Pre-Draft Outlook
The Lakers have too many positional needs, and not enough salary cap space or even a Draft pick to fill it. Since Russell Westbrook has until June 29 to sign or decline his $47 million player option, the Lakers can’t even explore a pre-Draft trade and at least gauge the market. The Lakers have not ruled out trying the Westbrook experiment for another season with new coach Darvin Ham and presumably more than 21 games to mesh with fellow stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Nonetheless, the Lakers will try to see if any of the 29 teams bite on Westbrook’s contract as bait — assuming he signs his player option.
A Stat That Matters
6.0 — The Lakers allowed 6.0 more points per 100 possessions in 2021-22 (112.8, 21st) than they did in ’20-21 (106.8, 1st). That was the league’s biggest jump.
The Way To Go
Even with a new coach and more time next season to gel, Westbrook has not shown much willingness to adjust his role or his style of play. The Lakers can’t undo a bad deal by making another bad deal to correct it. But, if they did trade him, they could (in theory) land a handful of role players — and perhaps a rookie or two — that fill positional needs and bolster the team’s defense, too.
Under Contract
G: Talen Horton-Tucker
F: LeBron James
F: Anthony Davis
Free Agents
G: D.J. Augustin (unrestricted)
G: Avery Bradley (unrestricted)
G: Wayne Ellington (unrestricted)
G: Austin Reaves (team option)
G: Mason Jones (restricted)
G: Mac McClung (restricted)
G: Malik Monk (unrestricted)
G: Kendrick Nunn (player option)
G: Russell Westbrook (player option)
G/F: Kent Bazemore (unrestricted)
F/G: Stanley Johnson (team option)
F: Carmelo Anthony (unrestricted)
F: Wenyen Gabriel (team option)
G: Mason Jones (restricted)
G: Quincy Douby (restricted)
C/F: Dwight Howard (unrestrictred)
> 2022 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2021: Isaiah Jackson (22)**
** = traded in draft-night deal
— Mark Medina