Ever since Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers, it became clear that they see him a long term solution to be the face of the franchise. With LeBron James turning 40 in December last year, it likely dawned upon the front office that Anthony Davis was not the long-term solution for their needs. After the Lakers were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs, they immediately set their sights on what they need to do in the off season to improve the roster.
While speaking to the media, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka made his feelings abundantly clear on the Lakers building their future around Luka Doncic and how excited he is going into the off-season, looking at potential trade targets and free agents they could sign.
When talking about building the Lakers roster around Doncic, Pelinka said, “When you make a huge trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center for a point guard, of course, that’s going to create significant issues with the roster. We saw some of those play out. One of our primary goals is going to be to add size to our frontcourt at the center position.” The Lakers have assessed several options to add size to their frontcourt.
He further added, “I think this offseason there is going to be a lot of movement around the NBA. There are so many aggressive leaders of organizations that are expecting (immediate) success. I think there will be a lot of opportunities for [us] to look at. I’m excited about what will come our way.”
Beyond a potential lob threat in the center position, the Lakers will also look to add a defensive wing. According to Pelinka, the Lakers will benefit from “solidifying our defensive core on the wings and just making sure that we have players that can defend the wing position,” calling that an “essential need.”
Some strong options in that position include Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga. The former Warrior, Wiggins, comes with a championship pedigree, as not many expect him to stay in Miami next season. And Kuminga’s future in the Warriors has been a persistent question ever since Jimmy Butler joined them. Their similar playing style and impact have caused Kuminga to become the second fiddle to Butler and lose significant minutes in the game while coming off the bench.
This makes it even clearer that the Lakers are looking at the blueprint of what the Mavericks did to build a roster around Doncic. Other than lob threats like Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, the defensive wing, was also key in the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals last season. Similarly, the Lakers will look to bring on a solid defender in the wing positions.
The Lakers’ financial flexibility will be a key factor in determining the potential moves they will be able to make in the offseason. However, with a $52.6 million player option looming for LeBron James, and Doncic being eligible for a four-year $228.6 million extension, the options will become very limited for the Lakers.
Moreover, Austin Reaves, the coveted No. 3 option for the Lakers on offense, is also eligible for a four-year $90 million extension. And while he is likely not to accept that extension, in case he does, it will tie the Lakers’ hands even more in terms of financial flexibility to make a big move. With the salary cap for next season being projected at $155 million, approximately $130 million will already be appropriated to their top three stars. That will severely impact the Lakers’ ability to sign or trade for anybody.
The simple solution is that the Lakers need to discuss this with LeBron James and convince him to turn down his player option for next season and sign a more financially viable extension with the Lakers. James is predicted to play at least one more season and potentially wait for his second son, Bryce, to get drafted to the NBA before announcing retirement.
Do you think LeBron James should pick up his player option or take a hit to his earnings for the betterment of the Lakers? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
