Lakers' struggles reportedly fueling aggressive NBA negotiation tactics

According to NBA insider Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, the Los Angeles Lakers have tried to trade for Jerami Grant, Kyle Kuzma, Bruce Brown, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Wendell Carter Jr.

The Lakers haven’t made any moves via free agency or trade this offseason. 

“In each case, sources close to the Lakers and around the league feel the executives on the other side of negotiations inflated the asking price in the hopes of taking advantage of a front office that needs to do something,” Irwin reported. 

The Lakers lost Taurean Prince to the Milwaukee Bucks and Spencer Dinwiddie to the Dallas Mavericks. Rookies Bronny James and Dalton Knecht are the only new players on the roster. 

Los Angeles lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. Darvin Ham was fired as head coach and former NBA shooting guard JJ Redick was hired. 

Redick has yet to coach above the youth level. He played 15 years in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers attempted to sign Klay Thompson, but the four-time NBA champion signed with the Mavericks. 

“Another major factor in the Lakers’ stagnant summer: a league that feels it can take advantage of what it considers an inept and desperate organization,” Irwin reported. “For years, fans have decried a ‘Lakers tax’ that raises asking prices in trade negotiations. While it’s certainly true teams don’t like helping the Lakers if they can avoid it, league sources say the focus is more on getting the Lakers to pay up with the understanding eventually Rob Pelinka will have to save his job with some kind of move.”

The Lakers are shopping D’Angelo Russell, who picked up his 2024-25 player option worth $18.7M. However, no deals have materialized.