For the second consecutive season, The Los Angeles Lakers have fallen at the hands of Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. After the 2023 sweep, the two franchises met in the first round and Michael Malone’s team took the series in five, putting an end to LeBron James’ 21st year in the NBA. The season is ending quickly for the Los Angeles franchise and one of the most complicated summers of the decade so far has arrived for the Lakers. Because Rob Pelinka will have a lot of work in the offices, first deciding whether Darvin Ham continues or not, and second, preparing the squad for next year.
And changes are needed, because the end was too quick for a team that has two of the best players on the planet in its ranks. Only the organization itself can assess whether losing 4-1 is a failure taking into account the context and the rival, or if the real problem has been needing a play-in to enter the playoffs.. But now it is time to analyze the contractual situation for the summer, the amount of assets that the Lakers have to act and what moves the franchise could make to improve the team next year, with a big unknown on the table: the future of LeBron James. Because everything in Los Angeles depends on your decision.
Contracts, free and active agents
Seven players have contracts for next year, without options, fully guaranteed. Key names like Anthony Davis or Austin Reaves, or players who could be traded due to their performance or constant injuries. Between the seven they add up to $100.6 million that will surely be part of the Lakers’ accounting books next year unless there is movement.and that’s without counting LeBron James or D’Angelo Russell, both with player options. Exactly it is $100,681,786.
- Anthony Davis: $43,219,440 (contract until 2028)
- Rui Hachimura: $17,000,000 (2026)
- Austin Reaves: $12,976,362 (2027)
- Gabe Vincent: $11,000,000 (2026)
- Jarred Vanderbilt: $10,714,287 (2027)
- Jalen Hood-Schifino: $3,879,840 (2027)
- Max Lewis: $1,891,857 (2027)
In addition to the seven guaranteed, Five other players have a player option and during the last week of June they will have to decide whether or not to remain with the Lakers. The two big names, obviously and for opposite reasons, LeBron James and Russell. Wood, Reddish and Hayes have a minimum salary, a contract that they could find on the market, but it is difficult to improve it. Between them they have a possible impact of $78,072,177 on the Lakers’ finances.. If the player option is rejected, any of the five would become an unrestricted free agent.
- LeBron James: $51,415,938
- D’Angelo Russell: $18,692,307
- Christian Wood: $3,036,040
- Cam Reddish: $2,463,946
- Jaxson Hayes: $2,463,946
If all of them accept their player options, something possible right now, it would take the Lakers directly above the luxury tax ($171 million) and one hundred thousand dollars above the first apron with a total of $178,753,962 guaranteed, although there are ways they can work as a team below before signing all of their free agents. And all with twelve players, two less than the minimum on an NBA team. The list of Lakers book agents is not extensive at all. Surely there are two, Spencer Dinwiddie y Taurean Prince, in addition to names like Harry Giles III or Skylar Mays, with dual contracts, but each of the five player option players could be added to the roster.
At the active level, the list is shorter. The Lakers depend on New Orleans to know whether or not they have their first-round pick. The Pelicans have the power to get this one in 2024 or wait until 2025, a decision they have to make before June. They have their first rounds from 2026, and from 2028 to 2030, with the 2027 one transferred to Utah unless it ends up being top-4. They have enough assets to make an interesting move, look for that long-rumored third star (Dejounte Murray? Trae Young?) and build around Anthony Davis and LeBron James, if that’s the path they want to follow. Although they do not depend on the Lakers themselves.
The Lakers’ big question: LeBron James?
It is the epicenter of all questions. LeBron James has a player option that he could execute and continue for another year, or reject and open the door to fulfilling his dream of playing with Bronny James. We don’t know for sure if last night’s game was the last we saw of LeBron in the Lakers jersey, although it is still the Los Angeles franchise that can put the most money on the table for the King, in addition to a clause of non-transfer, whether in a new contract or an extension. If he leaves, the most he could sign is a three-year contract and just under $158 million for the 38-year-old regulations. These are all the options for James:
- If you exercise the option you could renew as of August 18 for another two years and $112 million
- If he rejects the option, he could sign $104 million for two years with the Lakers.
- If he rejects the option, he could sign $162 million for three years with the Lakers.
- If he rejects the option, he could sign $102.5 million for two years in any other franchise.
- If he rejects the option, he could sign $157.5 million for three years in any other franchise.
The reality is that LeBron James in his last contracts has always moved following the same mode of operation. LeBron has not signed a 3+ year contract since 2018, when he moved to Los Angeles, when he signed for four and ended up declining the player option. Since 2011, Bron has passed up player options in 2010/11, in his first stage in Cleveland, or more recently in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2018/19 with the Cavaliers or 2015/16 with the Miami Heat. No one has controlled his future more and better than LeBron, and that is why he is expected to continue doing the same, signing a short contract, where despite losing money, he gains stability and decision-making power. What is the big doubt? When will Bronny enter the NBA draft. Because if his son delays his arrival for a year, James could seek to be a free agent again next summer, and the dates are important. The draft is three days before LeBron’s deadline to exercise his option.
But if LeBron stays, which is logical, what can the Lakers do? The project has not been as bad as it seems, finishing the season with 21-10 after the All Star, and the Lakers could decide to follow that path. Trade some of your core players or even use the first round (if New Orleans allows it) to get some youth. The problem is that it would be the second year in a row that Pelinka’s plan involves trusting the locker room again, one that, although not so negative, is saved by the presence of two differential players like LeBron and Davis. The simple, and somewhat desperate, answer is to look for a big transfer, something possible: starting with the draft, the Lakers will have three first rounds to move, although they would have to send significant salaries if they do not want to enter the restrictive salary limits.
There will be names on the market available, and the Lakers just have to find the right piece. But maybe that name is not a Dejounte Murray or Brandon Ingram, who can be within reach and who are very exciting, but rather role players who take the workload off of Davis and LeBron on a day-to-day basis. Only Pelinka (and LeBron) know what the Lakers’ future is, but luckily, they have more options than Phoenix.
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2024-04-30 06:31:26
#Contracts #future #free #agents
