Set Number: X163867 TK1
The governor of the Los Angeles Lakers believes her team can win another title with James and Davis. Are those two stars and the roster around them enough?
Maybe they need more star power. Maybe Rich Paul and the Lakers should work together to bring another Klutch Sports Group client like Lavine to L.A.
That theory was brought up on The Hoop Collective by Brian Windhorst. The initial buzz that LaVine would re-sign with the Bulls has subsided, and the Blazers have popped up as a potential destination. It is not a big deal to tie that intel to the Lakers.
How could the franchise afford Lavine if Russell Westbrook opts into the final year of his contract at $47.1 million?
Lakers fans are hoping that LaVine can get to Los Angeles.
✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content 4ML @4MLZONELavine got Klutch for a reason. Either 2 force his way to a certain team (not Portland imo) or 2 get max frm Bulls. Other than security of 5yr deal (no1 shud blame him for that) - why stay in Chi? I think it cud be 2 force his way to LA. If he wants it bad - Klutch is the way.
The wish begins with the hope that LaVine will sign-and-trade him to the Lakers or leave as a free agent.
The San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail blazers have enough cap space to pay his salary.
Even if LaVine wanted Chicago to facilitate the move, would Los Angeles have the means to get a deal done under the complex rules of the collective bargaining agreement? The answer is yes. It is possible but very difficult.
The Lakers would not be able to sign LaVine at his price. The cap space would max out at over $30 million if the franchise sold every player besides James and Davis.
Los Angeles would need to trade Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and Westbrook without bringing back salary. It is nonsense to assume that LaVine would take a sizable discount to fit into space the Lakers aren't likely to have.
The only real solution would be a sign-and-trade, which has different issues, most notably a hard spending limit for the 2022-23 season. The Lakers only have $36.6 million left to complete their roster, with just James, Davis and LaVine under contract. It's not a good idea to keep the $47.1 million for Westbrook.
Even if Chicago were open to a one-to-one swap of LaVine for Westbrook, the math wouldn't work. With LaVine getting a significant raise, his outgoing trade value to the Bulls would be his 2021-22 salary of $19.5 million, which is $18.1 million short of contracts to match for Westbrook.
The Lakers and Bulls would need to find a third team if LaVine tried to make the fan theory a reality.
Is it possible for the Lakers to find a team that values Westbrook enough to take on his huge salary?
They may have several opportunities, but the price may be too high. The Lakers have to give the team a path to contention in order to take on long-term salary and/or draft considerations.
The only franchise with cap space before the 2022-23 calendar year begins is the Oklahoma City Thunder. If the player option and team option are exercised, the Thunder could take back Westbrook in exchange for Favors and Muscala.
If the Lakers and Oklahoma City can agree on draft considerations, it might help the Lakers in the long run, but not in the short run. When the guard is eligible to sign his next contract in July, Oklahoma City doesn't expect to have a lot of cap space.
The Pacers have a large trade exception that the Lakers might need to use to absorb Favors. Maybe some cash from the Lakers and a swap of Nos. 30 and 34 for the Pacers can satisfy everyone.
Los Angeles can't get LaVine directly. The Lakers could use a sign-and-trade to acquire LaVine in July if they were to trade for Muscala in June.
The trade exception and draft considerations are better for Chicago than losing its All-Star without compensation because of the assumption that LaVine is pushing for a trade or leaving as a free agent.
Chicago natives Horton-Tucker or Nunn could be offered by the Lakers. The Lakers are not required to stay below the hard cap.
The Pacers may be willing to get off the multiyear salaries of Malcolm and Buddy. There are three years left on his contract. There is an additional $8.9 million in unlikely incentives for Hield.
Indiana can drop under the cap in July. If the Lakers have enough draft considerations to give the Pacers and Bulls enough incentive to trade for each other, Indiana could have the space to do an unbalanced trade for the Bulls.
That may be a better idea as a salary dump for the Pacers because of the struggles of Brogdon. Do the Bulls think he's an asset or a liability? Do you think Chicago would prefer the more durable Hield?
The Detroit Pistons are expected to move Jerami Grant this summer. Grant is going into his final season with a starting salary of up to $25.1 million.
The Pistons could have enough cap room, while retaining Marvin Bagley III, to trade Grant for Westbrook, either directly to the Lakers or the Bulls in a three-way deal. Adding a long defender and scorer in Grant could be a win for Chicago.
The Lakers have to compensate the Pistons for taking on Westbrook. The market should be established ahead of the draft, but the early buzz is that the Trail Blazers are interested in Grant.
If the Magic can stay where they are, they could add an elite prospect. The team may move on from Jonathan Issac, who missed the past two seasons after a knee injury.
His remaining three years and $52.2 million is now guaranteed because of specific injury exclusions in his contract. The team-friendly savings only kick in if the player is waived.
If the team drafts Holmgren, the Magic could look to trade Mo Bamba to another team.
Would Chicago be willing to take Ross, Horton-Tucker and a first-round pick from the Lakers if LaVine left?
What would the Lakers have to give to get the Magic to use their cap room on Westbrook? Would the Magic need a first-round selection if they dumped Isaac and Ross?
Maybe none of the teams are willing to do business with the Lakers. Maybe L.A. doesn't have enough to get off his salary and bring back high-level talent.
There is no evidence that LaVine will leave Chicago to go to Los Angeles. It is just fan fiction.
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