Yesterday the Los Angeles Lakers took a step in the right direction in hiring their new GM. Rob Pelinka has..."/> Yesterday the Los Angeles Lakers took a step in the right direction in hiring their new GM. Rob Pelinka has..."/> Yesterday the Los Angeles Lakers took a step in the right direction in hiring their new GM. Rob Pelinka has..."/>
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Lakers Rumors: Three Moves for the New GM

By Jason Reed

Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers bench is clearly disappointed with the score late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers bench is clearly disappointed with the score late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Weed Out Big Contracts

The Lakers paid way to much for Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng – that’s an understatement. Combined the two are being paid $34 million this season and take up roughly 38% of the Lakers salary cap. As you may know, the Salary is expanding and will give the Lakers more comfort in these contracts, but that does not negate the disasters they are. The hardest thing for Pelinka and company is to find a team willing to make this deal.

Whether they need to trade a draft pick along with one of them should not stop the deal from happening. The only way I see this deal occurring is the Lakers traded for an even worse player that makes similar money. However, the trick being trade for a player with a shorter contract, thus being locked for less amounts of time. I know it is easy to play the role of General Manager in front of my computer screen, but the Lakers can expedite the process but getting rid of their long, expensive, contracts.

They don’t need to necessarily deal both of them soon, but at least get rid of one when the trades open back up. Dealing either will give them at least $35 million in cap space. This will help when approaching big free agents this off-season, something that they should undoubtedly do.

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