The Los Angeles Lakers surprisingly signed Collin Sexton to a two-year, $19.2 million contract this offseason as part of their retool. Sexton has primarily been a starter, a score-first option, and struggled to impact winning. That doesn’t exactly fit in Los Angeles. To make matters worse, the Lakers gave Sexton a player option for the second year. Fans were questioning if this move would work, but the purple and gold have something valuable if it doesn’t.
The Lakers traded Ayton for Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks after he opted in to his $8.1 million player option. LA would have a $9.8 million expiring contract to trade if Sexton decides to opt in. The Lakers may want to move on next summer. If he opts out, the purple and gold likely got a valuable season from the guard and will have the $9-plus million to spend in free agency.
Pelinka may have been playing chess, not checkers, with this move. He knows the Lakers need other players capable of creating their own shots. Sexton can certainly do that. If he proves he can help a contender and is getting significant offers in free agency, the Lakers increased his value and got the production. If not, they have a trade chip to upgrade their roster next summer.
Lakers might have paid Collin Sexton to have matching salary in a trade
If the Lakers get to next summer with Jarred Vanderbilt and Sexton on their roster and both players accept their player options, LA would have $23.1 million in expiring salary to trade to upgrade their roster. That would mean they could take back over $30 million if they can find the right deal.
Sexton has chemistry with Walker Kessler and is eager to finally play for a contender. He must be willing to adapt his game to work more off the ball, come off the bench, and make winning plays. That is easier said than done, but the 27-year-old knows that his next big payday rests on it.
Giving Sexton more than $7.5 million lets the Lakers take back more salary in a trade than they would otherwise. For him alone, LA could take back $17.3 million next summer as long as they stay under the first apron after the move. That could be a significant upgrade that wouldn’t be possible if Sexton were making $6 million.
This may explain why the Lakers gave him so much money. They wanted avenues to make more moves. Los Angeles has just three second-round draft picks and one first-round pick swap to deal, but that could be enough to get a key piece or two. Rob Pelinka hopes the roster is only a couple pieces away after their offseason retool, so this could be just enough capital.
The Los Angeles Lakers would have $9.8 million in expiring salary to trade next summer if Collin Sexton accepts his player option. Pelinka foolishly handed out several player options this summer, but this one could benefit LA. They will either get significant production from Sexton or be able to trade him next summer for an upgrade.
Consider that a win-win, especially for a player who has missed the playoffs in each of his first eight NBA seasons. The Lakers don’t know what to expect, but fans shouldn’t worry. Either way, LA can quickly move on. That flexibility is as important as saving every penny in the second apron era.
Add us as a preferred source on Google