The wild NBA free-agent period is about to begin with the reports around free agency already starting to build. The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most limited teams in free agency this summer, which is painful considering they are a team that needs to add the most depth to the roster.
Rob Pelinka and the front office have to hit a home run on who the team brings in this offseason if the Lakers want any chance of contending for anything next season. There are some quality options but the Lakers need to not only recognize those options but sign them over the competition.
Unfortunately for LA, the team has competition from one of its biggest rivals for two free agents who would be perfect fits in LA. The Sacramento Kings are reportedly in the market for both Malik Monk and Victor Oladipo.
The Kings stealing Malik Monk and Victor Oladipo from the Lakers would be tragic.
Malik Monk did say that he would potentially be willing to give the Lakers a discount to return to the purple and gold next season. This discount would be on the Taxpayer MLE, which is worth $6.4 million next season.
While Monk did say that, it is hard to blame the guy for turning down an offer that could overall be worth seven times as much as the one-year deal the Lakers can offer. The Kings are a team that can offer Monk more money and there is reportedly mutual interest between the two sides. If Sacramento tosses Monk a 3-4 year deal on the Nontaxpayer MLE (worth $10.3 million next season) then it might be a wrap on Monk.
Oladipo is an under-the-radar target that could be fantastic for the Lakers. His value is hard to gauge as he signed the minimum with the Miami Heat last season and only played eight regular-season games. However, Oladipo showed some really promising flashes in the playoffs that could result in him getting paid more.
Regardless, Oladipo should be in the Lakers’ price range, whether he is a minimum signing or he ends up signing for a chunk of the Taxpayer MLE. The problem is that the Kings ultimately have more financial flexibility and can outbid the Lakers. There is already a link between the Kings and Oladipo.
Los Angeles kickstarting free agency by bringing in Monk and Oladipo would be the best start the team could have. Seeing both of them go to the rivaled Kings instead would be a kick in the gut. The Lakers are meant to be the prestigious team that lures players to wear purple and gold.
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If Monk and Oladipo choose to wear a different shade of purple on one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the sport then that is saying something about LA.