Although Lakers ended up being upstaged by Wednesday’s stunning Jaylen Brown under the trade agreement between the Celtics and 76ers, the flurry of free agent deals in Los Angeles looked like the biggest story of the day in the NBA for much of July 1st.
In 35 minutes, the team went from having over $50 million in available space to using all of that space (along with the $9.4 million room exception) to secure outside commitments Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin GrimesAnd Colleen Sexton.
While the bulk of the offseason work appears to have been completed, the Lakers continue to pursue a young forward who could help improve their perimeter defense, league sources tell The Athletic’s Dan Woike. According to Woike, one potential target worthy of “significant” consideration is the 23-year-old forward. Jonathan Kuminga.
By using all of its cap space and room exception, Los Angeles will only have access to the minimum wage exception. To give Kuminga – or any other free agent – more than the veteran minimum, Los Angeles would need to reach a sign-and-trade agreement with the player’s former team. A player acquired through a sign-and-trade must sign a contract for at least three years, although the full guarantee must only be for the first season.
We have more on the Lakers:
- Describing Kessler as “a player (Luka) Doncic The biggest need is at center,” Woike quotes a team source as saying the Lakers believe the former Jazz center is a “perfect fit” with guards Doncic and Austin Reeves. Los Angeles will pay a high price to acquire Kessler, sending two first-round picks and two pick swaps to Utah as part of a sign-and-trade deal.
- Lakers head coach JJ Redick Has long been a fan of Grimes, team and league sources tell Wojka, who says the team’s four-year, $60 million contract for the former Sixer is a bet on his ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor.
- Everything indicates that there is a divorce between LeBron James and the Lakers went as smoothly as possible for such a separation between the superstar and the team. Woike hears from sources that James and Doncic had no personal issues with each other and that they bonded over their newfound love of golf, while Hobie Price of the California Post notes (via Twitter) that Doncic posted an Instagram story calling it an honor to “play and learn from” the four-time MVP. LeBron also responded to the Lakers’ statement calling him a “cherished part of the Lakers family” with an equally flattering message (Twitter link). “No, THANK YOU!” James wrote. “I’m honored to wear (the purple and gold) while trying to continue the greatness and legacy that came before me! I hope I made some proud during my tenure.”