Lakerholics

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Free agency

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Aloha,

I hear all the time that if LeBron wants to win another ring he needs to take a pay cut. That would be great next year when a boatload of quality free agents will be available. This year? Not so much. There are only a couple of guys that would help us and LeBron would have to give up way more than is reasonable to land them. Now if he gave up enough for us to use our full MLE, Alexander-Walker would be a great fit but I don’t know if LeBron would consider him. He’s not a Klay Thompson.

But there will be guys that could help this team for the tax payer MLE. Actually there will be a few guys that may help at the vet minimum. The new CBA has led to some pretty good players slipping through the cracks.

If you have been wishing we had perimeter defenders like the Pacers and OKC there is a guy that plays like that. Deanthony Melton will be a free agents and he plays like that and also shoots 37% from three. But there is risk involved. He only played 38 games 2 years ago and just 6 last year before tearing his ACL in November. He would be risky but that’s the only reason he will be available for the tax payer MLE. He should be at least close to ready by the beginning of the season.

Bruce Brown is another guy that should be available. He was set to sign the MLE with the Lakers until the Pacers over paid. Two underwhelming, injury riddled seasons later he is going to have to regain his value. He played pretty well for the Pels at the end of the year. He would be a good inexpensive pick up.

I fully expect the Lakers to pursue a starting level center in a trade. But it doesn’t mean they will be successful. If not Clint Capela is the best guy out there for the money we have to spend. He still rebounds, protects the rim and is a good roll man and lob threat. He is good enough to make us a better team. I like Steven Adams as well but Clint is a better fit with Luka.

I expect to see several guys for the minimum that can help us and with Luka and Lebron, I think we will be a preferred destination for those players.