Los Angeles Lakers: Looks like a trade might be the only way this summer
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest priority this summer is adding a second superstar to the roster and it is looking like that will come via trade.
The promise of the Los Angeles Lakers getting a second superstar has been present throughout the fanbase for the last several years. Even before the team landed LeBron James, fans were anticipating two stars to lead the prestigious franchise back to the NBA Championship.
The Lakers obviously landed the NBA’s top superstar in James last season but were unable to cash in on the two superstar promise. Instead, the team decided to exclusively sign one-year contracts to keep the cap flexible.
Those contracts are expired and the Lakers have the cap space to sign a max superstar this offseason. The only problem is that the Lakers might not even get the chance to sign a second star.
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This is one of the greatest free agent classes in recent memory and because of that, several teams are gearing up for a big summer. The Clippers freed up space for two max stars, as did the New York Knicks, by trading superstars Blake Griffin and Kristaps Porzingis, respectively.
A new team has entered the fray as the Brooklyn Nets opened up salary cap space in their trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Brooklyn now has enough space to sign a max star and re-sign D’Angelo Russell or could even sign two superstars and allow Russell to walk.
Either way, that is enough space to house five superstars. Theoretically, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson could all sign with those teams, leaving the Lakers out to dry.
The bad thing for the Lakers is that all of those stars have had ties to the other teams, not the Lakers. Irving and Leonard have had some connection to the Lakers, but not as strong as the other teams.
It really feels like Laker fans should be gearing up for a summer in which they do not sign a star. Luckily, the Los Angeles Lakers have young trade assets to make a deal.
It is a risky game to play, though. While the Lakers could make a great deal for Anthony Davis, there is a chance they could also make a desperate move for, say, someone like Chris Paul.
This might not be the preferred route as the Lakers are going to have to give up roster depth in order to make the deal happen. However, with the Nets emerging in the race for a star, it really seems like the Lakers are going to come out of free agency empty-handed.
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This doesn’t mean that the Los Angeles Lakers will not have two superstars on the court together next season. I just wouldn’t expect that superstar to come via free agency.