Free agents that the Los Angeles Lakers should re-sign:
There are three free agents that the Los Angeles Lakers should re-sign this offseason. The Lakers are naturally going to go over the salary cap and it is the luxury cap that we are concerned about. These players are re-signed using various cap-savvy moves that allow it to happen.
Alex Caruso (Three years, $22.5 million):
Alex Caruso is an extremely important player to bring back to the Los Angeles Lakers. He is part of the fundamental core of this team and his defense makes him one of the most impactful players on the entire roster.
Caruso is legitimately a top-five defensive guard in the NBA and the Lakers cannot afford to lose that. Not only is he elite on defense, but he is showing strides on the offensive side of the ball. He has gotten better with time and he now has an offensive identity as well.
The hope is that some team does not come over the top with a huge bid but a three-year deal for $25 million seems fair. The contract will progress in value over the three years and is worth $6
Talen Horton-Tucker (Two years, $8 million):
After not trading him at the NBA trade deadline the Los Angeles Lakers have to bring back THT or they risk losing the asset altogether. Luckily for the Lakers, THT did not have the huge breakout season that we expected after the preseason, so his value is not going to be huge.
There was speculation of him getting a poison-pill offer sheet, which would have made him nearly impossible to re-sign for the Lakers. However, with the limited cap space in the league, that is doubtful.
It makes more sense for THT to sign only a two-year deal to continue increases his value before he can hit the open market with full Bird Rights. He gets paid $3 million next season and $5 million the following season.
Kostas Antetokounmpo and Devontae Cacok (minimum deals):
The Los Angeles Lakers need 13th and 14th players in the rotation and that is what they get by keeping Kostas Antetokounmpo and Devontae Cacok in town. While the salary of a minimum deal varies by year, the Lakers are only charged roughly $1.6 million against the cap for any player with two or more years of service.
Ben McLemore:
Nothing wrong with having more shooting depth, even if he does not play much.