Are Lakers prioritizing cap space over winning this year?
The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-3, Russell Westbrook is struggling, and the schedule isn't getting easier. However, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the team reportedly wants to let its roster get "a proper sample size of 20-25 games" before making any moves; that is, trading Westbrook. But recent reports indicate that the Lakers might rather preserve their 2023-24 cap space than to make a move to increase winning this year.
According to Jazz beat writer Tony Jones, the Lakers could have traded Westbrook and their first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 for a huge package from Utah, which included Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gay, plus an unspecified first-rounder in 2023. (The Jazz have three selections: Their own, Minnesota's, and the worst of Houston's, Brooklyn's or Philadelphia's picks.)
Obviously that would improve the Lakers' depth and three-point shooting. Bogdanovic is a 39% three-point shooter, Gay shoots 35% and Mike Conley has been one of the best point guards in the league for years. They're also all older players. Gay is 36, Conley is 35 and Bogdanovic is 33. Still, the 2023 draft pick would seemingly make the Lakers more willing to trade one of their own future picks. What held them back? The contracts.
Bogdanovic's deal expires after this season, but Gay has a player option for $6.5 million for 2023-24 that he's likely to pick up, and Conley's $24.4 million salary is guaranteed for $14.3 million even if he's waived. The Lakers have only four players on guaranteed deals for next season: Damion Jones ($2.6 million player option), second-rounder Max Christie ($1.7 million), and LeBron James and Anthony Davis ($44.5 million and $40.6 million). That means that the Lakers could have enough space for a maximum or near-maximum contract next summer. And that deal could very likely go to LeBron's old teammate Kyrie Irving.
That might be the holdup for the Lakers' rumored deal with the Indiana Pacers, which would send impending free agent Myles Turner and shooting guard Buddy Hield, who is owed $19.3 million in 2023-24. Would adding Turner and Hield to this team make them a contender? And is the upgrade this year worth sacrificing draft picks and cap space next year? James, Davis and Irving, plus whatever the team could assemble with its exceptions and minimum deals, might be a better shot at a final chip for LeBron than any possible roster this season.
The same holds for rumored deals with the Charlotte Hornets for Terry Rozier and/or Gordon Hayward — they're both signed for next season. It's a problem with trading Westbrook in general, because teams taking on Russ' massive deal want to dump future money in return. That's why the most likely Westbrook deal might involve the Spurs' Josh Richardson — and perhaps some combination of the expiring Jakob Poeltl and partially guaranteed Zach Collins deals.
The Lakers need to get rid of Westbrook. But they might be better off simply sending him home than taking back 2023-24 salary.
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