The Los Angeles Lakers were fortunate to move up in the 2019 NBA Draft, jumping from the No. 11 pick all the way up to No. 4. While this figures to be a major asset for the Lakers moving forward, there is a cost that comes with having a higher pick: less cap space.
On this episode of the Lakers Nation Podcast, host Trevor Lane is joined by Keith Smith of Yahoo to break down the team’s cap situation with the No. 4 pick, which carries a higher guaranteed salary than the No. 11. What will that mean for their pursuit of All-Stars on the free agent market this summer?
We break down all of the options that they will have moving forward, including a scenario that would see the Lakers land a top-tier player like Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, or Jimmy Butler. Doing so would burn up most if not all of their cap space, so how could general manager Rob Pelinka and the rest of the Lakers front office fill in the rest of the roster? There is a way but it’s going to require some spot-on decision making.
Additionally, with the Lakers still rumored to be one of the teams that will attempt to trade for Anthony Davis this summer, can they make such a trade and still be a player on the free agent market? Could the Lakers find themselves with a big three of LeBron James, Davis, and perhaps Irving?
There are plenty of options available to Los Angeles but working around the cap could be a challenge. We chart out all the possible courses for the Lakers as they prepare to embark upon an incredibly important summer.