The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the next phase of free agency with limited assets to utilize for an improvement of any degree of significance. In many eyes, cap space is a myth, trade assets are too scarce to comfortably part with, and depth is a mirage.
Thankfully, hope still exists for general manager Rob Pelinka to add a player who can help Los Angeles take a step toward contending at the 25th hour.
When LeBron James re-signed with the Lakers on a two-year deal worth roughly $101.35 million, a chance to upgrade the roster presented itself. By taking less than the max, James created an opportunity for Los Angeles to clear enough space to generate the taxpayer mid-level exception.
With the taxpayer mid-level exception, the Lakers would be able to offer a contract with a first-year salary of $5.168 million.
That might not be a groundbreaking figure, but it's more attractive than the veteran's minimum—which only begins to eclipse $3 million for players with at least nine seasons of NBA experience. Unfortunately, creating the space to use the taxpayer mid-level exception would require Los Angeles to part with a current player.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the two most likely players to be traded for that purpose are Cam Reddish and Christian Wood.
"I've heard Christian Wood and Cam Reddish would be the two most likely guys to be salary dumped. Now, maybe a team pushes to get Jaxson Hayes, and then when it comes down to it the Lakers decide that there isn't much of a difference between Hayes and Wood. But my understanding is the Lakers would prioritize keeping Hayes in comparison with Wood and Reddish."
It's never easy to lose a player, but parting with Wood, Reddish, or even both could be on their way out if it helps Los Angeles create the taxpayer mid-level exception.
Cam Reddish and Christian Wood could be on their way out of L.A.
Despite having the skill set to thrive as an isolation scorer, Reddish has struggled to find his offensive form in the NBA. He impressed many in 2023-24, however, by accepting the role of defensive specialist, playing at a career-best level on that end of the floor.
Los Angeles would be reluctant to lose a quality defender, but creating the opportunity to potentially sign a player such as Gary Trent Jr. would make it a risk worth taking.
As for Wood, injuries prevented him from achieving what many believed he was capable of in 2023-24. After averaging 16.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in 2022-23 with the Dallas Mavericks, he saw just 17.4 minutes of action per game across his 50 appearances with the Lakers.
Losing Wood would sting, as the Lakers are in desperate need of depth at center, but it appears to be the path they're considering if it means creating an opportunity to improve elsewhere.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Buha's report is that Jaxson Hayes is valued by the Lakers to the point of wanting to keep him out of trade discussions. The 24-year-old was a top-10 pick just five years ago, and has the physical gifts to become a high-level defensive player.
If the Lakers need to lose Wood in order to improve, then the pressure would instantly mount for Hayes to step up alongside whoever Pelinka signs with the taxpayer mid-level exception.