The Los Angeles Lakers may have had the most interesting summer in the league. One moment, fans praise the team’s front office for moments like June 23rd when they selected Brandon Ingram No. 2 overall in the draft.
One week later, the team signs free agent Timofey Mozgov to a four-year deal paying $16 million annually. Fans are left confused, questioning but praising the team’s various moves. Days later, Luol Deng is inked to a multi-year deal, and Jose Calderon is acquired via trade.
For taking the veteran Calderon off of Chicago’s hands (who were seeking a suitor for him in order to sign Dwyane Wade), the Lakers were awarded two future draft picks. One questionable move, one admired move.
According to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders, Los Angeles is open to using its mass amount of cap space to acquire another player in a similar salary-dump deal:
The Lakers do have an unnamed trade target in mind, but are also preserving space for another opportunistic Calderon-like deal.
Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers brass seem to be aiming towards keeping its four-man youth core of Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram (once officially signed), and Julius Randle intact in an overall goal of being competitive in the future. The acquisitions of Luol Deng, Jose Calderon, and perhaps another veteran would help serve as mentors, locker room leaders that help keep them focused on improving every day.
Many speculate the Lakers are intentionally staying flexible, perhaps even for next summer’s free agency period. The team has held off on signing Tarik Black, Marcelo Huertas, and others thus far.
Should Plan B arise, and the Lakers ultimately decide to make a blockbuster trade, it would only add to what’s been one of the most fascinating time periods in recent memory for the Lakers.
