Lakers' trade deadline was a success even if they miss playoffs

LeBron James' injury might cost the Lakers a playoff spot. But their deadline moves were still a success.

Los Angeles added six players in three trades before the deadline in a move to remake their playoff roster. They've gone 5-2 since the deadline and moved within a game of the play-in tournament, but with James out with a foot injury for at least the next three weeks, contending is unrealistic.

But that doesn't mean the moves were a failure. In all their dealing, the Lakers traded away a 2027 first-round pick that's protected 1-4, dealt four second-round picks, and got two second-rounders back. Not only did they upgrade their rotation, they left themselves with far more options this summer. Team president Rob Pelinka even referred to the moves as "pre-agency."

Rui Hachimura is a restricted free agent, meaning the Lakers can match any offer he gets. Mo Bamba and Malik Beasley are signed to reasonable contracts next year, but they're both non-guaranteed options that the Lakers can pick up or decline by June 29. Power forward Jarred Vanderbilt is signed to a $4.6 million deal, but only $300K is guaranteed. Davon Reed's $2 million deal is, you guessed it, non-guaranteed.

In total, those three players represent over $32 million in non-guaranteed salaries, though the Lakers would have to increase the guarantee amount to use them in trades. Creating maximum salary cap space would have been difficult, so the Lakers will simply operate as an over-the-cap team, which will also give them a cap exception worth around $7 million to sign free agents.

One problem with trying to deal Russell Westbrook this year was that the sheer size of his contract limited their flexibility. Having more, smaller deals to aggregate is easier, should a star become available or desperately want to play with James.

D'Angelo Russell is an unrestricted free agent, but the Lakers can go over the salary cap to re-sign him. They can also sign-and-trade him, provided they don't go over the salary cap apron.

The sign-and-trade option could also allow them to reunite James with Kyrie Irving, should things go sour in Dallas. They've also amassed a few trade exceptions, further increasing flexibility.

Regardless of the next moves, or where the Lakers finish 2022-23, looking at a roster with actual NBA players at each position and options on trades puts the Lakers in a much rosier place this summer. It just might not put them in the playoffs.