The first week of free agency came and went, and the Lakers did next to nothing. Aside from bringing in experienced coaches to JJ Redick’s staff and re-signing LeBron James and Max Christie—both notable “wins” this summer—this offseason has left way more to be desired for the Lakers. However, with LeBron’s restructured contract keeping them under the second apron—albeit barely—the team may have some flexibility to still make improvements, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jovan Buha:
“James’ new contract puts the Lakers at just under the $188.9 million second apron. If the Lakers can salary dump a couple of their veteran minimum contracts — attaching a second-round pick to entice a trade partner — they’d create two roster spots and the flexibility to use the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception. The Lakers have preferred to enter previous seasons with only 14 players on their roster for flexibility in trades and on the buyout market.”
The report also noted there are two players the Lakers could look to add if they free up enough money and space.
The Lakers have kept an eye on Gary Trent Jr. since the trade deadline in hopes of acquiring another shooter next to James and Anthony Davis. In 71 games (41 starts) for the Toronto Raptors, Trent Jr. averaged 13.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 42% from the field, 39% from three and 77% from the free-throw line. Shooting is clearly the 25-year-old’s best attribute—case in point, he led the league in wide-open threes this season.
Trent Jr. is coming off of a three-year, $51 million contract with the Raptors, who are unlikely to bring him back after a flurry of their own moves, as detailed by Sports Illustrated’s Aaron Rose:
“First, the organization spent its first-round pick on Trent’s replacement Ja’Kobe Walter, and then Toronto took on salary in a trade with the Sacramento Kings that further limited the organization’s ability to re-sign Trent. If the fact that Toronto hadn’t already extended Trent wasn’t a clear enough sign that the Raptors have moved on, the organization’s offseason maneuvering should be.”
As the list of available free agents continues to grow thin, the Lakers should take a flier on Trent Jr., a guard/forward who can both shoot and defend at a high level. He would be a seamless fit as a starter or bench player, and he wouldn’t have to bear much of the offensive load compared to D’Angelo Russell or Austin Reaves.
Veteran Spencer Dinwiddie joined the Lakers off of the post-deadline buyout market last season, and his production left mixed results. In 28 games (4 starts), the LA native averaged 6.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists on .397/.389/.880 splits. He was not productive during the Lakers’ first-round series against the Nuggets, averaging 14 minutes a game and putting up a mere three points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 35% shooting from the field. Still, Dinwiddie was a solid solution to their point guard troubles, and had his bright moments, too. His best game as a Laker came on Mar. 24, when he put up 26 points (8/11 FG, 2/3 3PT) and five assists, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal in a thrilling 150-145 win.
Dinwiddie reiterated his desire to rejoin the Lakers during his exit interview.
“…if the Lakers want me back, I’d love to be back. Everything I said about this being a childhood dream and being able to play in my hometown, parents at every game, stuff like that, you couldn’t imagine anything better. Also playing alongside arguably the greatest player of all-time, right? There’s nothing really better than that.”
As it stands right now, the team’s true point guards are Russell, Gabe Vincent, Bronny James and Jalen Hood-Schifino. While some may see the Lakers as being full of facilitators, Vincent and Hood-Schifino are question marks due to season-ending surgeries. Bronny, on the other hand, is a rookie who will more than likely spend time in the G League. Re-signing Dinwiddie is a plausible move by the Lakers. They would keep a familiar face who can both play spot minutes and continue to mentor younger players, a role he’s embraced since his time with the Brooklyn Nets.
As Charania and Buha mentioned, the only way to free up those roster spots is by dumping minimum-salary players along with a second-round pick. That significantly limits the players LA could include in trades, but names to watch on that front are Christian Wood and Cam Reddish. Both were in the Lakers’ rotation at various points throughout the season, but their respective salaries may be the easiest ones to move. And although big man Jaxson Hayes is also a minimum-salary player, the Lakers have shown an increased reluctance to trade him.
Any sort of big trade involving Russell or Rui Hachimura is on a sailing ship at this point. With GM Rob Pelinka swinging and missing on most available free agents and trade targets, the only option now is improvement around the edges with the continually-preached theme of continuity.
