The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly targeting Gary Trent Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie as potential additions to their roster. To make this possible, the Lakers will need to clear enough cap space to use their taxpayer midlevel exception, according to NBA insider Julia Stumbaugh.
Spencer Dinwiddie, who joined the Lakers last season after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets, could be re-signed on a veteran minimum contract. During his stint with the Lakers, Dinwiddie averaged 6.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 28 appearances. His familiarity with the team and his ability to contribute off the bench make him a viable and cost-effective option for the Lakers.
Gary Trent Jr., on the other hand, is a free agent who last played for the Toronto Raptors. Trent Jr. had a productive season, averaging 13.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists over 71 games. Acquiring Trent Jr. would likely require the Lakers to trade assets to match his salary demands, making it a more complex transaction. However, his scoring ability and defensive skills would be valuable additions to the Lakers’ roster.
LeBron James has taken a nearly $3 million discount on his new contract to keep the Lakers under the second apron, which imposes significant financial and roster-building restrictions. By signing a two-year, $101.355 million deal instead of the maximum $104 million, James has provided the Lakers with some financial flexibility. His contract includes a player option, a no-trade clause, and a 15 percent trade kicker.
The Lakers are just under the $188.9 million second apron, and they may need to salary dump a couple of veteran minimum contracts, potentially attaching a second-round pick to entice a trade partner.
This would create two roster spots and the flexibility to use the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception. The Lakers have historically preferred to enter seasons with only 14 players on their roster to maintain flexibility in trades and the buyout market.
By staying below the second apron, the Lakers avoid harsher restrictions that include limitations on trading first-round picks, using cash-in deals, and utilizing the midlevel exception. Instead, they are only subject to first-apron restrictions, which are less severe but still impactful.
These include being unable to acquire a player via sign-and-trade, being limited to using only the taxpayer midlevel exception, and not being allowed to use a pre-existing trade exception or take back additional salary in trades.
James had previously considered taking a more substantial pay cut to allow the Lakers to sign a notable player for the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. However, the list of players he would have taken a discount for, including James Harden, Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan, and Jonas Valanciunas, did not materialize within the available price range.
Currently, the Lakers’ roster stands at 15 players, meaning they will need to make a consolidation trade if they want to open up a new roster spot to accommodate any new additions like Trent Jr. and Dinwiddie.
Lakers Will Need To Give Up 2 First-Round Picks To Land Jerami Grant
According to NBA insider Sean Highkin, the Los Angeles Lakers will need to part with two first-round picks to acquire Jerami Grant from the Portland Trail Blazers. Highkin noted that if the Lakers are willing to give up both of their first-round picks, they can find a way to manage the financial aspects of the trade.
However, if they are not willing to include both picks, it wouldn’t be worthwhile for Portland to deal with the additional salary and roster management complexities.
Jerami Grant is an appealing target for the Lakers, given his performance last season. Grant averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 45.1% from the field and 40.1% from three-point range. His scoring ability and defensive prowess make him a valuable asset for any team looking to bolster their roster.
Grant still has four years remaining on his $160 million contract, which poses a significant financial commitment. To accommodate this, the Lakers would likely need to trade D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura, whose combined salaries total over $35 million. This move would help create the necessary cap space for the Blazers to take on Grant’s contract.
However, simply offloading these players and their salaries won’t be enough to entice Portland. The Lakers will need to sweeten the deal with two first-round picks, which could significantly impact their future draft assets. The inclusion of these picks would demonstrate the Lakers’ commitment to acquiring Grant and signal their intention to compete at the highest level in the near term.
While such a trade would strengthen the Lakers’ roster with a proven scorer and defender like Grant, it also involves a considerable risk. Losing two first-round picks and key players like Russell and Hachimura would deplete the team’s future assets and depth. Nonetheless, if the Lakers believe that acquiring Grant can elevate them to championship contenders, the trade might be a calculated gamble worth taking.
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