Here's the LA Lakers' Best Path to a Superteam
After LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals in 2017, James declared he had never played on a superteam.
His 2016 champion Cavaliers with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love? Not a superteam.
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Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and James winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat? Still no.
But what about his next destination? The Los Angeles Lakers hope to build something special this summer around James, and they're armed with more cap room than any other franchise, with nearly $60 million in spending power.
That's almost enough to sign both Paul George and James outright. Los Angeles may even have the flexibility to go after disgruntled San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard to play with James and George. Or it could retain restricted free agent Julius Randle.
What's the Lakers' best path to creating a superteam? They could follow this blueprint.
Step 1: Convince the Spurs to Trade Kawhi Leonard
The most difficult step would be landing Leonard since it's on the Spurs to deal him to Los Angeles. According to USA Today's Sam Amick, they are reportedly unwilling to help a Western Conference rival. The Lakers would likely need to give up at least Brandon Ingram to get a conversation going with San Antonio, but that may still be a non-starter.
But according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne, "the Spurs haven't ruled out trading Leonard to the Lakers or another Western Conference team," although the price for the All-Star forward will be high.
The key would be a three-way deal with a team like the Atlanta Hawks taking on the $36.8 million owed to Luol Deng over the next two seasons along with draft considerations.
If the Lakers landed Leonard for Ingram, Deng and picks, they would still have significant cap room this summer, although it would be about $2 million short of the necessary salary to sign both James and George outright. Sending Lonzo Ball out instead of Ingram would get L.A. within $600,000 of the James-George double maxes.
Unless James and George gave small discounts, Los Angeles would need to trim more from its roster, be it Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart or recently drafted rookie Moritz Wagner.
Step 2: Land LeBron James
The Lakers have the spending power to sign James outright to a contract starting at $35.4 million for up to four years ($152 million).
That would leave them between $25-35 million in additional room to either chase other stars or even retain some of their own free agents. (They'd reach the larger number by waiving Deng and stretching out the $36.8 million owed to him over the next five seasons, if he weren't already traded for Leonard).
Before the end of June, James could decide to opt into the final year of his $35.6 million contract with the Cavaliers, on the condition he's traded to the Lakers in July.
By opting in, he'd earn slightly more in 2018-19 than he would by signing with L.A. outright ($35.6 million versus $35.4 million). If he's traded, the Lakers also would have the ability to give James an extension as of August 12 at approximately $169 million through the 2022-23 season, for a five-year combined total of $205 million.
When James originally left Cleveland for Miami, the Cavs facilitated a sign-and-trade that yielded multiple draft picks. The Lakers could try that method as well, but only at the lower four-year, $152 million figure.
For the Lakers, the answer will likely be "whatever James wants," should he choose to join them in free agency.
Step 3: Lure Paul George
By trading Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to the Cavaliers in February, the Lakers set up their flexibility for the summer. If they sign James to his max deal, Deng will need to be gone (either via Leonard trade or otherwise) to give George a contract with a starting salary of $30.3 million.
They'll only stretch Deng to be able to pay George if the Spurs' asking price for Leonard is too costly. As eager as the Lakers may be to land all three stars, they need backup plans if they get stuck on Step 1.
George has a player option for 2018-19, but it's only $20.7 million. If he chooses to opt in and is traded, he'd only be eligible for a 15 percent raise, which is well below his value on the free-agent market.
The strength of the Lakers' position is that they can sign both James and George without needing help from any other team. If they can also find a trade partner with salary-cap space to take on Deng's contract without sending salary back in return, that would give the Lakers the ability to flesh out a deeper roster to play with their two new All-Stars, assuming Leonard is a no-go.
If the Lakers let go of all non-guaranteed players and pending free agents and get rid of Deng's salary, they would have as much as $76.9 million in space. That would be enough to ink James and George with $12.9 million to spare—sufficient to keep Randle as a restricted free agent with a $12.4 million cap hold, allowing the team to pay him up to $25.3 million after signing the two stars.
Or Los Angeles could let Randle walk and either find new talent on the free-agent market or retain one or more of its own players, like Thomas Bryant, Ivica Zubac, Brook Lopez, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and/or Isaiah Thomas.
Best Path?
The numbers make a lot more sense for two stars than three, but if motivated, the Lakers have the means to land an impressive threesome of Leonard, James and George.
If the Spurs aren't willing, the Lakers have a clear path to the latter two, provided they want to team up in Los Angeles.
Impatient for an answer? The good news is that the calendar keeps inching forward. The first decisions will be James and George on their player options by June 29. On July 1, teams can begin to negotiate with free agents, but nothing can be officially signed until July 6.
The easiest path for the Lakers may be to stretch out Deng's salary to sign the pair, but the team will first explore the Leonard opportunity via trade.
If either George or James doesn't join the Purple and Gold, L.A. may hold on to Deng and wait until summer 2019 to try again with different big names in free agency. The Lakers are still waiting for their first "yes" to get the ball rolling.
If they are fortunate enough to nail every step, the next ask will be for team president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka, along with head coach Luke Walton, to figure out how to flesh out the rest of the roster around their superteam of All-Star forwards.
The Lakers have been waiting years for a return to prominence. That wait may finally be over in a matter of weeks.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
