fly off the page, he is a coach’s dream. He plays his rear end off night in and night out.

Caruso plays hard-nosed defense on every possession, dives for loose balls, and oftentimes draws fouls in crucial moments. Therefore, albeit things of this nature are tough to measure, Caruso is truly one of the Lakers’ most important pieces.

In furtherance of this line of thinking, Caruso is a selfless player and knows how to make winning plays. Although he is not the most prolific shooter by any means, he provides just about all the intangibles one could hope for.

With all of this in mind, general manager Rob Pelinka certainly has a lot of tough decisions to make once summer arrives. For starters, time will tell whether the team is willing to meet Schröder’s demands.

In terms of the eight-year veteran, what the Lakers decide to do with him will likely depend on how well he performs in the postseason. Outside of their stars, he may need to be the team’s third best player if he wants the opportunity to potentially rake in more dough.

Contrarily, Caruso and THT just need to keep playing the way they have been playing. One cannot help but to feel they have already earned themselves raises. Whether they receive bigger paydays from the Lakers specifically remains the question mark.

It is highly possible the Lakers will offer those two new contracts this offseason. It is fair to flat out say it will take place. However, one cannot help but to wonder if the Lakers will get outbid. That is every bit as possible.

Frankly, it is safe to assume the following. Retaining all three guards is likely not going to happen for the Lakers. Unless a team-friendly deal comes to fruition, someone in their backcourt group is bound to be headed for the exit.

As a result, it will boil down whether the Lakers decide to value veteran leadership or expand upon their youth. The choice is theirs when all is said and done.

Decisions like these are not simple ones to make. All three backcourt players bring tremendous value to the organization. However, because L.A. already has a lot of money commitments headed into the fall, they will need to be wise about how they opt to share the remainder of the sugar.