FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
…
TEAMS WITH PROJECTED CAP SPACE:
Washington Wizards: $80.9 million
LA Clippers: $67.6 million
Los Angeles Lakers: $55.6 million
Utah Jazz: $48.4 million
Brooklyn Nets: $44.4 million
Chicago Bulls: $35.0 million
…
In order for the Lakers to get here with cap space, they’ll have to cut ties with LeBron James. Or, of course, James could make that decision for Los Angeles by retiring.
This would also mean clearing the books of every other free agent, minus Austin Reaves’ cap hold and Marcus Smart opting in.
But that doesn’t mean all of the other Lakers would be gone. They’d just take care of them using cap space or the Room Exception.
Or, as we’ve seen before, that cap space could be used to get a co-star for Doncic and Reaves.
…
KEY 2026 SALARY CAP SETTINGS:
Salary Cap: $166 million
Salary Floor: $149.4 million
Luxury Tax: $201.7 million
First Apron: $210.3 million
Second Apron: $223.1 million
Looking at the numbers our best lineup after the trade was Luka, Reaves, Rui, and DFS. Since Dorian is gone that last spot is up for grabs unless time finally catches up with LeBron.
It’s funny, there’s actually not one single lineup combo that has a positive point differential that DOESN’T have Rui in it. Not sure where you picked up your blinders in regards to Rui’s impact.
Anyhow, I seriously doubt Smart takes over Reaves’ spot or LaRiva Rui’s. In all honesty, the only threat I see to either player has been on the roster awhile. Nine other than our own Jared Vanderbilt and that’s only if he shows some kind of two way game.
Other than that both Jake and Marcus both have such defensive/offensive issues, respectively, I think they’ll have a hard time supplanting either player.
Ayton, now there’s a question mark. Clearly he’s an upgrade over Hayes but is he an upgrade over a small ball lineup that features James at the 5? THAT’S the question we should all be debating.