The Lakers 2023 Off-Season Thread

[Retroram52]

Now the Lakers are done with the 2022-2023 season, we shall see what Pelinka does this summer with the roster adjustments that are in front of him.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

Now the Lakers are done with the 2022-2023 season, we shall see what Pelinka does this summer with the roster adjustments that are in front of him.

Going to be a tough one for him with several key FA’s.

And if I were Vando, I would be spending from dawn to dusk in the gym working on his freaking jumper.

Because you are worthless on the court if teams can play 5 on 4.

That being said, they need to keep Reaves and Rui for sure. Both those guys played well after the trade deadline, especially once Ham figured out their respective roles.

DLo is so hit and miss, hard to justify the money he is going to want.

Vando may be cheap because he has no offense and disappeared in the WCF for all the world to see.

 

[Retroram52]

The Lakers also need to figure out a better scenario with their Center position. Bamba needs to be retained and not traded. He can be a good young Center. Gabriel is good back-up material. AD is not a consistent Center but better at the 4.

D-Russ is going to get some more money in his new contract as the Lakers are going to keep him, but he ain't getting what he wants. They may back-load the contract and will probably be a 2-4 year deal.

 

[Retroram52]

I am pretty sure, the Lakers will be successful in re-signing Reaves, DRus, Hachimura, and Beasley. Pippen will be a re-up as well. Schroeder will wait but he will eventually comeback on another 1-year deal later in the summer. Thompson may or may not come back, same goes for Brown. The real question will be Walker. If VanFleet or another vet becomes an easy deal, Walker will be gone.

 

[shopson67]

Lakers have to be careful or they might hit the supertax apron @ $179.5M

Lebron - $46.9M
AD - $40.6M
Vanderbilt - $4.7M
Christie - $1.9M
1.17 pick - $3.6M
Total guaranteed: $97.7M

Beasley - $16.5M team option, non guaranteed. I think they'll look to see if there's a trade market (along with D-Lo and maybe Bamba, along with the first rounder to see what they could get in return). I wouldn't expect much, and there looks to be some solid talent available at 17. I figure Beasley's option does NOT get picked up, but they re-sign him on a team-friendly deal for 2-3 years, maybe get that down to $10-12 per.

Bamba - $10.3M non guaranteed. As above, the Lakers might look to re-sign him to a lesser salary via Bird rights, but will have to be careful as the center market is a bit shallow. Maybe 2/15M?

Harrison - $2.4M non guaranteed. Easy cut, unless salary is needed in a trade.

Rui - cap hold of $18.8M. They'll do what it takes to keep him, but the cap hold number is likely too high. 3 years, $40-45M

D-Lo - cap hold of $38.7M. Don't see a lot of teams that will be interested in paying him more than the full MLE out there (maybe Spurs or Utah)? Could likely negotiate him down to $20-25M per over 2-3 years.

Reaves - cap hold of only $2.2M. Lakers would likely try to get the negotiations above done before Reaves, but as an RFA that depends on when an offer comes in (only 24 hours to match now). Could be all the way up to 4/100M, but we know year one is limited to approx $12M max.

If these guys are signed at my projections, the Lakers are up to $174.2M for 10 players plus the taxpayer MLE for the 11th roster spot (and a second round pick for the 12th). That pretty much rules out anyone else above the MLE. for the other few roster spots. Walker and Brown are likely gone, Gabriel could be back cheap. That means if Schroder comes back, it's with the MLE, but that's the Lakers only way to really add anyone substantially above the minimum.

Maybe this means Beasley is cut loose (or Bamba), or they get even less than what I projected (along with D-Lo). Can't risk hitting that Supertax Apron, too many penalties involved.

 

[Retroram52]

That's a pretty thorough analysis and pretty close to reality, shopson. There are stories coming out indicating that if James retires or takes a sabatical for a year, the Lakers could build a very stout team by trading AD to Philly for Embiid and other assets. Don't know if these stories are gaining any traction, but exactly what those assets are, is anybody's guess at this point.

 

[shopson67]

I don't think Lebron is going anywhere. He might not start the season, depending on recovery time for any foot surgery he might need.

 

[Retroram52]

Lots of speculative trades involving James being floated. Especially with the W's. We shall see what occurs in the next several months.

 

[shopson67]

Lots of speculative trades involving James being floated. Especially with the W's. We shall see what occurs in the next several months.

Hell to the no. No reason to take back $50M of rapidly aging Warriors players.

 

[DJ]

Going to be a tough one for him with several key FA’s.

And if I were Vando, I would be spending from dawn to dusk in the gym working on his freaking jumper.

Because you are worthless on the court if teams can play 5 on 4.

That being said, they need to keep Reaves and Rui for sure. Both those guys played well after the trade deadline, especially once Ham figured out their respective roles.

DLo is so hit and miss, hard to justify the money he is going to want.

Vando may be cheap because he has no offense and disappeared in the WCF for all the world to see.

