What's next for LeBron James and the Lakers after Kawhi Leonard's trade?



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The opportunity to negotiate for Kawhi Leonard this summer is off the table for the Los Angeles Lakers, unless there is a surprising change of plan after Leonard was given to the Toronto Raptors earlier this week.

So now for the Lakers hoping to add a second star player to complete newly signed LeBron James?


The 2018-1919 Alignment of the Lakers Nearing Completion

When the Lakers formally entered into agreements for JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson last week, they ran out of their ceiling space, l & # 39; The $ 4.49 million mid-level exception is the only way for LA to add a free agent who earns more than the minimum wage. At this point, it seems that the Lakers could leave the exception of the unused room.

Already, the Lakers have 14 players under guaranteed contract for 2018-2019, and they began filling out their roster for the training camp by signing Joel Berry and Jeffrey Carroll as undrafted free agents. Add in the two-way contract for Alex Caruso and the Lakers have three remaining spots on their 20-player camp list

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It remains to be seen if the group of free agents that the Lakers have added on one year transactions, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Rajon Rondo, in addition to McGee and Stephenson, can live up to the front office vision of putting playmakers and defenders around LeBron. The focus put by the team on adding perimeter depth will certainly give Luke Walton some intriguing options.

With McGee the only experienced center of training, including first-round pick Moritz Wagner and Ivica Zubac's Reversal Reserve, Walton should have plenty of opportunities to try out queues smaller and faster with James in the center. A Lakers leader told Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report that the coaching staff was "eager to see" what he called their Golden State Warriors "Death Line", with LeBron in the midst of the recent Lakers draft – Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart at the front and Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma at the front.

The success or failure of these units could determine how much the Lakers give priority to adding a traditional center to their base. In the short term, the list of Lakers is flawed enough that they do not seem to challenge the Warriors and the Houston Rockets for the supremacy of the Western Conference. Given the depth of the conference, the Lakers are not even badured of a playoff spot, but it would likely be a long absence of James for the Lakers to end up in the lottery

. suggests that they are looking more at what they can do in 2019-20 and beyond rather than trying to squeeze every possible win this season. Thus, one-year contracts for veterans to preserve team ceiling space and multi-year contracts with unsecured seasons for second-round picks Isaac Bonga and Svi Mykhailiuk, players potential for future Lakers teams

Where do LeBron James go and the Lakers? right here? Larry W. Smith / EPA

Where the Lakers lie for the summer of 2019

Depending on where the hood comes in and where their first-round pick falls, the Lakers are currently planning to have somewhere in the neighborhood of $ 24 million in the space of Cape next summer. Remember, however, this total still includes Luol Deng. In one of the most startling developments of the summer, the Lakers kept Deng rather than stretching it because they were unable to convince another maximum free agent (eg, Paul George) to Join James in LA

If the Lakers stretch Deng next summer, his salary will only be paid for two years instead of three, and at a slightly lower amount ($ 6.2 million). So stretching Deng would allow the Lakers up to about $ 36 million in projected ceiling space, more than enough to sign a player with seven to nine years of experience at a max contract.

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Since Deng will have more than one salary season, it is possible that the Lakers are able to eliminate it entirely through trade without having to give up several choices first round. For example, if the Lakers could convince a team to take Deng with their first-round pick of 2019, that would bring them up to $ 43 million in ceiling space.

With this kind of money, the Lakers could sign Leonard or another free agent max with 7-9 years of experience, a group that also includes Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and Kemba Walker . Then, they would still have about $ 11 million in the planned ceiling space, perhaps enough to convince Caldwell-Pope or Rondo to stay on another one year contract. By that time, the Lakers would be able to re-sign them for more money on a long-term deal in the summer of 2020 using bird rights. (Deng Trading would also position the Lakers to make a maximum bid to a player with more than 10 years of experience, with Kevin Durant as a potential target there.)

Ideally, the Lakers will then see Ball or Ingram stand develop into the third star that has been a necessary part of the championship formula in recent years. Already, the recent Lakers draft are likely to give solid players at the worst to Hart (MVP Las Vegas Summer League 2018) and Kuzma (first team All-Rookie).


Can the Lakers still negotiate for Kawhi?

Assuming Leonard reports and pbades a physical in Toronto, it is still conceivable that the Lakers could acquire it this season via trade. After all, an obstacle – the San Antonio Spurs reported the refusal to treat Leonard against a rival of the Western Conference in general and the Lakers in particular – this is no longer an obstacle . Nevertheless, a second Leonard business remains a long shot.

Of course, the Raptors have arranged for Leonard to try to win with him this season. So, it is realistic for Toronto to return Leonard only if the underachieving team and Kawhi remain healthy enough to contribute this year. Otherwise, there is not much interest for the Lakers or for anyone else, since the only advantage that it offers is the opportunity to offer at Leonard raises 8 percent again he signs back rather than the 5 percent that he can sign.

If such an opportunity materializes, the Lakers should weigh the benefit of Leonard's addition this season and increase their chances of reclaiming it against the cost of abandoning young talent and draft picks . If the Lakers are certain that they can sign Leonard as a free agent and do not think that they can compete with the Warriors this year, they are better to wait until next summer and will Try to add Leonard to their existing core without giving up anything in return.

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