The Los Angeles Lakers trading for Luguentz Dort would force LeBron James to take a massive pay cut in free agency or move on. The Thunder have a $17.7 million team option on Dort’s contract. They aren’t letting him walk. OKC will pick that up and trade him if they decide to move on. The Lakers would love to add the 3-and-D wing to be their enforcer, but the move would have massive ramifications.
The Thunder want to trade Dort to save money. Los Angeles has cap space, but taking back more salary than a team sends out in a trade hard-caps them at the first tax apron. That means the Lakers would have $209 million to spend on their roster. Luka is set to make $49.5 million next season. Austin Reaves is rumored to want a max contract starting at $41.3 million. The money is drying up quickly.
The Lakers should have interest in Dort. He is the perfect point of attack defender, and his 3-point shooting would improve playing off Luka. Sadly, making the trade with OKC would likely cost Los Angeles LeBron.
Lakers trading for Lu Dort creates a LeBron James problem
LA would have $108.5 million tied up in Luka, AR, and Dort. They will struggle to trade Jarred Vanderbilt, so his $12.4 million is likely stuck on their books. If they keep Jake LaRavia, Bronny James, and Adou Thiero, the Lakers are already at $131.3 million with just seven players under contract and only three starters.
The Lakers want to keep Marcus Smart, but will likely have to give him at least $12 million next season. A center upgrade over Deandre Ayton will cost $20-plus million. Bringing back Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura or replacing them with similar players likely costs $35 million combined. That would leave LA with less than $11 million for four players or virtually four minimum contracts.
Los Angeles could offer LeBron $20-30 million, but it would hamper their depth. It would mean dumping both Rui and Kennard. The Lakers clearly need more pieces capable of helping after the Thunder swept them in the second round of the playoffs. Making the roster top-heavy seems foolish.
King James may take a pay cut, but he isn’t going down to the minimum. The Lakers would have to offer between $20-30 million and have roster upgrades planned for the rest of the money. That is easier said than done with three players making significant money.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie immediately mentioned the Lakers as a Dort suitor with the caveat that LeBron was gone. Making this trade takes up the money LA has to give King James, especially with the former first-team All-Defense selection switching agencies. Dort will want a significant extension, which only further pushes LeBron out the door.
The Los Angeles Lakers will have a chance to trade for Lu Dort this summer, but acquiring him will cost the franchise LeBron James. The purple and gold wouldn’t have the money to offer James anywhere near what he is worth.
LeBron may be gone either way. He is an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers want to build a title contender around Luka Doncic. Getting Dort helps that cause, but it would be painful. Rob Pelinka has to decide if that pain is worth the gain.
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