The Los Angeles Lakers have started announcing new members of the roster as official. Jaden Hardy, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili have all gotten their press releases and have seen their transactions be finalized. The Lakers have even began to renounce their own free agent rights to make way for these plans, according to Michael Scotto.
"The Los Angeles Lakers have officially renounced the free agent rights to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, and Wayne Ellington."
Walker Kessler has yet to be announced. Do the Utah Jazz have cold feet about the previously agreed upon sign-and-trade? No, not likely. What is much more probable here is the hold-up coming from the Lakers' side of the equation. Mainly, Los Angeles could be exploring creatives ways to open up further business.
If the Lakers are still eager to pursue other moves on the open market, having added cap flexibility would be not only helpful, but necessary. That means the Kessler trade could become the vehicle to help Los Angeles explore pathways on creating those opportunities.
Lakers could be looking to expand the Walker Kessler sign-and-trade
One of the most well-known free agency sagas involving the Lakers has been their pursuit of free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. Maybe Pelinka and company see an opportunity here to create more wiggle room for his contract offer.
Kuminga was reportedly unimpressed with what the Lakers were bringing to the table from a financial standpoint. If they can expand the Kessler deal to rid themselves of guaranteed money on their books, it would free up more flexibility to land the other player they have clearly coveted.
Perhaps there is an opportunity here to get Jarred Vanderbilt's contract off the books. Maybe moving one of Jake LaRavia or Dalton Knecht gives them more freedom. It could even be both when all is said and done.
The Lakers are still plenty thin on the wings so the added reinforcements are necessary. Ideally, Los Angeles could make room for Kuminga and one other name to fortify the positional group. Ziaire Williams is someone who was linked to the franchise earlier in the free agent process. He could be a guy they circle back to.
All of this requires money. Delaying the announcement of the Kessler sign-and-trade could be a very telling sign that it is not finalized for that very reason.
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