The Los Angeles Lakers have set their sights on bolstering the roster, in hopes of landing a superstar. Granted, as of now, they don’t have any assurance of what LeBron James will do, as it pertains to his player option, but the best way to ensure he stays is to surround him with a formidable roster.
This will be a difficult feat, as their salary cap sheet paints the picture of a team needing to shed salaries. Let’s take a look at four Lakers players whose contracts need to be absolved this summer.
4. Rui Hachimura
Rui Hachimura was a valuable acquisition for the Lakers last season, as he instantly gave the Lakers a shot in the arm and helped salvage what seemed to be a lost season.
Now that the dust has settled, his flaws are showing. He’s not consistent on the glass and he doesn’t bring much to the table when his shots aren’t falling. And he’s not a consistent enough scorer.
He’ll have 36 points against the Utah Jazz and eight points against the Golden State Warriors on primetime. He’ll go 1-of-4 from deep and 6-of-8 from deep.
The Lakers need more of a consistent option, especially when LeBron James sits. Hachimura hasn’t proven capable of being that.
However, he inked a three-year deal worth $51 million and is owed $35 million in the next two seasons. He presents ample salary filler for a trade this summer.
3. Gabe Vincent
Gabe Vincent has flat out been a giant disappointment. The Lakers had so much hope for him, coming off a 2023 postseason that saw him post averages of 12.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 37.8 percent from 3-point range (6.1 attempts).
It appeared as if the Lakers got a steal when they inked him to a three-year deal worth $33 million, essentially using their non-taxpayer midlevel exception on him. However, injuries have limited him to just five games, and he’s likely to miss the rest of the season.
Trading him could prove to be difficult, as his entire $33 million is guaranteed- i.e. no team option or player option. In other words, there are two more seasons on his deal, worth $22.5 million.
Perhaps the Miami Heat would be interested in bringing him back in a three-team trade, since he played so well for them. But getting rid of Vincent will be a tall order for Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, so much that it could force him to fork out draft capital just to move him.
He doesn’t have any trade value, as he missed the entire season with injuries and he doesn’t even prevent value as an expiring contract.
2. D’Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russell’s contract was designed to utilize him as essentially a human player exception, as he signed a one-plus-one deal worth $36 million. The Lakers tried trading him at the trade deadline, as they locked in on Dejounte Murray, but the Atlanta Hawks had no interest in bringing back long-term salary.
Russell has a player option for 2024-25 worth $18.7 million, which was enough of a drawback for the Hawks to sign off on a deal. Russell also turned it on shortly before the deadline, making it hard for the Lakers’ brass to justify moving him.
But they likely weren’t moved enough to give him an extension. Hell, he’s played well all season and has still found himself in heavy trade talks.
The Lakers’ brass didn’t forget about his disappearance in last year’s postseason. And he’s far too valuable as a salary filler, as any team acquiring him would be able to buy him out, or deal him to a team in need of a 41 percent 3-point shooter, who can also average 6.3 assists.
Not to mention still being just 27-years-old. In other words, the Lakers won’t have a hard time shedding his salary this summer, as there should be a good number of teams interested in his services.
1. Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves was a HELL of a find by the Lakers’ front office, as their scouts identified him and allowed the Lakers to land him without using a draft pick on him. The Lakers desperately needed Reaves to blossom after deciding against keeping Alex Caruso, despite his role on their championship roster.
Granted, Reaves is a much different player than Caruso (which is why he’s on this list). Caruso is a stellar defender on the wing who can also shoot from long-range.
Reaves isn’t nearly the defender that Caruso is. However, he has playmaking chops that Caruso doesn’t possess.
And he is a more consistent long-range shooter than Caruso. However, he was touted as the third banana for the Lakers, making a Big Three.
This was always far-fetched, much like the thoughts and assessments of him heading into the 2023-24 season. Any hopes of him taking a third-year leap were always lofty, as he’s simply not a superstar.
In fact, his long-range shooting regressed from 39.8 percent in 2022-23 to 36.5 percent in 2023-24. The Lakers got him on a fairly team-friendly deal, adding even more excitement. This alone made it a no-brainer to bring him back.
He could be the key to the Lakers getting a legitimate star, as he’s a young player with value as a shooter and playmaker. And he’s only under contract for two more years at roughly $12 million per year.
The Lakers’ chances of winning a title within the next two years with him as the third banana are quite slim. Getting rid of him for an upgrade is the move.
