Los Angeles Lakers: 3 minimum free agents to avoid at all costs
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be active this offseason. Chances are that Rob Pelinka has already outlined his ideal offseason along with who he wants to target in free agency as well as potential trade options for the team.
Of course, there are a lot of moving parts and the Lakers are going to have to react on the fly. Someone who Pelinka may want now might not even be available. Someone who is not even on his radar could suddenly become a target as more and more develops this offseason.
The ability to pivot is an underrated trait of a great GM. Pelinka has showcased the ability to pivot in the past, signing Dwight Howard when DeMarcus Cousins tore his ACL. Howard was, of course, a key part of the 2020 championship ship.
Regardless of what happens, there are free agents the Los Angeles Lakers must avoid.
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to utilize minimum contracts this offseason to fill out the roster while being over the salary cap. A team is allowed to sign minimum contracts for a $1.6 million cap hit, regardless of how much the salary is (it varies based on NBA service time) even if they are over the salary-cap threshold.
Minimum contracts can yield solid additions, such as Dwight Howard, or could yield players who are just there for locker room reasons, such as Jared Dudley. Typically, the risk-reward of these players is so enticing that teams are willing to take perceived risks, such as potentially signing Carmelo Anthony.
However, there are players on the free-agent market this offseason who will go for the minimum and simply are not worth the Los Angeles Lakers’ time. No matter what happens this offseason, these three minimum options should not be on the Lakers’ radar.