Vandy is still very valuable as a defender.....he just has to be a 18mpg player off the bench. He was a huge reason our defense improved after the trade deadline.

 

[shopson67]

Interesting rumor arose yesterday that Portis wants to re-unite with Ham. A trade with Bamba/draft compensation to the Bucks for Portis is enticing. I'd rather not give up #17, but a couple of 2s wouldn't be a problem...

 

[shopson67]

Vandy is still very valuable as a defender.....he just has to be a 18mpg player off the bench. He was a huge reason our defense improved after the trade deadline.

I'd be willing to deal with his jumper if he could just finish at the rim better.

 

[DJ]

Lakers have to be careful or they might hit the supertax apron @ $179.5M

Lebron - $46.9M
AD - $40.6M
Vanderbilt - $4.7M
Christie - $1.9M
1.17 pick - $3.6M
Total guaranteed: $97.7M

Beasley - $16.5M team option, non guaranteed. I think they'll look to see if there's a trade market (along with D-Lo and maybe Bamba, along with the first rounder to see what they could get in return). I wouldn't expect much, and there looks to be some solid talent available at 17. I figure Beasley's option does NOT get picked up, but they re-sign him on a team-friendly deal for 2-3 years, maybe get that down to $10-12 per.

Bamba - $10.3M non guaranteed. As above, the Lakers might look to re-sign him to a lesser salary via Bird rights, but will have to be careful as the center market is a bit shallow. Maybe 2/15M?

Harrison - $2.4M non guaranteed. Easy cut, unless salary is needed in a trade.

Rui - cap hold of $18.8M. They'll do what it takes to keep him, but the cap hold number is likely too high. 3 years, $40-45M

D-Lo - cap hold of $38.7M. Don't see a lot of teams that will be interested in paying him more than the full MLE out there (maybe Spurs or Utah)? Could likely negotiate him down to $20-25M per over 2-3 years.

Reaves - cap hold of only $2.2M. Lakers would likely try to get the negotiations above done before Reaves, but as an RFA that depends on when an offer comes in (only 24 hours to match now). Could be all the way up to 4/100M, but we know year one is limited to approx $12M max.

If these guys are signed at my projections, the Lakers are up to $174.2M for 10 players plus the taxpayer MLE for the 11th roster spot (and a second round pick for the 12th). That pretty much rules out anyone else above the MLE. for the other few roster spots. Walker and Brown are likely gone, Gabriel could be back cheap. That means if Schroder comes back, it's with the MLE, but that's the Lakers only way to really add anyone substantially above the minimum.

Maybe this means Beasley is cut loose (or Bamba), or they get even less than what I projected (along with D-Lo). Can't risk hitting that Supertax Apron, too many penalties involved.

Nice job.

TBJ and Walker are 2 guys gone for sure IMO.

 

[shopson67]

Nice job.

TBJ and Walker are 2 guys gone for sure IMO.

It depends. They could move on from Beasley instead of Walker, or maybe DLo doesn't want to negotiate as low as the Lakers require...so many variables this year. Much more interesting than "time to sign 10 guys for the vet min" like the past few years lol.

 

[DJ]

It depends. They could move on from Beasley instead of Walker, or maybe DLo doesn't want to negotiate as low as the Lakers require...so many variables this year. Much more interesting than "time to sign 10 guys for the vet min" like the past few years lol.

True, we have options.

Not sure what Russell and Beasley's market is right now.

 

[Retroram52]

The Lakers are rumored to be interested in signing Naz Reid at Center. That would be a fabulous signing!

 

[shopson67]

The Lakers are rumored to be interested in signing Naz Reid at Center. That would be a fabulous signing!

It would take at least the full MLE, and I don't see the Lakers going that route. That would require a lot of roster trimming that can't be easily replaced other than with vet mins. At 6'9, I'm not sure he's the true center the Lakers need.

 

[Retroram52]

Don't know why the Lakers now seem to have a chubby for Chris Paul even after he was traded to the Whiz. A recent article cited the Lakers giving-up on 22 different players since the turn of the century. Why would they chase after CP3 now that he is nearly as old as James? Why not keep Milik Beasley and quit chasing unresolved issues such as what Paul represents?!

 

[shopson67]

Don't know why the Lakers now seem to have a chubby for Chris Paul even after he was traded to the Whiz. A recent article cited the Lakers giving-up on 22 different players since the turn of the century. Why would they chase after CP3 now that he is nearly as old as James? Why not keep Milik Beasley and quit chasing unresolved issues such as what Paul represents?!

Beasley has been a frequent trade chip rumored in draft day trades to move down (for Hield) or maybe with #17 for Trent Jr. They could keep him at a reduced rate, but either way their interest in CP3 is as a vet min contract if he gets waived/bought out. As a vet presence/PG backup for DLo, he would have good value if they can keep his injuries contained to the regular season (lol).

 

[shopson67]

No worries now, CP3 to the Warriors for Poole and future draft assets