Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting where each free agent will sign
By Jason Reed
As a part of the added salary cap space this summer, the Los Angeles Lakers have five big-name free agents; some of which are most likely leaving LA.
The goal for this offseason was simple: clear as much salary cap space as possible. The Los Angeles Lakers achieved that goal as the team has $61 million in practical cap space this summer.
Most of the free agents that the Lakers have this summer were not part of the long-term plans and simply were one-year rentals to free up this summer. With that being said, there is a very high chance that most, if not all, of the free agents this summer will walk away from the Lakers.
Realistically, the Lakers may only pursue one of these guys this summer (we’ll get to that later). If the team does not bring in any superstars, the front office may try to re-sign some of these guys to another one-year deal.
The five Laker free agents this summer are Channing Frye, Brook Lopez, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Isaiah Thomas and Julius Randle. Here is where we think each will land.
Channing Frye: Philadelphia 76ers
Channing Frye is at the point of his career where he is likely going to take a minimum contract with whatever contending team that is willing to sign him to fill up a roster spot. Of all the teams that this applies to, the Philadelphia 76ers seem like the best fit.
The 76ers need depth at power forward and Frye may actually get decent minutes during the regular season as a result. Not only that, he would be a great veteran presence for a young team that is losing their veterans to free agency this summer.
Plus, Frye is a former teammate of LeBron James. The 76ers are one of the final teams that are still considered to be in the LeBron sweepstakes.
Because of that, I see the 76ers inking Channing Frye to a minimum contract. His Lakers career was short regardless.