How Lakers can strengthen the watch list in the acquisition market after failed Hornets -Agreement

Lakers seemed to meet their need for a long -term starting center as they acquired Mark Williams from Charlotte Hornets ahead of February 6 NBA trading deadline. However, they abolished the trade after finding “more questions” under his physical and left them in a desperate need for more frontcourt depth and no obvious way to find it in the short term.

Fortunately, Lakers has just enough space under the second apron to make an addition or two.

Lakers currently have $ 187.3 million in pay on their books, leaving them $ 1.6 million under the second apron. They are hard-wing at the second apron after total contracts in Luka Dončić trade, which means they are not allowed to exceed this threshold at any time between now and 30 June.

A minimum full-season contract for everyone with two or more years of NBA experience is almost $ 2.1 million this season, which can be problematic for Lakers at first glance. Fortunately, players who are signed via the minimal player pay exception to the player have their contracts calculated based on the number of days left in the regular season.

From February 10, a minimum agreement of the season would be approx. $ 755,000. This means that Lakers could give up up to two players and sign two new players for minimum contracts with rest-of-season without crossing the other apron. They have also not yet used their taxpayer at middle-level exception that began to prove on January 10th-It is still over $ 4 million-but they are not allowed to spend the full amount because it would push them over the other apron .

Since Lakers is over the first apron, they also cannot sign anyone in the buyout market that earlier earned more than $ 12.8 million. Fortunately, it does not appear that an influence that the great man will shake off at that price. Instead, Lakers are likely to have to go to negotiating hunting.

Alex Len is perhaps the best option in that regard. The Washington Wizards waived the 31-year-old after that Shams Charania from ESPN. However, Dustin Dopopleak of Indianapolis Star reported Monday that these plans have since fallen through.

According to Espns Dave McMenamine, Cam Reddish and Christian Wood are the most likely candidates to be waived if Lakers pursues an exemption center. They sound motivated to strengthen their frontcourt in the wake of the failed williams -trade too As McMenamine reported.

“We find another center path, the path is always there. We just have to put in the work to find it. “

This thorny situation is a good example of why every dollar matters in the NBA’s new second-April era. If Lakers needs to give the Len more than a calculated minimum contract for the season to lure him to LA, it could cost them the ability to add another player later in the year.

They still have some respiratory room under the other apron, but not much. Fortunately, it should be enough to help them consolidate their frontcourt as they search for a plan B after the Williams trade fell through.

Unless otherwise stated, all statistics via Nba.comAt PBPStatsAt Cleaning the glass or Basketball reference. All salary information via Salary Swish and information on wage capital via Real alga.

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