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Lakers free agency: Fred VanVleet and 4 other Klutch clients LA could sign

By Jason Reed

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 24, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 24, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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Gary Trent Jr. Lakers
(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /

2. Gary Trent Jr.

Gary Trent Jr. has a player option with the Toronto Raptors this offseason that he is almost certainly going to utilize to ink a multi-year deal. While Trent is not a max player by any means, he can secure more guaranteed money by opting out of his $18.56 million salary next season.

Plus, things have not really been going well for the Toronto Raptors and even if Toronto wants to pay him, you cannot blame Trent for wanting to spread his wings elsewhere. He is the kind of role player that every team in the league is going to want to sign, including the Los Angeles Lakers.

For several reasons, Trent is a much more realistic target for the Lakers than VanVleet.

The Los Angeles Lakers would need to make sacrifices to bring in Gary Trent Jr.

To afford Trent, the Lakers would have to reject Malik Beasley’s player option for next season while also waiving Mo Bamba and his non-guaranteed contract. It is already unlikely that those two return next season but this waives the ability to trade the duo.

Then the Lakers would be able to afford Trent and could utilize its Bird Rights on D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura to keep them in town. This would put the Lakers over the tax but with LeBron likely coming off the books after the 2023-24 season, the front office might be okay with one more year over the tax.

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