With an open roster slot and space to add a buyout player, the Lakers appear poised to surpass the trade deadline among all the chaos. They sent away two players in Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish in exchange for Mark Williams, but they only brought the big guy back.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations, has experience in this role. The Lakers have consistently participated in the buyout market during his time in the front office.
They struck out Spencer Dinwiddie then hit Markieff Morris for a home run. Andre Drummond was signed sometime in the middle between those two.
When it comes to recruiting and signing players that were bought out of their contracts, the Lakers have kept a constant presence, regardless of the outcome. But things will look a little different this season.
Buyouts are the most recent pleasure that fans will have the opportunity to see firsthand. The new CBA is a present that keeps on giving. The CBA has certain language that will actually restrict who the top clubs may purchase
because of the misplaced concern over other teams signing buyout players.
A buyout player whose prior contract exceeded the non-taxpayer mid-level exemption cannot be signed by any team above the first apron. That amounts to $12.8 million this year.
For instance, a player earning $13 million, such as Dennis Schröder, is unable to join with a team that pays more than the first apron. Bruce Brown, who has been a Lakers trade target for a long time and was allegedly involved in the Raptors’ acquisition of Brandon Ingram, also fits that description with a $23 million salary this season.
The Lakers are now $6.9 million over the first apron ahead of the trade deadline. There is a slim chance that they may try to cut some contracts in order to make room for a player like Brown.
It would make the most sense to ship off a player like Maxi Kleber, who will earn $11 million this season and next and probably won’t play any games. The Lakers’ lack of assets will be their issue in that situation.
Only one tradeable second-round selection and two pick swaps remain for the franchise. For what is undoubtedly an all-in move for this season, is it worthwhile to include their remaining limited draft capital? It’s still a gamble, but they would undoubtedly need some guarantees about who would be available and that they would sign.
Because of the new CBA, the Lakers will need to do these calculations this season. CJ McCollum deserves yet another heartfelt thank you for that.
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