The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to clear salary cap space to make a max contract offer this summer, according to a report.
The Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a trade that will bring Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. The problem for the Lakers is that between a July 6 trade date and Davis’ trade kicker, they would only have around $23.8 million in cap space based on their current roster commitments. In order to open up around $32 million in cap space — enough for a max contract offer — Davis would have to waive his $4.1 million trade kicker, and the Lakers would have to trade the players currently under contract for next season.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are doing just that and looking to trade Mo Wagner, Jemerrio Jones, and Isaac Bonga. Those players are under contract for a total of around $5 million next season.
Lakers are trying to expand Anthony Davis trade and create ability to open max salary slot on July 6, sources tell @BobbyMarks42 and me. Lakers offering contracts of Mo Wagner/Jemerrio Jones/Isaac Bonga to additional teams, so LA can satisfy CBA rules on creating $32M in space.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2019
Trading those players plus getting Davis to waive his trade bonus would create enough room for a third max contract player. One player they’re said to be targeting is Kemba Walker. Other players on the market expected to receive max contracts include Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
While having three max players under contract sounds great, the Lakers would still be struggling with depth as they try to fill out the rest of their roster. They are keeping Kyle Kuzma, who makes just under $2 million next season, but that would only give them four players under contract — Davis, LeBron James, and the third max player would be the other. They would have to go very cheap for the rest of their roster, which also explains why they’re trying to get into the draft with some second-round picks to help fill things out.
Lakers are aggressively pursuing the purchase of second-round picks in Thursday's NBA Draft too, league sources tell ESPN. Those picks will offer two important things for LA: acquisition of inexpensive labor and ability to exceed the salary cap with those minimum contracts. https://t.co/19s9qn8Lbm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2019
The Lakers would have a great core if they can add a third max player, but they would be really hurting for depth and would have a very hard time sustaining any sort of injury to their stars.
