Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons why the team will be urgent this offseason

3. The Los Angeles Lakers are in a really tight spot financially

This happens to a lot of contending teams so the Los Angeles Lakers are not alone in this but the front office does not have much it can do financially this offseason. Having two massive contracts does that to a team.

This was not the case last offseason. While they did not have boatloads of salary-cap space to spend, they did have more flexibility than they have this offseason. They had tradeable contracts in the likes of Danny Green, the Bi-Annual Exception to sign Wesley Matthews and the fact that they were re-signing Anthony Davis, utilizing his Bird Rights so they can sign other players.

That is not the case this year and the team’s hands are pretty tied to what they can and can do. The one creative move that the front office can pull off is a sign-and-trade of Dennis Schroder, but that hard caps them at the tax apron (meaning that they cannot go over the $136 million tax apron at all). Usually teams can, they just pay a pretty hefty fine.

So even with all of the tricks to get over the listed salary cap, such as the Mid-Level Exception, minimum contracts, Bird Rights, etc, the Lakers could be capped at a certain number if they utilize the one creative move they have.

They either spend the money on Schroder, spend the money on Schroder and trade him for someone with a similar salary, or don’t spend the money at all because it won’t be there if not for Schroder.

It is going to have to be a very well-orchestrated offseason to field a full roster that is better than last year with the restrictions the team has. That is why Rob Pelinka must be urgent.