Lakers’ roster, depth chart taking shape after Leonard rejection
The Los Angeles Lakers’ roster and depth chart is starting to take some shape after the Kawhi Leonard news.
News broke on Friday night that Leonard would not be signing with the Lakers. The team cleared out $32 million in salary cap space to be able to afford him. Once he chose to sign with the LA Clippers instead, the Lakers moved to the alternatives they had lined up in case they didn’t land Leonard.
The Lakers reached deals with Danny Green and JaVale McGee and are expected to bring back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Green is getting a two-year, $30 million deal. McGee is receiving $8.2 million over two years, with a player option, per Shelburne. Caldwell-Pope is expected to sign a two-year, $16 million deal.
Depending on the structure of the deals, that could be about $27 million of the $32 million they were able to clear, which doesn’t leave much cap room left. Although, McGee’s deal could go into the room exception, which would leave about $9 million left in cap space.
The Lakers have also reached deals with Jared Dudley and Troy Daniels.
Here’s how the roster is looking:
Guards: Green, KCP, Daniels, Talen Horton-Tucker
Forwards: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, Jared Dudley
Center: McGee
The Lakers have also extended qualifying offers to Alex Caruso and Johnathan Williams. Rajon Rondo returning to the team seems possible. Marcus Morris and Avery Bradley are other players to potentially watch. And if the Lakers really get lucky, maybe they could land Andre Iguodala.